Backpack??

you didn't say what the backpack is for. for hiking (especially with a load 20 lbs or over) save your money/headache and skip maxpedition stuff (they're only good for ultra-light hiking or edc stuff in my experience). my falcon ii puts 100% of the weight on the shoulders - the worst place to put the load) and go for a real hiking pack (the ones that actually fit your torso length and have a waist belt that actually sits on your hip bones to support most of the load). the falcon ii's strap is located directly on my belly button - completely useless except for side to side stability.

you can take a trip to an outdoors store and have them put sandbags on the pack and walk around the store for an hour. you'll see the difference with a weight on your shoulders vs. on your hip bones will be.

the junglas laserna was around $180sh no? if that's your budget, then look at osprey, kelty, mountainsmith, rei especially has excellent warranty if you're a member.

for $300 and above (and if you want a 100% made in usa/berry amendment compliant) pack, check out kifaru.net (the founder also founded mountainsmith before it). a lot of people say it's one of the best packs...i have my zxr coming in early april. i'll let you guys know if it's true.


Arkanian said:
I was just looking into the Becker Patrol Pack and was thinking about picking it up until I saw the un-Beckerish price tag. If anyone can tell me if it's worth that rather astronomical cost, I'd apreciate it. Until I hear it will make me breakfast and print $100 bills, I'm definitely looking elsewhere.
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i look at things differently. a good pack is just as important as good hiking boots. having $3,000 worth of survival knives is useless when that person can only hike a mile away from disaster (just look at japan's nuclear reactor problem going on right now) because of uncomfortable boots or pack.

p.s. i noticed you're in nyc. come out and go hiking with riz_aaroni, gonadz, & myself one of these weekends. we have some pretty steep and awesome hiking terrain around us.
 
I have more technical packs rather than tactical, I do have the vulture II as well for shorter, lighter trips. It fits everything but no frame and no ventilation make it less comfortable. If this is going to be your only pack lean away from maxped.
 
Thanks for the heads up on the Kelty Redwing 3100. There's one in route to
VA for me :D

Lookin' to work off some of these winter beers and do a some more hiking/camping this year. Needed a new pack. Found one to check out locally -not bad.

But online was more than half the price. $54 delivered ... (how?)

Anyway - time to sweat (LOL)

Thanks again.
 
risen said:
Got one of these on the way:

http://www.lapolicegear.com/diplomat-3-day-backpack1.html

Heard enough good reviews on it, and for the price, can't go wrong to give it a try.
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Looks like a good little pack. And you're right, for the price, can't go wrong.

While I was looking around, I stopped in Wally World ... I wasn't going to buy it, but in the hunting dept. there was a small camo
number, that was actually nice, (cordora even) for $9.97 ... just drives me crazy how thay can do that: materials, manufacturing,
shipping, retailing, profit, and still ... $9.97 !?
 
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I myself have a Maxped Monsoon Gearslinger. At 20+ lbs typically, I usually don't notice the weight, despite it just having the one strap.
 
risen said:
Got one of these on the way:

http://www.lapolicegear.com/diplomat-3-day-backpack1.html

Heard enough good reviews on it, and for the price, can't go wrong to give it a try.
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I would love to hear what you think about it. It looks a LOT like a Condor II, which I have. I could not "backpack" with the Condor II, too small for me. I think the Kelty 3100 would be about the minimum internal pack I could camp/backpack with. Got to external, and a medium ALICE would probably work for me.

The problem with that LA Police Gear pack is it doesn't mention where it is made, or even what it is made out of. Decent size, though.
 
The thread with the kelty pack...dont remember the title but it was about someone who got a new kydex sheath made for his BK9....big tan sheath I recall.

I just ordered an excellent/like new condition Large ALICE pack from a surplus dealer on Ebay. Also got a second frame set which I am using to build my own version of how Dave has this pack set up:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNpiyq02ccQ
 
i've a mountain smith day pack that's almost as large my internal framed mountain smith frostfire II - i should see about getting rid of the latter sometime as i recently aquired a nearly like new Becker Patrol Pack from the 2005 era. so, something must go :)

kelty makes great tents and such, even camp chairs, but i never looked at them for packs. mmm.
 
rockspyder said:
The problem with that LA Police Gear pack is it doesn't mention where it is made, or even what it is made out of. Decent size, though.
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There's a tiny tag sewn into the inside that says "Made in China". That being said, i've been using one of these every day for the last few months. Carrying my 9lb. laptop, a knife (it's a fixed-blade Gerber, please don't hate me :) ) and my normal survival kit/supplies.

It's pretty comfortable and holds more than you'd think by looking at the pictures. The waist strap isn't a complete joke, but definitely doesn't compare to the one on my Kelty Redwing daypack, or even my Mountainsmith Day.

The material is pretty dang thick and the zippers "seem" heavy duty. Takes a little while to work em in, they're pretty stiff when you first get the bag.

There is a sleeve for a hydration bladder (but i don't use one going back and forth to work) and there are velcro holes on either side of the top grab handle so you can choose where the tube comes out. Waist belt is detachable, and there's a 5" tall zippered mesh pouch sewn into the inside front of the largest area.

It's half the price i paid for my BK2's (which haven't shown up yet) and they have a 15% off coupon code that ends on the 21st.

All in all, it's not a bad deal. BUT, it definitely won't be as comfortable as a backpack made for actually hiking with.

The end.
 
I just picked up a Condor 3 Day Assault Pack, haven't received it yet. It's supposed to have 2 pockets for 2.5 liter hydration bags and 3038 cubic inches of storage. It arrives on Monday or Tuesday so I'll let everyone know how it is. It was on sale for 65.
 
I just plunked down the change for an Eberlestock Halftrack. Great suspension 3080 c.i. capacity and built like a tank. For less than $200.

I figure it will serve me well for 3-4 bays or more depending on season and gear load. It will comfortably carry more weight than can be comfortably put in it (unless carrying cast iron weights).
 
chorpie said:
...All in all, it's not a bad deal. BUT, it definitely won't be as comfortable as a backpack made for actually hiking with. ...
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Thanks, chorpie.

Yeah, this is just a backup for me. If it works out, I may get a couple more for impromptu weekend outings with friends & family, something to loan out for those who don't own a pack. Won't lose much if something happens to them.
 
A Spec-Ops Brand "The Pack" would be my choice. Made in the good old USA.
 
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