Posts Tagged backpacks
Maxpedition Falcon II Pygmy
Mom and I were talking the other day, when she said that her and dad needed a small backpack to carry their rock hunting tools in. The first pack to come to mind was a Maxpedition Falcon II Pygmy.
During the spring and early summer time mom and dad will do some rock / arrow head hunting here in East Texas. They will load up the 4-wheeler, get some bottled water, snacks, rock hammer and head out.
The requirements for the backpack include:
Not too big
Something large enough to carry water and snacks
Large enough to hold a rock hammer and guide manual
Durable
My 3 favorite Maxpedition Packs
When it comes time to head out to the woods, I usually take a few minutes to think about what I’am going to be doing and what kind of gear I need. If I’am going on a simple day hike, I might bring my Maxpedition Falcon-II Pygmy, if its an overnight trip I might bring the Vulture-II and if its a short trip or hunting trip I’ll bring the Maxpedition Noatak.
Lets start with the Maxpedition Falcon-II Pygmy – which is my favorite dayhike / warm weather overnight bag. Even though the Falcon-II Pygmy has capacity of only 1,400 cubic inches, for you ultralight backpackers out there that should be plenty of room.
Some of the stuff that I took on my last hiking trip with my son and nephew:
Hammock
Rain poncho
Poncho liner
Survival Knife
Mutli-tool
Topo map
GPS
Compass
2 – 32 ounce water bottles
Water filter
Cord
Spare socks
Maxpedition Backpack Giveaway
Every month Survivalist Boards tries to hook up with a merchant to offer some kind of giveaway or contest. This month (August 2010), Maxpedition is giving away 3 packs. One pack will be given away on August 14, the other 2 will be given away on August 31. The Prizes: Maxpedition Condor-II – August 14…
Maxpedition Vulture-II
Looking for a good quality 2 – 3 day pack? The Maxpedition Vulture-II might be just what your looking for. When your looking at backpacks, there seems to be small, medium, large and super large.
Small – good for day hikes and short trips
Medium – good for day hikes or overnight trips
Large – good for 3 – 5 day trips
Super Large – good for 5+ days trips (think expedition)
The problem I have, I need a pack that fits right in-between medium and large. These are the ones where you can pack enough for a 1 – 3 day trip, but not too big or too small.
This medium sized pack is where I’am trying to fit the Maxpedition Vulture-II. I need something for warm / hot weather camping, and just big enough to carry some food, one man tent, rain poncho, hammock, poncho liner,,,, but not too big that I’am tempted to carry gear that is not needed. If your like me, and if there is spare room in your pack, your going to find a way to fill it up. A half full pack just does not look right.
Before a pack is taken out on a hiking or camping trip, it needs to be loaded, tested and checked out. So before my Maxpedition Vulture-II was taken on a real hiking / camping trip, it was loaded up and taken on a trip to the deer camp. Inside the pack I was able to fit – hammock, one man tent, 3 legged stool, couple of MREs, compass, map, and topo map compass.
Thoughts on the large MOLLE pack
After about 15 years of using the medium ALICE pack as my primary warm/hot weather backpack, I decided it was time for a change. So I got on Ebay and after looking through some of the listings, I decided to go with the large MOLLE pack with internal sleep system carrier.
There are 2 versions of this pack on the market – one where the main pack is separate from the sleep system carrier. And the one like what I bought, which is just one large pack.
First Impressions:
Its more slimlineed then the large ALICE
Its easier to get into then the medium ALICE
It has more webbing then the large ALICE
The map case is larger then either the medium or large ALICE
The map case has a mesh bottom, so its easier to see the contents
The internal sleep system carrier has a zipper for easy access – lets talk about that just for a minute.
Maxpedition Kodiak Gearslinger Review
The Maxpedition Kodiak Gearslinger is unlike a lot of other backpacks, as it only has one shoulder strap. Its designed so that the user can disconnect an under-the-arm strap, and then spin the pack so that its in front of them. Thus, making the pack easy to access without having to dismount it.
Maxpedition makes 3 packs in its gearslinger series – the Sitka, Noatak and the Kodiak. In this article we are going to be looking at the Kodiak.
The single shoulder strap supports the weight of the pack, while the under the strap helps to keep the pack in place.
Internal vs external frame backpacks
Internal frame VS external frame backpacks, ask a group of backpackers which one they prefer and your sure to get a variety of answers. The truth is, asking about internal and external frame packs is like asking about:
chevy or ford
dodge or toyota
apples or oranges
iron man or spider man
This article is based on my personal opinion, established through years of hiking, backpacking and camping.
ALICE, MOLLE II or Maxpedition backpack for a 2 day trip
The other day I received a question asking which one would make a good 2 day pack – MOLLE II Rifleman pack, ALICE pack, MOLLE II pack, or something from Maxpedition. In my opinion, there is no clear cut answer. The large ALICE packs are big, but their too “fat” – meaning they extend off my back too much and make me lean forward to balance the load. For this discussion, lets just talk about the medium ALICE pack, 3,000 cubic inch MOLLE II with external sleep system, the Maxpedition Vulture-II and the Maxpedition
What is your survival gear fetish
To some survivalist, collecting gear is like collecting stamps, or collecting coins – we can always find a way to justify buying something new. For some people its boots, backpacks, a compass, hats, gloves, sleeping bags,,,, you get the picture.
I guess my gear fetish is backpacks, I just like having the right pack for the job. Whether its a day hike, over night camping trip, 8 mile hike in 100 degree heat,,, its nice to have the right pack to carry the gear.
Getting the maxpedition vulture II ready for a camping trip
The other weekend I took some time to get my maxpedition vulture II ready for a camping trip. Over the next few months, my family and I have a couple of camping trips planned. One is supposed to be next weekend, on March 13 to Dam B in Jasper, Texas. There is supposed to be another camping trip on the river, and another camping trip along the Sabine River sometime this summer.
Regardless of where your going on a camping trip, its best to be prepared. On my camping trips, I like to be comfortable, that might include bringing a hammock and a tri-pod stool, or even both. That way I can get off the ground for a little while and relax.
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