So I received my Tomahawk about two weeks ago to replace my Halftrack, as the Halftrack is too small for my current needs. The Tomahwak is a great looking pack with some great features and issues. I bought mine in Dry Earth because Multicam was sold out.
The Pros of the Tomahawk are:
1. Wider and deeper than the Halftrack. Packing my gear is so much more easier than with the Halftrack with the room to spare. It's the right size for an autumn camping trip and I can save my Army issued Large Rucksack for really cold Winter trips when I need to carry extra gear.
2. It carries heavy loads fairly well. I've done several hikes for several miles with about 38 lbs loads and it feels relatively good. My lower lumbar area always feels good but my shoulders are tired. However, to be honest any pack may make your shoulders tired after awhile, so that's just a side comment more than a real complaint.
3. The removable Fanny Top is very spacious which does a great job holding my fire starting kit and cordage with room to spare.
4. It still has the same long side pockets just like the Halftrack, which is great, but see below for caveats.
Cons.
1. It's about 8 lbs and very sturdy but that's a pro and a con. I like the overall sturdiness and support of the INTEX II frame but in the summer heat I feel every ounce of that pack on me.
2. The Fanny Top will not stay in place. The only way to keep it mostly on the top is the pack needs to be stuffed. If the pack is not stuffed the Fanny Top slides down the pack and exposes the upper pack to the elements.
3. The single strap system and lower beaver tail/flap is a mess. So there is one strap on both the left and right frontside of the pack that goes from the beaver tail to the Fanny Top. Once the buckles are released the beaver tail just falls open spilling any contents that may have been held in place there. This is messy and annoying. This system should be redesigned or abandoned all together in place of a conventional PALS webbing system at the bottom of the pack.
4. The rain cover can't be used while attached to the rain cover loop inside the rain cover pocket.
The beaver tail design does not allow the rain cover to be deployed while attached to the rain cover pocket loop. You must detach the rain cover from the rain cover loop, reattach the the male beaver tail buckles to the female fanny top buckles, then attach the rain cover to the outer part of the pack. OR pull the rain cover attachment loop through a laser cut MOLLE slot then attach the rain cover to the loop and pull over the pack. UGH!!
On my Halftrack I just unzip the rain cover pocket, pull out the rain cover and slide it out over my pack. Easy.
5. Water Bottle Pockets at the bottom of the pack should be expanded. Like all Eberlestock packs, if you use the long side pockets, you can't use the Water Pottle Pockets and vice versa.