I’m going to Alaska on a self-funded Moose hunt in just a few weeks. Alaska has extremely strict rules on not boning out meat. Moose in the Yukon can get up to 1800 lbs, which makes bone-in quarters extremely heavy. I’ve been looking for a heavy-duty meat pack that can double as a day pack if necessary.
Eberlestock has a reputation in the military as being indestructible and heavy. For hunting, I obviously want my pack to weigh as little as possible empty while still strong enough and with enough structure to get the job done without hurting me.
Eberlestock has heard the voices crying for lighter packs and they’re making changes in that direction. One of the changes is the relatively new Vapor 5000. It’s a very minimalist lightweight shell or bag that can be loaded from the top or front.
The Vapor 5000 weighs only two pounds empty (2lbs) and holds 5000 c.i. worth of gear.
It zips or straps onto an Eberlestock F1 Mainframe carrier.
Should you need to carry a load of meat out you can unzip and the Vapor straps on and holds the meat against the frame.
The Eberlestock F1 Mainframe is a heavy-duty aluminum frame pack that is tested to hold over 700 lbs. Hopefully, that’s overkill and I won’t be needing that much capacity.
The F1 Mainframe is adjustable to fit nearly any size adult. The best feature is that it has a meat shelf which should make loading quarters or meat bags on the pack way easier than packs that don’t have this feature.
The Vapor 5000 MSRP is $199
The F1 Mainframe weighs 4.5 lbs empty. MSRP is $249
Watch for a full review of the Eberlestock Pack system in a month or two after I’ve had a chance to see how much it will haul.
Check out the F1 Mainframe HERE
As the Editor-in-Chief of GunsAmerica, Hunt365, Decoding Darkness, and Suppressor Academy, True Pearce brings a rare blend of legal expertise, competitive shooting credentials, and deep hunting knowledge to the forefront of the firearms world. A former professional sponsored 3-Gun and Multigun competitor with multiple championships and titles, True’s shooting career began in long-range and tactical sniper matches—and he still burns powder in precision competitions, now branching into Hunter NRL.
A certified firearms instructor who has trained over 10,000 students face-to-face, True has also served on both sides of the courtroom as an attorney and currently as an elected Prosecuting Attorney. He has prosecuted and defended high-profile self-defense and firearms cases, giving him a unique, real-world perspective on the Second Amendment.
Outside the courtroom and off the range, True is a true western outdoorsman. A lifelong hunter and rancher, he rides and hunts off his own string of horses and pack animals, chasing elk, mule deer, wolves, coyotes, and anything else in season. He’s a longtime reloader, producing both precision rifle ammo and, back in the day, handloading over 40,000 rounds of 9mm and 5.56 annually for competition.
He’s also a thermal and night vision expert, known for his obsession with high-end optics, and is rarely found without a camera or a guitar nearby. Whether he’s glassing a distant ridge, reviewing cutting-edge gear, or deep in legal research, True brings passion, precision, and grit to everything he does.
Experience:
– Professional Shooter – Sponsored 3-Gun & Multigun competitor with multiple titles and a foundation in long-range and sniper/tactical matches.– Firearms Instructor – Certified instructor with over 10,000 students trained face-to-face.– Elected Prosecuting Attorney – Attorney with real-world experience defending and prosecuting self-defense and gun-related cases.– Hunter & Rancher – Horseback hunter with a working ranch, passionate about elk, deer, predator, and backcountry hunting.– Reloading & Ballistics Expert – Precision reloader and former high-volume competition handloader.– Optics Authority – Known for his deep knowledge and unrelenting standards in optics, thermal, and night vision gear.– Outdoor Creative – Avid photographer, guitar player, and outdoorsman with a sharp eye for gear and storytelling.– 2A Advocate – Committed to protecting the Second Amendment and educating Americans about their rights and responsibilities.
I have one and I need to know how to take the frame part off for washing and put back on. Please I’m not finding anything about it.