Eberlestock Halftrack Review
I've had a bit of time with my Halftrack now, so can give some proper opinions on it. I'm sure I will make more discoveries as time goes on with it, but there is enough to start us off.
Preamble and Why I chose the Halftrack
I ordered my Halftrack from S&S Archery in the USA, and paid a total of £222 for it including import charges to the UK. Expensive, but from what I had read it was worth the money.
I wanted a pack that was big enough for a full day on the hills, possibly carrying enough kit for my wife as well. I don't subscribe to lightweight, minimalist hiking and quite enjoy carrying a decent weight on my back. It makes me feel that I'm actually doing something. While I'm not exactly rich, I will save up to be able to afford good kit that is worth the money. That's what I did to get the Halftrack.
In particular, I wanted something tough enough that it will likely be the last such pack I need to buy, a panel loader with some kit organisation built in and a good back system capable of comfortably carrying a heavy load. I'm 5'8 but with a longer back than average for my height, and very broad-chested - think Tasmanian Devil!
Eberlestock is often mentioned in the same sentence as Kifaru, who as we all know make terrifically good, and expensive, packs. The nearest Kifaru competitor to the Halftrack is the Marauder, with a couple of long pockets and a belt attached. That would be a somewhat more capacious (good) and several times the price (not good) of the Eberlestock Halftrack. The Kifaru is well out of my 'can justify' price range.
A few years ago I was fortunate to get a used Kifaru G1 Zulu at a good price, and it is my benchmark for quality in a rucksack. I will make comparisons with some aspects of the Zulu where appropriate.
Specifications
Capacity: Eberlestock rate it as 35 litres, but I've read comments including from Eberlestock that they grossly understate the size. Some sales sites list it as 50 litres. I have no way to measure it, but my guess is that it's somewhere between the two.
Weight: 2.9kg
Features:
First impressions
The Halftrack impresses with its build quality in a similar way to Kifaru. The materials used and construction seem excellent. Everything appears strongly stitched and seams well finished. The Halftrack certainly looks like it can take a beating and come out smiling.
The Halftrack is not as 'strappy' and is relatively simple compared to Kifaru sacks, although it still has plenty of PALS webbing all over for optional extras.
The military green colour is similar to ranger green; close enough that my ranger green kit from ATS looks like it matches. The photographs make the colours look more different than they are to my eyes.
The Halftrack is a relatively tall, wide and shallow rucksack for its capacity compared to others I have looked at. This is good for me because it keeps the weight closer to the back, gives enough height for a good suspension system and looks right on my broad back.
Here are a few comparison pictures to get things going:
Next to the G1 Zulu in foliage green, with a ranger green pouch on the front:
Next to the Maxpedition pygmy falcon foliage green, and an olive green sheath:
The main compartment
As you can see above, there is plenty of PALS webbing on the front door. The zip pulls are hooped and made from a rubbery plastic. These are very easy to use and much better than knotted paracord.
Just below the obligatory velcro patch is the sleeve pocket; you can see where the edge of the sales card goes in. The pocket extends to the bottom of the door and I have a thinly-folded two-person survival bag inside it. The pocket really is slim, just two pieces of cordura stitched flatly together. It would not hold thick items especially if the pack was stuffed full. It's still enough to be quite useful though.
Let's see the inside.
Shelf folded down:
Shelf in place:
One of the missing pieces of information on the sack when perusing the adverts is its size. Here is that information. The front-to-back depth is around six to seven inches, depending on the profile of the aluminium stays in the back.
Dimensions:
The picture below shows the lower half of the Halftrack, with the shelf up. You can see how the shelf is held by the fold-down supports with velcro patches. I abhor velcro, but this is a legitimate use of it. Obviously the shelf is not going to hold a very heavy load on its own, but heavy weights should be in the bottom anyway.
Also shown are the PALS strips and the elastic-topped pockets. Useful storage - I have a hip flask of Jack Daniel's in one now.
Lower half:
Next is a side view of the whole interior. With the shelf folded down, it is apparent that it blocks the top of the back pockets. Above the shelf is the 'radio rack'. This black, pliable plastic mesh is only attached along its bottom edge to the back of the sack. There are two adjustable load straps attached up the mesh to secure the radio, or whatever. Some people apparently cut all of this out of the sack, but I have already fount it useful to support a load above the shelf. It's a useful feature!
Around the upper is another set of elastic-topped pockets. These are much quite narrow at two inches which limits their use. For instance, I have a lifeventure titanium KFS set in a pouch and it just fits in. My Fallkniven TK2 in its pouch sheath also just fits in one of the pockets. The pockets continue behind the radio rack but access is obviously more difficult.
Interior, shelf down:
Suspension and belt
This is the most important aspect of any rucksack. Anything other than the smallest daysack really must have a good back system, especially if rough terrain is expected. For me, a back system should clamp the load to the back with no significant movement, support the weight on the hips rather than the shoulders, and keep the rucksack upright without undue shoulder pressure. Good back ventilation is essential and the system should not cause any undue pressure or hot-spots, especially on the iliac crest where the hip belt should ride.
Fitting the rucksack properly to the wearer's back is critical, and Eberlestock have a video on their website showing how to do this in detail. It is worth watching. I'll jump ahead a little to when I tried it out to say that the Halftrack meets my requirements. Let's have a look how it does so.
Back view and dimensions:
The system starts with the hip belt, in my opinion. The point of the belt is to transfer load to the hips, and the belt must be fitted around or just above the iliac crest. That is the widest part of the pelvis. Too high, and it just squishes the wearers waist and is extremely uncomfortable if fastened tight enough to transfer weight and old the rucksack. Too low, and it will slide down allowing the weight to be taken on the shoulders. Obviously, the positioning is relative to the shoulder harness which must be adjustable to fit the height to the wearer.
Kifaru's omni belt is the best hip belt that I have ever worn. It has almost no padding but is shaped and positioned perfectly to hug the iliac crest securely. The lack of padding means that it is highly flexible and does not give areas of high pressure where padding is compressed; this is painful after a while. I would say Kifaru have the design just about perfect!
The Halftrack's hip belt has a moderate amount of padding and is essentially a flat, straight belt. It has two rows of PALS webbing for attachments (which I make good use of) and passes through a heavily padded lumbar pad. The belt is held there by velcro so it can be removed. The belt fastens with the usual quick release buckle and is notable for the sleeves into which the loose end can be pushed to stop it flapping about. These sleeves are behind the webbing loops which are fixed onto an additional layer of cordura. A neat and clever solution, although it can be a little tricky to stuff the loose ends into the sleeves.
The pictures below show the hip belt and back. Note the very good padding on the back of the rucksack itself, which allow very good airflow. That's an essential for me because I tend to run hot and get a wet back very easily. The lumbar pad is almost two inches thick. I'm a little unsure of that at the moment; I'm not used to such a thing and it feels odd against my back. I think I'll get used to it though, especially as the padding softens up with use.
Hip belt and back padding:
With duct tape to show thickness of padding:
Inside the back is a plastic frame sheet (for general stiffness) and two malleable aluminium stays.
The stays can be removed from their sleeves and bent to the shape of the wearer's back. I haven't found the need to do so.
The stays measure twenty inches in length. This is long enough to allow a take-off for the shoulder tensioning straps high enough not to pull down on the shoulders. On me, at least. Kifaru's smaller sacks have had nineteen inch stays and I know from experience that these are just a touch short for me. Twenty inches is just enough. Longer would be silly on a sack of this capacity.
The height of the suspension harness should be adjusted so that the shoulder straps follow the curve of the wearer's shoulders from the back. This is done with the hip belt properly positioned and fastened. The Halftrack's suspension is fitted onto a rack of black webbing strips with a strong, double-foldover velcro fastener. Another appropriate use of velcro. As can be seen in the picture below, the harness is easily opened up to allow adjustment.
Note also the generous spacing of the shoulder straps. I have had rucksacks where the straps are too close together and cause irritation behind or at the sides of the neck. Not so here, this arrangement suits my broad back well. The straps themselves are wide and thinly but well padded.
The picture also shows the strap management on the shoulder tension straps. These should be adjusted to pull the rucksack just vertical, no further. The loose ends have velcro straps attached to them. Once adjusted, the loose end is rolled up and the velcro strap is fixed around the in-use webbing. This is a very easy and neat solution, saving the use of ranger bands, web dominators or duct tape. A small feature, but one very much appreciated. Take note, Kifaru!
Suspension harness adjustment and webbing management:
Overall, having worn the rucksack with a fair load for a day, I would rate the back system as very good. Only Kifaru beat it. That is about what I expected and hoped for. I am also comparing with Berghaus Cyclops II, Karrimore Jaguar style and a few other decent brands that I have tried over the years. Given that the Halftrack is a much smaller rucksack than the others and designed for a smaller load, it is more than capable of holding its head up in this company.
The only things I would improve on would be to make the hip belt like Kifaru's. Thinner, more moulded around the iliac crest and with the side stabiliser straps and power pulls. I wonder if I could gaffer tape my Kifaru belt onto the Halftrack... Seriously, it is more than good enough for the load that the pack is intended to carry.
I've had a bit of time with my Halftrack now, so can give some proper opinions on it. I'm sure I will make more discoveries as time goes on with it, but there is enough to start us off.
Preamble and Why I chose the Halftrack
I ordered my Halftrack from S&S Archery in the USA, and paid a total of £222 for it including import charges to the UK. Expensive, but from what I had read it was worth the money.
I wanted a pack that was big enough for a full day on the hills, possibly carrying enough kit for my wife as well. I don't subscribe to lightweight, minimalist hiking and quite enjoy carrying a decent weight on my back. It makes me feel that I'm actually doing something. While I'm not exactly rich, I will save up to be able to afford good kit that is worth the money. That's what I did to get the Halftrack.
In particular, I wanted something tough enough that it will likely be the last such pack I need to buy, a panel loader with some kit organisation built in and a good back system capable of comfortably carrying a heavy load. I'm 5'8 but with a longer back than average for my height, and very broad-chested - think Tasmanian Devil!
Eberlestock is often mentioned in the same sentence as Kifaru, who as we all know make terrifically good, and expensive, packs. The nearest Kifaru competitor to the Halftrack is the Marauder, with a couple of long pockets and a belt attached. That would be a somewhat more capacious (good) and several times the price (not good) of the Eberlestock Halftrack. The Kifaru is well out of my 'can justify' price range.
A few years ago I was fortunate to get a used Kifaru G1 Zulu at a good price, and it is my benchmark for quality in a rucksack. I will make comparisons with some aspects of the Zulu where appropriate.
Specifications
Capacity: Eberlestock rate it as 35 litres, but I've read comments including from Eberlestock that they grossly understate the size. Some sales sites list it as 50 litres. I have no way to measure it, but my guess is that it's somewhere between the two.
Weight: 2.9kg
Features:
- Height-adjustable shoulder yoke.
- Padded, removable hip belt with PALS webbing and 'tuck-away' sleeve for excess webbing.
- Padded lumbar pad and back with excellent ventilation.
- Plastic framesheet and malleable, cellular aluminium stays.
- Built-in rain cover in bottom pocket.
- Captive cord locks and velcro fasteners to secure webbing ends
- Tall side pockets with clip at the top; easily holds a 3 litre bladder. Elasticated external pocket at the bottom.
- Tunnels behind each side pocket, with clip and D-ring at the top. Can hold an Eberlestock 2 litre bladder or takes skis or poles.
- Top pocket with covered holes for radio leads or water tubes that go through into the main body.
- Full height panel opening into main body, with sleeve pocket on the front.
- Foldable shelf mid-way in the main body to give two compartments.
- Simple pockets inside the main body for small items.
- Radio fixing mesh and straps in the top half of the body.
- PALS webbing on the inside and outside.
- Strong grab handle at the top of the sack.
First impressions
The Halftrack impresses with its build quality in a similar way to Kifaru. The materials used and construction seem excellent. Everything appears strongly stitched and seams well finished. The Halftrack certainly looks like it can take a beating and come out smiling.
The Halftrack is not as 'strappy' and is relatively simple compared to Kifaru sacks, although it still has plenty of PALS webbing all over for optional extras.
The military green colour is similar to ranger green; close enough that my ranger green kit from ATS looks like it matches. The photographs make the colours look more different than they are to my eyes.
The Halftrack is a relatively tall, wide and shallow rucksack for its capacity compared to others I have looked at. This is good for me because it keeps the weight closer to the back, gives enough height for a good suspension system and looks right on my broad back.
Here are a few comparison pictures to get things going:
Next to the G1 Zulu in foliage green, with a ranger green pouch on the front:
Next to the Maxpedition pygmy falcon foliage green, and an olive green sheath:
The main compartment
As you can see above, there is plenty of PALS webbing on the front door. The zip pulls are hooped and made from a rubbery plastic. These are very easy to use and much better than knotted paracord.
Just below the obligatory velcro patch is the sleeve pocket; you can see where the edge of the sales card goes in. The pocket extends to the bottom of the door and I have a thinly-folded two-person survival bag inside it. The pocket really is slim, just two pieces of cordura stitched flatly together. It would not hold thick items especially if the pack was stuffed full. It's still enough to be quite useful though.
Let's see the inside.
Shelf folded down:
Shelf in place:
One of the missing pieces of information on the sack when perusing the adverts is its size. Here is that information. The front-to-back depth is around six to seven inches, depending on the profile of the aluminium stays in the back.
Dimensions:
The picture below shows the lower half of the Halftrack, with the shelf up. You can see how the shelf is held by the fold-down supports with velcro patches. I abhor velcro, but this is a legitimate use of it. Obviously the shelf is not going to hold a very heavy load on its own, but heavy weights should be in the bottom anyway.
Also shown are the PALS strips and the elastic-topped pockets. Useful storage - I have a hip flask of Jack Daniel's in one now.
Lower half:
Next is a side view of the whole interior. With the shelf folded down, it is apparent that it blocks the top of the back pockets. Above the shelf is the 'radio rack'. This black, pliable plastic mesh is only attached along its bottom edge to the back of the sack. There are two adjustable load straps attached up the mesh to secure the radio, or whatever. Some people apparently cut all of this out of the sack, but I have already fount it useful to support a load above the shelf. It's a useful feature!
Around the upper is another set of elastic-topped pockets. These are much quite narrow at two inches which limits their use. For instance, I have a lifeventure titanium KFS set in a pouch and it just fits in. My Fallkniven TK2 in its pouch sheath also just fits in one of the pockets. The pockets continue behind the radio rack but access is obviously more difficult.
Interior, shelf down:
Suspension and belt
This is the most important aspect of any rucksack. Anything other than the smallest daysack really must have a good back system, especially if rough terrain is expected. For me, a back system should clamp the load to the back with no significant movement, support the weight on the hips rather than the shoulders, and keep the rucksack upright without undue shoulder pressure. Good back ventilation is essential and the system should not cause any undue pressure or hot-spots, especially on the iliac crest where the hip belt should ride.
Fitting the rucksack properly to the wearer's back is critical, and Eberlestock have a video on their website showing how to do this in detail. It is worth watching. I'll jump ahead a little to when I tried it out to say that the Halftrack meets my requirements. Let's have a look how it does so.
Back view and dimensions:
The system starts with the hip belt, in my opinion. The point of the belt is to transfer load to the hips, and the belt must be fitted around or just above the iliac crest. That is the widest part of the pelvis. Too high, and it just squishes the wearers waist and is extremely uncomfortable if fastened tight enough to transfer weight and old the rucksack. Too low, and it will slide down allowing the weight to be taken on the shoulders. Obviously, the positioning is relative to the shoulder harness which must be adjustable to fit the height to the wearer.
Kifaru's omni belt is the best hip belt that I have ever worn. It has almost no padding but is shaped and positioned perfectly to hug the iliac crest securely. The lack of padding means that it is highly flexible and does not give areas of high pressure where padding is compressed; this is painful after a while. I would say Kifaru have the design just about perfect!
The Halftrack's hip belt has a moderate amount of padding and is essentially a flat, straight belt. It has two rows of PALS webbing for attachments (which I make good use of) and passes through a heavily padded lumbar pad. The belt is held there by velcro so it can be removed. The belt fastens with the usual quick release buckle and is notable for the sleeves into which the loose end can be pushed to stop it flapping about. These sleeves are behind the webbing loops which are fixed onto an additional layer of cordura. A neat and clever solution, although it can be a little tricky to stuff the loose ends into the sleeves.
The pictures below show the hip belt and back. Note the very good padding on the back of the rucksack itself, which allow very good airflow. That's an essential for me because I tend to run hot and get a wet back very easily. The lumbar pad is almost two inches thick. I'm a little unsure of that at the moment; I'm not used to such a thing and it feels odd against my back. I think I'll get used to it though, especially as the padding softens up with use.
Hip belt and back padding:
With duct tape to show thickness of padding:
Inside the back is a plastic frame sheet (for general stiffness) and two malleable aluminium stays.
The stays can be removed from their sleeves and bent to the shape of the wearer's back. I haven't found the need to do so.
The stays measure twenty inches in length. This is long enough to allow a take-off for the shoulder tensioning straps high enough not to pull down on the shoulders. On me, at least. Kifaru's smaller sacks have had nineteen inch stays and I know from experience that these are just a touch short for me. Twenty inches is just enough. Longer would be silly on a sack of this capacity.
The height of the suspension harness should be adjusted so that the shoulder straps follow the curve of the wearer's shoulders from the back. This is done with the hip belt properly positioned and fastened. The Halftrack's suspension is fitted onto a rack of black webbing strips with a strong, double-foldover velcro fastener. Another appropriate use of velcro. As can be seen in the picture below, the harness is easily opened up to allow adjustment.
Note also the generous spacing of the shoulder straps. I have had rucksacks where the straps are too close together and cause irritation behind or at the sides of the neck. Not so here, this arrangement suits my broad back well. The straps themselves are wide and thinly but well padded.
The picture also shows the strap management on the shoulder tension straps. These should be adjusted to pull the rucksack just vertical, no further. The loose ends have velcro straps attached to them. Once adjusted, the loose end is rolled up and the velcro strap is fixed around the in-use webbing. This is a very easy and neat solution, saving the use of ranger bands, web dominators or duct tape. A small feature, but one very much appreciated. Take note, Kifaru!
Suspension harness adjustment and webbing management:
Overall, having worn the rucksack with a fair load for a day, I would rate the back system as very good. Only Kifaru beat it. That is about what I expected and hoped for. I am also comparing with Berghaus Cyclops II, Karrimore Jaguar style and a few other decent brands that I have tried over the years. Given that the Halftrack is a much smaller rucksack than the others and designed for a smaller load, it is more than capable of holding its head up in this company.
The only things I would improve on would be to make the hip belt like Kifaru's. Thinner, more moulded around the iliac crest and with the side stabiliser straps and power pulls. I wonder if I could gaffer tape my Kifaru belt onto the Halftrack... Seriously, it is more than good enough for the load that the pack is intended to carry.
Last edited:
