I recently acquired a Maxpedition Monsoon and love it. I have been using it as my EDC for about a week and like the way it wears. I keep it loaded full of stuff I use regularly with a bit of emergency stuff added to it. I ran from the office to my house (about 2.5 miles) over a steep foothill, and with the waist strap fastened, it was quite comfortable too. I don't plan on making it my regualr running pack, but it will do in a pinch like when I feel like getting an extra run in and it is all I have with me.

Excuse the down and dirty pics.



Oakley sunglasses holder, flashlight, pouch for audio recorder and umbrella.


Some light sticks and a stain pen. In the back pocket I have some papers and other randomness.


I forgot to put the gym gear shorts and such in this morning since they were in the laundry, but you can see the rest of the goodies like 1lb beef jerky, 2lb dried fruits and nuts (I make my own mix), space blanket bivy, small first aid, etc etc.


The strap has a Condor phone pouch and the side pocket holds passport and other important things.


I plan to get a larger Maxpedition General Purpose pouch to replace the outer audio recorder pouch and a Volta battery case for the outside of the waist band pocket. I also plan to pack a Glock in the hydration/CCW slot. I carry a leatherman in my pocket here in Germany so there isn't any fixed blades on the pack for legal reasons.

Quick description of my pack is all that I think is justified here, since there are many other reviews online with more details if you are interested, so I'll ended this with; Great pack for day/urban hikes.

looks like a good set-up

Pretty good setup JJ. Thanks for putting this up.

They really have some cool designs. I use their cell phone pouch. I need to check out some of their stuff more closely.

Jarhead
Good set up.
Am I understanding correctly that you cannot carry a fixed blade but are allowed to carry a firearm? If that's the case, it sounds like the German Government is as screwed up as ours in the U.S.A. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

Fred

Ill communication here. Handguns, fixed blades, one-handed openers and anything considered a weapon is illegal to carry here.

Really nice set up! I have a sling bag myself and use it as a EDC.

Very nice bag, I have been toying with the idea of a Maxpedition Monsoon. I'm glad to read a positive review.

Really nice looking setup you have there, I have been looking at them but on a daily basis I can't see me using it in my enviroment. On the other hand I my start using one so that I can have everthing with me in a pack at work.

I was looking at that backpack lately and have decided to buy it. Ironically I was going to put that exact same "zombie hunter" patch on it as well <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

We can start an elite undead killing squad.

You'll probably have an easier time killing zombies than I will. I have a desk job so would get eaten really fast. On the up side you could probably get away while they feast on me for a while <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Anything you don't like about the bag?

Will it hold a laptop?

And does the black one get really hot when the sun is out?

I love the bag, but there are negatives to it.

If you load in down with more than say 15 pounds, you need to use the waist strap to take the weight off your shoulder to avoid fatigue. I imagine this is the issue with any sling/messenger bag. The weight is not balanced since it rides on just one shoulder.

That said, I have ran 5 miles with about 20 pounds loaded in it, and I didn't have any issues while wearing the waist strap. There is no way I could have done that with just the shoulder strap though.

I carry a Sony Viao 15 inch in the bladder compartment with no issues. Fits perfectly. I have read about people fitting 17 inchers in the main compartment, But haven't tried it.

I wore it today, and it was 105. I didn't notice the bag being any hotter than the inferno I was already in.

Awesome, thanks for the answers <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

nice getup you got there.
sorry bout the 105. Hope your paperwork gets done soon!

My paper work has been done. That is the reason I am down here in this Texas heat. It cooled off some and the AC man was prompt to fix things, so I didn't have to bring my aging grandfather to a hotel.

doh! welcome back stateside! I've been spotty in my forum reading and posting lately. I had read the post above from may 18th without looking at the date, the one that says "Handguns, fixed blades, one-handed openers and anything considered a weapon is illegal to carry here." and thought u must still be in Gtown.