Falcon ii, pygmy falcon ii vs rush 12, rush 24

clich

clich

Joined
Apr 19, 2011
Messages
6,901
Looking at these packs. Mainly for edc and day trips. I use a monsoon now. Had a vulture and it was too big. Which do you recommend and which should I stay away from
 
I have a Falcon II and would recommend it. I haven't used or even seen (IRL) any of the others.

I use mine for day hiking (which is quite occasional) and EDC where I carry in it:

Full size laptop with power cable, mouse and external HDD
2 A4 notebooks
Several books/textbooks. Today I had 5 in it (one large textbook and 4 smaller books)
Lunchbox
SS waterbottle
Stanley flask
Maxped Fatty fully loaded
Wooly hat and gloves
other gubbins such as glow sticks and some paracord and a load of hygiene stuff in the front top pocket
Today I had a fleece in the bottom straps too.
When it is fully loaded like this it is not the comfiest over long periods. But this is more weight than I carry on hikes so its not an issue. NB here that I don't use the waist straps when it is loaded like this, which adds to potential discomfort.

since I added the flask the two bottles stay in small roly polys on the sides. Before, though, I could fit it all inside.
All the straps on the top/sides/bottom mean you can strap a ton more stuff onto the outside quite/very securely.

I've used it on mountain hikes with good results. If you are planning to use it when its very hot I'd maybe look at something with a little more venting on your back - it keeps your back pretty warm.

All in all I really like it and would recommend it. Its perfect for me because of its versatility - I can use it to carry one book or a ton of books, everyday, on hikes, and when travelling etc.
 
They are both constructed well. So as long as they fit, and you can accept the modicum of comfort they provide, either should serve. Regarding manufacturing quality, I had both a 5.11 Push Pack and a Maxped FatBoy. I liked the features of the 5.11 better in practice and sold the Maxped with no concern that I was trading down in quality.

I will say that while I have no problem with construction, it would be great if Maxped consulted with someone who actually understood something about backpack ergonomics and how they *should* be designed. I would suggest in the long run, you might be happier with Osprey or Arc'Teryx. I decided to try a Falcon II and sold it to stick with my Arro 22. The difference was night and day if you actually plan to carry using both straps, instead of "university carry" (one strap,) over any distance further than the car to a building.
 
I have both the Falcon 2 and Rush 12. I've never used either of them for EDC mostly as a carry-on on trips. Both bags are well constructed and look like they would not wear out. I am big (6-3 330lbs) and I like the way the rush 12 fits better than the falcon 2. My wife likes the fit of the falcon 2 better. It's not a major difference for me, but if I was going to carry it every day I would want the one that feels better. As far as internal organization, I like the falcon 2 better. (more separate pockets...this might be a bad thing depending on what you intend to carry.) I keep the Falcon 2 loaded as a psuedo BOB or get home bag in the car. (first aid kit, couple knives, emergency blankets, paracord, flashlight and batteries, etc.) For the limited amount of time I actually carry the bag the minor difference in comfort is negligible.

I don't know if you've considered it, but I EDC the Sitka. I like the built in water bottle holder and the ease of getting to my stuff. the trade off is being a one shoulder bag, when fully loaded I wouldn't want to carry it all that far. For my use, to the car, into the store, and around town it is perfect. On a hike, I'd take a full backpack.

I hope this was helpful.

Grizz
 
I have no issues with comfort when it comes to maxpedition packs. You need to decided what the pack will be used for and how much weight you plan on carrying. I like the condor II over the falcon II because there are less strange pockets.

Here is mine set-up for SAR
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I carry some BOB stuff like knives and a few small kits (fire first aid etc) some cord and gloves etc and i like that the monsoon has a nalgene pocket. The rest of the space i use for whatever i need at that particular moment. sometimes it carries my kids diapers and toys, other times hunting stuff, sometimes hiking stuff and sometimes nothing else. Im just getting tired of the single strap. Id like to see the falcon 2 and rush 12 side by side if anyone has both of those. Is the fabric relatively the same? I had one 5.11 pouch and it didnt seem as tough as some of the maxped gear i had.
 
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