I tend to be pretty critical of the design and execution of outdoor gear. So on the rare occasions when I’m 360-degree satisfied, or impressed, by facets related to build quality, sensible design - heck even the “cool factor” - it’s worthy of a celebration. Moreover, when I’m able to find gear of the this quality at a reasonable price, I feel like I found a purple unicorn. All this summarizes my thoughts on this backpack.
So far, I’ve used my Phantom pack (which I got at an awesome, sale price here) for some training hikes. The rifle scabbard easily swallows my 16” DMR/MSR and my NRL-style rifle fits equally well with the adjustable top in-place. I love the dufflebag-scale space and the details provided to keep a reasonable degree of organization possible.
When loaded, the pack seems to have a more balanced feel than other packs. It handles the weight easily and has no shortage of adjustments to personalize it to your ever-changing choices of what you wear. The zippers, stitching and fabric are all robust and the multi-cam colors are spot-on; no pink hues like the cheaper stuff.
I’m not a fanboy of Eberlestock but I have to give credit where it's due; this is an excellent pack from every angle. I suppose the worst part of Eberlestock bags is trying to keep yourself to buying just one.