ENCODED\COMMS

Eberlestock Switchblade

I recently was able to order (another) Eberlestock Switchblade pack. My current one is still in great shape, but has slowly migrated over to a day hunt / range bag, rather than an EDC pack, since late 2004. With that being the case, I wanted a new, dedicated, EDC pack. I knew I already liked the Switchblade for it’s features and quality, so decided to double up and get another, this time in a different color; Cobalt Blue instead of Black. With the color change are some very minor feature differences. I’ll go over the pack in general, covering build quality, functionality(especially for it’s intended use case), features, how well it’s held up over the last 2 years, and the slight differences as well.

Fresh Out Of The Box

Fresh out of the box, once taken out of the packing plastic, the bag looks great. It’s a bit compressed due to packaging, but given the time frame of this review and it having a chance to sit for a couple days, the pack is sitting about normal.

The Cobalt Blue is a great color. It looks and feels less tactical than the black version, yet largely still holds the same features. It blends in much better as a standard pack, if you’re going for a “gray man” style. Along with the color, the stitching pattern is very aesthetically pleasing. It looks very modern, similar to X-Pac fabric, but with a more standard texture.

Features

Pockets

Storage wise, the pockets are well thought out and easily accessible. You have a large main compartment with slots for a laptop plus a tablet and/or notebook. The main compartment completely opens, exposing the entire inside of the pack if desired. There’s slots for a water system, water bottle, etc. There’s the lid pocket, giving you and admin style area for smaller items with built-in organization. You also have external side and front pockets for quick access to items when you don’t want to open the whole pack.

CCW Access

Not pictured, you also have the concealed carry pocket in the back, which is a nice feature most packs don’t have. It allows quick access to your CCW, while being extremely discreet in appearance.

Extras

In addition to the main functional features of the pockets, you have water bottle slots on each side, as well as tabs to hook on compression straps(ordered/sold separately), two on each side as well. I’ve used the compression straps on my original Switchblade, and it really allows you to compress down the pack.

Padding & Harness

The Switchblade also features a padded back and padded shoulder straps, with mesh and channels for air flow. This allows you to wear the pack for extended periods of time and still maintain comfort. Having loaded out my original version with hunting gear for day trips, it really does make a difference. The version pictured here almost seems to have an improved version of padding and mesh. While I haven’t had an opportunity to truly test out the long term feel, it appears like it will be very comfortable for both short and long session wearing the pack.

Another nice feature of the back of the pack, is the adjustable harness positioning. With a simple adjustment to some Velcro and passing the angled flap through the appropriate loops, you can get the perfect fit. Though it doesn’t look substantial, the harness is very solid, and you don’t really realize it’s there or adjustable until you need it to be.

Also, as mentioned above, there are two slots internal to the main pocket where you can put a water system bag, along with a hook to hold it up, and a pass-through port for a drinking line.

Missing Features

Two features not here, that are present on the black version, is the external webbing and the Velcro patch. Now, I initially missed both of these, and still do to an extent even after a few days, but, this lack of external webbing and visible patch location is what helps the pack blend in more. It takes away from the tactical look, though the truly needed features are still there. At the end of the day, you’ll need to decide if those are a deal breaker or not, and choose a color accordingly, as some colors offer those features while others do not.

Build Quality

There isn’t a ton to say here honestly, beside the build quality, the stitching, seams, etc. all looks and feels top notch. The pack feel extremely sturdy; there’s no pull or stretch at the seams. The zippers and zipper pull loops are high quality and don’t snag or catch even when ran fast.

Long Term Reliability

The pack maintains it’s quality and reliability in the long term. My original black Switchblade pack is still going strong, and gets more abuse than a standard EDC pack. Especially moving through the desert and sage brush in Central & Eastern WA. Pictured below is black variant of the pack from 2004, showing the external webbing, optional compression straps, and signs of the last day hunt.

Final Thoughts

All in all, I’d rate the Switchblade a 10/10 in terms of quality, intended use case vs. actual functionality, and features. It’s a good size for a day bag, not too small to where can’t pack what you need, and not too large as to let you over-pack or feel like you’re hauling around everything.

I’m definitely happy with my purchase of a second Switchblade pack, and would definitely recommend it to someone looking for an EDC pack with these features in mind.