Maxpedition Gearslingers vs. Versipacks and Packs

[clovisc]

I'm a confessed Fatboy fan... mine has been well abused in some pretty harsh places over the last 5 years. (Thrown off trucks, into swamps, subjected to all sorts of animal poo, bodily fluids, covered in ice, in salt water, used as a pillow, dragged along unpaved roads, caught above bicycle tires, etc.) I'm also much enamored of my Vulture II and Baby Condor packs.

Maxpedition's "new" Gearslinger series has my eye, though. Seems to be in-between a backpack, and a versipack. I prefer the stability of a backpack (especially for bushwacking, climbing, trail running), but am more into the fatboy's organizational lay-out, and smaller size.

As someone who wants lots of gear quickly accessible, but also ancipates lots of movement out in the Tongass rain forest, I'm curious... Does the "Gearslinger" series truly bridge the divide between organization and stability?

I'd like to see some feedback... even a review!

[JD Spydo]

Clovisc I have not yet used any of the brands of gear that you have mentioned. I have heard good things about Maxpedition and I'm sure they have a quality product. The gear I'm currently using is Victorinox and I've had very good performance from it. I couldn't go on a hike without my Victorinox fanny pack or other hiking gear that they make that I use.

I'm also hoping that several of you will chime in on your preferences on hiking, backpacking and survival gear. I'm in the market for those items as we speak. Also I would like to know of some American made items in that market.

[vampyrewolf]

I used my fatboy as a laptop bag for the last year (eeepc701 fits perfectly), though I've been beating on it for 4 years now. Wouldn't mind something bigger but the fatboy doesn't move when I'm walking.

[wescobts]

I checked out Maxpedition online, looks like nice gear, but I have a nice ruck from EMS, but am going to look into one of these, they look pretty cool.

[GradeMaker]

I've been eying that Monsoon gearslinger...I use a jumbo in summer and a regular Fatboy in winter. Happy with them too. But that Monsoon keeps calling to me.

[clovisc]

I've been eying that Monsoon gearslinger...I use a jumbo in summer and a regular Fatboy in winter. Happy with them too. But that Monsoon keeps calling to me.

the monsoon does look appealing, although i wonder if it wouldn't be a little too big for my purposes.

my versipack bounces around some if i'm moving quickly, and when hills/mountains are involved.

i'm wondering... who owns and uses a gearslinger????!

[GradeMaker]

C - I'll let you know - your post pushed me over the edge. Also grabbed a tactical attache.

[clovisc]

C - I'll let you know - your post pushed me over the edge. Also grabbed a tactical attache.

G - i think you'll like the tactical attache... my dad has a MPB he uses as his briefcase... says its his all time favorite bag! :D

[wescobts]

Has anyone used or seen in use the Devildog or the Proteus Vesipack ? They too look interesting.

[clovisc]

Has anyone used or seen in use the Devildog or the Proteus Vesipack ? They too look interesting.

i've got a proteus, but don't use it that often... the times i did, it was usually as a more comprehensive medical kit, clipped to the top of one of my packs with carabiners. i'm not a big waistpack person... the proteus worked fairly well as a shoulder bag, but not as well as the fatboy...

[jujigatame]

I tried on one of the slinger models, I think it was the Typhoon My main thought was that if it I'd really want a conventional two strap setup for carrying any kind of weight in it. I love my Jumbo and the single strap for that size pack. For something the size of Maxped's slingers though, it just didn't feel right for me.

[ozspyder]

I love my Maxpedition gear a lot :P

I have:
Tactical attache - for mainly documents and use when I go for seminars etc
MPB - currently being used as my range bag :D
Jumbo Versipack - used when I go for walks, picnics, or general small trips where I will only need a few essential items (food, water, knife first aid kit)
Variety of pouches - generally used for first aid kits (one daughter is anaphylactic to a lot of foods, and I am anaphylactic to bees/ wasps, so we carry antihistamines, Epipen/ adrenaline injection, bandages etc...:P)

I also have recently got their Spartan wallet as well as the tactical tray. Both being used a fair bit.

[clovisc]

interestingly, it seems as if there's not a lot of firsthand knowledge of gearslingers. yet maxpedition has come out with quite a few new designs lately... i wonder who is using them?

[wescobts]

interestingly, it seems as if there's not a lot of firsthand knowledge of gearslingers. yet maxpedition has come out with quite a few new designs lately... i wonder who is using them?

I would have to say LEO's and the like, I live in a city of approx 1 million and there not one dealer, as a matter of fact, the closest dealer is 3 hrs away in on the outskirts of a military base.

[clovisc]

milispecmonkey.com has some great reviews, and pictures. after reading some of there stuff, i pulled the trigger on a colossus today... i'll do a review after it gets here, and i get out in the rain forest and muskegs with it... :D

[Michael Cook]

:spyder: I have a jumbo versipack and I wish I'd gotten something with a bigger main pocket. The jumbo isn't big enough for my music books. Sturdy, though. The big roly poly's are great add ons. :spyder: