Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Alaska Eberlestock J105 Just One Pack

Anyone use one of these for Alaska hunting? Specifically for combo day pack and packing out meat on a caribou hunt. Looking for good or bad feedback. I have looked at them on some of the other forums but it seemed like most of the folks raving about them were distributers or truck hunters.

IFly,
I have posted a few times on the J104 but willing to go again.
The J104 is a one size fits all and the J105 with its adjustable support would give one more options. Probably more important if someone is around 6 feet or taller. Beyond that they are the same. They start at 2100 cu. inches and came be expanded to 7000 cu. inches. The duffle pack is strapped into the back after you unzip the main back to open it up. Pretty ingenius and something one might say, "why didn't I think of that"! The stitching and zippers are of high quality. There are sufficient side pouches to separate gear. Both are compatible for bladders also. A fantastic addition is the rifle scabbard! You slide your rifle in and it gives you hands free climbing. The rifle can be easily slid out of its scabbard without taking the pack off. When you sit down, the barrel of the rifle is in the way but you can push up the rifle to get it out of the way or take the pack off. There also is a long pouch that will accomodate a spotting scope.
The shoulder straps and padded hip strap are wide and thick so as not to dig in. Plenty of tie offs to add your sleeping bad and pad. You can add a rain fly also.
I have used the J104 on two Alaskan sheep hunts and 2 Colorado elk hunts. FANTASTIC! I have used the pack to haul out two de-boned elk without problem. I do use compactor bags to keep the pack clean of course. On my elk hunt I don't need the large capacity of the pack all the time so I zip it to the smaller size and leave camp. If I want to bring more clothes or bring back some tasty elk, I open it up and voila!
IIRC, the J104 weighs 7# 2oz and the J105 is 4 ozl heavier.
I am not a vendor or affiliated with one. I just want to pass the word when I find something that works. I plan to buy a J105 just to check it out. This is one item I don't need to look any further for something better.
Good luck.

I have a J105, and used it this past January on a Sonora Coues deer hunt. The pack is VERY well made, and super handy, as it expands and contracts as the need may dictate. It is a breeze to expand, and pack out a complete Deboned Deer, with the rifle in the handy scabbard... I like the Waist straps, and the fit, and it has plenty of adjustment for the perfect fit. I am very happy with the pack, and look forward to using it on more hunts... The only negative is that the zippers are a little difficult to access, especially with gloves on, I like the zippers on my Badlands fanny pack better, as they have a larger area for you to grab when working the zipper. Also, the cinching straps seem to be a little short, when the pack is completely stuffed, and just barely reach, but I suspect with a larger kill's meat, the straps would not reach... I suspect they may have an extension strap available... Other than that, the J105 is great.

My comments, that Glen Eberle uses in his adds, were sent completely un-solicited and have not changed. The packs however do - everytime Glen or anyone else sends him good suggestions.
I have been wearing one version or another of his packs for forty to fifty days per year now for over three years and they are great packs.

I like my J104 veddy much, well thought out.

Wife and I have 2 J105s. I recently bought a Kifaru Longhunter since everyone over there says its the pack. It actually may be made a touch better and in the US. Have yet to use it but will this fall in AK.

I can say that 5 of us went to wilderness in CO last fall with J104/105s that I ordered. There were no complaints. IIRC one strap the stitching came loose on, but out of 5 that was ok and easy to fix as I always have cape thread and needle along.

I've packed up to 120 pounds in it while training. Unfortunately no elk meat, but wife and I did manage out to bivwac a few nites and it carried camp etc... all just fine, and strapped down to minor size for day hunting.

I will have to order the extensions for a big load though.

I did shoot a whitetail spike this fall, appx 1.5 miles, maybe 2 max from the truck. I used gutless on the young buck, stashed all the meat in a garbage bag, dumped that into a canvas game sack(checking out Kifarus light game bags next time due to weight) and took all my gear, stand, gun, and I always have survival gear, extra food, lunch, rain gear and so on all back in one trip. One hip got to aggravate me but I did the whole thing in the dark without a light in one trip without a rest stop.

I don't think you can go wrong with it at all.

Jeff

Love the J104......

Actually the J105 is new and improved J104. It has a much better redesigned internal frame much more capable of hauling more weight more comfortably. It is a definate step up in performing tougher tasks.

What is a J107? Was just on their website and they had a J107 listed but couldn't find out any information on it.

And the J105 is no longer shown on the website..I was just getting ready to order one....very strange. Nothing on the website about no longer making the J105 and no info on the J107. I've sent them an e-mail and will pass along what they say.

Looks to me like the J107 is Just a J105 that has some changes, upgrades. I'm looking forward to seeing what it is also.

I received an e-mail from Glen Eberle. They are replacing the J105 with the J107, which will be available in June. He indicated they would have more information up on the website shortly.