Eberlestock Pack With Heavier Loads?

[alecvg]

Last May I got a Eberlestock J104, and I have used it on a couple of hard trips now, and I am just not happy with it.  First off, it seems the gun scabbard kinda pulls the pack from the body when my rifle is in it, and pulls it to the side, making it lopsided, which is uncomfortable.  Second, with the two separate main compartments, you really need to keep whats in each pocket even by weight, which is kinda annoying, but if you don't do it, it once again turns sideways.  Third, it just doesn't carry heavy loads well, I do alot of pretty hardcore hunting, in steep terrain, through steep cliffs, basically goat country, so, we hunt long, hard days, with alot of gear, recently, I was on a high country bear hunt, and was headed up to our basecamp, which is quite a ways in, and the heavy load dug into my shoulders, all the way up, and down, which makes for a miserable hike.  Does anyone else have these problems, I am just irritated, since I did so much research, and read every review I could find, and I turn out not being satisfied!  Sorry, I had to vent a little, any feedback would be great!

[runamuk]

Well I don't have the j104 but I have the X1 and same thing did the research and at first really liked it ok.  I cannot get it to fit snug to my back no matter what I do and it gets worse when the gun is out of the scabbard.   I also cannot get the straps to sit in a way that doesn't dig into my shoulder/arm.  I have a really short waist and upper body and I am fairly small many of these packs seem to not be designed for smaller people.  I still like my pack it is better than a few others I tried out that were way too bulky for me.  Call and tell them your issues the company has great service and I am sure the feedback would help them in the design process that's what I am going to do after going to see a gal who tried to help me get mine to fit better.  Hubby has the j104 but hasn't used it on a long hike yet just short day hikes.

[Tim]

I had a 104 as well and was'nt real happy with it.Now I have  a Kifaru Longhunter and like it,if I had it to do all over again I think I would get either a Kifaru or Granitegear pack board and than use an assortment of dry bags to store my gear

[Shawn Ryan]

I have a JP9/Blue Widow.  I have only been able to use it once, so not much experience with it.  It does not have the scabbard, but has a pocket for one.  I had too large of a hip belt and have replaced it.  The too large hip belt prevented me from getting a good cinch around the hips.  The shoulder straps rubbed the top of my back, just behind the crest of the shoulder badly.  I talked to Eberle and he believed that the correct belt would help me transfer the load to my hips.  I agree in theory.  He told me how to adjust the pack, which was the same concept as written on the website and the same concept that I have heard other knowledgeable backpackers say.  I've been backpacking since an early age and have found that pack fit is more important than load weight in determining comfort (within reason).  Eberle says they found that shoulder strap width and its ability to transfer the load over a broader area is more important than pad thickness.

Can't help you with the rifle/scabbard problem other than to advise a stick and string. 

[cohoho]

I like mine, I used it for heavy Caribou and Moose loads slogging through the Muskeg.  I had to adjust everything several times till it finally fit me well.  Might be like boots not one size fit everyone equally... 

[Intruder]

I just got an X2... no scabbard (not a big fan of that feature myself) and it isn't "designed" to carry big weight.  That being said I did some tests with it just to see if it would handle a quarter for me.  Very impressed.  I loaded it with about 65lbs of various things just to test it out.  Worked well..... wouldn't want to walk all week with it but for a 3 mile jaunt it would fit the bill.

I spent a ton of time over the last year researching and trying on various packs.  So much comes down to how it fits your body. Apart from some general qualitative designs that most of the good packs are going to have anyway, that seems to me to be the most important thing.  There were some super nice packs that just felt like *censored* on my while others just fit.  I have a back injury so I tend to feel every little thing that's wrong... so fit becomes even more of an issue for me.