Eberlestock J51 Warhammer

[slannesh]

Yeah it looks a bit fatter now that i've got all my SAR stuff in it

But so far i'm really liking the pack. I'll know more after this weekend when I get back from using it.

[arktrekker]

Glad to see someone taking the plunge.

I have been seriously considering one of the eberlestock packs for a while and think I am going to take the plunge next week on either the J79 skycrane II or the G4 operator. Really leaning towards the skycrane at the moment. I can bundle it up with the A4SS weapons carrier and the spike camp duffed for a small discount. Was searching eberlestock on here hoping someone had some feedback on this pack, but I am happy to see someone getting out and using one.

Can't wait to read your review of it after the weekend

[sigboy40]

My only complaint with the Skycrane is that the side pockets arent big enough. Other then that it's great. If I had it to do over again I would order it without the Little Brother pack, I personally dont care for it. I even went so far as to send a spike duffel out to have the zippers moved so that it docks the same way the little brother does.

[slannesh]

Not sure if this would sway any decisions or not since i've never personally seen one of the Skycrane packs...

The Warhammer has two sets of zippers, one holding the wings together and another set right at the back on either side of the big molle webbing panel on the frame.

If I understand correctly this would allow you to use a spike camp duffel either facing in as normal using the wing zipper or you could zip it to the frame and leave the wings free and just use the compression straps to keep them attached.

Loading my pack up for this weekend I wouldn't want the wing pockets to be any narrower than they are, quite often a 'normal' sized item takes up 75% of the sleeve leaving only a small space for anything else. My 1L pot fit in with the head of my hatchet and a SAM splint and that was about it, if the Skycrane has even narrower sleeves that would be a pain in the ass to get anything of any real size in there. The side zippers do make for easy access of anything in the pack however.

If you guys are interested i'll take a bunch of pics and do a review after this weekend, I'm planning on using the trip as an entry for the SSMBO so i'll be taking lots anyhow

[sigboy40]

Loading my pack up for this weekend I wouldn't want the wing pockets to be any narrower than they are, quite often a 'normal' sized item takes up 75% of the sleeve leaving only a small space for anything else. My 1L pot fit in with the head of my hatchet and a SAM splint and that was about it, if the Skycrane has even narrower sleeves that would be a pain in the ass to get anything of any real size in there. The side zippers do make for easy access of anything in the pack however.

You hit upon the one thing I would change on the skycrane. The pouches on the Warhammer are bigger, and I wish that Eberle had made them the same size on both packs.
I ended up just adding two 3l sidesaddle pouches to mine.
http://craven1.apollohosting.com/miva/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=E1&Product_Code=A3SB&Category_Code=AC

[slannesh]

You hit upon the one thing I would change on the skycrane. The pouches on the Warhammer are bigger, and I wish that Eberle had made them the same size on both packs.
I ended up just adding two 3l sidesaddle pouches to mine.
http://craven1.apollohosting.com/miva/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=E1&Product_Code=A3SB&Category_Code=AC

That reminds me. One advantage the Skycrane might have over the Warhammer, my water bladder sticks out the top of the hydration sleeve.

I have the blue civilian 2L version of this bladder:

http://eberlestock.com/Backpack%20Accessories.htm#WB2L

And it sticks out of the supposed 3L hydration sleeve just past the Nalgene sized fill port. Now that's not a HUGE deal since even full the water only comes up to the bottom of the fill port but it was annoying and I have no idea how they think a full litre more is going to fit in that same pocket?

ninja edit: I may try moving my bladder up into the LP1 sleeve since apparently it's designed to fit that exact bladder. But it seems like a lot of weight to put right on the top of the pack, but it would allow me to make the whole unit a little more compact.

[sigboy40]

Are you talking about the pockets on the inside?
Because I have been trying to figure out what was supposed to go in them,
The outer pockets on the skycrane are big enough around to hold 3l camelbak bladders just fine.

[arktrekker]

Sigboy - is your pic a skycrane? If so, how do you like it? Pretty sure I will be pulling the trigger this week and any input is appreciated.

[sigboy40]

Sigboy - is your pic a skycrane? If so, how do you like it? Pretty sure I will be pulling the trigger this week and any input is appreciated.

Yes,that is a pic of the inside of my skycrane. I really enjoy it because it fits into my personal philosophy of modularity. I have made some changes to my personal pack. You will see more of it when I get around to my BOB thread.

That being said, the skycrane is not for everyone. It is little more then a hard MOLLE panel with backpack straps on it. It could use larger side pockets, the same set up as the Warhammer would have been better IMHO. The skycrane is three inches longer than the Warhammer, so the pouches are the same cubic inch but not as usable.
The versatility of these packs is in their attachments. The lp1 fanny and the little brother pack add space and other carry options. The Spike and Super Spike Duffels are also sound designs that function perfectly in the field.

I personally love the lp1, but I did not care for the Little Brother. The inner dimensions did not work for me to pack it, and I did not find it to be comfortable as a daypack, either with or without the eberlestock hip belt. However, I compare every pack in that size range to the Camelbak Linchpin with the Mystery Ranch harness. I am obviously biased. If I had it to do over again I would order just the skycrane and the lp1. That or I would move to the Just One, or the Operator. My only complaint on those was that I wanted a removable scabbard so that you didnt have to carry that weight when you werent using it.

[arktrekker]

The removable scabbard is the reason I have migrated that way versus the operator as well as I do a lot of summer hiking minus rifle and carry either a longbow or recurve a lot.

[sigboy40]

here is the pack after I folded it all up as you saw in the first pic

[slannesh]

Are you talking about the pockets on the inside?
Because I have been trying to figure out what was supposed to go in them,
The outer pockets on the skycrane are big enough around to hold 3l camelbak bladders just fine.

Yes, the top left and top right in your pic are what I assumed were the hydration pockets. The back of them is padded so stuff in the main pack doesn't get all stabby with your bladder and when closed up it puts the water right next to your back instead of on the back of the pack. I'll take some pics of mine and show you what i'm talking about.

Had a major piss off this weekend during my SSMBO. My brand new Warhammer has its' first battle wound, had a stray ember from my fire jump over 4 feet and land on my pack and I didn't notice till the morning, burned a hole through the left wing. Thankfully it's not in a place that will affect the packs' function but still you spend $300 on a backpack and fuck it up the first time out? Frustrating.

[Sheepdog-Z]

Just put in an order for a J51 and LP1 Fanny pack the other day, I should have it in a couple of weeks.

I'm intending to build my SAR ready bag around it. I love the fact it's so modular which means I can carry the stuff I'll always need in the J51 or LP1 and then add stuff with a spike camp duffel or G1 if I want/need more room. I know it's a heavy bag for the base size but I'm more concerned with comfort and durability than ultra light weight.

I'm not sure what you consider a SAR ready pack -- I ended up selling my dragonfly and picking up one of the Arc'teryx Kata packs for my 3-day pack. I'll use it for SAR, backpacking, little things like that. I can't imagine needing a warhammer sized pack for SAR... but maybe your SAR is very different from mine.

[slannesh]

I'm not sure what you consider a SAR ready pack -- I ended up selling my dragonfly and picking up one of the Arc'teryx Kata packs for my 3-day pack. I'll use it for SAR, backpacking, little things like that. I can't imagine needing a warhammer sized pack for SAR... but maybe your SAR is very different from mine.

The Warhammer on it's own is 46L or 2500ci

As to the size, we're required to be able to spend at least 24 hours in the bush in any weather conditions and need to be able to have extra clothes in case a subject isn't properly dressed and we locate them. My 28L pack was sufficient except I wasn't able to fit a clothes for the subject beyond my own change of clothes and wasn't able to fit in raingear at all.

I'll be the first to admit that I pack heavy and take plenty of things that I don't always need. But as my 24 hour survival course taught me there are a lot of people who pack too light as well. Various team members borrowed duct tape, my hatchet as well as my saw and a few people joked that if they needed extra food they'd come visit me. Granted, I didn't end up needing several things I brought, but i'd still much rather have them and not need them than need them and not have them.

[opksrj]

they are pretty cool rucks - my buddies have some

[furiousjorge]

i asked this question in another old thread, but since the warhammer has a similar design, i figured i'd ask my question here, too. when you load up the center pocket/bag/duffel bay - whatever - and it's say, only half full, how does the compression work? i really like the idea of this design, and am thinking i can stuff my bag, undies, tent and some grub in this thing without maxing it out and turning it into a small car on my back. i envision taking up a sort of vertical, triangular tube of space out of the middle and cinching it down to keep it still kinda lopro. but, i don't want it to be sloshy.

btw, i'm actually looking at the http://eberlestock.com/J34%20Just%20One.htm, not the warhammer.

thanks.

[slannesh]

i asked this question in another old thread, but since the warhammer has a similar design, i figured i'd ask my question here, too. when you load up the center pocket/bag/duffel bay - whatever - and it's say, only half full, how does the compression work? i really like the idea of this design, and am thinking i can stuff my bag, undies, tent and some grub in this thing without maxing it out and turning it into a small car on my back. i envision taking up a sort of vertical, triangular tube of space out of the middle and cinching it down to keep it still kinda lopro. but, i don't want it to be sloshy.

btw, i'm actually looking at the http://eberlestock.com/J34%20Just%20One.htm, not the warhammer.

thanks.

On it's own the Warhammer doesn't have a center pocket, you need to add a spike camp duffel or a Little Brother to it to have an actual "Bag" there.

You can run the compression straps either under or over the 'wing pods' so to answer your question it would really depend on what's in the wings. I've got a spike camp duffel on order that should be here any day so i'll be able to try what you're asking in a bit. That being said, it shouldn't be a problem. so long as you're not putting weird pressure on the midpoint of the wings it would work fine. I imagine you would probably run the main lower compression strap on the outside of the wings and the top on on the inside.

[furiousjorge]

ahhh, so i see - spent so much time bouncing around on that site everything started to blur together. doh.

i'll be interested to see how you think it handles being underloaded. i like the idea of being able to pile a ton of crap in there, but i'd really hate to actually carry it.

[slannesh]

Yeah I hear ya.

Most of my gear is in the wing pods or the top mounted fanny pack that integrates with the lid. The duffel I plan to use for bulky winter stuff just to get to camp. Extra tarp for shelter, sleeping bag, shovel and the like. then when I get set up the duffel either zips out completely or you can fold it up in the load bay and just close the wings together over top of it.

Once I get the duffel in i'll take some pics and post em up.

[FailQuail]

Hey Everyone,
I have a warhammer with all the accessories in the rock veil camo. I bought it because I wanted a modular type layering system but in its current configuration its just too large for me to handle. I'm 5'6 140 lbs. In addition I'm looking to buy a motorcycle which would integrate to any bug out plan I might have so I need to carry much less stuff. I also do not like how the waist belt rides a tad high for what I am used to because I am a backpacker. You could wear a gunbelt while carrying this ruck. Great for some of you, but I am not Rambo. Overall it's a great pack but too heavy and cumbersome for me. I use it currently as a very expensive duffel bag to drag to the car for a bug out. I have it with the spike duffel, in coyote. the super spike duffel in matching rock veil camo. The little brother insert pack. I used just the little brother for a 5 day trip once with a friend. I also have the zip in rock veil camoflauge panel. Essentially you can layer it up or down in size as needed. Looking to sell the whole kit and caboodle for $525. Cost new was $620.

Santanoutdoors.com price was the best deal when I bought it a little while back. Here are their prices.
G1 Little brother 189
Warhammer 299
spike duffel 39
super spike duffel 59
zip in camo / orange panel 30
$616
Offering 15% off. Items are brand new. They sit packed and unused so 15% is fair I believe. I don't know how to sell things, but my friend has an ebay account and would be willing to conduct the secured sale for us.
Hope this is OK to post here, seemed relevant since the thread is about this pack system.