Maxepedition Bag??

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northend816

northend816

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So Ive been looking at hiking/tactical bags for sometime now. Ive come across the Maxepedition bags and just love the look but i know nothing about bags. So I thought Id ask you guys if these bags would fit my day hiking and Bug Out Bag needs? Im looking at the Pygmy Falcon bag most of all.......thanks
 
northend816 said:
So I thought Id ask you guys if these bags would fit my day hiking and Bug Out Bag needs? Im looking at the Pygmy Falcon bag most of all.......thanks
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What are your dayhiking and bugout bag needs?
I use the Pygmy Falcon for carrying my work stuff. It gives good enough organization for pens, notebooks, chargers, reading material, and a few personal tools, plus room in the main bag for carrying some extra layers. It really has nothing going for it as a hiking bag, though, since it has no hipbelt, rides high on the back and has no frame so it's not stable or supportive, provides no ventilation for the back, and isn't made for use with a hydration bladder. I use an Osprey Manta 25 for dayhiking, as it offers much better features and comfort.
Maxpedition makes urban/"tactical" packs that look cool, but if you're going to hike, it makes more sense to look at packs designed for that.
 
northend816 said:
the Pygmy Falcon
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I have 2 of these. They are great for day hikes and light capacity usage. There is plenty of space for some gear, and the dual water bottle holders are nice. Just recognize that they are not high capacity backpacks, but for a day hike or whatever they are real nice. They are nice and light/smallish on your back, but have plenty of utility.

Btw, my 2 sons have been using Maxpedition Condor II backpacks (I think) for the last 6 years or so, and they have held up very well. Having a kid abuse a backpack on a daily basis is a real test, but there have been no tears, or seam or zipper failures at all. My BOB/Man Sack is also a Maxpedition MPB.
 
Pretty much what owen said. I have a pygmy falcon as well for work and it great as a work\get home bag. But for hiking I would go with somthing like its bigger brother. The pygmy is just not that comfortable with a larger load.
 
Well I just came across the Maxexpedition Gearslingers and have to have one!!!! Im looking at the Sitka but may go with a bigger one. Any info on these guys? thanks
 
I really don't think that the bigger Gearslingers make much sense for hiking. Their capacity is not in sync with their suspension - in other words, they put all the weight on one shoulder rather than distributing it evenly. They're fine for urban man purses and travel (I had one) but for hiking I would choose a pack with real shoulder straps. And probably not a Maxped - there are better, more comfortable options out there for carrying a load while hiking, imo. With the added bonus that they don't look 'tactical.'
 
That's the thing Ive looked at thousands of hiking packs and none fit what im looking for like the tactical bags do......
 
Or take a look at the camel bak bags, I've used a trizip for the last few years on day hikes to week long hikes. The best thing is that the frame is adjustable to fit your body, I'm 6'1" and most packs the belt is too high. The trizip adjusts to fit. Very comfy and durable. Plenty of molle if you want to add pouches as well.
 
Im going to look around some more been watching the reviews of gearslingers and u guys are right. I feel if im spending that kind of money i want to use it for everything
 
I feel if im spending that kind of money i want to use it for everything
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IMO, those 'tactical' packs are good for organizing a collection of tools and gadgets, but are not well suited for hiking or "bugging out."
Most are too small to even carry a insulated jacket and rain gear, much less a tent or sleeping bag.
Inadequate suspension, poor padding, over-organized dividers, unnecessarily heavy. And worst of all, they are primarily sold in military-wannabe colors. :barf:

In short, if you're going to hike look for gear designed for hikers, not SWAT teams. Conversely, if you're on a SWAT team...

Gregory, Mountain Hardware, Lowe Alpine, Marmot, North Face, Osprey... Those are the companies that know hiking, and design products for hikers.
My own pack is a Gregory, and I can't recommend it enough.

A big tip, I prefer toploading bags with no exposed zippers. :thumbup:
 
I looked at all the brands you named I believe and none had packs that I cared for look wise. Guess I like the look of the tactical packs but want what u get in a hiking pack!!!!! where can i find one of those????
 
I mean all Ill be using pack for mostly is day hikes with my dog or friends so I wouldn't need room for a lot of stuff at all. The most Ill need it for is a few weekend trips but they would be at parks where I wouldn't need to hike gear in that far. As for bug out bag maybe what Im thinking of mine and what the really are are two different things. Im thinking its bag full of survival stuff like lighters, matches, clean water pills, knife, gun, ammo, hatchet, sleeping bag, socks, and other little things. I don't think of tents, stoves, and gear like that, I can live off the land just need the basic stuff more or less.
 
northend816 said:
I looked at all the brands you named I believe and none had packs that I cared for look wise. Guess I like the look of the tactical packs but want what u get in a hiking pack!!!!! where can i find one of those????
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Honest, I don't care for the obnoxious bright colors that many of the trendy brands use. Sight-pollution.
At the same time, I don't want to set down my pack and never find it again, and I certainly don't want to look like a runaway from boot camp. :D

Fortunately many of the big brands are using toned-down colors, even natural colors that aren't 'tactical'. My own pack is a dull dark red, a nice compromise, and my previous was a forest green. FYI, most of the Gregory packs come in black as an option.

Looking for something small for short fair-weather dayhikes with friends, I'd be interested in the Mountainsmith Swift models. But around here in the mountains a fair-weather hike in July can turn into two inches of hale and 38 degrees in minutes; I don't go out without a shell and fleece.

I'm at the limit of my knowledge when it comes to recommending a particular pack brand and model. Generally speaking, here's what I look for:
- Enough room for 3-season all-day hikes. Extra clothes, food, water, etc.
- Quality materials. I don't mind a little extra weight as a trade-off for durability.
- Adjustable hip straps, shoulder straps, and sternum straps for stability and weight distribution.
- Well-padded straps for comfort.
- No obnoxious bright colors.
- Contoured overall shape, for comfort and stability.
- Top loading.

Happy shopping!
 
northend816 said:
I looked at all the brands you named I believe and none had packs that I cared for look wise. Guess I like the look of the tactical packs but want what u get in a hiking pack!!!!! where can i find one of those????
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Well there is tasmanian tiger. It's the military wing of the german outdoor gear brand tatonka. They offer heavy duty military packs with civilian ergos...
http://intranet.tatonka.com/infosys/php/artintt8.php?501_TT%20Backpacks@1

Personally I'd just get a outdoors pack from the usual suspects and put up with the funny colors. Military packs are ugly as sin and heavy. Make sure any pack you get has the right length back and a solid hipbelt. Fit trumps design.

By the way there is a third kind of backpack style out there besides the military and outdoors pack styles. The bushcraft pack. Those packs are generally made of canvas in subdued colors and have more simple designs. Not as good ergos as the outdoors packs you'll get from osprey and the like but it is a more subdued color scheme. Duluth, fjällräven, savotta, and berghaus are examples of such brands.
 
Bob W said:
In short, if you're going to hike look for gear designed for hikers, not SWAT teams. Conversely, if you're on a SWAT team...

Gregory, Mountain Hardware, Lowe Alpine, Marmot, North Face, Osprey... Those are the companies that know hiking, and design products for hikers.
My own pack is a Gregory, and I can't recommend it enough.
:
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I've hiked a lot and I strongly agree with this.

If you insist on military looking gear, and have a lot of money to burn, take a look at Arcteryxs LEAF line or Kifarus tactical line. Be prepared to shell out though.

Another brand is Hazard 4, which are more like Maxpedition. Great quality gear, use the Plan B myself as a patrol bag, but I wouldn't recommend them for hiking, ie. they're not in the same league, comfortwise, as "real" hiking backpack manufactureres.
 
So you guys really dont think Maxpedition bags are ok for day hikes with like 10 to 12lbs of gear at the very most? mostly alot less?
 
Seems like a few of you guys care what other people think of your gear? I dont see a problem with bag looking too tactical as long as I like it. If I like something and it fills my needs whats it matter what others think ur in the woods not at some looks contest. I just have to find bag that meets my needs, tactical look, med load, and hikers bag comfort
 
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