- Banned
- #1
Newtosavage
WKR
Just returned home from a 1st rifle season elk hunt in CO, and I have to say I am very, very pleased with my Eberlestock Dragonfly pack. I had another pack system I was going to use, but saw these on clearance and pulled the trigger at the last minute. I'm sure glad I did.
I was very concerned from the get-go about the empty weight of the pack (9 lbs.) and wasn't sure I would even use the rifle scabbard, but both of those concerns were totally unfounded. In practice, the pack carries much lighter than it's weight, and the rifle scabbard was a stroke of genius. I used it so much I took the sling off my rifle. I could easily slide my rifle in and out of the scabbard without taking off the pack (I have very long arms), so I would just take the round out of the chamber, slide it in the scabbard while hiking, and then pull the rifle and put a round in if I was actively hunting. I always carry my rifle in my hands when there is any chance of seeing something, so the scabbard storage and no sling worked great. However the sling fit in the scabbard too, if a person kept one on their rifle.
My average pack weight was 24 lbs. loaded with all my clothing, kill kit, water, emergency shelter and other supplies for day hunts, plus my 6.5 lb. Tikka rifle for just over 30 lbs. when hiking. Again, it carried very comfortably. The final afternoon of my 5-day hunt, I covered 6.6 miles and 2800 vertical feet (1400 up and 1400 down) in 5 hours according to my GPS, and the pack was great on my back.
Anyway, just thought I'd share in case anyone is looking at this pack. I got mine on clearance from Black Ovis for under $200, which now seems like a real steal. I had planned to use it until I could afford a more expensive, lighter pack, but I'm so happy with how it performed that I'm done looking.
I was very concerned from the get-go about the empty weight of the pack (9 lbs.) and wasn't sure I would even use the rifle scabbard, but both of those concerns were totally unfounded. In practice, the pack carries much lighter than it's weight, and the rifle scabbard was a stroke of genius. I used it so much I took the sling off my rifle. I could easily slide my rifle in and out of the scabbard without taking off the pack (I have very long arms), so I would just take the round out of the chamber, slide it in the scabbard while hiking, and then pull the rifle and put a round in if I was actively hunting. I always carry my rifle in my hands when there is any chance of seeing something, so the scabbard storage and no sling worked great. However the sling fit in the scabbard too, if a person kept one on their rifle.
My average pack weight was 24 lbs. loaded with all my clothing, kill kit, water, emergency shelter and other supplies for day hunts, plus my 6.5 lb. Tikka rifle for just over 30 lbs. when hiking. Again, it carried very comfortably. The final afternoon of my 5-day hunt, I covered 6.6 miles and 2800 vertical feet (1400 up and 1400 down) in 5 hours according to my GPS, and the pack was great on my back.
Anyway, just thought I'd share in case anyone is looking at this pack. I got mine on clearance from Black Ovis for under $200, which now seems like a real steal. I had planned to use it until I could afford a more expensive, lighter pack, but I'm so happy with how it performed that I'm done looking.