Maxpedition Packs

[hung-solo]

sling bags are freaking annoying. i bought the jumbo thinking i would love it.. i like it but for longer walks, hikes, etc get backpack. you will thank me for it later. i carried mine hunting for a couple of years and when dragging a deer if falls infront of you while on your shoulder.. if you do not mind that then get a sling. if you think it will piss you off as much as it does me, get a back pack.

for short walks and such the sling will be fine

 

[hung-solo]

Go to a large supermarket retailer, select the gearslinger bag you have interest in and load it up and walk around for 20 minutes.You'll know if its what you want that way. I have experience with the Monsoon an early gearslinger style Maxped bag and really its nice for light and bulky carry but always id advise going for a two shoulder strap backpack outside of urban e.d.c.

The hydration bladder compartment in mine while nice only furthers its incompatibility with a single strap load bearing set up, fluids weigh and gearslingers are'nt best suited for it.

I do like the versipack as an alternative though and also own a Boker brand version of the 'ammo bandoleer' style manbags. Nine times out of ten ill reach for it over the Monsoon.

see he knows what i am talking about.

 

[powernoodle]

I just got a Sitka, but don't like the way all of the pockets are "sideways" - meaning that they are meant to be opened when you swing the pack around in front of you.

This means that when the back is swung back around behind you, everything is rotated 90 degrees, including the interior pockets. Hope that makes sense.

Now, I have not actually used the thing and the tags are still on it, but I will probably sell it after the new year.

My favorite in this genre is the Pigmy Falcon II. Smallish to medium light duty, low profile backpack.

:thumbup:

 

[LMT66]

I just got a Sitka, but don't like the way all of the pockets are "sideways" - meaning that they are meant to be opened when you swing the pack around in front of you.

This means that when the back is swung back around behind you, everything is rotated 90 degrees, including the interior pockets. Hope that makes sense.

I felt the same way about it. I imagine it would be great for a bike or train or carpool commuter but not for hiking and such.

 

[rckshrk]

I have the Kodiak. I love this bag. It's perfect for someone who needs an easy on and off bag which is probably most people who carry a backpack. I wouldn't want to hike with this bag but for say commuting to work or just traveling in general where you are constantly putting it on and taking it off, that is where it shines. Add to that, the fact that it has great built in organization which is biased towards being accessed with the bag on it's side.

As others have commented it can be easy to overload but that is where a little self restraint comes in. With that said, I prefer the larger Kodiak to the smaller Sitka so that I do have extra room available for times when I need it. A perfect example of those times is in the colder months when layers of clothing are constantly being put on or taken off.

In addition to the Kodiak, I own the Pygmy Falcon II (decent size, no built in organization), a Remora (too small) and a Malaga (not quite large enough similar in capacity to the Sitka without the built in organization of the Sitka). The Kodiak is by far my favorite... just fight the urge to overload it.