Maxpedition Sitka Gearslinger

I love it. It carries everything I need being disabled. First aid kit, documents, notebook and iPad and phone. My only gripe is that the strap isn’t adjustable for left side carry.

Sitka Gearslinger by Maxpedition..I will give a quick review of this bag..I am not going to go into specifics because they can be found on the numerous posts both here and on YouTube and on Maxpeditions website.That said let me explain a little about my needs when it comes to an EDC bag. I live in a suburb bordering an urban center. I basically travel from my house to my car and from there into a building, for work and other business. On rare occasions I will travel by mass transport. On a whim I might stop at a park or go shopping. This being my daily schedule I was searching for a durable bag that was not to big which can carry my basic needs and have a little flexibility for specific items. Now I have viewed a lot of reviews that break down their EDC load out. Because of my situation I do not need half of the stuff I see people carrying. I have a basic bag in the car that I carry my "get home" equipment since I am usually no more than 3 blocks from it on any given day. This allows me to pack my EDC light.So far the sitka has fit my needs very well. It is a sling bag so I decided to go for the sitka as opposed to the kodiak. I wanted the biggest bag possible that would still be comfortable as a sling. The Sitka is very comfortable even though I haven't stuffed it yet. I am a good sized guy about 6 feet 230 pounds..pretty solid:) At this size I find the Sitka to be a good size. It does not look like a child's bag as someone wrote, but it is also small enough that it doesn't look out of place anywhere.As for the concealed carry compartment. I live in NJ so if your not LEO it is almost impossible to get a permit. So I use that pocket for flat items like a towel a cap and 550 cord. It is nice to know that it can be used for a quick transport if necessary :) It also works well for me when I am walking and want to listen to my IPad2, I can put it back there and feed the headphones through the bladder straw hole then feed them through the molle webbing on the strap to a point where they can fit in my ears comfortably. I just thought I would mention this since I haven't seen anybody do this in a review. I don't have a smart phone so I'm sure this won't be used this way once I upgrade to a multimedia phone. Then I can just use a phone holster and use the molle webbing for cable managment.In conclusion I find this to be a comfortable versatile bag..It will not replace a back pack for long hikes and the such but that's not what I bought it for. If you like sling bags this is a perfect EDC in my humble opinion.

This bag is the perfect size and fit. Just enough but not too big! Does everything as described.

First off no pack will ever be a 'perfect" pack for you. There will always be limits and modifications you'll need to do.I am using this pack professionally. I am a visiting Nurse and I need to carry a fair amount of gear to get my job done. I also need something that does not scream "medical" and something that is comfortable and I can jump snow banks with.I have in the main compartment three 1060 size Pelican cases plus a few small items. In the lower exterior pocket I carry my BP cuff, scope and Oxymeter. The upper pocket carries hand gel plus scissors. I use the water bottle carrier to carry gloves (in a plastic bag) and I have attached a pouch containing a sharps container to the Molle on the opposite side of the pack. The water bladder area I store a notepad and pen in. I removed the cinch down strap system from the outside. It really does nothing and it just snaggs. As I load it it weights in at 10lbs.This pack is awkward to get on and off. You either have to hoist it over your head and then onto the shoulder, or, you unbuckle the shoulder strap: place it over you shoulder and rebuckle. I do the latter and it gets easier.There is a break-in-period for cordura. You need to use the heavier weight stuff, which this is made from, for a bit and then it gets more supple and easier to manupliate. SO far no evidence of wear. I have been using it for three months.On to the two areas that I dislike. The zipper pulls are made from paracord. They constantly untie!! From the factory they leave the inner strands in so the cord is stiff. That makes it unable to be tied in the way they do it. I clipped the ends, pulled out the inner cord, sealed it and all's well. Second; the water bottle pocket cinch is just cord and not elastic. They coiled elastic up on the upper pouch in a really useless manner but they don't use it where is should be.Overall this pack is just about perfect for what I use it for. After a long shift I am not sore from it. I get to what I need easily and I can add a few supples I need. It is compact and easy to manuver in a crowd. It takes some getting used to but that's not a draw back for me.**one year of use update**The bag has continued to function well. I have had no zipper issues and there is next to no sign of wear. It has been through a rough winter and I have had to wash it four times but still no wear.I did have the main fastex "Warrior" buckle fail. One of the attachment ears on the male side broke off. When I wash it I have it buckled closed so that did not cause the issue. I am unsure if the buckle was stepped on when it was open. It appeared as if just regular plastic fatigue was the issue. Keep in mind the buckle had been used for maybe 4-5000 on-off cycles. It did still close after it broke with just the one ear.I was suprized that Maxpedition does not cover the buckle on their warrenty. They charge $5 plus shipping for a new male end. Seems like a wear issue would be covered.If the buckle breaks again I will replace it with a Austri-alpin Cobra buckle and that will never break.Overall I still think this is a great bag!

This is my second maxpediton bag. Quality is amazing. This was what I was looking for. A larger work bag. Ample pocket space. Not sure how I feel about the external water holder but it’s been ok so far.The bag is a little stiff. Hope it breaks in. As far as comfort goes. A lot of reviews I read said it was very uncomfortable. Maybe because I’m a big guy and I’m at the end of the straps length. It sits perfectly on my back. I find this way more comfortable than the smaller one I have which moves around a lot. I HATE back packs to sling and messenger are the way for me.All in all I’m very happy w the purchase. Was tossing this and another brand up. Went maxpedition because of my other bag. Not disappointed.Edit: after some time w this bag I can totally say it is awesome. Perfect size. Pockets that actually have their own space and not expanding into another space. Very comfy to wear. Unexpected benefits like the water bottle holder and key clip. I thought I’d hate them but I have grown to really like. Quality is top notch. Have other older and WAY more used maxpedition bags that are bullet proof. They may be a tad pricey but very worth it.I like this so much I just ordered another (I like separate work bags…)