maxpedition day pack

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Jan 26, 2009
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Should i go with the sitka or the fatboy? or something else. I need a edc/ daypack for hikes. thanks
 
between the two i'd probably take the sitka as it is closer to a traditional pack then the fatboy.

honestly though, i own a fatboy and can say, unless ur packing fairly light it will dig into your shoulder a bit. i usually carry mine when im doing trail clearing as it allows me to wear my baldric or carry a large knife without being a pain.

for day hiking i'd suggest a camel bak hawg. great little pack for day adventures.

cheers.
 
If you are set on Maxpedition for a daypack, I'd suggest either the Pygmy Falcon or the Falcon II if you're looking for a double-strap traditional pack. My friend has the Pygmy Falcon and absolutely loves it, and I have the Falcon II and love it. Be aware though, Maxped products are heavy and, in my opinion, not as comfortable as other packs out there (sacrifice for bombproof pack at a reasonable price). If you're even remotely interested in other packs, jca21 is on the money with checking out a Camelbak HAWG. :thumbup:.
 
I have a pygmy falcon which I use as my EDC bag. Easily carries my daily junk with room to spare. As somebody said, might not be the lightest bag around but you're not going to break it easily.
 
Being that you are in Illinois, I'm sure that concealed carry may not be a consideration for you. That is where the Fatboy excels. It is a discrete way of carrying concealed while still providing rapid access to your sidearm, and still carry all your other stuff.

The one strap system is not the most comfortable system, and neither is the sitka. For comfortable carrying of any given load it is best to have the weight distributed as evenly as possible with a more traditional pack with straps for BOTH shoulders.
 
One strap is great for when you need rapid access to what's on your back without having to remove the bag and stop. I can undo the support strap on my Malaga gearslinger and swing it around to my front for rapid access. It's great as an EDC bag, especially with accessory pockets strapped to it. But for a day pack I'd go with the Pygmy/regular Falcon II.
 
I use a Fatboy Jumbo every time I go hiking with my son and I have no problem with it digging into my shoulder or being uncomfortable. I like it so much, I have a left and a right hand model.

/shrug Maybe I'm just lucky.
 
Should i go with the sitka or the fatboy? or something else. I need a edc/ daypack for hikes. thanks

I think maxpadition is overrated and heavy. If you are looking for a pack to day hike look for something else, I think maxpadition is more geared towards heavy loads, and Bug Out Bags.
 
I think maxpadition is overrated and heavy. If you are looking for a pack to day hike look for something else, I think maxpadition is more geared towards heavy loads, and Bug Out Bags.

any recommendations? im open to anything. i just want a quality product. thanks

erik
 
any recommendations? im open to anything. i just want a quality product. thanks

erik

Maxpedition is right up there as far as quality goes, I have a number of their products and can find no fault in them.

Your problem is finding a high quality product that suits your purposes. This is a little more difficult.
 
What do you want to carry (in general) or how much cargo capacity do you want? Are you an ultralighter? Are you a bottle or bladder kinda guy? Do you want bombproof or comfy and light? What's your budget? Where would you be using the pack and what kind of activities would you be doing with it? The more we know about what you're looking for, the better suggestions you'll get. :thumbup:

I love both Camelbaks and Maxpedition products for the unique merits of each. I tend towards durable bombproof packs like Maxped partly because my hiking pack doubles as a BOB, and partly because I feel the thing that holds the rest of your gear should be very durable. However, I had a Camelbak HAWG and Camelbak Alpine Explorer and both packs were excellent (I'm a hydration bladder kinda guy). The HAWG is a great size for minimal dayhikes, and the alpine explorer is great if you want a little extra room for overnighters or carrying other's stuff in addition to your own (significant other). The Camelbaks are very comfortable :thumbup: I'm thinking about picking up a military HAWG or some other model again sometime later.

I'd suggest going into REI or your nearest outdoor gear store and trying on daypacks (load each up a little and walk around the store with it on for a bit) to see what you like. I tried on a few at my local REI and found that I liked the Kelty Redtail 1800 and a couple of the Osprey daypacks. But you might like something different. It's best to go in and try a few out for yourself. :thumbup:

ETA:

I did a review recently of my new Maxped Falcon II here, in case you're still interested :) If you've got a bit of money to drop, check out Kifaru packs for a bombproof investment. I can't recommend it based on personal experience, but I've heard nothing but good things about them and look forward to picking one up in the future. I think Maxpedition makes the best bombproof products out there that are also relatively affordable :thumbup:
 
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I like MaxP alot but would like a pack with that kind of strength that looks inconspicuous.
 
I like MaxP alot but would like a pack with that kind of strength that looks inconspicuous.

I agree. I have a Jumbo Versipack in khaki and the the last 2 times I flew, I was stopped. Having them pull out an emergency bivy, FAK, contractor garbage bag, duct tape, paracord, etc... was not fun with the wife rolling her eyes. I should have gotten black, so it kinda looks like a camera bag.
 
The only time I've been stopped with my gearslinger (green) has been because the lady running the scanner didn't know what my space blankets were. :D
 
I think maxpadition is overrated and heavy. If you are looking for a pack to day hike look for something else, I think maxpadition is more geared towards heavy loads, and Bug Out Bags.

Overrated? No.
Heavy? Yes.

They are made of 1000 denier Cordura which, which very strong, is anything but light. You also pay the penalty in weight for all the additional material added to put in so much organization.

If you don't need it, it may be overkill. However, you're not likely to ever have to replace it, either.

To each his own.
 
I'm also a Maxpedition fan. I've owned a Jumbo Versipack and Pygmy Falcon II. I currently own a Colussus and Kodiak Gearslinger. I've loved them all and I regret parting with the Pygmy Falcon. The Colussus was a great change from the Versipack (holds a little more and is more organized. The Kodiak is the larger version of the Sitka. While I love it for grad school and daily stuff it does not wear comfortably for long hikes. The single strap and no belt places a lot of weight on the left shoulder.

My honest favorite piece of Maxped. gear is my regular RolyPoly. It attaches to everything and carries more than I imagined it would.

I would also agree with the weight issue and wouldn't use Maxpedition for a 4 or more day hike. But day hikes and overnights, they are unbreakable and I love using them.
 
I think maxpadition is overrated and heavy. If you are looking for a pack to day hike look for something else, I think maxpadition is more geared towards heavy loads, and Bug Out Bags.

I have been using a lunada for a month or so now, it rides fine and inst heavy. Its is more than something an ultralite hiker would take, but it will also last a long freggin time.

Have you used Max and not liked them?

I would say go for something from mappedition, F&F is superb and their not horribly expensive, but you certainly get what you pair for.
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I've been carrying a Condor II for a while now and have nothing negative to say about it. It's a good size for a day hike and tough as nails.
 
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