BORELLI CONSULTING: Recreational Equipment Reviews

Eagle Industries A-III Pack
8 October 2007

Our online discussion forum is back up and running. If you have any comments or questions about this review, please post them here!

************************************************************

As I’ve noted in the past... when a product is produced for military field use it is often one of the best things to have in the field of outdoor recreation. Military use items go through more testing than is often required (or sensible) but if a product gets through all that you can safely assume it will perform acceptably for non-abuse non-combat purposes. The Eagle Industries A-III Pack was designed to meet stringent standards. Its form and function make it ideal for overnighters or weekend camping trips under austere conditions.

So I received this pack for test & evaluation and I was barely familiar with Eagle Industries. Sure, I'd seen their booth at miscellaneous trade shows, but I knew next to nothing about the company. Since I long ago decided to judge a company by the quality of the products it manufactured I felt I'd wait to judge the company based on the findings my my T&E. The other big consideration for any company evaluation is to rate its customer service. As I had no problems with the pack I had no reason to interact with the customer service team at EI.

So, let's take a look at the basics:

This pack is about the same size as most other "three day assault packs" which makes it about the perfect size for a weekend outing if you're roughing it, or an overnighter if you're happy using a poncho and sleeping bag for shelter and warmth. Manufactured from heavy duty abrasion resistant nylon (camo in the case of my T&E pack) the Eagle Industries A-III, or EIA3, offers a total cargo capacity of 2,624 cubic inches. That space is broken down between the main compartment that's 16" x 20" x 7" (2240 cubic inches) and the outer pouch measuring 12" x 16" x 2" (384 cubic inches). There is a third small pocket - really meant to be nothing more than a map slot - that measures 12" x 16" on the outside of the outer pouch. You can see it clearly in the picture. Across the bottom of the pack are two nylon straps that I would use to attack my sleeping back and the compression straps are held together by fastex buckles.

To increase the comfort of carrying the pack while loaded, Eagle Industries padded the shouolder straps and the back of the pack - the part that rides against YOUR back. There is a waist belt that comes standard but is removable if for some reason you don't like it. I like having the waist belt snugged up as it helps keep some of the weight of the pack off my shoulders. There is also a removable chest strap that I'd always use but I've heard others say they don't care for.

To test the pack out I had to load it up and take it out for a hike. A couple nights of camping would have been better but I can't get my wife used to the idea that if I go camping it's WORK. Still, I loaded up the pack with everything I'd have normally taken for a night or two of "roughing" it:

- My poncho: which would be my shelter if I were roughing it
- My SnugPak sleeping bag
- A change of under everything
- two spare pair of socks
- a roll of 550 cord
- four aluminum tent stakes
- four MREs
- two Hoo-Ah Bars
- A film cannister full of cut down scratch anywhere matches
- a small first-aid kit
- boonie cap
- windbreaker
- gloves
- folding toothbrush and small tube of toothpaste
- 100 oz hydration bladder full of fresh water

Oh, yeah, I think I forgot to mention: the EIA3 is hydration compatible. It has the pouch built in to carry a 70 or 100 ounce bladder and a covered slot at the top center to run the tube out through. The D-rings that are placed on each shoulder strap are perfectly sized to run the drinking tube through.

On the Eagle Industries' website this pack is retailed at about $138 and is an excellent deal for that price. A quick online search found me this same pack retailing for just under $120. So take your time and look around. For more info about Eagle Industries visit them online.

BE SAFE!

I have a comment on this article.

Don't forget to check out our Tactical Equipment Review of the Tactical Design Labs Real Performance Duty Holster.

This week's Training Article discussing contemporary AS/IR protocols based on the lessons learned at Columbine.

For a listing of all reviews in chronological order, GO HERE.

New American Truth eMagazine
Dedicated to ALL citizens who oppose terrorism and injustice.
Subscribe Today!

Subscribe To New American Truth