Review on Eberlestock Mainframe Pack: Optimized Backpacks and Versatile Daypacks by Emanuel Guffey

I like the concept of this package. Expandable with a desiccant bag which can then be replaced with your venison bags. Good idea. However, it needs some serious tweaking to be functional and deserve the asking price. Pros: Comfortable, adjustable padding and straps. High quality, durable materials. A lightweight. Cons: Tiny. I had to return it upon receipt when I realized how small it is even when fully unfolded. But I wanted to love it, so I kept it and regretted not having done it just for its tiny size. Zippered Bat Gear Bags (sold separately) zipper from the bottom, meaning gravity is always working against them. There is velcro on one side to keep the zipper from opening. Have no other. This has been a problem more than once. Brackets / straps. These 4 adjustable straps are designed to secure an expanding load (dry bag) or meat (if successful). Aside from being too short, they also need to be fastened and clipped over the gear pockets. When the pockets are full, too short a length will limit the capacity of your meat load or dry bag and will require your straps to put a lot of pressure on the pockets' contents (optics, range finders, etc.). Poorly. Slippery Belt Buckles: Belt buckles that allow for adjustment and tightening do not hold up well and become loose during a hike. Allow your load to start rocking and possibly slipping. Cargo Shelf: Due to the tiny size of the package, the flat spot where you stack your cargo is small/shallow, which means your meat cargo cannot be fully carried. This pretty much guarantees that you will lose/reset your game download at some point. Especially if you cut away the meat. Any weight attached here should be rigid (boned or perhaps tied heavily with string to make the load more rigid) and it must not be too bulky since the shelf is small and the straps so short. I have used this when hunting mountain goats in Southeast Asia, Alaska. We weathered most of the trip and avoided getting caught in goats. Maybe that was a blessing. My son shot a small black bear which we skinned and boned. I carried the skin in my backpack. He drove meat in this F1 and the 2 mile descent became a train wreck due to the issues listed above.