Team elk pack?

[Roddyscott]

Any body got an opinion on the Elberlestock team elk pack. I mostly bow hunt, but like the isdea of the built in gun scabbard.

 

[BigMiss]

In my opinion, it's a great pack when you can get it on sale (sub $300 with tax), but not worth full price. The scabbard is great for when you're hauling into an area or if you have a load of meat. Not ideal if you're doing a stop and glass every ridge style hunt where you may want your gun at the ready. The scabbard is not ideal if you're running a bipod or a scope with larger turrets, as they'll get hung up. My brother in law has one as well as me, but they're different. His has a metal folding load shelf that mine doesn't, and the pockets are different. I am not sure when they changed. The muzzle pointing down makes getting the pack off awkward since you don't want to apply all that pressure on your muzzle, and you can't just sit on a rock quick without taking the pack off. I'd prefer a side carry with the buttstock in a sleeve rather than the scabbard for actual hunting, and the scabbard when packing in/out covering ground and not hunting.

 

[Roddyscott]

Good to hear from someone who actually owns and has experience with the lpaxk. Sounds like you brother has the version one and you have the v2. I passed on a new with tags v1 last week for $260. That was probably a mistake.

 

[rileybassman]

I had one - it was the start of my pack journey. It was well made and cool/capable, but heavy and uncomfortable with any real weight. The rifle carrier was nice but there is 0 lift and the belt just stabilizes, doesn't really transfer weight effectively to the hips. I landed on the original exo after that pack maybe 12 years ago and have been with them ever since. There is a significant difference in a K3/4's comfort and ability to carry weight.

 

[idelkslayer]

I bought one in 2013. I liked it because of the metal frame shelf. I was still in the mindset of of a more traditional pack frame style. I'm also tall 6'-4" and the pack never fit me very well. The load lifters were not functional, at least for someone my height but I think there is a taller version available now. It also had very limited capacity. Not great for a multi-day trip, and really even for an overnight. The pack itself was heavy empty as well. My bottom line is that I would not recommend it unless you have tried it on loaded and like the fit and you plan on using it as a day pack.

 

[cornchuck]

I got one for a Christmas gift from my wife 3 years ago. Right before they came out with the newest version. It was my first real hunting pack that wasn't a school type backpack. I took it on a aoudad hunt and a Alaskan sitka blacktail deer hunt. The meat shelf I think is too far away from my back. Center of gravity too far away from my body. I used the scabbard on the aoudad hunt, but on the blacktail hunt, I installed the Slik Sling V3. Because there might have been where I needed to access the gun in a hurry. I always thought that there should be more space/pockets. And i think it's heavy. On my next hunt, I'm planning on another pack. But I do think it's great for a day pack.

Jason

 

[BigMiss]

Good to hear from someone who actually owns and has experience with the lpaxk. Sounds like you brother has the version one and you have the v2. I passed on a new with tags v1 last week for $260. That was probably a mistake.

I have read many times that when loaded, people think it is very uncomfortable. I don't have experience with a ton of different packs, but I've loaded mine between 80 and 100lbs on two different occasions and packed meat out 4-6 miles, and felt the pack was very comfortable. It looks to me like the waist belt was improved between the two versions. I don't think you'd be able to do overnight gear and a load of meat in the pack though, you'd need something bigger.

 

[go_deep]

I use mine for trapping, because if i get stinky bait or call lure on it it doesn't matter, but much prefer my EXO for hunting.

 

[Roddyscott]

I have read many times that when loaded, people think it is very uncomfortable. I don't have experience with a ton of different packs, but I've loaded mine between 80 and 100lbs on two different occasions and packed meat out 4-6 miles, and felt the pack was very comfortable. It looks to me like the waist belt was improved between the two versions. I don't think you'd be able to do overnight gear and a load of meat in the pack though, you'd need something bigger.

Not overnighting anyway, day packing and meat hauling is what I need.

 

[BugleMeTimber]

Think I've had mine for over 10 years now and it's still my favorite day pack. It hauled out two cow elk and two bucks this year no problem. Wish the strap on the chest tightened up a little more but it's my only complaint. The metal shelf frame is great for hauling tree stands and quarters. My gun scabbard stays tucked up and never use it. No plans on replacing it in the near future.

 

[StuckoYota99]

I had the eberlestock j34 for years and it was great, the integrated scabbard plus the cover kept my rifle clean and dry.
The downfall was it was uncomfortable with half a deer and my camp.
Looking back I most likely had it loaded wrong and way out of adjustment. But it was still a great pack.
Eberlestock was great for the money and fit my needs until I switched packs.

I now use the Kifaru duplex with a mt rambler which has an internal scabbard.
The J34 had a better scabbard but the Kifaru is much more comfortable when packing out meat.

 

[7SAUM-J]

I've got the current version Team Elk pack and got a smoking deal on Guidefitter. I think I was just barely over $200. For the price it made an excellent pack. Bought it for a weekend September muzzle loader hunt in Kansas and the pack worked great.

I'm still planning to upgrade to a K4 pack for longer hunts.