Customer Reviews

Maxpedition Kodiak Gearslinger

5 star:		(37)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I'm a daily commuter, and I was in the market for a bag to replace my trusted North Face Yavapai. I had my Yavapai for over 10 years, and I was hoping to find a replacement. I purchased a few other bags thinking that "this one is it", and I could put the Yavapai away. I was sadly mistaken and the search continued. I was watching an episode of 24, and I saw Jack Bauer carrying the Maxpedition Monsoon Gearslinger. Since Jack was wearing it, I thought, "I must have one also. Who doesn't want to be like Jack, right?"
So I'm doing my bag research, and I realized the Monsoon Gearslinger was not for me. I wanted something not too bulky, it should have quick access and security. After watching several reviews on YouTube, I settled on the Kodiak Gearslinger. I went ahead and purchased the Kodiak for $133.23, free s/h.
When the package arrived, I tore into it like Kobayashi does with hot dogs. I was instantly impressed by the workmanship and materials. My wife, who enjoys seamstressing, was also impressed by the workmanship. I liked the amount of zipper pockets and dividers it had inside and outside the bag. The top bottom compression strap looked nice, but it was useless to me, so I removed it easily. There are several super-secret spots incorporated in the Kodiak which I like a lot. Of course it has a pocket for CCW (carrying a concealed weapon), but seriously I watch 24 so I don't need to carry one, my hands are my weapons - bam! One obvious aspect I love about the Kodiak is the quick access and the way the zipper pockets are positioned. The positioning allows for a sideways access. When you slide the bag to your front, all the pockets are easily accessible. When you are done, you just slide the bag back. I love that! Every time I do that in public I feel people are watching me, because I look so cool.
I never worn a sling bag before. The weight is not directly down on your side. The weight is on your back, therefore it tends to pull back on your left shoulder. You would not want to put too much weight in the bag. Again the left shoulder will feel it. Since I don't carry too much weight anyway, this issue is not a problem.

The workmanship, design and material of the Maxpedition Kodiak Gearslinger is worth every penny. If I had to buy another bag, I would definitely consider Maxpedition.

***UPDATE***
June 16, 2011

Last month my car was burglarized. They stole my Kodiak! I was more pissed off that they took my Maxpedition than the digital camera and camcorder which was inside. So to make a long story short I ended up buying another Kodiak. I spent a whole month deciding if I really wanted to pay another $130 for a bag. I started reusing my old backpacks, but those bags just didn't perform the same as the Kodiak. I scoured youtube and rewatched some of the old Kodiak reviews. Finally I made the executive decision to buy another one. I ended up purchasing it off Ebay since they were a bit cheaper.

Here are some tidbits.
I usually carry a 40oz Klean Kanteen wide mouth water bottle. It fits perfectly, and it looks cool.
[...]

The Kodiak Gearslinger by Maxpedition is one of several hard use products I have purchased from the same label. It is tough 1000 denier balistic coated nylon with YKK zippers, and reinforced stitching. Plenty of room and pockets, and the pack slings around to the front in a split second, for ease of access while on the trail. No need to take off the pack...just sling it around to the front. Do not over stuff this pack, however. The Kodiak could take it. But all of the weight is distributed on one shoulder, and it isn't a pack for long hikes etc. But it is a great around town (EDC) pack. Mine handles a Glock 23 perfectly in the hidden area at the back.

I purchased this a few months ago and I waited to write my review to ensure I would capture any problems or concerns. I can say that this pack can hold alot! After examining every nook and cranny on the Kodiak, I set out to build myself a pack that would have just about everything that I need regardless of where I am.

My pack has everything from a supertool to a sewing kit to tie wraps to 100' of paracord. I carry my laptop and power supply, my ipad and all associated cables. Kleenex, lip balm, a roll of questers and 150 lumun flashlight, pens, whiteboard marker, and much more. I also have a good first aid kit, survival kit, Glock 19 with three mags and batteries. There is little that I don't have in this pack.

It has held up very well so far and it still looks brand new even after being thrown in my trunk, on the floor in the back seat and taken for hikes. I highly recommend this to anyone who wants a high quality, medium size pack that can easily be accessed and carried.

I bought this bag to carry on my motorcycle and it has worked out very well. As is often the case, it is nearly impossible for most manufacturers to predict all the uses to which folks will put their products and I'm pretty sure that creating a motorcycle bag was not foremost in the minds of the designers of the Kodiak when they created it. Despite that it has worked very well in that application. One point specific to motorcycles; the single strap seems to create less of a funnel effect at the throat of the riding jacket, reducing the chilly air down the front. This is welcome in winter riding!

Good points:
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- Construction: This bag is very solidly built with great quality of materials and construction. I researched fairly heavily prior to the purchase and have to admit to being critical of claims that people had had Maxpedition products for years of heavy use that still looked new. No longer, the solid construction and quality materials have raised my expectations of what to expect.

- Design: this is a very well thought out bag. I have many bags and packs, being a hiker, climber, and backpacker, and the organization and features in this bag allow for the carry, and easy access, of far more than would be expected in it's fairy modest size. A multitude of pockets, elastic loops, MOLLE attachment points, and so forth provide huge options for organizing gear.

- Comfort: I was skeptical of a single-strap bag at first. While it is true that you want to watch the weight you pile into the bag, it is still better than expected. It will easily accommodate 10-15lbs without discomfort due to the well thought out placement of the straps and the nice, wide, padded main strap. this is going to be dependent more on the individual than the pack, I'm very sure the strap will easily handle more weight than most folks shoulder will handle over any extended time.


Improvement points:
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- Load compression: When the pack is lightly loaded there is very little way to snug it down for load control. The many pockets and organization feature help with this but overall the compression system for the whole pack is a bit incomplete.

Overall and outstanding design that is very well executed. I will be looking for more products from Maxpedition.

This has been an excellent bag, and by far the best general-purpose everyday carry bag I have had. It is made with typical Maxpedition quality and materials, so there are no worries that it will survive heavy daily use for years. The size and design of this bag exactly fit my needs. I use it for three purposes: 1.) go to the gym from home, 2.)go to work (with gear for a gym trip at lunch), go to the grocery store on a bicycle. The bag will carry shoes, gym clothes, a towel, soap, razor and the like, a lunch, a small first aid kit, a cell phone, and iPod, sunglasses and cigars. For grocery-getting, it will carry 35 cans of tuna, or a half-gallon of milk, and 18 ounce box of cereal and several oranges.

I have carried this bag on both a bicycle and a motorcycle, and it stays centered on the back. There is additionally an auxiliary strap to further assist with centering, but it is not necessary.

One feature that can not be underestimated is the ability to access the bag's contents without taking it off. Just by sliding the bag around to the front, the entire contents are accessible, and the bag can be fully loaded or emptied in this position.

There is a back compartment lined with Velcro which can hold a 100 oz. hydration bladder, or a handgun. The padding on the back of the bag is such that a handgun is not uncomfortable to carry in this back pocket, though you can feel that it is there.

It is possible to load the bag up with more weight than is comfortable to carry with just one shoulder strap. I find that 20 pounds is a good weight, and 30 pounds is too much. It is possible to run while wearing the bag, particularly if the auxiliary strap is used.

I ordered the Sitka first and was too small. I have a 15.6" laptop And needed the extra size. Unloaded it is very small an will hold alot of stuff. It is absolutely perfect for all different styles of carry. Only issue I have is when I loaded it way up with all my ammo and basic EDC items, it fatigued my shoulder. That is way more than I will be carrying on a usual basis however. All in all GREAT PRODUCT!!!!

I got this for my husband to tote his work materials/gear around. He can carry it virtually anywhere (it's a great carry on for flights). It is roomy with alot of pockets for storage; he likes that you can sling it over one shoulder or use it as a backpack. Not too heavy and wipes clean easily. Good investment.

I bought this bag specifically to use as a camera bag. While I'm not a professional I am a serious amateur. After much experimentation I decided to put together a 'go' bag for my camera. It's the kind of stuff you'll need for a family gathering, wedding etc. I still have plenty of room in the bag but for me weight is an issue as well as simplicity.

The 'gearslinger' feature allows you to pull the bag around front and access everything from the side. It is the best camera bag I've ever used. What I need is easily accessible and it rides well on my back. There is a small strap on the opposite side of the sling that stabilizes the bag very well when walking. Everything is within easy reach. I am having a padded insert made for the main compartment to house the camera, a few lenses and the strobe.

I actually have several other Maxpedition products, they are all made extremely well. There were no problems with payment and shipping was prompt. Overall I'm very satisfied.

I have long ago learned to love any Maxpedition product! Sure, I thought they were all quite pricey but one cannot find better quality anywhere! How many times have I heard, "You get what you pay for"? The dollars one spends to own any maxpedition piece of gear is always money well spent. All this to introduce my newest maxpedition purchase: The Kodiak Gearslinger! The Kodiak is my new EDC bag; it goes wherever I go! It's as rugged a piece of gear as I have ever owned. It's 1000 denier ballistic cloth construction makes the Kodiak seem nearly bulletproof! Well designed with numerous compartments and the signature single shoulder carrying strap, this bag has become the answer for my EDC needs. As other reviewers have said, the Kodiak's only drawback is that it can pack so much more weight than its single shoulder strap can comfortably support. Large enough to carry a decent sized laptop, the Kodiak also enables organization of many smaller necessities as well. It can carry a hydration bladder inside or a camelbak canteen in its outside intended pocket. There is also, of course, the compulsory concealed carry zippered pocket. Get a Kodiak. You will love its strength and versatility! I highly recommend the Kodiak Gearslinger.

I'm in the military and have used several different bags. So far, this is the best one I've had. My favorite part is that it has a loop at the top of the camel bak pocket that will help with holding up the camel bak. Also, love the gear slinger. There are almost too many pockets! Definitely worth the money! May even buy another one! I would definitely recomend it!