Is this pack a ripoff?

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Sep 8, 2004
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I'm looking for a medium-sized hydration pack, big enough for a few toys but not huge. I've found this one.

PACK-109.jpg


It's pretty much perfect for what I want, and obviously the price is appealing. However, it's from a vendor which also sells a few ripoffs of Maxpedition products, and I want to make sure that I'm not selling myself short and getting a clone of a higher-quality pack. Can anyone confirm that this one isn't a clone?

Respectfully, I'm not looking for anyone to suggest another product instead of this one. I've looked through every hydration pack from about every vendor I know of, and this is the one I like. I just want to make sure that it's not blatant theft. ;)
 
Hi All-

One area where they have cut corners is there are no compression straps on that pack. I would never use a pack without that critical feature.

~ Blue Jays ~
 
It looks like a camelback ripoff. I have a mule and it looks similar. Camelback style hydration packs normally don't have compression straps. They're usually really small.
 
Hi All-

Here is a Camelbak M.U.L.E. very similar to the one that I use extensively for mountainbike riding. This model absolutely, positively has both nylon compression straps and bungee shockcords to consolidate loads as seen in the picture below:

camelbak_mule_large.jpg

~ Blue Jays ~
 
I bought a bag off of that site that was a bit larger, but I know what you mean about the Maxpedition thing-- some of the bags look like exact clones, and makes me wonder if the Maxpedition price is worth it-- don't get me wrong, I love "Made in America", but when you consider that some of the items are two to three times the cost, I'd like to know where the money is going!

Here's the bag I got: http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/MOLLE125-41518-1964.html

I have had it for six months now, and here's the issues:

The zipper to the main compartment is getting finicky, not closing properly 100% of the time. There are three other zipper heads on the same track, so I use them instead. The extra zipper heads allow you to open the bag from near the bottom to get something without taking everything out of the top.

The stitching in a couple areas didn't "bite" into enough of the fabric, so I had to use Shoo Goo to mend it; it's all good now.

I use it to haul gear to work every day, and I don't baby it; I've used it as a carry-on for trips, to shuttle water, and to haul groceries. I don't see any wear around the straps or major load-bearing areas, and it is PVC coated on the inside and keeps the rain out reasonably well.

I know some of you would probably say that this wouldn't have been an issue with the American-made Maxpedition line, but I noticed that the stitching was a bit crooked on some of their items, and the only difference (besides a hundred bucks) is that I could return it to the original manufacturer-- the clones offered by CTD appear to be exact, stitch for stitch.

On a side note, I have the "EMT Pouch" that CTD has listed for about eight bucks; that "Blackhawk" company is selling it for $34 and calls it a STRIKE Gen. 4 something-or-another. I never took Blackhawk too seriously in he first place, and I doubt that "their" pouch is made in America. I do use the pouch at work though, I carry my IV catheters/prep pads/tourniquets/Veni-Guard along with a 500-mL bag and K52 + macrodrip set in it-- it allows me to start a line on someone right then & there, and nothing falls out on its own.
 
Hi All-

Just for sake of accuracy, the excellent products from Maxpedition are designed in the United States and manufactured overseas. I have had only positive experiences with this company and their fine products.

~ Blue Jays ~
 
Hey, I was advised uh, somehwere else on the net, that thse bags at cheaper than dirt are made by the same company overseas that makes Maxpedition bags. I saw an OD green one at a recent knifeshow, and the quality is the same in my opinion. Just my .02
 
hamachikama said:
Hey, I was advised uh, somehwere else on the net, that thse bags at cheaper than dirt are made by the same company overseas that makes Maxpedition bags.

Where did you get that information?
 
Hi Hamachikama-

That is very unlikely. One only needs to heft a Maxpedition product side-by-side with cheap knock-offs to identify obvious differences in quality. Compare the zippers, the seams, the thickness of the material, and the stitching on attachment points.

~ Blue Jays ~
 
hamachikama said:
Hey, I was advised uh, somehwere else on the net, that thse bags at cheaper than dirt are made by the same company overseas that makes Maxpedition bags. I saw an OD green one at a recent knifeshow, and the quality is the same in my opinion. Just my .02

I don't think the ones on the Cheaper than Dirt website are Magforce, the sister company to Maxpedition. Check this website for some picks of some of their products. Look familiar? All of the Magforce products bear the logo similar to Maxpedition and have their tag sewn onto the products.
 
I clicked on the link above and all my internet security alarms simultaneously went crazy with warnings.

Proceed at your own risk!
 
I'm running ZoneAlarm as well as various other spyware/adware programs and I haven't had any problems or warnings appear.
 
I recently got the knock-off version of Maxpedition's Falcon from a friend-- I think his is from CheaperThanDirt, sports a Mil-Tech logo on the inside but nothing outside. I can't say anything yet for durability, but the bag is perfect for me for work! At first, I thought the size was a bit small, but nope, it's just right! I imagine that Maxpedition's pack is the same size, and would suit most of us just fine as well. I carry in mine: an aluminum clip-board/document holder thingy, two pairs of socks, one t-shirt and boxer shorts, ear protection (shooting muffs, basically), my lunch box, several field guides (pocket-sized), a mini first-aid kit, Swiss Army Knife, and a Fenix L1-P flashlight. I'll keep you updated on the durability aspects as I break her in more...
 
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