Maxped bags

[tattoosteve99]

How do you like it? What are the features you like/dislike best. I am planning on buying a Malaga so convince or deter me.

[Sazabi]

I'll bring my PFII today so you can get some input, Steve.

[Beerplumber]

I'm also on the market for a tactical bag I'll be interested to see what you decide on. I found a sweet local shop called 'SEALS TACTICAL GEAR' I'll stop into a few times but might end up being cheaper online as always. What are you going to be using it for most Steve?

[tattoosteve99]

I use mine as an edc bag. I carry a small assortment of goodies bit I am looking to downgrade a little bit.

[ironraven]

I've been EDCing a Malaga for not quite a year, replacing my Jumbo. I carry a small FAK, pad, pens, head lamp, Supertool, phone, meds, and two of the following three: small survival kit (off black top), snivel gear, or a tool kit (on black top). And I still have room for a paperback or a pair of socks

Cons:
-Single strap, the pros and cons are well known.
-The wire gate the use for clipping the strap to the d-ring can come undone if angle is just that right wrong angle.
-Not quite as tall as I'd hoped- I can't strap a Ka-bar to the side or put a clipboard inside.

Pros:
-Not too big. YOu can overload it, but that means you've loaded it with metal and water and... yeah, guilty.
-Ambidextrous.
-Adaptable. I have a 5.11 water bottle carrier and a sunglasses case on mine, but putting a second water bottle pouch on it is easy. Just cumbersome.

A few tips. Leave off the Y-strap, it doesn't really work IMO. Pull of the bungie from the top pocket, it is too small for anything but gloves and the pocket can't afford to get robbed of depth in that manner. Find a better pad if you are going to carry it the way I do- slung "sideways" across the back, so it comes upright when you swing it front.

Changes I'd make to it... Double zipper the top pocket. Make the strap fully removable, with two mounting points at the top. This would do two things. One, you could rig it as a backpack if you wanted. Two, if single strapping it, you could offset the top of the strap from the centerline, meaning it's center of gravity is more in line with yours, so it would be less fatiguing.

Currently I'm looking for a used Becker MOLLE or similiar that I can use homemade lock and dock-type straps, or maybe something closer to 5.11's mounting straps for their sling packs, to make this a more long distance pack. I hate repacking my bag of tricks into a ruck if I'm going to be on foot for a long time.

[Nikos]

I also have a Malaga as my EDC. Got it as an "upgrade" to my Lunada that could no longer fit my new larger laptop... I went through a couple of bags until I settled with the Malaga to be honest (Booq Boa Nerve S, Timbuk2 classic small messenger). I think I just like the form and organization of these packs, although they may look like mall ninja at times.

That said, I've been trying to trade for a Mongo for the last month or so but to no avail; it seems that either noone buys them, or all of the Mongo owners are too happy with their bag to part with it...

[tattoosteve99]

So which should I get? Lunada or malaga? As of now I have a camelbak hawg  any ideas?

[Nikos]

What is the largest item you expect to carry in it?

[Beerplumber]

Just left the local tactical gear store, the malaga looks pretty sweet but I think I'll go for a fatboy just need to decide jumbo or s-type

[ironraven]

Beerplumber, go with the Jumbo. Trust me. The Fatboy... yeah, he's not so fat. And while the Fatboy GTG does have the water bottle carrier, I hate the open top on the main pocket, it's too easy to loose things with. It's the same problem with the EDC/KISS/LEO models of the Jumbo- you might as well carry an open topped shoping bag.

Steve, I'd go with the Malanga over the Lunada. The Malaga is about 2/3s, 3/4s the size of the HAWG, somewhere in that range. The Lunada is about 2/3s the size of a Malaga. I'd say check out Milspec Monkey's reviews of them, he did a pretty good job and has a lot of photos. Including the family photo with the Remora alongside. ( http://milspecmonkey.com/pouches/maxpedition-gearslingers-003.jpg ) Depending on what you'll be doing with it, you might find the Lunada works better for you.

Here is the links if you haven't seen these:
http://milspecmonkey.com/weargear/packsbags/267-maxpedition-malaga-gearslinger
http://milspecmonkey.com/weargear/packsbags/266-maxpedition-lunada-gearslinger
http://milspecmonkey.com/weargear/packsbags/253-maxpedition-remora-gearslinger

[tattoosteve99]

Yep thanks. I have a Malaga in od green coming soon. Then I'll dye it black to match the rest of my gear.

[turnsouth]

Then I'll dye it black...

 

[tattoosteve99]

Then I'll dye it black...

 

I couldn't find one black on the cheap so I'm going to dye it. Some people say you can't but I have dyed 3 so far and all turn out well except the nylon parts. That stays green but I think it's cool to have it that way.

[turnsouth]

I couldn't find one black on the cheap so I'm going to dye it. Some people say you can't but I have dyed 3 so far and all turn out well except the nylon parts. That stays green but I think it's cool to have it that way.

Yea, the nylon has 3 coats of polyurethane on it (although I hear if you run it through the washing machine a few times you can dye it then, but you loose water resistance). That would look cool with the webbing black

Of course you know that this means pictures will be necessary 

[tattoosteve99]

I couldn't find one black on the cheap so I'm going to dye it. Some people say you can't but I have dyed 3 so far and all turn out well except the nylon parts. That stays green but I think it's cool to have it that way.

Yea, the nylon has 3 coats of polyurethane on it (although I hear if you run it through the washing machine a few times you can dye it then, but you loose water resistance). That would look cool with the webbing black

Of course you know that this means pictures will be necessary 

But of course. I always have pics :p