jog
FNG
- Joined
- Sep 14, 2019
- Messages
- 91
I decided to try out the Eberlestock mainframe pack system for a variety of reasons, both economic and otherwise and in doing so tried out the batwings they offer. Of course they are well made, but I felt they lacked some features that reflect a brief design effort. Here are my pros and cons.
Pros:
well built, marries to the mainframe system, can be used as additional capacity with the bag options, they are hydration bladder ready, there are some anchor loops that are well designed if you wanted attach points. The batwings can also be used as stand alone, kinda like a little daypack when they are zippered together. You can use the void between them and the frame to store layers, a decoy or whatever. I used them as stand alone.
Cons:
The batwings offer one inside pocket sleeve (hydration etc) and one outside pocket sleeve. Though deep, the externals do not fit a nalgene- pretty much the standard size rigid container benchmark that has been around forever . Also, when the batwings are installed, the external pocket is centered on the backside of the pouch, not the side. You have to remove the pack to access whatever you might put into them. This is a manufacturing decision I think to save production cost - it negates having a right/left production run if the pocket is centered on the back. Too bad, as it basically halves the usefulness of the external pocket in my opinion.
I think these facts are worth considering when you look at the Eberlestock batwings.
Pros:
well built, marries to the mainframe system, can be used as additional capacity with the bag options, they are hydration bladder ready, there are some anchor loops that are well designed if you wanted attach points. The batwings can also be used as stand alone, kinda like a little daypack when they are zippered together. You can use the void between them and the frame to store layers, a decoy or whatever. I used them as stand alone.
Cons:
The batwings offer one inside pocket sleeve (hydration etc) and one outside pocket sleeve. Though deep, the externals do not fit a nalgene- pretty much the standard size rigid container benchmark that has been around forever . Also, when the batwings are installed, the external pocket is centered on the backside of the pouch, not the side. You have to remove the pack to access whatever you might put into them. This is a manufacturing decision I think to save production cost - it negates having a right/left production run if the pocket is centered on the back. Too bad, as it basically halves the usefulness of the external pocket in my opinion.
I think these facts are worth considering when you look at the Eberlestock batwings.
