Maxped. Fatboy - Is it just me?

[JimN]

I really want to like my fatboy, I keep on trying it when I have too much kit for pockets and not enough for a rucksack, but I just find it too annoying to wear. The main problem is that the strap doesn't fit comfortably over my shoulder, it's not shaped to lie flat over the shoulder so doesn't feel secure (one side is digging in, the other is raised) and it slides down towards my neck meaning it rubs unless I'm wearing a top with a collar.

Is it just me and I'm missing a trick somewhere?

[circle]

i didn't really like mine. I found it a bit small to be honest, and when it was full i had similar problems to what you describe - it would dig in close to my neck and i disliked the way it would also swing about on my hip.

Anyway i sold it and bought a condor II which has no faults at all, IMHO.

Maybe using the belt loop would help? Maybe it's just wrong - body shape and design clash?

[mirage]

Maybe something like this:

http://www.nextag.com/pad-shoulder-strap/search-html

..would help?

mirage

[JimN]

Maybe using the belt loop would help? Maybe it's just wrong - body shape and design clash?

I've tried using the belt loop, but I found it too fiddly with it's press-stud and it holds the pack too high for me.

Maybe something like this:

http://www.nextag.com/pad-shoulder-strap/search-html

..would help?

mirage

My Fatboy already has a shoulder pad which is supposed to stop it slipping but it don't work for me, possibly because there's not enough of it actually touching my shoulder

[mojofilter]

I think it's the style gods way of telling you not to wear a MaxP Fatboy....

[circle]

save yerself a load of frustration and doubts - sell it.

[roger986]

It's a man bag, it's never gonna feel right!

[The General]

I find with mine if I wear it with say a t-shirt it is annoying and acts just like you say. However if I have a shirt or jumper with a collar its fine, well I do find myself adjusting it fairly often. Even better is wearing a coat and having it over that. I find the edges of the strapping they use ~(cordura? or similar?) is VERY rough and really, seriously rubs against bare skin. Its like the worst kind of webbing material. Sure its strong, however it does chafe.

Now I used my Fatboy with an add on mini rolly polly in New York and it carried a staggering amount of stuff. With the camcorder, guide book, 1 litre bottle of water and a host of other stuff I found it brilliant. Tell you what though, when I had been lugging it around for the best part of a week, the camcorder started staying at the hotel... It was getting just to heavy and annoying to carry all the time while walking for mile after mile.

The trick is to have a collar and use the pad to the best of its design.

Though I can't say for sure, I expect the Jumbo and the even bigger one must get very uncomfortable when fully loaded.

At the moment with the summer weather I am using a Thermite and finding it works brilliantly. There is enough space inside for the essentials, including a 500ml pop bottle and the thing does not seem to gather any attention with so many people slinging much larger shoulder strap courier type bags. I went for mine in "beige"
http://www.maxpedition.com/store/pc/...0&idproduct=19

You can also wear it round your waist and strapped to your leg, though that looks a bit too SAS for me to try.

[JimN]

I find with mine if I wear it with say a t-shirt it is annoying and acts just like you say. However if I have a shirt or jumper with a collar its fine, well I do find myself adjusting it fairly often. Even better is wearing a coat and having it over that. I find the edges of the strapping they use ~(cordura? or similar?) is VERY rough and really, seriously rubs against bare skin. Its like the worst kind of webbing material. Sure its strong, however it does chafe.

Now I used my Fatboy with an add on mini rolly polly in New York and it carried a staggering amount of stuff. With the camcorder, guide book, 1 litre bottle of water and a host of other stuff I found it brilliant. Tell you what though, when I had been lugging it around for the best part of a week, the camcorder started staying at the hotel... It was getting just to heavy and annoying to carry all the time while walking for mile after mile.

The trick is to have a collar and use the pad to the best of its design.

Though I can't say for sure, I expect the Jumbo and the even bigger one must get very uncomfortable when fully loaded.

At the moment with the summer weather I am using a Thermite and finding it works brilliantly. There is enough space inside for the essentials, including a 500ml pop bottle and the thing does not seem to gather any attention with so many people slinging much larger shoulder strap courier type bags. I went for mine in "beige"
http://www.maxpedition.com/store/pc/...0&idproduct=19

You can also wear it round your waist and strapped to your leg, though that looks a bit too SAS for me to try.

That totally mirrors my experiences. I also have a Thermite (khaki) that I bought for use during field archery but I took it on my last holiday rather than wearing a hole in my neck with the Fatboy.

I think I might just have to get myself a second Thermite for general use and get shot of the Fatboy.

[Schwert]

I have both the standard and jumbo fatboy....I want to like them too, but find their behaviour to be mostly unacceptable.

They swing, they dig, they do not hold stuff properly, the pockets are fiddley, the shoulder pad slips and will not stay in place.....they are way overbuilt and badly designed.

I still want to like them though

[sunnie]

If i wear my maxp belt pouch (I carry my Surefire L4 in it; or used to...) with the t-shirt out (ie not tucked in) in the summer I find that the edge of the top seam is like a razor blade against my skin and after a prolonged time i end up looking like i've spent too much time with a dominatrix with a hip fetish.

I've often thought it was poor, thoughtless, design with no anticipation of user comfort in the real world. Talk about hard use gear!

Sunnie

[JimN]

Oh dear, this isn't doing me any favours for when I get round to selling it

[yellowhammer]

Oh dear, this isn't doing me any favours for when I get round to selling it

I put a wanted post up last week, but having read this - tell you what, give me a tenner & I'll take it off your hands

[sunnie]

Oh dear, this isn't doing me any favours for when I get round to selling it

Maxpedition make great products and they are highly covetable. Everyone should buy them and use them.


Sunnie

[bardster]

I just got the collosus versapack cos i found the jumbo too small - its fantastic - and does seem to ride better - i was carrying it all day sunday round a NT site and was a lot more comfortable than my old jumbo. The main compartment is also now big enough for my binoculars or a camera. I added a rolypoly to the side for water storage, and now its perfect!