>In the last year i've had
>the Sitka 2200 and most
>recently the 4500. The waist
>buckle broke packing out a
>Whitetail on the 2200, and
>two of the small buckles
>on the 4500, I
>shot a spike bull and
>could barely fit a hind
>quarter in the pack. I
>sold the 4500,and recently bought
>the Eberlestock Bluewidow from a
>dealer here in Boise.
>My son-in-law had thr Bluewidow
>on our Elk hunt,and shot
>a spike bull as well,and
>i was impressed at how
>"BEEFY' the straps and buckles
>are,and so much more carrying
>capacity in the main compartment.The
>dealer i bought the Eberlestock
>from sells the Sitka as
>well,and he said the buckles
>are a weak part of
>the Sitka pack. I should
>have reserched backpacks more,i figured
>since Sitka has a respected
>clothing line,that their packs were
>quality, but i learned the
>hard expensive way!
The meat should go in the main compartment. There are no small buckles to break in the main compartment. The light gear should go in the gear shelf. Sometimes people confuse The Sitka gear shelf with the Eberle "meat shelf". Stuff breaks from time to time, but improperly used gear breaks more frequently.