Maxpedition operator tactical attache vs. Condor 3 way laptop case: Pictures!

[Last Visible Canary]

I got the condor 3 way laptop case as a general edc laptop case and for the most part have enjoyed it. It is a little stuffed with everything in it, mostly because I'm not willing to put things in the same pocket as the laptop itself. I carry:
-15.5" lenovo laptop
-ac power supply
-car adapter
-12' extension cord
-small flat riding head phones
-12' of cat5 cable
-micro 4 port usb hub
-mini mouse
-8gb usb stick

and that's it. the bare essentials for powering up and using a lap top on the road and wherever it needs to go. I could have put the cat five cable and adapters in the main compartment but I don't want any sharp points resting against the laptop if I can avoid it, so I put everything in the outside pockets. It's enough room, but there's a lot of wire mingling between the headphones, mouse, usb hub and extension cord.

Then I started getting maxpedition backpacks. The difference is enough that I have switched all my edc stuff from condor and other manufactuers (I've tried blackhawk, 5.11, condor and maxpedition). over to maxpedition.

The bags are basically the same size, except that instead of having a large flat pocket for shoulder straps on the back like the condor, the maxpedition has a large 1.5" deep pocket. I kinda wish they had thrown a molle platform over that big broad space, but I don't plan on using this as a carry all so I'm okay with it. The maxpedition has more pockets with better separation of components, as well as two side pockets.

Both bags have a large velcro partform for attaching velcro items. Condor put a velcro platform on the inside of the large outer pocket and on the inside of the laptop compartment. The big difference is that condor comes with a detachable organizer panel, the maxpedition just comes with the velcro platform. It's designed to sit in the center of the laptop compartment. I'm keeping it in the outside back pocket because I'd rather have the softer nylon on both sides of my laptop instead of either the scratchy velcro or the rough treated nylon.

I meant to flip the panel around, it's just a big sheet of velcro. The shoulder pad is shown inverted here, you can either have the rubberized side or the nylon side out depending on how you want it to rest on your shoulder. the rubberization is pretty grippy o_0

On the outside edge the condor has 2 handles and a shoulder strap. very plain, but very accessible.

The maxpedition on the other hand has two handles with one handle cover, if you covered both handles with the cover it would block the main compartment. It has two straps designed to carry an umbrella or what have you. I will probably never use them so they just get in the way of using the zipper. It also has another center strap, I don't know what it does other than get in the way (?). also a big plastic d ring.

The drag handles on the maxpedition have a single cover just like the shoulder strap which can have the nylon or rubberized side out. The handle is a big difference between the two: the maxpeditions is solid because of the handle cover which is crazy stiff. I would have preferred that they made the handle like they do on their backpacks where it's a 2" strap with a 1" strap down the center, the handle portion having the sides of the 2" strap folded over and sewn. The treated straps from maxpedition are SO rigid and SO stiff that it would have guaranteed a solid drag handle instead of one that flops around and rolls in your hand. The handle cover will probably prevent that feeling, even if the strap inside is rolled into a cord. They set it up this way so they could keep the handles side mounted instead of eating up top space next to the zipper with the bulky 2"+1" strapping set up. On the condor the handle strap immediately doubles over and it feels like your holding a cord instead of a strap, which kinda bites into the hand.

On the sides of the operator attache there are 2 water bottle holders. The are held closed by shock cord that goes to the inside laptop compartment which is attached on the outside by a tab of velcro.

The internal laptop compartment has a velcro strip for the center divider/velcro platform. you can see the side water bottle pocket's shock cord sticking through.

There is padding in all directions including on the bottom, but I'm not okay with the 1/8" of padding that's present so I've cut and inserted another 1/4" thick closed celled foam pad on the bottom. I'm not going to be using the divider so i don't mind losing the velcro strip at the bottom.

The outisde pocket has several elastic holders and internal flat pockets.

I didn't take a shot of it, but the maxpedition also has a rubberized bottom. The bottle holders aren't but the main compartment is. All in all the maxpedition is just higher quality in every single way. The fabric is treated to be water repellent and is therefor significantly stiffer. the 1" webbing is all that insanely stiff maxpedition webbing so it doesn't roll when you grab it. The drag handle on the maxpedition is way stiffer and less likely to be uncomfortable when lugging around 15lb's of laptop gear and the zippers are noticeably more rugged. It has more pockets that have better separation and is just better all around.

For the Condor case, it costs half as much and it's main compartment is easier to access. It does come with shoulder straps if you wanted to carry it like that and it comes with a panel organizer for the velcro platform. For the money it's awesome, it just can't compare to the higher quality (and higher priced) maxpedition equivalent.

 

[Last Visible Canary]

I've found this big jump in quality to be consistent across all of maxpeditions offerings. I REALLY wish they would make a framed series of packs. To be able to have a condor with an internal frame would be amazing


"In condors defense" if this is even defensible, I believe they were working off of maxpeditions falcon 1 design instead of their falcon 2 design, so some of the arrangements are better by design on the maxpedition instead of just materials.

I have most of the additional strapping taken off, the top Y cinch and the waist strap, as well as the sternum strap on the condor. The sternum strap is not detachable on the falcon 2. The condor has really limited molle attachment opportunities, placing an alice attachment strap in back of all of them which for me is not needed at all. They also only have 1 cinch strap on each side I have a water bottle set up on the maxpedition - the top cinch comes in handy here by keeping it tight to the pack.

I think the detachable/"adjustable" straps on the condor are from the original maxpedition falcon design, needless to say the falcon 2's attached straps are WAY better. Notice how the drag handle on the condor is flat where the maxpedition's is round and popping out? that is what happens when you use stiff-as-hell weather treated extra-tight-weave webbing. It is AMAZING. The strapping alone is worth the difference in price between other manufacturers and maxpedition, I have idea where they get the stuff. Even the high tensile strength 1" webbing I've handled isn't as stiff as maxpeditions stuff. Also their stitching uses abrasion resistent thread where condor uses standard (cotton? nylon?) thread.

Maxpedition has a rubberized bottom and condor does not, even though putting the loaded pack down will end up eating away at the strapping. The condor has a center strap for the top Y cinch to attach that goes all the way under the bottom, where maxpeditions is sewn into the front seam.

and the third thing that makes maxpedition higher quality than it's competitors: weather treated fabric. I have not handled another bag that had the same ultra-stiff fabric that maxpedition uses, and I'm told that it holds up for years and miles of abuse. It makes for a strong feeling backpack, but it does make it kind of annoying trying to get into.

The condor version is like a normal backpack with nice features, the maxpedition is like a tank with even more features. It is higher quality in nearly every regard, the webbing, the fabric, the stitching, everything.

 

[LMT66]

Great review LVC! I have the MaxP Aggressor and it is a well thought out bag. All the pockets, compartments, slip pockets, stash spots are awesome.

 

[powernoodle]

Except for the Mall Ninja name, I am quite fond of the Operator Tactical Attache. I used it for many moons as the Man Sack that lived in my vehicle. Carried things that I wanted or needed while away from home. Everything from a multitool to a can of Coffee Mate. For giggles, I bought a Maxpedition MPB to fill the same role. Good stuff. Similar to the Tactical Attache, but a little larger.

Cargo area of the Powernoodle Mobile Command Vehicle, showing the Maxpedition MPB.

 

[TNRat]

Great pics and review. I see y'all with the black don't have pets.