Maxpedition Fatboy - perfect for EDC or too tactical?

[WOTANSON1]

Better a Man-purse than a Man-bra....

Now would that be a Manziere, or the Bro. :D :D


I have a Fatboy, nice bag but a Manhattan Portage medium or small size messenger bag works better for me :cool: . I don't want all the room of the Fatboy, which I will fill with all sorts of useless stuff :o . All I need is my Ipod, current book/magazines and cell phone. In the NYC metro area every man carries some sort of bag/back pack, so it is the norm not the exception and has been for at least the past 15 years or so. My father in law found my bag very amusing, then again he is quite the a#$hole.
Cheers,
Rob

[gordonk]

I've had a Fatboy Jumbo for a couple of years now. I bought mine because I wanted something a little more compact than a daypack, because I used to commute (1 hour each way - bus/Light Rail Transit) and wanted something small enough to carry my "stuff" nd not be banging into people on a crowded bus, etc. The Jumbo fit that perfectly for that purpose. It's very well built and it's taken a beating and still looks pretty new :) It keeps you very organized as well - there are pockets everywhere. Are there drawbacks - well, it depends.... if you need to carry extra paperwork, for instance, it's just not quite large enough for that. You can stuff a paperback book in there quite easily, but depending on the size of a hardback - might not. Water bottle holder works great, but if you have too much stuff, it would be hard to pack a lunch. Sometimes you have to compromise, and the nice thing about it, is that it's small enough that if you have to carry extra stuff, it's not that hard.

Up here, they are quite expensive, and I wanted to see one first. I had to think about this quite a while before I bought mine, but I'm glad I did. I've gone thru a lot of daypacks, messenger bags, etc trying to find the "one", and this was actually pretty close. One of the biggest dangers you face with these - fighting to urge to fill the pockets :D They can pack a lot of stuff and it can get heavy!!!

- gord

[Mr Blonde]

I've been using the Fatboy line for a few years now; first the regular and since a year or so the Jumbo versipack in Khaki. I've gotten no bad attention to it; and I've been through US customs a few times! :D

The Jumbo could stand to be just a hint bigger, you can't carry an A4 size magazine flat, that's the only thing I don't like. Otherwise, it's perfect for stashing away all my vacation gear, either for a hike or around town. All my items are available really quickly, water, sunglasses, camera, flashlight etc...

I can really recommend the jumbo versipack in khaki.

Wouter

[Jimd]

This thread got me thinking; we're going to be taking a little vacation a few months from now, and I want something to tote stuff around in. You know, that plethora of things that a family "needs" when they walk around an amusement park.

I found a guy who is going to trade me a Fatboy for a few items I have lying around the house that I'm not using. I'm kinda psyched, because Maxpedition stuff is awesome, and I've never tried out a Fatboy before.

The Thermite Versipack that I own is great, but it's a bit small for carrying a lot of stuff in. It'll hold a camera and some other small items, but that's about it.

I'm thinking the Fatboy just might be what I'm looking for. Thanks for turning me onto this, guys!

[zenheretic]

[quote="WOTANSON1"]. My father in law found my bag very amusing, then again he is quite the a#$hole. ]
Well, back in the day, I guess commuting men all used a briefcase...talk about a poorly thought out piece of equipment...

[WOTANSON1]

[quote="zenheretic"]Well, back in the day, I guess commuting men all used a briefcase...talk about a poorly thought out piece of equipment... ]
I agree, seems like the briefcase designers would say, "well men need a bag for work so make it the most uncomfortable thing in the world to carry and whatever you do....no straps." :D :D
Cheers,
Rob

[robo19x]

wow. . . i'd never heard for the maxpedition stuff, but i've been looking for something that would serve as a light camera bag, junk holder and this looks like it would fit the bill.

i say go for it. i've got a smaller crumpler messenger bag, a chrome messenger bag, and a chinese domke clone camera bag. . . they all fit certain purposes, but i think that would be a good all around piece of gear to have. it looks as if it could handle the weather concerns i would have riding a motorcycle as well. good stuff.

[Jimd]

[quote="zenheretic"]Well, back in the day, I guess commuting men all used a briefcase...talk about a poorly thought out piece of equipment... ]

Yeah, but....Mike Brady used to carry one! :rolleyes:

[GradeMaker]

Guys - got mt Fatboy from the UPS man today - what's the best way to attach a RP to the strap?

[clovisc]

i attached a mega roly poly to my strap (two, actually) by taking off the velcro-on shoulder patch, unbuckling the strap, then just slipping the big belt loop on the roly poly through the strap. kinda tricky squeezing the buckle through the loop, but it can be done... :D no malice clips required.

or, guess you could just get some malice clips, and attach the roly poly to the strap with a couple of them...

enjoy your fatboy!

[GradeMaker]

Thanks clovisc - much obliged

[clovisc]

no prob -- just let us know how it works out!!!!!!! :D

[GradeMaker]

I'll tell ya'll one thing right off - seems like everybody that pays any attention to it wants one. I was at the 7-11 the other morning with one of my sons and the guy behind me in line says 'where'd you get that diaper bag?'. Took me a minute to understand - I had a couple of diapers and a pack of wipes in the main compartment and he saw them. Said he'd been looking for a 'small one like that'. Everyone comments on how well made the thing is. I have to agree - thanks for all the input gents. Much obliged.

[GradeMaker]

Not trying to bump this dead thread - but have any of you guys seen the new Colossus? http://www.maxpedition.com/store/pc/vie ... 79#details :eek:

[Bolster]

I got tired of the Man Purse jokes, too. I've started carrying a small photo gear bag and nobody notices, they just assume I'm a shutterbug.

[dantecubit]

I am considering buying a Fatboy but would first like some more information from those that own it along with other Maxpedition products.

Judging from this picture, there is an area for adding expansion pouches just below the keyper ring. What size pouches can this accomodate, for example an M1 or M2? Also, will the M1 or M2 fit on the shoulder strap of the Fatboy? How about the Janus? Many thanks for your help.

[Jimd]

I'm not certain exactly which pouches will fit on the Fatboy, but it's large enough and has plenty of attachment points to accomodate a good number of large pouches.

I've been using mine for various tasks, most of which include the daily walks my wife and I take. I can easily throw two 32-ounce water bottles into the main compartment, and they fit very nicely, in fact, perfectly. This thing will carry a lot of weight fairly comfortably. They're amazingly well-made, very thick material, and the stitching is very good; I can't imagine the attachment points letting go.

[flipe8]

I look at them and they're just not for me. I'm constantly looking for ways to carry less stuff, not more. I also commute by bike at times and I just don't see one of them working as well as any of my backpacks for the times I need to carry stuff.

[clovisc]

the colossus looks pretty incredible... although $120 is pretty steep. i'm sure its worth it, though -- maxpedition gear is generally good and thoughtfully designed enough that i would buy something sight unseen, and trust that it would be amazing.

right now, though, i have more bags than i know what to do with!