By John Markwell | Contributing Editor
We are sure it has something to do with our background in the business of rock climbing.
When you have run a climbing shop and guide service for most of your working life (as well as being involved in other outdoor pursuits) you develop interests in some pretty esoteric types of gear. Our weakness has always been packs; big packs, small packs, call them rucksacks if you will, we have had it bad for a long time. We even designed a climbing pack, back in the day, that was state of the art complete with a saddle skirting leather bottom that made it totally bombproof and almost too expensive for many a poor climber.
We no longer climb but we are a firearms user and carry regularly, as we have for most of our adult life. Like most folks, we mostly carry a handgun which is more often than not holstered on our person. However, there are times when an off body carry method is called for, and sometimes we tote a long gun, mainly just because we want to. Hence, this review of one of Glen Eberle’s latest creations, the Eberlestock S27 Little Trick EDC Pack.
Our first criteria for any pack, regardless of purpose, is that it must be bombproof in both materials and construction.
Glen Eberle has always used the best and yet lightest synthetic materials for his packs. From Cordura pack cloth to lighter ripstop fabrics for the pack’s bodies to the webbing used for straps and Molle attachment points. Materials are chosen for function and durability but with an eye towards managing the pack’s weight as well.
The S27 Little Trick is designed for EDC/Concealed carry and can easily accommodate a G17 sized handgun and/or a long gun/AR pistol in the integral scabbard. The scabbard extends from 19” to 23.5”. Feature-wise the S27 is loaded. Inside, the main compartment has two dividers to separate a short long gun from the other contents of the pack. These are also sized to accept a laptop and assorted paperwork if the pack is to be used as an alternative to a briefcase. There are also elasticized pockets of assorted sizes on the interior sidewalls of the main compartment allowing for the organization of smaller items. On the outside of the pack there are water bottle pockets (which are a bit on the small side) as well as zipper accessed side pockets for small stuff.
The main compartment is accessed via a zip down front panel that has a zipped pocket that also forms the top lid of the pack. This top pocket is set up to carry a couple of AR sized magazines or a radio and small camera with lots of extra room for a headlamp, first aid kit and other items that need to come easily to hand. For attachment of either MOLLE or Velcro-backed accessories, there are lots of loop-Velcro PALS webbing on the inside of the pack as well as MOLLe-10 webbing on the outside. The MOLLE-10 is 60% lighter than 25mm MOLLE matrixes yet still allows the affixing of standard 3-row MOLLE accessories.
Two main features that the CCW carrier will appreciate are the expandable scabbard pocket at the pack’s bottom and the handgun sleeve incorporated into the back of the pack. The expandable scabbard is just the ticket for an AR pistol. Ours however is a tad too long with the brace to allow the pack to close completely unless there is nothing else in the pack. We have about 1.5 inches in length that hinders the full zipping of the top flap. Looks like there is probably a LAW Tactical GEN3 Folding Stock Adapter in our future.
When the scabbard extension is zipped open there is also a bit of extra storage available in the extension which is separate from the long gun compartment; we stuffed our wind/rain shell in there. For handgun carry the Little Trick has a pocket that allows the handgun to ride against the wearer’s back. This flat pocket is accessible from either side of the pack through flap closures secured by rare earth magnets. Although there is extra room in the handgun pocket for other stuff we highly recommend that the user places only a securely holstered handgun in there. The last thing one needs when reaching for one’s defensive pistol is other “stuff” getting in the way of a clean presentation.
We have dedicated the Little Trick as our emergency, on the road, get home bag. As such, it will reside in our truck most of the time and has been stocked with what we feel is the minimum amount of “stuff” that we might need if stranded on the road or, heaven forbid, we should have to hoof it home. Absent are cold weather items which, here in the mountains, are put in the truck is a separate duffle from mid-October thru the end of March.
The S27 rides comfortably when loaded and its’ size (1140 Cubic inches/3 lbs 9 oz ) prevents one from turning it into a heavy pig. The S27 Little trick is nicely padded and doesn’t have a waistbelt; with its’ limited size it really doesn’t need one. Packing for use as a GHB takes some thought and we minimized the size and weight of each item stowed with an eye towards the utility/versatility of each item. Check out the accompanying photo for the contents of our GHB set-up. For those requiring more volume Glen also offers the S45 Big Trick with a capacity of 1920 cubic inches and an increased scabbard length sufficient to hold and SBR.
Whether used as a small bug out bag, CCW tote for either a long gun, handgun or both or just for hauling around your laptop and other stuff from home to the workplace, the S27 Little Trick is a well built and versatile EDC pack for every-day use. Retailing for right at $200, this is a pack you can depend on and, with the non-tactical look, it will fit in with any environment where a pack is appropriate. Today that seems to be just about everywhere.
For a detailed look at this cool little pack see S27 Little Trick on YouTube.
