john.c

Thanks for the reply, Ron. I have decided to get an X2 based on the good info here and the many other positive reviews of the pack. I like the idea of smaller/lighter pack with a lot of potential. And like I said, I don't think I need to haul an entire animal. I usually hunt with a partner and I am going to talk him into an Eberlestock pack too! Unless we get lucky we share the load out. A couple years ago we each got took Muley buck in the rolling grassy hills of E Montana a few miles from the road. Neither were big by Muley standards, but it was literally quite a haul. I'm looking forward to the X2. Thanks for the advice here. I'll let you know later this fall how it works! john

Hi there. I'm new the Coues and found you because I am looking at this pack and this is the best user review I've found. Thank you. Here is my hunting style/need and questions to try to make this easy: I am a deer hunter, whitetail and Muley in Montana, rifle only. Elk season overlaps and in one of the areas I hunt there is chance of coming across Cows (walked onto 2 last year, close enough for an easy shot, but the either sex week was days away!). One area I hunt is wooded and mountainous. The other area is in E MT and big wide open rolling hills and coulees. I day hunt and at the most would ever get 3 miles of walking away from the rig. And that can be a long walk, last year my buddy and I dragged a nice whitetail buck about 2 miles through heavy timber and downfall. Let's say I don't want to have to do that again if I can help it... So...that brings me to what I want in a pack and how I came to lust after an Eberle. I want something that can carry some meat, but not an entire animal. I don't think I need a "Just One", though I like it a lot. I would be very happy to make 2 trips of a couple miles to carry meat in a good pack over the one 4 hour drag, zig zagging through downfall up and down hills. I also love the rifle carrying ability of the Eberle packs. My questions are: can the X2 carry a rifle (with the scabbard accessory or not) AND a deer quarter? I saw the pic on the Eberle site of a quarter on the pack, but there was no rifle. Has anyone used the separate scabbard that attaches to the pack? And what are your thoughts? My second thought is for the "Gunslinger" pack, I just don't know if I need or like the size of it. It lacks the large bottom sling for large loads, though I'm sure it's still possible with all the compression straps, as Allen praised it. What about the X1? Anyone used that? Thanks for any advice and thoughts. I am really itching to buy a new pack, so I look forward to your ideas. One last thing, anyone seen the non-camo packs? I'd like a plan brown I think, it is on my back so if a deer is behind me I don't image it matters much, I already missed him!