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Posted: 7/15/2009 5:19:17 AM EDT
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I am going back to school this semester and I am looking for a decent pack to carry my books, maybe a small laptop and other misc items. I want something that is good, has some organization and will last for a while.
I was interested in the Kelty MAP3500 but can't find too many pictures of it. Anyone here have one? Is it a good pack? Do you have any pics of the pack (Maybe inside it?) Any other packs you would consider? I had a TAD Fastpack EDC that I LOVED but I think it would be a little too small for what I want/need. I also had an Eagle AIII and liked it a lot, but it doesn't have enought organization for a school pack for me. Also I don't have a TON of $$ to spend on the pack right now. |
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I'd go with the tactical tailor day pack.
Last I read it was made to carry a laptop, and it doesn't have the pals webbing all over, so it's pretty low profile, but sturdy. It has a fold out pocket on the side for your water bottle. The waist belt on the kelty might start being a pain in the ass for a school bag. It's just too much for what you're wanting in my opinion, and the quality is kinda lacking. |
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The TT day pack, however, won't carry a laptop that it very big within it's padded zippered compartment. I have a 12" IBM Thinkpad w/9 call battery...not much bigger than a standard sheet of paper...perhaps 11" wide by 11.5-12" long...and it just fits. My wife's 15" Dell laptop doesn't even come close to fitting in that pouch.
I have both the MAP 3500 and the Day Pack. I'd say they're otherwise equal, with the MAP looking even less "tactical" than the TT due to the materials. The MAP is also a lot bigger in the main compartment, which is just a big compartment with hydration reservoir slots...so there's no real advantage to taking pics of it....it's nothing special. The outside pocket has some organizational stuff...pen slots and such like the TT and Camelbak packs do. |
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Look through here...yesterday I saw a post regarding packs and the last poster included a link to Amron, which is the exclusive (I think) distributor for the Kelty MAP 3500....special clearance pricing for their 3 avail colors was around $99 I think. I followed the link, and saw a few pictures. As someone above already said, the main compartment is just one big "bag"....nothing special to see. It does have two stacked "pockets" covering the inside back, one for a hydration system, the other for whatever. The outer front pocket has a myriad of smaller pockets/pen slots/padded sunglasses pouches. I particularly like the two outer water bottle pockets. Someone above mentioned the waist belt being a problem. I don't use it if ever, but it can be removed completely from the pack, or, like I do, I just wrap the belt around the bottom of the pack and clip it together.
I have two of the MAP 3500's, both issued to me by different groups in my agency. I also have two Eagle Industries A-III packs, one with MOLLE, and one without. I use my A-III's for more "outdoorsie" kinda stuff, where their heavy duty construction will benefit. I use my MAP's for EDC....it looks better when I'm dressed-down for work than a briefcase. Either way, the MAP should have plenty of room for a laptop and however many college books you need to carry, plus a space for water bottles and your other junk. |
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Yes, Amron is the exclusive dealer for the MAP 3500...I even asked Kelty about it when I inquired about becoming a dealer. So I bought mine from Amron. Had it in 3 days. I bought the grey version for EDC/Get Home Bag, and will likely get a Coyote one for range and outdoor use.
If you need an uberheavy bag, the Eagle A-III is one with which you can never go wrong. But the MAP 3500 is a great pack for the money, esp at the sale price. |
| I'm in the same situation as the OP...going back to school and i need a pack that will hold all of my college-associated crap as well as basic preparedness gear. (Katadyn filter, MSR stove, knife, lights, powerbars, gear, etc). I live in a rural area 10 miles from school, so i could potentially need to be self-sufficient for long enough to get home in the event of an emergency. It's not uncommon to see people with full-on excursion backpacks on campus, so I wouldn't necessary stand out at all with a larger pack. (In the past, I carried my old internal frame Kelty Redwing 3100 and wasn't out of place at all.) |
| Camelbak Motherlode. it's been my do everything bag for the last 3 years and it's been great. it has organization, plus it has more than enough room for your laptop and any textbooks you would need to carry. only downside is that everyone can tell it's a "military bookbag". get it in black to minimize that effect. |
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