Hi!
I was wondering if I could get some advice on something.
I've never really used a waist/shoulder pack before and I was just wondering what people thought about using one for EDC or a BOB bag.

I've been looking at the Maxpedition Thermite, Proteus or fatboy. Any recommendations for or against any of these models?

Thanks in advance. This is my first post here but I've been reading your posts and this sounds like a great source of knowledge.

Welcome new guy!

I think that an EDC bag and a BOB bag are two different things. One kindasorta small, the other approaching the max weight you are able to carry (and you do have a place to bug out TO, right?) I have never owned or handled any of the packs you mentioned, but I have a sneaking feeling that none of them will do dual purpose. EDC has got to be pretty compact, or you will soon find yourself not carrying it. I hope I haven't burst your bubble, just my opinion...

Welcome Chubs,
I currently use a Maxpedition Typhoon as EDC and a Falcon II as a B.O.B.,both equipped for concealed carry if needed. I also have a MaxP Fatboy that is used for certain occasions. I have had excellent service from all three in addition to some add-on pouches, also MaxP. I hafta agree with OBG on his points about EDC vs BOB. EDC has got to be relatively light weight and compact to be effective.

Well, as OBG pointed out, EDC (a part of you) and BOB (one of your best friends) are very different and needed to be discussed differently. If EDC, what do you carry? If BOB, how far do you two have to go to get home, because none of the three are really suited for more than 24 hours of gear.

You'll find some very good reviews of the Maxped gear over at edcforums.com, and also use the search option here, we've discussed them many times. When you look at their site, be very careful to look at the dimensions and use a ruler to get an idea of how big it really is; the model they use can't be over 5'6", he makes everything look huge. The Proteus is about the size of a good loaf of bread, the Fatboy is about the same size as the SpecOps PackRat (about the size of a hardcover novel).

Hey,
Thanks for all the quick replies. Actually, I was thinking more along the lines of an emergency prep kit that I could stash in the trunk or under the office desk rather than a BOB (Stupid me...had BOBs on the mind just a few minutes earlier). Sorry for the confusion.

One of the things I don't care for about shoulder bags is the way weight is distributed and how it can swing freely. I imagine the belt strap on the fatboy and the leg strap on the thermite would help while keeping everything within hand's reach.

Cheers again!

Maxped is great stuff, but pricy for something to stash. For something like this, I'd wait until the post-back to school clearance and pick up a Jansport backpack on the cheap.

Hey, thanks a lot for bringing Maxpedition to my attention. Just the kind of stuff I've been looking for, nothing like it in stores around here.

I stash stuff in lesser quality packs I really wouldn't like to carry for long. They mainly keep stuff together and clean/dry. Depends on your situation I guess, I can mostly get away with it, these lesser packs can be quickly put inside a good pack when needed.

The Thermite and Proteus have a pretty small main pocket - about 3" x6"x9". I really iiked my Proteus clone, but it was eventually just too small and limiting. The Fatboy or the Jumbo Fatboy are probably bigger.

I first had a Thermite, and I liked it, but it was a little on the small side for my EDC. I have since gone to the Jumbo and have been happy with it. I'm especially fond of the Nalgene sized pocket. I have it loaded with about 13 pounds (not counting water) of stuff and there's still room for me to toss in daily variable items (a papeback or whatever).

I have three of their packs (Thermite, Monsoon, and Jumbo). I use the Thermite and Jumbo as an EDC, for sunglasses, books, water, and other junk I don't want to fill my pockets with, and the Monsoon for biking and day hikes. They are well built the hardware could be better, but that can be replaced.

Hope this helps,

Biscuits

Checkout True North and The North Face waist packs. IMO they are better built and more versatile than the Maxpedition comparables. They are also not "tactical" in appearance, a plus for EDC.

I have two maxpedition backpacks and they are awesome! I can only assume their versipacks are as awesome as the backpacks.

-Todd

I have both the Fatboy and Jumbo Fatboy. For small to tiny shoulder bags they are certainly well made. However, the fatboy is too tiny to be much use if you carry a bottle of water so I would avoid it.

The jumbo has a 1L bottle pocket which is its best feature. The main compartment and other pockets are decently arranged but again sort of small. This one would work fine for daily carry of a small amount of junk.

Their shoulder strap arrangement coupled with a belt attachment is very good, the belt tab keeps the thing from swinging and can transfer some of the weight to your belt.

They are quite overbuilt and really not very useful shoulder bags for say a day walk, where you might want a camera, water, a jacket or poncho, and a few other items. All the accessory pouches etc that they sell once attached makes this an odd monster of fabric and straps with even more limited use in my view.

Try to see them in person as I was appaled at how small the fatboy really was...almost useless really.

The best online review of these two bags can be found over at British Blades by MattW.

http://www.britishblades.com/forums/showthread.php?t=13857&highlight=fatboy

Overall I think the jumbo may be a decent bag for your daily carry needs, but I find it too small to be my first choice. I would rather carry a Filson field bag or a Billingham camera bag as they are way more versatile.

As to a BOB bag, I use inexpensive duffels or plastic storage totes, not BOB's really but go-kits for various purposes.

Now that I have these two Maxpedition bags (along with a couple of belt pouches) I do not think I will ever buy anything else from them. They seem to have a neat factor but for the most part a very restricted use factor. In other words, I find their form does not fit their function. All design....no practical use. Well made, but useless. Sorry to be so harsh.

Here is a video review of The S-Type Jumbo Versipack

P.S. I'm not that geek in the video...lol

He does a pretty nice video demo...

Of course, I would like to see him try to fill one of those and carry it around a bit. I think it would rate a less enthusiastic thumb then.

When I got my fatboy I was pretty excited that it would work, carried it, rearranged it, carried it, left it home in the closet. Then the jumbo came out and I thought great, finally the right size and much better configuration. Well is was, but after many attempts it too resides mostly in the closet.

The old Filson bag is vastly better for my daily carry as it does not restrict my options to essentially nothing.

I said he was a geek cuz of these pictures on his website...looks kinda geeky to me...

Yeah I think he may qualify.

Maybe I need to fill my fatboy with CheezIt's and see how it works eh

Not trying to bump an older thread, but I just picked up a jumbo myself. I'm in love!! I've been wanting one for a long time, but wanted to handle one before buying. I finally got to see one in person @ a local place here in Jersey. It fulfills all of my EDC needs and then some. I highly recomemd it. Picked it up at Cigars & Fire Trucks in Bernardsville NJ.