Back in January 2012, Eberlestock showed off two NEW packs at the SHOT Show in Las Vegas. Dubbed the S25 Cherry Bomb and S34 Secret Weapon, these packs are a departure from the backpack with weapon scabbard designs that have made their gear so popular among 'Hiders and other passionate hunters & shooters around the globe. Glen Eberle, Eberlestock's owner, sought to put together a "discreet" backpack that can carry a compact weapon but do so without the external features & design screaming "tactical" or "I'm carrying a gun". While I haven't spent any real time discussing with Glen his vision or focus when designing the S25 and S34, it is evident that he is targeting the consumer who is looking to fill the following needs:
--Urban customer who has to transport their weapon(s) in an area where neighbors may not be gun friendly. In other words, need a gun case that doesn't <span style="font-weight: bold">LOOK</span> like a gun case;
--"Prepper/SHTF" customer who forsees the need to transport basic survival items AND a weapon <span style="font-style: italic">discreetly</span>. Many of these advocates prefer the inherent design features of a backpack vs. a duffel, etc.;
--Customer looking for a "minimalist" day-pack that can accomodate & safely transport a laptop computer and other business or travel accessories. While the S25 Cherry Bomb is a better fit for this application than the S34 due to the shorter vertical length of the pack, both offer a built-in organizer, two storage compartments, and a removable waist belt that can liken this design to a "vertical briefcase" pack;
So, I left SHOT show worn out & in a daze, trying to make sense out of all the new gear I had seen and handled. Those of you who have been to SHOT know what I'm talking about, and this Show was no different. Going through my daily notes, I kept coming back to these two "discreet" packs. Eberlestock is an anchor line for deltaoutdoorsman.com, and I try to analyze their offerings a little deeper than some other lines because we take so many call & inquiries from customers who can't personally handle or evaluate their packs before making a purchase decision. With the standard scabbard & backpack design, it is pretty easy to get a customer narrowed down to 1-2 options after speaking with them about intended applications, budget, etc. With the S25 and S34, there are different considerations at play, since these two packs really aren't aimed at the guy looking for a range, match, or hunting setup. So, when I heard a few weeks ago that these packs were no longer prototypes but now ready for customers, I jumped at the chance to bring one in for T&E.
Let me say at the onset here that I did not bring in the S25 Cherry Bomb for this review. I opted for the S34 Secret Weapon for a number of reasons, the main being that these packs are <span style="font-style: italic">identical</span> with regard to features & layout. They vary only in dimensions, as the Cherry Bomb is merely a scaled down version of the Secret Weapon. Since most guys here are not running SBR rifles but instead have carbines or bolt rifles with folding chassis stock, it just didn't make sense to bring in the smaller of the 2 packs. With this being said, I'm going to cut/paste the features described by Eberlestock for the S25 below, so you have some reference of the capabilities of that model:
<span style="font-style: italic"> The 'S' line of packs takes Eberlestock's design ethic of bringing you "more than meets the eye" in an entirely new direction. With a unique aesthetic, the packs are purposely made with a minimalist exterior combined with a feature-rich interior. Perhaps you're one of those people who wants a pack to carry your weapon, but you don't want it to scream "military" or "hunter." Without question, the 'S' packs, originally conceived to complement our Stealth Rifle Chassis, look civilian, as in civil, and sporty.
If you want a bag that will carry a folding sniper rifle, an 11" barreled M4, or that doubles as compact luggage, check out the S34 Secret Weapon.
If, on the other hand, you want a slim-line day bag that works equally well as a laptop carrier or as a pack for a 7" barreled M4, check out the S25 Cherry Bomb. In our field trials with the packs, the Cherry Bomb became thought of as a "vertical briefcase." With the waist belt removed, it's an ultra-comfortable, handy little pack that is right at home running through airports or going from home-to-car-to-office and back. No doubt you'll spot these bags riding the subways of the world with the morning commute.
The smaller S25 Cherry Bomb has two main compartments, plus an outside pocket under the coffin-logo panel.
-- In the first "public" compartment, you'll find translucent slip-pockets suitable for iphones, with a double pen slot between them, a semi-rigid document / laptop sleeve (which alternates as a hydration bladder stowage pocket, as shown above), opposing rows of MOLLE/PALS type webbing, and a mesh pocket inside the front door.
-- In the second, "private" compartment, you'll find another sleeve suitable for a laptop, plus the main weapon stowage compartment. This is sized for a 7" barreled M4 or similar proportioned weapon (Primary Weapons Systems Diablo shown above). The pack measures 24.5" x 11", and this pocket uses the full dimensions. Also here, you'll find a nice organizer assembly, with two padded magazine / iphone / compact camera compartments, pen sleeves, a zippered pocket, a tuck-pocket, and a key-keeper hook.
-- The pack includes a rain cover stowed in a pocket in the bottom.
-- Removable waistbelt has two zippered pockets (although our favorite way to use this pack is executive-style, with the waistbelt removed).</span>
So, now that there is a little background in place, lets talk about the <span style="text-decoration: underline">Eberlestock S34 Secret Weapon backpack</span>...
I <span style="font-weight: bold">LIKE</span> the layout, features, and design of this pack a LOT! Glen's offering in the S34 is unique, in that it's top to bottom length runs 30 inches & can accomodate a long gun up to 29.5 inches in length (overall length or broken down), is hydration compatible (either a 2 or 3 Liter Bladder is workable) AND has a shoulder harness & waist belt system augmented by a framesheet & aluminum stays for stability. There are a couple of other competing offerings out there (I won't go into their names or makes) but none offer the same compact length, a waist belt, lumbar pad, vertically adjustable shoulder harness, can accomodate a hydration bladder, or incorporate a framesheet with aluminium stays. Just because they're "discreet", can carry a weapon, and have shoulder straps like a backpack doesn't give them the same capabilities as the S34. So, based on my initial observations & research into this product arena, Eberlestock's design & features with this pack is both unique and without equal.
Externally, there is nothing about this pack that tips off the unsuspecting observer that it is (or can be used as) a weapon carrier. The demo model shown in the pics for this review is in Military Green / Urban Gray. There is NO external molle webbing, and the three colors currently being offered (Black / Urban Gray, Coyote Brown / Dry Earth, and Military Green / Urban Gray) are coordinated in a way that projects more recreational pursuits than tactical/military. Save the coffin-shaped front panel with the Eberlestock brand, the casual observer is going to see a pack that more closely resembles a tennis racquet bag than a hauler of firearm(s).
Now, on to the interior of the S34 Secret Weapon pack...
There are two load carrying compartments for this pack. Each is accessed via dual YKK zipper pulls and run from the top edge & top third of the pack down to the lower third of the pack. However, instead of running the edge, the zipper flap tapers toward the middle section, making the flap resemble a teardrop when fully unzipped.
The first compartment uses a waterproof zipper and runs approximately 24 inches from the top to bottom & is roughly 12.5 inches wide at the top. At the top wall of the compartment are two translucent pouches that are roughly 5 inches long & 4.5 inches tall. There is no way to close the pockets, but they'd be a handy place to keep a wallet, passport, etc. There is a 10.5 inch sleeve built into the compartment that is similiar to the sleeve found in the X3 LoDrag backpack. There are three rows of molle webbing at the exterior of this sleeve, which can be used to mount molle compatible pouches, blow out kits, survival knife, holster, etc. The inside of this sleeve is 1.25 inches deep and is a good place for a hydration bladder, tablet/laptop, rifle mags, ammo, etc. At the flap (opposing the sleeve within the compartment) is one row of molle webbing and a mesh pocket with zipper access.
...<span style="font-style: italic">used up the photo space for this post. Review continues below, with more pics, observations, etc.</span>
