Let me start by saying this is my first year as a waterfowl hunter. Taking that into consideration, my review is through the perspective of someone who's still learning what I need and what I don't. The Long Haul Decoy Bag is absolutely essential for my style of hunting.
9 out of 10 days I'm a solo hunter. Despite my rather "round" size, I also like to get as far away from other hunters as possible. I like having the place to myself. So, in the elk woods that means backcountry hunting and for waterfowl that means 2+ mile walk-ins.
Again, remember this is my first year as a waterfowler. On my very first walk-in, I packed 24 weighted decoys, my shotgun, and a 5-gallon bucket with my ammunition and a few other essentials. I used one of those mesh bags with the shoulder straps and boy was that an absolute nightmare. I did the same walk-in with the same gear but with the Long Haul Decoy Bag about a week later and it was a night and day difference.
So, let's start with fit and finish. The Long Haul Decoy Bag is made with quality materials. I have no doubt it'll hold up for multiple seasons. All of the seams are stitched well and moderately reinforced with the right stitching patterns. I know this seems silly to bring up, but the quality of stitching makes a huge difference in load capacity. The mesh on the lower side of the bag allows water to drain efficiently and is pretty durable. I do worry if any part of the mesh were to tear the integrity of the whole bag may be compromised.
On to comfort. Arguably, one of the most important factors for me considering I walk in pretty far with a lot of weight on my back. The straps on this pack are in the perfect place on the bag. Not too high. So, the bag doesn't beat on the back of your legs when walking. Not too low. So, you're not top-heavy treading through the marsh in your waders. The shoulder straps are easily adjustable and well-padded. The waist strap helps distribute the weight between your shoulders and hips and makes for a much more stable setup. With my waders and layers on, I still have enough slack to easily adjust the waist straps and buckles. Also, the bottom of the bag is padded with floating material. So, it's not rough or bumpy on your back while filled with decoys.
What would I change? This bag is pretty sweet, and for the price, you can't beat it. The one thing I wish I had on this bag is maybe a velcro pocket or two on the outside of the bag for small gear. Not a deal-breaker by any means but would be a huge plus. A long velcro pouch on the inside of the bag lengthwise would be awesome for poles and the such for a mojo-spinner. If the padded floating bottom had a little more buoyancy that would be great too. Otherwise, this bag fits my hunting style perfectly.
The Long Haul Decoy Bag from Rig 'em Right is Durable, Lightweight, Comfortable, and can carry a ton of gear. For the price, you won't regret purchasing this bag.
Everything I Pack in this bag:
With this bag loaded this way, I have about 3 inches of buckle strap left and sometimes pack in a mojo jerk-a-spreader set up as well. I'm pretty sore after a hunt with this gear, but the bag performs better than I could have imagined.
I carry my shotgun over my shoulders and on the top of the pack and a 5-gallon bucket for the rest of my gear (I haven't invested in a floating blind bag yet). Clip your duck strap to the top buckle on your way out with your limit and you're all set.