The first of many product reviews for Warrior Gear is Maxpedition's Vulture II backpack. I spent three days traversing the Las Vegas Convention Center for the 2008 SHOT Show, and honestly never felt like I had less than 25 pounds of pamphlets, giveaways, and other worthless info packed into every pocket. While this review is not hard-core or extreme in any sense, it does offer a decent representation of what many of us "weekend warriors" may use the bag for.
Observations:
The pack is built like a tank. The straps, seams and YKK #10 zippers are over engineered in some respects, and that's not a bad thing. The material had a very "stiff" feel to it, and will no doubt break-in and be much softer to the touch. The pack has PALS webbing for molle (MOdular Lightweight Load-carrying Equipment) attachment points on the back, sides, bottom and shoulder straps. One other neat feature is the "hidden" zippered pocket that serves as a 100 oz hydration pocket or concealed weapon compartment.
The backpack has a concealable padded waist strap that would definitely come in handy for hiking in a more demanding environment than the Las Vegas Convention Center. Maxpedition also included an organization system in the rear pocket for keys and other personal belongings that came in handy over the course of the weekend.
The shoulder straps were some of the most comfortable that I've ever used. After miles of walking, I never once had to readjust the straps due to them biting into my shoulders or neck -- ergonomically speaking, you'd be hard pressed to find another sytem thats more comfortable.
The only minor gripe I had about the pack is that its ruggedness makes it difficult to access the pockets quickly or easily. The Y-shaped retention strap that helps to maintain the shape and integrity of the bag gets in the way of every accessible pocket. If you need to access the main compartment on the move, you'd better have a place to set the bag in order to undo all of the clips and Y-Straps.
The Specs:
20.5"(H) x 16"(W) x 7.5"(D) Main Compartment
15.5"(H) x 12"(W) x 2.75"(D) Front Pouch
15.5"(H) x 12"(W) Slip Pocket
Capacity: 2810 cu. in. / 46 liters
Hydration: Up to 100+ oz Bladder
Support: 1in Sternum Strap, 2in Integrated Belt
Optional accessories: Hook & Loop Modular Accessories and Grimloc Carabiner
Color Options: Black / Green / Khaki
Closing thoughts:
After carrying the bag all over Las Vegas, I am extremely impressed with the quality and comfort of the Vulture II Backpack from Maxpedition. I highly recommend the bag to anyone looking for a great 3-Day Pack.
3 comments:
How would you compare the Maxpedition Vulture II to the Eagle Industries A-III Large? They seem very similar. Which one is more comfortable? Which one is more durable or has better construction? How does the waist strap sit for either one?
Both are excellent packs- They both have buckles as a redundant safety feature and to keep the pressure off the zippers. As I mentioned, the Y strap & buckle set up on the Vulture is extremely durable- if you had a zipper blowout, the straps could work to maintain the pack's usefulness. The only Vulture drawback is that the pockets are "covered" by the Y strap whereas the Eagle's buckles are located on the outside of the smaller pockets and do not interfere with their access. I would not hesitate to use either, and both companies stand behind their products from a warranty standpoint.
Thank you for sharing, the Maxpedition Vulture II is really one of my favorite tactical packs.
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