Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Backpack Hunting Am I asking to much from Eberlestock

I have nothing but good things to say about the two eberlestock j104's that ive used. I have never had any problems with my pack, besides the supplied bladder being a tight fit in its pocket. I cant comment on their customer service, but what I have read online makes them sound pretty dang good. Im sure you other brand guys(badlands,MR, etc.) have had problems, but you would rather bash a honest guys company and trash his product. A lot of you guys on here seem to make your mind up quick when it comes to deciding if a product is worthy or not.

Kinda what we have been saying right??

I can 100% say I have never had a problem with any of my mystery ranch bags. Different strokes for different folks but I know what I stick my dead stuff in. If your happy with what you use then by all means use it.
If you think I trashed Glenns product you might want to read my post again. I gave him my honest feedback of how his product worked for me. Just like I would any other brand I use.

For clarification, I would hardly say that I F'd around and bought late. The change of pack came with the poor weather conditions (limited snow).

For additional clarification, here is the email that I replied to Glen

Greetings Glen,

I've just returned from my hunt and I've had time to reflect on this a bit. I first must apologize to Gary for hanging up. I was a bit frustrated with many things prior to leaving on my cat hunt and my tone was a reflection on these frustrations.

I did offer to pay the extra shipping but I guess I was really was expecting the company to assume all obligations for replacing the broken buckle. In all honesty, this is still my position. What are we looking at a difference of a few dollars? It is not like we were shipping an entire pack but a plastic clip. Especially when the standard shipping would not get the replacement clip prior to me leaving on a holiday.

When I contacted Cabelas and explained I had a defective part on the pack, they overnighted an entire new scabbard with a prepaid return label for the defective scabbard at no charge to me. That is customer service and not a warranty policy dependent on standard shipping.

Gary I'm not a weekend hunter but a passionate hunter who spends 75+ days hunting and shooting. I travel as much as my wallet and wife allow in my home state and other western states plus Canada. My money is hard earned and spent wisely on hunting gear. I rely on my gear to work as designed.

I fully understand your product line is proven is both military and hunting applications. There is no doubt you products deliver many years of service. However, please understand you do not have a product in your line that isn't replicated by another pack company. For the average Joe like myself, I rely on the warranty and customer service policy as much of a deciding factor as the size and shape of the pack. If I can't get the support of the company, why should I buy the product?

May good fortune find you in 2010.

Glen professionally explained his position and I shared my thoughts. I left it at agreeing to disagree.

I've learned alot about eberlestock, from Glenn in this thread. None of which has me any closer to buying an eberle pack. Hiring TNF personell as his experts was a questionable move on his part, they have never been a force in the bacpack market, and never will be. Of course he found that out the hard way, by his own admission here. I think building the most complex/complicated packs in the world appeals to a certain type of person, but quite often wit a little life experience under one's belt you beging to crave things htat are simpler, with less liekly hood of failure, and less tempting fate. I think the tactical market makes alot of sense for a young company with a marginal to average product line, selling packs to army dudes is about as easy as it gets. You have a group of young guys many of whom have NO previous outdoors experience, and becasue of deploymanets suddenly have disposable income and a lust for gear. How hard is it to impress a 19 or 20 year old kid whose only backpack experience is with MOLLE and ALICE? experienced backpackers and hunters however have a list of criteria which is much more stringent, and as such tend to stick with companies with a long history of innovation, customer service and quality, IE MR, Kifaru, Gregory, LOWE, etc. THere are lots of guys in the military who have this kind of experience as well, and MY EXPERIENCE has been that they are less than impressed with the Eberlestock product line.

A little humor

I started with ES for a dedicated hunting pack, trying to keep my Gregorys clean for backpacking trips. J104 in '05, I really liked the scabbard for no hands or sling carry. I heard of issues with guys and fit but it fit me fine, I was lucky, I did adjust the stays and kept the gun in the scabbard and water bladders in their compartment up against the back, cinched it hard. The most I've carried with it is 70 lbs, but it did pack quite a few elk and deer out. At 70 lbs there was a slight pull back but nothing uncomfortable and overall was comfortable for me.



I'm mostly an archery hunter though so the X1 as a day pack worked much better but was not a backcountry pack. I have two X1s for myself and wife.

I have a revelation, Nice frame/X1 combo with Spike duffle/dry bags for camp. Buy webbing and buckles, borrow a sewing machine, never used one, make attachments for the different bags and meat harnesses. Be totally modular. Even on day hunts, make a kill and start packing weight immediately, most has been 85 lbs with elk and it worked.





I'm still messing around with stuff like just the frame and a spike duffle/dry bag combo for a pack weight of just over 5 lbs.



I hope it's not like dating two girls at the same time, once the confession is out they both want to kill you.

This all works ok when you can go home if things go fubar, not hunting in Afg. backcountry. Simply because I would want heavy duty if needed, I would go with MR if I had to choose, glad I don't and can play around.

Kent

What are you setting your packs onto...lava, razor blades, battery acid?

Most of my hunting buddies have Eberlestock packs and we love 'em. Hunting in the deep bush of Canada puts these products through the ringer and Glens' packs are coming out with flying colours. Well done Glen, keep up the good work.

Don't forget the hot coals and the broken glass. Barefooted...