Could use some suggestions for a daily-wear gear bag

Tuthmose

Tuthmose

Joined
Jul 5, 2011
Messages
17
I’m looking to upgrade my old daily gear bag, and could use some suggestions/advice on a replacement. Its holds my minimal just-in-case stuff - a couple of multitools and some other tools, flashlight and batteries, medical kit, compass, space blanket, emergency repair stuff (thread, needles, duct tape, etc.), firestarters, some granola and slimjims, and my water bottle. In bad weather, I strap a poncho or jacket to the top. LOL - I guess that sound like a lot, but it packs down to a pretty minimal space. My old bag is a Maxpedition Fatboy, but I could use a bit more room and and more stable place for a water-bottle bag (right now, a Rollypolly that kind of flops around too much due to lack of an available good attachment point).

I am leaning heavily towards a Maxpedition Jumbo S-type. The size is perfect, and it has an integral water-bottle holder. BUT . . . I would kind of like something a bit less dedicated-shoulder-bag-ish. I do carry it as a shoulder bag, but it would be nice to be able to remove the shoulder strap and integrate the bag into a larger set-up if required, perhaps by wearing it as a fanny pack below my backpack or somehow strapping it to the pack. That way, when I go hiking, I could just integrate the bag as-is, instead of having to take the stuff out of it and put it in a larger pack. The Jumbo isn’t great for this, since it’s odd shape, side “wings”, and permanently attached shoulder strap make it a poor candidate for the fannypack/add-on role. The Proteus or Sabercat would almost work, but for the critical fail that the former is too small and the latter too large and has a waist-belt that’s too bulky.

So . . . any ideas on a bag that would fit the bill better? Looking for something about the size of the Maxpedition Jumbo, with either a waterbottle holder or a place to mount one via MOLLE/PALS, that is shaped properly (rectangular-ish, I guess) to transform from shoulderbag to wear under or attached to a larger backpack if needed. Plenty of MOLLE attachment points would be a big plus.

It’s been a long while since I looked for such a thing, and I’m not even sure who makes what anymore, so any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks,
-Tuthmose
 
Check out the small Rush Moab 6 from 5.11 which will attach to the bigger 5.11 rush packs via dedicated clips.

I have been using the 5.11 push pack as a small daily bag, I like it a lot more than the maxped versipaks because it has much better organisational pockets. I just recently chanegd to the maxped Malaga which a smallish sling style back pack.

Hope this helps :thumbup:
 
Thank you, giant1. I took a look at the Moab 6, and it looks like it would fit the bill nicely . . . except for that pesky dedicated shoulder strap! I need a bag that will comfortably hang at my side most of the time, not on my back. May I ask, how difficult does it look like it would be to remove that strap? I don't mind modifying something to make it perfect, but sometimes bags are put together such that cutting out a seam would mean disassembling the entire bag. Does it look like the attachment stitching for that strap could be removed easily, or would it be a nightmare to get to?

Thanks,
-Tuthmose
 
I would not cut the strap from the Moab 6, I think it would fall apart or at least look very bad.

Maxped make a bag called Neatfreak which works pretty well as a shoulder bag but has lots of small pockets inside.

Also, if you have not already looked - you may get a lot more info on the EDC forum http://edcforums.com/forum.php
This is usually where I go when ever I need this sort of info :)
 
Check out the S.O. TECH Mission Bag at www.uscav.com .It is also in the US cavalry catalog. 10.25 x 11.5 x 4.5 can be carried over the shoulder, around the waist or remove the strap. Has molle on the front not sure about sides or back. It looks like there are several compartments inside. Black, acupat or coyote. $92.99 Good luck
 
I used to carry a knock-off of the Maxpedition Proteus. It is the same size as the Proteus, and like you, I found it just a little too small. A few weeks ago I stumbled across a "Deployment Bag" that is made pretty much like the Proteus, but is sized up all around. It has no waist belt, and the shoulder strap is easily removed. Lack of a waist belt is no big deal to me, as I don't carry it that way. It just usually rides in my vehicle. Also has straps sewn on the back to attach to MOLLE, so you could mount it on your backpack.

There is one on the Condor website that appears pretty much identical, but I'm not sure if mine is a Condor or not. Might be a Fox. Sorry, I just don't remember the brand. It doesn't have a tag sewn on it, and I threw away the hang tags. I didn't see a price on Condor's website, but I paid thirty-something dollars for mine at a local surplus store.

My bag is bigger than the measurements on Condor's website, but I think they might just be listing the main compartment dimensions. My Gerber Prodigy in its sheath wouldn't fit in the Proteus knock-off main compartment, but it fits easily in this one. Main compartment is about 11 inches long. The end pockets and the front pocket are also upsized from the Proteus. Downside for you would be that there is no provision for a water bottle unless you attach a holder.
 
This Victorinox Flex Pack can be worn as a shoulder bag, backpack, or waist pack. It doesn't have the internal organization of Maxpedition, but looks like a handy bag that might fit your needs. It does have a water bottle holder on the side that you can zip out. If there's an REI near you you might be able to see on in person, since the one by me had it.

Or the Maxpedition Colossus might do what you need. It doesn't have a dedicated water bottle holder, but has webbing. I don't have one, but from the pictures it looks like the shoulder strap might be removable.
 
Maxpedition Fatboy, works great for EDC...
SAM_2054-1.jpg
 
Thanks all!

It's looking like I'll have to do a bit of "roll-your-own" to whatever I buy. That figures, I suppose - I've rarely found something which fits my needs exactly, not matter whether we're talking about bags, tools, cars, guns, or even computers. I'm kinda used to it by now . . .

Its looking like I either go with the S.O.Tech Mission Go Bag or the 5.11 Moab 6.0. I'll have to sew a waterbottle holder on the end of the S.O. Tech, or cut the strap off the Moab and stitch on tabs with buckles on each top corner for a normal shoulder strap. Kind of a pain, but either should work well. Flexxx - I'm currently using a Fatbody as my EDC, but the waterbottle arrangement is subpar, there isn't room from my lunch when it's packed, and most importantly it doesn't transition well to being used in conjuction with a larger pack for extended outings. I find I've got to strip it's contents down and transfer them to another bag, and it's getting on my nerves :p I agree, its a great bag, but it just isn't quite right. . .

Thanks again for the suggestions and pointers. If anybody else can think of anything, I haven't pulled the trigger on my purchase yet, so I'm always open to advice.

-Tuthmose
 
I hear you on the changing things around for different outings.

I'm thinking I might get a MSM Stealth Util / Admin for EDC, then when I need to hit the hills for hiking or camping I can just throw it in my pack....


Plus in my opinion I don't really like Maxpedition all that much......I would rather have TAD Gear, Kifaru, Mystery Ranch and Camleback Military.
But the Maxpedition Fatboy works pretty good for what it is, just gotta tweak the hell out of it-should have got the Jumbo instead
 
I have a Maxped Colossus with a small roly-poly clipped on... which fits a 32 oz. Nalgene bottle just fine.
 
Maxpedition Sitka, It will hold everything you need and is extremely comfortable as long as you dont over pack it.
 
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