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Posted: 3/26/2009 4:24:40 PM EDT
| Does anybody have any experience with the Maxpedition Jumbo Versapak or Tactical Operators Attache? Or does anybody have any other suggestions or good experiences with other brands? Any input will be most welcome. Thanks. |
| ^ always an option, the quality on maxped's stuff is great so I wouldnt worry too much about a used item. My suggestion would be to buy used the first time to see what you like better and then you can resell it without losing any value, which is not going to happen if you buy it new and the resell the one you dont like. |
| I've been using the slightly smaller Fatboy Versipac, as my primary method of carry, while I am waiting on a new holster for my new primary carry piece. They work just fine, for more than a transfer from truck to truck, although they do not allow for a fast draw. When I get my new holster, mine will continue on as a small 'get home bag'. |
| I have a maxpedition jumbo versipack. I use it as my get home back. It has plenty of room for my pistol, some spare mags, flashlight, knife, small med kit, water, camera, and other little things. The bags seems well thought out. The only thing that I don't like is the length of the strap for the main buckle on the large pocket flap. If I pack the bag as full as it can get with the large pocket liner extended upward. The strap on the main buckle isn't long enough to snap together. It is a rare occasion that I load the bag this full. I plan to solve the problem buy purchasing another fastex buckle and a short length of webbing to use as an extender. I would recommend this bag to others. |
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Anybody that is even remotely familiar with tactical equipment will look at a Versipack and know that it carries a gun. LEO-types will know what the bag is for, smarter-than average bears can figure it out too.
A Versipack doesn't look forgettable at all, it's pretty unique, draws a lot of attention, it stands out. If you're going to use it for concealed carry, you have to make the gun and holster disappear, not just sugar-coat it. Alter it to look a little less threatening, normal, harmless... something an average person would carry. Get rid of the velcro, get it dirty, wash it a lot in hot water, soften it up, add a benign logo of some sort to it... or ditch it. I just use a surplus canvas haversack that I got for $20. I washed it, added a kydex insert for a holster and made the lid removable with some velcro. My wife mistook it for a new diaper bag and she knows that I carry a gun. |
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Anybody that is even remotely familiar with tactical equipment will look at a Versipack and know that it carries a gun. LEO-types will know what the bag is for, smarter-than average bears can figure it out too. I agree, I save my tactical type gear for the range and training. |
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Anybody that is even remotely familiar with tactical equipment will look at a Versipack and know that it carries a gun. LEO-types will know what the bag is for, smarter-than average bears can figure it out too. I agree, I save my tactical type gear for the range and training. Most people don't have a clue what Tactical is. I've carried my Versipack right by Police Officers without even a 2nd look. I've carried it to the Mall, Grocery Store, Movie Theater, Restaurants, Convenience Stores, everywhere. Nobody pays attention. There are so many people carrying Book Bags, Back Packs, Fanny Packs, Purses, Brief Cases, Laptop Bags, etc. around these days that people don't give a 2nd look. The majority of comments I have gotten were along the lines of "Hey that's a cool looking bag. Where did you get that?" Unless you're carrying a Bag that's in some kind of camo pattern like ACU or MARPAT most people don't give a second look. People do tend to notice the ACU or MARPAT as most people know it's a military camo pattern and it stands out a little more. The old Woodland Camo Pattern though is so common these days that nobody pays attention to it. As long as the Versipack is in a common color like Black, Tan, OD Green, people will barely notice it. I've also carried my CCW in an IWB Holster with shorts and a t-shirt in the summer with the pistol clearly printing and nobody notices. People are clueless. I think most of us overestimate how savvy the average person. Most people are clueless about firearms and the last thing on their mind is checking out who might be carrying and who's not. Everyone these days is so self absorbed and wrapped up in their own little world that they don't have a clue what anyone else is doing. Hell, half the people are wrestling with their kids, talking on their cell phone, or texting while they are walking around. So even when they're standing next to you they are not paying attention. That's what makes CCW so much easier than most people think. |
| I just ordered the Maxpedition LUNADA for my family trips to the zoo or 2-4 hr day-hiking trips on the local trails. I wanted something slightly larger than the RAMORA, but smaller than the MONSOON. I like the Gearslinger design because it can be worn like a backpack but since it is a single strap it can be quickly swung around to the front to gain access. |
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For what the OP stated he would be using it for it would probably be a great bag. I never see anyone carrying bags around. Maybe a backpack or laptop bag here and there, and that's mainly in or near college areas.
I have to disagree with some of this. Olive drab sticks out like a sore thumb. The shade of it just says military or cop. Velcro and pals all over sticks out like crazy too. Even a basic black bag with pals and velcro looks like military or cop gear. Pouches all over your belt make you stick out unless you conceal them well. Career criminals, and other assorted bad guys know what gear cops use too. It's just what they do. You're either labeling yourself as a mark or a narc. 511 pants, and shirts give you away too. I wore a 511 polo here and there working, and people would ask me what the pockets on my sleeve were for. I didn't figure anyone would pay attention, but they stuck out. |
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These are all good points to ponder on before buying a bag. While the bag will mostly be used to transfer items from truck to truck it will sometimes be used for family outing to the zoo and park and things like that. I guess it's going to take a lot more consideration than I originally thought.
By some of the discussions that are going on in here I think we could change the topic to "What is your idea of discreet?" LOL. This is turning out to be a good discussion |
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It will mostly be used to keep everything together when I swap stuff from my personal truck to my work truck everymorning. I will have to hold my pistol and spare mags, small med kit, cell phones, and things like that. I have a Jumbo Versapack that I use for basically the same purpose. Works great. I have carried it around a bit here and there and never got a second glance. |
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I just got a Khaki colored Maxpedition Fatboy (S-type for offside carry) from another member here on the board. I am trying it out with my various carry guns, an XD Compact .45, Kahr PM9, a S&W 340PD and a Springfield Armory LW Champion in .45acp. In the past, I have tried several different methods of "Off the belt" carry. These methods have included camera bags, sports gear bags, satchel type briefcases and, of course, the basic fanny pack. This is my first Maxpedition bag and I am very impressed with the quality and the thought that went into it's construction.
After trying each of the aforementioned handguns, I have discovered that the Maxpedition universal web/velcro holster is functional, but a major pain in the ass to get positioned just right for ease of use. I found that the two larger autos, the Champion and the XD sat up too high for the zipper to close easily. Also, both of the magazines for each pistol have either bumper pads (McCormick Shooting Stars for the Champion) or a Pearce extension (For the 10 round XD mag), so that also made getting the pistol in or out of the weapon compartment difficult. There was no way the XD would fit in the weapon compartment with the 13 round mag in place. I will be picking up another factory 10 round mag with the standard flat bottom floorplate for the XD to make carrying it a little easier in this rig. So I ended up using my Galco IWB rig for my Champion and my Don Hume belt scabbard for my XD and that seemed to work out pretty well. I set the handgun in the holster inside the weapon compartment in cross-draw fashion. This method necessitates a "Two hand" draw, one to open the zipper and then hold the holster in place while my strong hand draws the pistol. This is no "Speed draw" rig, that is for sure, but with practice, one could become fairly proficient with it. For the smaller handguns, the 340PD and the Kahr PM9, the universal web/velcro holster actually works pretty well. As for carrying extra mags, the pouch that is provided on the bag is perfectly placed, but with the open sides, the casual onlooker can see the exposed end of the magazine. I am not sure if this an issue or not, as I imagine the majority of "Non-gun savy" folks would not know what they were looking at anyway. I ended up using the mag pouch for my flashlight (Small Pelican Light.....this may get upgraded to a SureFire 6P) and the rear pocket for my extra mags. I filled the remaining plethora of internal pockets and compartments with my usual EDC items, which consists of the following: 1) C-phone 2) Credit card holder 3) SwissChamp knife 4) SwissCard Multi-Tool 5) Sunglasses 6) Band-Aids 7) Splenda 8) Eye Glass wipes 9) Chapstick 10) Comb 11) Gum 12) Pens Even after I was done with my "Load out", I still had a couple of empty pockets that I am sure I will find a use for.....possibly a small digital camera. Yesterday was my "Maiden Voyage" with my "Murse". I selected my Springfield Champion and threw two extra mags in the pocket located on the rear section of the bag. The bride and I went to the local Animal Control office to take care of licensing the family mutt. Neither clerk paid any attention to my gear bag. From there, we went to the "Big box" store to stock up on the weekly provisions. This place was very crowded, but again, no one paid me any attention. There were several other men there carrying shoulder type bags, so my gear bag was not out of place. Today, I went on a motorcycle ride and I threw the Versipack in my saddle bags. I stopped for coffee and then later on for lunch. Both times, I broke out the Versipack and wore it inside. I didn't get a second look from anyone in either place and again, there were several other males with some form of shoulder bag, so I was not out of place. I have been carrying a concealed firearm for the better part of thirty years and I have to agree with BKC1869, The majority of folks out there are really clueless and not paying attention to their surroundings at all. Maybe, if I start having people actually realize that I am carrying a sidearm in my gear bag, I will throw a velcro patch on the bag with the word "Nikon" or maybe the MAC "Apple" logo on it............but I really don't think it will ever be an issue........... |
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