I did not know they had come out with the JP9, the scabbard and the whole 'weight too far out' thing is what drew my attention away to other packs. I do like the new setup without the scabbard and definetly the flexibility in different setups, with'without duffell etc.

The 7lb weight seems a little high as does the almost 7lb-13oz weight of the 4500... Much higher thatn the weights I am used to with regular backpacking packs, I have a kelty ultralight 3500 weighing in under 3.5 lbs. But then again I am positive it would be destroyed in about a week on a hunting trip.

The lightweight of the sitka pack intrigued me, but I have hearing that they grossly stated this (i.e. the pack without the top or straps etc.)

We'll have to look into a little further... Maybe bring a scale into sportsmans wearhouse!

with the JP9, where to you keep you sleeping bagand bivy or tent. It doen't seem to have a bottom compartment like the badlands 2800 (although it seems to have 300 other features the 2800 doesn't!)

I'm curious if the side rolls can fit something like that or if you keep it open and in the center duffel area.

Merry Christmas

dbowhunter wrote:
with the JP9, where to you keep you sleeping bagand bivy or tent. It doen't seem to have a bottom compartment like the badlands 2800 (although it seems to have 300 other features the 2800 doesn't!)

I'm curious if the side rolls can fit something like that or if you keep it open and in the center duffel area.

Merry Christmas

Well you got a couple choices... Use just the pack and strap your bivy/bag combo up under the chassis. Option 2 would be to stick it in the mesh meat area. You could also purchase the zipin panel that'll keep that area covered. Option 3 and my preference is sticking it in the spike camp duffel. I basically set that bad boy up with all of the sleeping / cooking needs. I always keep my Western Mountaineering Megalite stuffed in the ODR Advanced bivy than compress that in a small sack. It packs down pretty small. If I compressed the bivy and bag seperately, I could stuff one in each side pocket and keep the pack smaller. I just prefer it the way I do it now and use that area for other stuff. This thing is a Transformer, its awesome. Lots of flexibility with this bag... http://eberlestoc...0Blue%20Widow.htm About half way down the link it runs you through some of the options.

Merry Christmas! Back to setting the presents up under the tree.

Sounds pretty awesome...One last question for a user...

What adjustabiliy does the suspension have? I am 6'6 225 so I need some torso adjustment and lengthy pads. I notieced eberlestock had long shoulder pads listed on their site but does't say that they fit the jp9.

Merry christmas!

I know they sell bigger shooters harness'(shoulder straps) and big boy waist kits (belts). There is a ton of adjustability in the torso adjustment as well. It was really nice to finally have a pack that fit my torso well. For me at 5'9", 43chest and 30 waist I always had a hard time getting the BL's to fit properly. This one fit very well once I screwed around with weight in it and tweaked it out. Call the owner Glenn Eberle and he'll hook you up. I've spoken to him directly and he's always been more than helpfull over the phone. Goodl luck!

Thanks for the great advice guys...I will look into it. It just still bugs me how much these damn hunting packs weigh...seems like someone would have come up with a lighter way to be user-freindly than a 7+ pound pack... I am used to my (albeit smaller) 3.6lb kelty ultralight 3500... Anyone with trail backpacking experience... do you feel general backpacking packs just aren't built tough enough to handle the load? I don't think my Kelty could handle 70+lbs but there are others in the 4-5lb range that appear to be built tough enough too. Maybe hunting packs still have some evolving too do or the "jack of all trades" hunting pack mentality weighs it down.