Sorry OP, not trying to hijack or turn the thread into bashing Elberstock.
Keep in mind that I have never personally put an Elberstock on my back. So take my opinions with a grain of salt. I have nothing against Elberstock as a company, but I don't think they represent good value for the money when it comes to packs.
The only value I see to a frame (internal or external) is to shift the load to your hips. If a pack fails to do this than it is not worth its weight and you might as well use something lighter. My primary objection to the Elberstock Mainframe is its complete failure at this. Most of the other things are personal preference and fit (the Elberstock packs appear to be durably constructed so this is not an issue).
Other things I did not like about the Elberstock, from looking at it and talking with my friend who was using it follow.
1. It is heavy (my friend put his at 10 to 11 lbs empty, I have not weighed one personally)
2. The bag design strikes me as good idea fairy in nature. The scabbard is one example, it adds weight but no real value as it makes the rifle harder to access than simply lashing it to the pack.
3. The literal shelf at the bottom of the frame. It encourages the loading of weight far too low on the frame, it adds weight, and it removes the advantage of compressing the pack down to be used as a day bag. (the Elberstock M1 frame would fix this).
4. When I was looking at his pack to see if I could adjust the hip belt lower on the frame I got the impression that the frame was not made with actual use in mind. This was over a year ago, so I cannot give details as I did not really try to remember them. The load lifters appeared to be just decoration to me and did not look functional.
My friend, who spent that entire summer telling me the Elberstock was a good pack and I was just being elitist because I had spent too much money on my pack bought an EXO after I loaned him mine and the next summer told me "thank you" for getting him to spend the money. Unfortunately, that answer leaves the details as to why to the realm of magic, but not having used the pack I cannot truthfully say more. I will point out that this friend was a Marine grunt in his past life, so I have to assume the Elberstock was better than what he was using in the Corps around 2013.
I understand this. My philosophy has become either buy the product that I actually want, or get the cheapest thing that will work as it will hurt less when I replace it. Unless, I will still have a use for the middle of the road product once I get what I really want.
@Chunkymunks2 I don't think Elberstock's represent good value for the money, nor that they are in the budget realm if money is part of the concern.
Looking at Elberstock's web page
F1 Mainframe $279 at 4.5 lbs
Little Big Top bag $299 at 3.5 lbs (3900 cubic inch)
Lid $49.95 at
Total $627.95 at 8.9 lbs.
Frankly, there is nothing budget about $628. In fact one can get an EXO or SO system for less.
EXO K3 3200 (3690 cubic inches) $619 at 5.1 lbs. (Comes with the lid)
EXO K3 frame only $375.
Seek Outside Goshawk 4800 with lid $538 at 4.1 lbs
Seek Outside frame only $329
Gregory Baltoro 85L (5370 cubic inch) with large frame $349 at 5.46 lbs.
For budget, but better than military surplus I would recommend the Baltoro. Most backpacking packs shift weight to the hips if sized properly. However the Baltoro has a reputation for hauling heavy loads well, which is why I recommend it over something like an Osprey.
Getting an EXO or SO frame and putting an ALICE bag (with a few slight mods) would be another budget option that could be grown latter. This is where my money would go if I was doing it over again (unless I found a really good deal on the Baltoro).
As a side note, I list EXO because I have one. I list SO because I want one. This is not to discount SG and Kifaru, I just know less about their systems.
As I had a Baltoro 65 (which I believe to be a more functional pack than many packs marketed to hunters or "tactical" community) I will compare it with the EXO. The Baltoro is stiffer on my back, it does not really get comfortable until loaded, it does not compress down into a day pack, it lacks a shelf, my head would hit the frame when looking up. The EXO just feels better on my back. The EXO is also laid out better for access to equipment and balancing simplicity with features.
Keep in mind that I have never personally put an Elberstock on my back. So take my opinions with a grain of salt. I have nothing against Elberstock as a company, but I don't think they represent good value for the money when it comes to packs.
The only value I see to a frame (internal or external) is to shift the load to your hips. If a pack fails to do this than it is not worth its weight and you might as well use something lighter. My primary objection to the Elberstock Mainframe is its complete failure at this. Most of the other things are personal preference and fit (the Elberstock packs appear to be durably constructed so this is not an issue).
Other things I did not like about the Elberstock, from looking at it and talking with my friend who was using it follow.
1. It is heavy (my friend put his at 10 to 11 lbs empty, I have not weighed one personally)
2. The bag design strikes me as good idea fairy in nature. The scabbard is one example, it adds weight but no real value as it makes the rifle harder to access than simply lashing it to the pack.
3. The literal shelf at the bottom of the frame. It encourages the loading of weight far too low on the frame, it adds weight, and it removes the advantage of compressing the pack down to be used as a day bag. (the Elberstock M1 frame would fix this).
4. When I was looking at his pack to see if I could adjust the hip belt lower on the frame I got the impression that the frame was not made with actual use in mind. This was over a year ago, so I cannot give details as I did not really try to remember them. The load lifters appeared to be just decoration to me and did not look functional.
My friend, who spent that entire summer telling me the Elberstock was a good pack and I was just being elitist because I had spent too much money on my pack bought an EXO after I loaned him mine and the next summer told me "thank you" for getting him to spend the money. Unfortunately, that answer leaves the details as to why to the realm of magic, but not having used the pack I cannot truthfully say more. I will point out that this friend was a Marine grunt in his past life, so I have to assume the Elberstock was better than what he was using in the Corps around 2013.
I understand this. My philosophy has become either buy the product that I actually want, or get the cheapest thing that will work as it will hurt less when I replace it. Unless, I will still have a use for the middle of the road product once I get what I really want.
@Chunkymunks2 I don't think Elberstock's represent good value for the money, nor that they are in the budget realm if money is part of the concern.
Looking at Elberstock's web page
F1 Mainframe $279 at 4.5 lbs
Little Big Top bag $299 at 3.5 lbs (3900 cubic inch)
Lid $49.95 at
Total $627.95 at 8.9 lbs.
Frankly, there is nothing budget about $628. In fact one can get an EXO or SO system for less.
EXO K3 3200 (3690 cubic inches) $619 at 5.1 lbs. (Comes with the lid)
EXO K3 frame only $375.
Seek Outside Goshawk 4800 with lid $538 at 4.1 lbs
Seek Outside frame only $329
Gregory Baltoro 85L (5370 cubic inch) with large frame $349 at 5.46 lbs.
For budget, but better than military surplus I would recommend the Baltoro. Most backpacking packs shift weight to the hips if sized properly. However the Baltoro has a reputation for hauling heavy loads well, which is why I recommend it over something like an Osprey.
Getting an EXO or SO frame and putting an ALICE bag (with a few slight mods) would be another budget option that could be grown latter. This is where my money would go if I was doing it over again (unless I found a really good deal on the Baltoro).
As a side note, I list EXO because I have one. I list SO because I want one. This is not to discount SG and Kifaru, I just know less about their systems.
As I had a Baltoro 65 (which I believe to be a more functional pack than many packs marketed to hunters or "tactical" community) I will compare it with the EXO. The Baltoro is stiffer on my back, it does not really get comfortable until loaded, it does not compress down into a day pack, it lacks a shelf, my head would hit the frame when looking up. The EXO just feels better on my back. The EXO is also laid out better for access to equipment and balancing simplicity with features.
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