By Terry Houin
By the time I made it back to the buggy I could swear the cape and head of the old bull weighed significantly more than when I started at the bottom of the hill. My conservative guess would be 250 pounds, plus or minus—I mean, he was a massive bull.
Strapping this guy into my Eberlestock Modframe was pretty straightforward, and I gave a mini class to the guys on how versatile the strapping system is for packing loads of meat or heads close to your back for control and a better center of gravity.
With the bull caped out, I strapped the head into the load panel—think of this as a mesh net that wraps around your precious cargo and keeps the weight close to the centerline of your back. After the head was secure, I rolled the cape and cinched it to the Modframe with the three compression straps, pulling as hard as my little hands would allow. All of this was then covered with the Vapor 2500 pack for a tight, albeit heavy, load.
This is where the pack out got a little tricky. Normally I can carry a bull elk with the antlers down and don’t have an issue, but this guy was not a normal bull. In my original attempt with the horns down it was a sight to see—as they were longer than my legs, and it was downright comical watching me try to get the pack on. Round two, I flipped the antlers up. That meant looking like Rudolph as I tried to push through brush, but at least I could touch the ground and carry the weight without face-planting.
My history with Eberlestock goes back to the early 2000s when I met Glen at SHOT Show sitting behind his folding table in the downstairs section. On that table were a handful of packs, some featuring rifle scabbards between the frame and pack—which at the time was revolutionary and exactly what was needed for Sniper Operations during the GWOT. From that first meeting until today, the innovation and creativity at Eberlestock hasn’t slowed down.
Specs – Eberlestock Modframe
At the core of the Modframe is 7075 aluminum—same alloy trusted in rifles and aircraft parts. It’s light in the hand but stiff enough that you can throw 100-plus pounds on it without feeling like you’re strapping meat to a pool noodle. The frame stands 26 inches tall and 10 inches wide, making it a touch more compact than Eberlestock’s larger Mainframe. Bare bones, it tips the scale at just over 4 pounds, and somehow still feels comfortable when loaded heavy.
Don’t let that weight fool you—this frame is built to haul. Eberlestock rates it for loads heavier than most guys should even consider. If your legs and lungs can take it, the Mod won’t be the weak link.
The harness is fully adjustable for different torso lengths, with padded shoulder straps and a hip belt that actually locks into your hips instead of grinding into your kidneys. Dual-pull tensioners let you cinch it down evenly without the awkward lopsided strap fight other frames make you deal with.
Where it really shines is modularity. The Mod plugs into the entire EMOD system—Batwings, Dry Bags, Game Bags, Duffels, all of it. The compression straps bite down hard, so whether you’re hauling an elk quarter, rolled cape, or a stack of dry bags, the load stays tight and close to your back instead of swinging like a wrecking ball.
Pros
- Built to Haul: Rated for 150+pounds and doesn’t flinch. If you can stand up with it, the frame will carry it.
- Modularity: Full EMOD compatibility means you can tailor it for meat hauling, day hunts, or multi-day backcountry trips.
- Harness System: Adjustable torso, padded straps, and a hip belt that actually locks onto your hip—no kidney abuse here.
Cons
- Bare Frame Weight: Just over 4 pounds before you add bags—lighter than some externals, but still noticeable compared to minimalist ultralight rigs.
- No True Quick-Detach System: Swapping between bag setups takes some strap and zipper work; not hard but it takes a minute.
Price: $349.
Uncle T’s Take
I’ve run a lot of packs over the years—some built for hunting, some borrowed from the military world, and plenty that were just marketing fluff dressed up with camo. The Modframe isn’t fluff. It’s a backbone. You build your system off it, you trust it under weight, and it doesn’t quit before you do.
Is it the lightest thing out there? No. If ounces are more important to you than meat in the freezer, there are other brands peddling ultralight rigs for your nature walks. But if you’re the type who actually kills bulls in the backcountry, you need something that won’t fold when it’s time to put hide and horns on your back. That’s where the Modframe earns its keep.
Bottom line: this isn’t a pack frame you buy to look cool in the parking lot. It’s the one you buy when you know damn well you’ll be dragging elk quarters up a hill at midnight and you want the gear on your back to be the least of your problems.
