Maxpedition Jumbo bad-ass man purse review

[desmobob]

After seeing the Maxpedition gear online and hearing lots of good things about it, I decided to try a Jumbo Versipack.

I like to carry a fanny pack but my Gregory feels a bit uncomfortable with both water bottles filled and some gear in the pouch. I figured I'd try a lumbar pack or a sling pack. I went with the sling pack. With the Jumbo, I also purchased a double sheath/magazine pouch, an Anemone pouch, the velcro universal holster and a small cellphone case.

The quality of the pack seems outstanding, except maybe for the zipper pulls. They are simple, knotted paracord (one overhand knot), and I have the feeling they may eventually loosen and disappear. I braided a longer, thicker pull for the concealed holster zipper for easier access.

I bought the small cellphone case thinking it would be perfect for my Garmin GPS. It's just a hair too small but it turns out my GPS fits nicely in the external pocket of the Anemone pouch, which also features a fleece-lined divider on the inside pocket to protect a camera, etc. The Anemone is a very nice ad-on to the Jumbo.

I've used the pack several times as a black powder hunting "possibles bag," a gear bag for hiking, and a gear bag for hunting. I like it a lot. It carries well, even when heavily loaded (today I carried a full Nalgene water bottle, a pint stainless steel thermos of coffee, hunting ammo, knife, GPS, compass, drag rope, Gerber folding saw, etc., etc..)

My only complaint is that the Molle webbing attached to the carry strap area is too close to the bag. If I attach the Anemone pouch there, it blocks access to the holster pocket. The thinner double mag pouch doesn't get in the way quite so much if mounted there. I ended up piggy-backing the Anemone pouch to the front pocket of the pack (the only other place with Molle webbing other than the strap area).

Some Molle webbing on the outside of the main pocket or flap might be handy.

I really like the Jumbo, but the price of the accessory pouches really drive the price up. (Not that they're necessary; the Jumbo has lots of well layed-out pockets.) My Jumbo with the three additional pouches and holster came to over $150. I think that's a little pricey for a small pack, but my impression is that it may last a lifetime....

Stay sharp,
desmobob

 

[gehrm_73]

Great, thanks for sharing.

Do you have a picture of your setup that you could post?

 

[desmobob]

Great, thanks for sharing.

Do you have a picture of your setup that you could post?

Here's the Jumbo with the double mag pouch added at the front strap Molle webbing area and the Anemone pouch piggy-backed on the bag's front pocket. The small cellphone holster is not attached/shown.

You can see how any accessories added to the Molle webbing will interfere to some degree with access to one or more of the bag's pockets. Having the double mag pouch attached to the webbing just below the strap buckle slightly interferes with access to the concealed holster pocket, the open pocket on the front of the main bag, and the zippered pocket on the front of the bag.

Adding anything to the rear strap area Molle webbing will seriously interfere with access to the concealed holster pocket and the top zippered pocket.

Stay sharp,
desmobob

 

[Fiddleback]

Pics. I'm in the market.

 

[JackBauer24]

nice pack. Wouldn't mind one myself. That mag pouch kinda negates the whole "concealed" carry though, don't you think.

 

[desmobob]

That mag pouch kinda negates the whole "concealed" carry though, don't you think.

For sure, but it's so handy I couldn't leave it off. For hunting, it held six spare .270 rounds in one side and my Benchmade 710 in the other side. A Leatherman Wave also fits nicely in one side, depending on the "mission."

For discrete CCW, I'd remove it. That's easy to do because it attaches with Velcro straps rather than Maxpedition's Malice (Molle) clips. BTW- the Velcro strap attachment method has to been seen to be appreciated. It has a large Velcro belt loop with two Velcro cross locking tabs to add another level of security. It's not coming off accidentally, even if you happen to tumble down a rocky slope or something....

This is bombproof gear, I'd say.

Stay sharp,
desmobob

 

[desmobob]

Pics. I'm in the market.

Here, you can see how the double mag pouch partially covers some of the pockets.

The rear Molle area is directly over the top pocket (zipper with pull showing) and the rear portion of the concealed holster pocket (closed zippered area).

This view shows how the webbing areas are directly over the pack.

Stay sharp,
desmobob

 

[hollowdweller]

I wish this forum had reputation points. I'd give you some just for the funny title!

 

[desmobob]

I wish this forum had reputation points. I'd give you some just for the funny title!

Gee... thanks!

Stay sharp,
desmobob

 

[bulgron]

I have a jumbo, but I never use it because I don't like the way you can carry it only on one side of your body. Mostly I use it as a grab and go bag, and I store it under my bed in case of an earthquake.

I just bought a Remora for EDC, which I quite like. It makes a great urban/suburban man bag that doesn't scream "metrosexual purse!"

Mostly I carry a bag because I always want a decent sized notebook and pen handy. But I also put the usual assortment of multitools, small first aid kit, flashlights, spare batteries, etc in it for emergency purposes. It easily accommodates all of that.

A big plus to the Remora is that there's multiple ways to attack the shoulder strap, or you can remove it completely.

The only thing that I added to the Remora was the 4.5" clip on phone holster, which I wanted for my Treo 650. I could easily have placed the Treo inside the bag, but with the holster I can actually hear the phone ring.

The only downside to the Remora is that there's no built-in way to carry water. But I have a mini rollypoly rattling around here somewhere, and when I find it I'm going to put that on the Remora. It holds up to a 1 liter nalgene nicely, and folds away when it isn't needed for use.

(Sorry if this constitutes a thread hijack).

 

[Dave_Markowitz]

But I have a mini rollypoly rattling around here somewhere, and when I find it I'm going to put that on the Remora. It holds up to a 1 liter nalgene nicely, and folds away when it isn't needed for use.

Will it hold a Nalgene with one of the Olicamp Space Saver cups slipped over the bottom of the bottle?

 

[desmobob]

Will it hold a Nalgene with one of the Olicamp Space Saver cups slipped over the bottom of the bottle?

Glad you asked bulgron this question...

I forgot to add in my Jumbo review that the water bottle pocket DOES (barely) fit an Olicamp space saver cup in the bottom (something that many water bottle holder pockets will not do).

Stay sharp,
desmobob

 

[bulgron]

Will it hold a Nalgene with one of the Olicamp Space Saver cups slipped over the bottom of the bottle?

I have no idea, since I don't own a Olicamp Space Saver cup.

If memory serves, the nalgene bottles fit in the mini rollypoly with just a little bit of room to spare, so you might be able to get something else in there.

I wish I could find my rollypoly. I was using it to pick up brass at the range a few weeks ago and now I have no idea what I did with it. I hate it when that happens....

 

[Fiddleback]

Are there knockoffs for a lot less cash. After having all my high dollar gear ganked out of my truck recently, I'm looking to survive for less $$ this time.

 

[Tim the Slugman]

Try www.foxoutdoor.com

 

[nemoaz]

It makes a great urban/suburban man bag that doesn't scream "metrosexual purse!"

It screams, "I read Soldier of Fortune" magazine. Not very low profile. Don't get me wrong, I have a similar smaller bag. However, I don't carry it in civilian clothes.

 

[darthstrevel]

It screams, "I read Soldier of Fortune" magazine. Not very low profile. Don't get me wrong, I have a similar smaller bag. However, I don't carry it in civilian clothes.

I agree. I just have a plain L.L. Bean backpack that pretty much goes everywhere with me and that I had for 10 years. I wouldn't want my knife folder (or fixed anywhere but on my belt or in my pocket. What happens if you have to ditch your pack. Of course I'd have a spare knife in my pack.

No one ever questions or searches someone with a regular back pack. Low profile as posible...The maxpedition stuff looks out of place in the suburban and urban envioronments that 90% of us live in. This would be even more of a concern in a "bug out" situation.

Right now I live in San Diego County and wild fires have displaced 250,000 people. They guy wearing all the "tacticool' gear will be easily picked out of the crowd a road blocks etc... I am on my ship (several crewmembers & thier families were displaced by the fires), but many others had no place to go as the county being surrounded by fires and or Mexico (the worst place to go in a disaster in my opinion) in all directions. A man with a regular backpack could carry a defensive firearm and never get a second look.

However, the authorities have handled the evacuation very well and no "New Orleans" style Lawlessness yet...

Sorry to hijack your thread...

 

[Triquetra]

I bought the Jumbo VP a couple of weeks ago and I was looking into all the add on's but I ended up buying a High Sierra sling pack with ample organizer pockets. To me the VP just wasn't big enough, drew too much attention, and I guess that I'm insecure but I just don't like the purse comments. I do like the sling pack over the 2 strap backpacks for urban travel. My pack holds plenty and I feel ok taking it to church, resturants, movies, work, or wherever. I considered the Monsoon from Maxpedition, but the one I got blends in anywhere. The versipack will fit perfectly under my Dodge back seat though for a perfect BOB.

 

[Dave_Markowitz]

Glad you asked bulgron this question...

I forgot to add in my Jumbo review that the water bottle pocket DOES (barely) fit an Olicamp space saver cup in the bottom (something that many water bottle holder pockets will not do).

Stay sharp,
desmobob

Thanks! I need to order one now to attach to my Countycomm EOD bag.

 

[bulgron]

It screams, "I read Soldier of Fortune" magazine. Not very low profile. Don't get me wrong, I have a similar smaller bag. However, I don't carry it in civilian clothes.

You know, that's what I thought about the versipaks. But the remora just seems more subdued than that. Maybe it's because it's smaller (it IS quite small), but if I feel like I'm getting funny looks because of it, it's more because I'm carrying a bag, period, than because of any "Soldier of Fortune" stares.

But maybe that's just me.

Also, it helps that I wear blue jeans and a t-shirt something like 99.9% of the time. I don't think I'd ever carry the Remora with a suit, or even dockers and a button-down shirt.

For whatever reason, I feel quite comfortable wandering around town with that bag. Maybe I'm just getting to an age where I don't give a f--- what anyone thinks of me.