Another pack thread Eberlestock vs Mystery Ranch or other Load Haulers

[OL_JR]

          Thanks for sharing all, lots of different points.  I do like the eberle for all the pockets and I do like the scabbard for carrying the gun but as mentioned the scabbard becomes kind of useless with a standard length gun when you can't sit down.  I think if a guy had shorter mountain gun you could fold the scabbard "tail" up and the stock wouldn't be sticking to far above the back. 

          Sure is a lot of different options these days or maybe a guy is just becoming more informed.  Didn't seem like to long ago a standard external frame was the only option.
         
         
          Sheep Reaper- Comparing the eberlestock with the MR would you say it is worth spending the money for carrying the weight better   example a guy is going to be carrying a weeks worth of stuff and potentially have a two day trip out with the heavy load or is the difference kind of marginal?

[The Sheep Reaper]

          Thanks for sharing all, lots of different points.  I do like the eberle for all the pockets and I do like the scabbard for carrying the gun but as mentioned the scabbard becomes kind of useless with a standard length gun when you can't sit down.  I think if a guy had shorter mountain gun you could fold the scabbard "tail" up and the stock wouldn't be sticking to far above the back. 

          Sure is a lot of different options these days or maybe a guy is just becoming more informed.  Didn't seem like to long ago a standard external frame was the only option.
         
         
          Sheep Reaper- Comparing the eberlestock with the MR would you say it is worth spending the money for carrying the weight better   example a guy is going to be carrying a weeks worth of stuff and potentially have a two day trip out with the heavy load or is the difference kind of marginal?

Tough question to answer...the way I look at it if you take your average 7-10 day hunt you are likely using your pack as a "hauler" 2-3 times, 1 on the way in, 1 on the way out and maybe 1 more if you move camp or make two trips for meat and gear (if your successful).  for 75-80% of the time you are just using it as a daypack so for me the extra money is not worth it going with the MR...but I already have an Eberlestock and sold my MR

If its your first and/or only pack you plan on buying for a while then the extra cash may be well spent.

As for comfort of carrying a heavy load (70 lbs+) IMHO the difference in the two packs is minimal...it sucks either way...lol

For all day comfort I personally like the Blue Widow over the MR due to it being a bit more flexible and the pocket layout and quieter fabric is more conducive to day hunting.

Packs are like women...everyone likes different attributes but the one thing thats constant is they both get uncomfortable to have on you when they get to a certain weight 

[Joe Fehr]

Packs are like women...everyone likes different attributes but the one thing thats constant is they both get uncomfortable to have on you when they get to a certain weight 

That made my morning!! 

[Sonny]

That made my morning!! 

Same here..

Ima gonna tell wifey this one..lol

[OL_JR]

           Lol oh that's gold.  Thanks SheepReaper 

[walleyes]

I picked up an Eberlestock X1 for my son last week when we were in the city, seems to be a pretty nice pack. I dont know a lot about them but we will learn. I plan on picking up a pack for myself this summer and Sam and I hope to get in some pack trips around home during bow season this late summer early fall. We want to poke around the banks of the Sand River. Some rough country in there that has grown in to heavy for quad travel and to steep for trails, horse or foot only. Some hog whitetail run on those banks,, should make for some good hunting.

For meat packs,, would you guys suggest a soft pack or a pack with frame ??

[Dark Wing]

I've been looking at either upgrading my old pack or buying a new one as well. I was thinking about getting my old Kifaru long hunter pack rebuilt or maybe purchasing a new MR pack. Any one have any reviews or thoughts on Kifaru packs ?

[sheepguide]

       
                   Sheep Reaper- Comparing the eberlestock with the MR would you say it is worth spending the money for carrying the weight better   example a guy is going to be carrying a weeks worth of stuff and potentially have a two day trip out with the heavy load or is the difference kind of marginal?

Just for reference Shrubs here is my Eberlestock loaded and in use.

J107 loaded with 2 elk hind quarters and neck meat, rifle and some day gear. Weighed once home minus the rifle at 127lbs.


Springer with his J107 with rifle in Scabbard sitting down.


Loaded




Day hunting and shed finding




Loaded with a deboned Mountain Goat, shoulder cape and horns plus day gear


78lbs plus rifle(7lbs) on a 10 day stone sheep/goat hunt in BC. Zip on Spike duffel being used.




May show the pack in action a bit. Mine is going on its fourth year of use and has had no braking or ripping at all. It is my daily use pack from Aug. sheep opener to Feb. when we are done cat hunting.

[Tuc]

Nice pics Sheep..........

[OL_JR]

              Nice Pics sheepguide and as you mentioned I think I'll start with trying to pack the load a little better if we luck out again this year.  I kinda had the uncaped head sitting on the very outside on the back but probably a lot better to cape out the head and maybe stuff it in the meat hauler on the very top and use the top strap to cinch it down.

             Biggest reason for my query was reading some rumblings around the net and with my experience last year was curious if I was maybe missing out on something.  Still think some others might be a little better at carrying real big loads but won't be switching just yet. 

             With all the stuff out there these days it's kinda hard not to be looking for better gear all the time and packs are probably the most important tool a sheephunter uses as far as increasing a guys range goes.

[OL_JR]

      This is how I was packed on the way out.  Probably not the best.

      Well really maybe about the worst lol.

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[sheepguide]

Here are a few pics of how I pack rams.

[The Sheep Reaper]

      This is how I was packed on the way out.  Probably not the best.

      Well really maybe about the worst lol.

ouch...that load hurts to look at 

here is a good pic of how to pack for proper weight distribution (likely if you could xray Sheepguides pack it would look like this only more jars of vasaline in there  )





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