Probelm with Maxpedition Vulture II

foxyrick

foxyrick

British Pork
Joined
Dec 26, 2006
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OK, so I needed a 3-day pack, with a water bladder 'cos I get thirsty a lot when hiking. So far I've been quite impressed with Maxpedition's kit and the Vulture II looked just the job. It almost is...

The problem is when I put a full water bladder in the pouch intended for it.

Without the bladder in but otherwise loaded up with kit, the pack is very comfortable to wear and feels stable. For a pack with no frame (which was my concern before I ordered it) it sits on the hips and transfers load there reasonably well. Certainly a good, usable pack so far. The zippers can be quite tough to use and need a lot of force; I wondered about lubricating them.

However, the water bladder pouch is a zipped sleeve against the back of the pack. When a full bladder is inserted, it pushes the fairly thin back out, causing it to bulge out where it contacts the wearer's back. Makes it feel like trying to strap a barrel on. It moves the load further away from the back and moves the contact point for the hip belt back which reduces load transfer there. It turns a comfortable pack into a very uncomfortable one :mad:

Has anyone else experienced this?

I'm thinking of trying the Camelback BFM which looks a similar pack, but has internal staves to reinforce the back. However I've just read one comment saying exactly the same about the BFM as I've just said about the Vulture II :confused:

Has anyone got a BFM they could comment on?
 
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I don't have any of the packs you mentioned buy I also use a bladder when hiking/climbing and if the pack is havily stuffed it also bulges out. As soon as I take a few sips from the bladder it goes back to normal. Try to kep the bladder only 4/5ths full. That might help.
Mikel
 
Thanks, I tried it not-so-full. Maxpedition say it takes a 3 litre (100oz) bladder, which is what my Deuter bladder holds. If I put only about a litre or so in it's OK but not much more. That defeats the purpose.

I suppose that I could put the bladder in the main sack instead of in the sleeve but again that defeats the purpose of the pack (ease of use) and puts the bladder at risk.

I've emailed Maxpedition to see what they think.
 
I've got the Vulture II, and while I don't use a hydration bladder I might suggest either cinching the waist/chest straps tighter to provide more support, and/or putting some rigid plastic sheeting or other reinforcement in there. A lightweight cutting board might not be a bad idea, as they're handy to have. I honestly think that the problem would be alleviated by just using/tightening the straps though, if you haven't already. A very good bag.
 
I tried tightening the straps and ended up feeling like I was in a straight jacket. I still had the pressure of the bladder down the middle of my back making me uncomfortable. I've got a dodgy back from a skiing accident years ago and have to be careful of such things. I'm used to carrying heavy loads in sacks large and small and adjusting them appropriately. The trouble here is the shape the water bladder presses the back into.

Yes, I thought of a board; even a cutting board as I was cutting some thin but stiff ones (Epicureans) up a few days ago to make strops! Could even serve a dual purpose on the hills. Aluminium would probably be better though. I could bend a sheet to back-shape and strengthen it with a couple of thicker strips riveted to the edges. Basically like some rucksacks use. I suggested this in my email to Maxpedition.

I do like the sack very much apart from this, otherwise I wouldn't bother thinking of fixes for it.
 
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yes, that is a problem. The only way i have found to get around it is that i get a smaller load in the bag so all the mass can go towards the main cargo compartment. again kinda defeating the purpose.
 
I've just tried with an Epicurean cutting board behind the bladder - it made quite a difference.

Still not perfect as the back can't mold around me like it did without the bladder, but much better than it being convex and certainly far more usable.

I'll look out for an aluminium sheet...
 
foxyrick said:
Aluminium would probably be better though. I could bend a sheet to back-shape and strengthen it with a couple of thicker strips riveted to the edges. Basically like some rucksacks use.
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What about using a piece of kydex? It's easy to mold and it should be stiff enough. You might even be able to mold the cutting board if you heat it.

I'd be reluctant to use aluminum as I'd be worried about it cutting the fabric.
 
Yes, the aluminium would need the edges protecting. Kydex would be a possibly excellent solution, probably need the 0.125" stuff. Trouble is it's hard to source in the UK and expensive to have shipped from the US (customs etc). I would love to get some at a good price here.

The cutting board won't mold (it's resin bonded wood, very stiff, makes a good strop back!) but a plastic one might - I wonder if my wife would notice one missing. Good idea!
 
I actually have a small epicurean that I keep in my Malaga gearslinger! Great minds, eh? Another thing to try might be compression bands of some kind on the bladder itself...if you can tighten a strap around the bulge point it might help it hold its shape.
 
Thanks, another possibility. It makes me think of strapping the bladder to the board. Imagine something like a 'control girdle' type thing that keeps the flab under control. If it squeezes enough, I wouldn't even have to suck! Hmmm...

Those epicureans are great aren't they? I spotted them in a store while shopping with the wife. I'm into cooking, but when I picked one up I immediately thought of cutting one into strips for strop backs.
 
This may or may not work for you. I have had similar issues with packs and bags.

The fix thats works for me is one heavy duty emergency/space blanket folded to fit between your bladder and the pack wall. Stiff enough to alleviate the protrusion and a valuable piece of kit.

Good luck
J.
 
studio said:
This may or may not work for you. I have had similar issues with packs and bags.

The fix thats works for me is one heavy duty emergency/space blanket folded to fit between your bladder and the pack wall. Stiff enough to alleviate the protrusion and a valuable piece of kit.

Good luck
J.
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That's brilliant. I think I'll try that inside the inside wall of my new Kifaru E&E....thanks.
 
I just attach my camelbak to the outside of the pack.I had problems with an old one leaking all over my gear so now I don't put any water vessels inside my pack.It's easier to refill as well.
 
Foxyrick, honestly sounds like the bladder pouch and the back panel is poorly designed. The pouch is supposed to strech inwards, not both in and out towards your back. And a bladder holding water shouldn't create that kind of pressure against your back but conform to it. I've been using water bladders for almost 10 years but have not run across problems such as yours. My LBV that holds a 72oz water bladder cushions the back nicely, no problems of anykind.

My recommendation would be getting another pack. Pack in that size with no frame of any sort doesn't sound good either. Especially if you got a bad back.
 
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