The inimitable John Fenna puts pen to paper for the Maxpedition S-Type Jumbo Versipack.
Maxpedition Versipaks
Maxpedition Versipaks
Maxpedition S-Type Jumbo Versipack
If you like pockets, you will love this!
If you like a left-hand carry shoulder bag, you will doubly like the S-Type Jumbo Versipack!
With a huge 9″x9″x3″ main compartment, this superbly made shoulder bag can carry all sorts from hobo stoves to spare clothing with ease, and although originally designed as a concealed, yet easily accessed pistol carrier, this bag can, and does do a lot more!
Iside the aforementioned main compartment, which closes with a “snow lock” extension with a locking drawcord (for extra capacity!) you have a flat mesh pocket 9″x7″ on the “back face” and a flat pocket 9″x7″ on the front face for organising the compartment’s contents.
On the outer face of the main compartment you have a 7″x6.5″x1.5″ pocket closed by an inverted “U” shape zip with a flat internal mesh pocket 5″x6.5″ and a “keyper” (key clip) on a webbing strap. On the outside of this pocket there is a flat open-topped pocket 5″x6.5″.
Both the main compartment and this front pocket close with a chunky side release buckle and adjustable length webbing strap – which itself goes right under the bag and has a D-ring for an easy grip.
The lid features more pockets – a flat, zip-closed front one approx. 5.5″x6″ and a top one some 6.5″x3″x1″ with a U-shaped zip and Velcro “fur on top 9for adding extras).
The right hand side (as you look at it) has a “compactable” 7″x3.5″ diam. pocket, which is ideally sized for one-litre Nalgene type water bottles and which can be “cinched” down when not in use for a “low profile carry”. This pocket has a large drainage eyelet in the base.
The left hand side of the bag has a 6″x3.5″x2″ pocket with an internal flat pocket about 4″x3.5″ plus a double pullered inverted “U” shaped zip (which makes it great for radios as the aerial can stick out safely)! Behind this side pocket there is another, flat, open-topped pocket approx. 7″x3.5″ and on front of the pocket, “Molle” type webbing for attaching extra bits – if you need to!
Between the main compartment and the back panel of the back there is a 9″x8.5″ pocket with a zip closure, with inside 2 strips of Velcro “fur” 2″x6″ which is intended to hold a holstered pistol, but can (at a pinch) hold just about anything you want it to! Under the bag there are 3 loops of webbing for attaching more kit.
The back panel itself is ergonomically shaped up to the attachment points for the shoulder strap. The “wings” of the back panel have Molle type webbing loops for yet more possible extras to be fitted, and there is a slot which would discreetly accomodate a large knife.
The body side of the back panel has 3 ergonomically shaped and positioned mesh-covered closed cell foam pads for comfort and a Velcro closed loop to attach the Versipack to your belt to stop it swinging about during vigorous activity.
The 2″ wide webbing shoulder strap is fully adjustable, has a quick release buckle, an adjustable foam padded non-slip shoulder pad with Velcro fastenings and a tough allow “keyper” clip for your keys or gloves etc.
Made to an extraordinarily high standard from top quality materials (YKK zips, triple proofed 1000D ballistic nylon fabric, 550 paracord zip pulls, taped internal seams, reinforced stitching at stress points, etc.) the Maxpedition S-Type Jumbo Versipack is astoundingly robust and versatile as well as being comfortable to carry, even when quite heavily loaded.
Not one for the “super lightweight” crew – the bag weighs 1.8lb empty – or the absent-minded (now which pocket did I put it in), the Versipack IS one for those who weant a super quality, durable, versatile, comfortable, well thought out shoulder bag of variable capacity (from “lots” to “lots plus lots” if you attach stuff to all the optional gear attachment points) and all the pockets you could ever want for organising your bits and pieces so that they do not get lost.
This is a real man’s “man bag” which could well survive the original owner, and his great grandson as well.
I have been using my Maxpedition S-Type Jumbo Versipack for a variety of trips and have come to the conclusion that as well as being an excellent companion for everyday things like work, it will make a great day bag for holiday travel, photography, bushcrafting, tourism and much more.
I have yet to find a better made, more versatile shoulder bag.
Coming in olive or black, the Maxpedition S-Type Jumbo Versipack is very well priced from Lakeland Bushcraft – and worth every penny!
