I just bought the X1 and haven't used it though. The gun scabbard doe not come off. And you can put a bow in it without buying anything additional. I think it will be fine even without putting a gun it. It isn't that long.

 

I have the X-1 and it is awesome. It holds a bow with no other attachments.
The gun scabbard does tuck up into the pack, not leaving the tail out. You do not have to use it for just a gun, I use mine for holding a spotter or I stuff my rain jacket it for quick access. You also cannot buy the X-1 without the scabbard since it is built in. So far I cannot find any cons with this pack and I am very critical of my gear.

It hauls heavy loads exceptionally well for such a small pack, up to 80lbs so far with no problems. It also put the load in the right areas of the harness: no weight on the top of the harness but on your upper chest, which is the way a pack is supposed to transfer loads. The hip belt is very comfortable as well.

This pack does take some tweaking to get it just right, but when it all comes together, heaven!

I love the bow holder set up. You can access your bow extremely fast with just a click of a buckle without taking the pack off. There is zero slosh of the bow when secured as well.

I will try and get some pics of mine loaded for reference.

 

Pictures

Thanks ABomb - Pictures would be great. Anything of the scabbard and the bow cradle would be awesome.

The research I have done so far shows a solid pack but a few pictures and some more opinions would be awesome.

 

pictures

Anyone have any pictures? Maybe a few more opinions? Thanks.

 

I love mine. The scabbard gets used for lots of things. Usually a roled up map for when I am hunting from the ground.

 

Sorry guys, but I have been super busy trying to get business done so I can get serious for the next 5 days and kill an Elk. We have passed up 2 so far in 2 days. Will try to get you some pics loaded with a 6x6 if all works out.

 

I would have to second everything Abomb said. I bought an X-1 this season and just returned from NM where I used it every day chasing elk. It's a nice pack and I got it(after extensive research) for all the reasons you've listed. I wanted the capability to hold a rifle or bow and also wanted to be able to pack out game with it if the necessity arose. I only have two criticisms of the pack. First, the bow holder only works well if you have a lot of stuff in the pack. Otherwise the riser hits you in the head. I like to pack light for day hunts but had to stuff some extra clothing in the top compartment to use the bow holder. Second, the bow holder works great for open country. But, if you're going to be walking through trees, forget it. I was constantly hitting branches overhead when walking through the woods with the bow in the bowholder as it sits fairly high. I suspect most packs would be very similar though. I ended up using my Primos sling after day three because I got tired of the noise of the bow hitting branches and worrying about my string rubbing on trees.

 

I have an X1, the scabbard is great for holding my arrow quiver, and you do not need anything extra to strap a bow to it. It has a bow butt bucket built in. The pack is great, it rides well, and has a lot of room for a day/overnight pack

 

Scabbard

I am having a tough time getting past the thought of the scabbard getting in the way when I dont have a gun in it? What do you X1 owners have to say to convince me the pack is to good to let this hold me back. Thanks.

 

All I will say is it doesnt get in the way and you can pack alot of stuff in the scabbard.

 

You don't even know the scabbard is there when you're not using it. The bottom folds into the pack. The pocket for the scabbard is great for putting things that need to be readily accessible, such as spotting scopes/tripods, raingear, etc.

 

Pictures

Does anyone have some in use photos of this pack? Thanks.

 

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Here is the bottom of the X1 showing the scabbard tucked into the pack - like was said before, if you didn't know it was there you'd never notice it.

Here is the top of the pack - the opening is approx. 6 inches by 4 inches. It fits a quiver, camera tripod etc. Anything you want really that will fit.

 

Here is the scabbard deployed holding my varmint rifle attached to one of the biggest scopes out there. It all fits perfectly snug, and the 12 pound rifle can be packed all day long in perfect comfort.

Here is the scabbard tucked away, and my Drenlin strapped in. It attaches super easily, and if you have normal shoulder range of motion, the bow can be retrieved without having to take the pack off. Here the bow is right side up, but when the bow is rigged for hunting I have the quiver attached. Since the riser should be facing the opposite shoulder from where the strap is attached this would put the quiver toward my back and it wouldn't work, so the bow goes in upside down putting the nock end of the arrows straight up. Like was said before - you wouldn't want to hike through brush and low trees in this configuration.

The only other advise I could offer is to order the optional strap keepers to keep all the loose straps on the pack nice, neat and out of the way. And order Eberlestocks hydration bladder - is is by far the highest quality bladder I have ever seen, and the long narrow space in the pack will not support the normal Camelback replacements, which are too wide.
Get this pack - you will not be sorry.

 

X2

I just ordered the X2...I was amazed at the quality when I received it. Looks like Eberlestock makes great products...can't wait to use it.

 

I was sold on Badlands Pack!

Than I saw the packs that Eberlestock makes...............WOW!

I am also looking into the packs that are made by Blacks Creek. These seem to be very well made also.

So far, I have to say that the Eberlestock packs are very, very nice. They shoulder very well and sit very comfortably on the shoulders and waist. The padding is great. A Great Product!

 

I’ve done a Colorado elk hunt for ten of the past eleven years, used a bunch of different packs, been using the X1 for the past three years, and am extremely happy with it.

I got it to rifle hunt with, but two years ago we did bow, worked great!

It’s the only pack I know of that allows you to access your weapon so quick and easily, most you have to take the pack off to unbuckle the gun or bow.

Mine is the older style and it didn’t have all the straps and buckles the new ones do, I wasn’t happy with the way it carried the load so far from my back, (the gun scabbard allows it to hang about three or four inches away) so I called Eberlestock and they gave me the buckles to make the changes that I wanted, and they shipped them to me with no charge.

I don’t understand why Kai S says you have to carry arrows in a quiver with the knock up, mine has the strap buckle on both shoulder straps, I had no problem carrying with the knocks down. My bow has a very short axle to axle, 31 5/8 and going under brush wasn’t that big a deal, but if your bow is much longer I could see how trees would be a big problem.

 

No don't get me wrong - you absolutely CAN move the strap to the opposite shoulder (my pack only came with the one strap, but it could be easily moved). I just find it more comfortable and ergonomic to have the strap and buckle on my right, so I have to rotate the bow in order to do it. Either way - removing the bow and getting ready to shoot is just as fast.
Just another thing that makes these packs so awesome - the ability to attach and reconfigure the pack to suit your needs is simple with all the built in tie down points.