Maxpedition products (long term review)

[Andy]

I'll be compiling this review over time as I'll be using it as a bit of a break from doing uni work which is currently driving me mad (wondering why I've kept it up for 4years)
I've collected a frightning about of pouches over the last couple of years, some of it gets used more then others, some hasn't ended up being used in the way I expected it to. Maxpedition stuff is a sort of pseudo military gear, a few bits may be used but I don't thinkmuch of it is. It uses the Molle system so is compatible with other military and pseudo militray gear. It's all built from heavy duty fabric and big strong zips (which have never got stuck). It does end up being rather bulky and this is especialy with the smaller items. I've got some of it second hand and some from new, they've all worn really well.

I've now got the following
Proteus bum bag
double sheath
single sheath
small phone holder
M2 pouch
Mini rollypolly
fourbysix (I think)

Sheaths
The double belt sheath was the first thing I got (given infact). Each section can hold a large multitool, a 2xCR123 size torch and some phones but it's a tight fit with all the ones I've tried and will often activate the buttons

The fastening system works in both horizontal or vertical positions. It does work well though it ends up sticking out quite far as theres twice as many pieces of fairly stiff thick straps. I've never got on with the horizontal carry system as it always seems to sit a bit odd since the belt can't curve wher the pouch is.

The velcro on the back of the straps comes in really handy as it sticks to my St John belt so the pouch does slide around at all.
The single sheath wasbought last year after I stopped carrying the torch on duty. It was a bit odd not having anything to put in half the sheat. They seem to have modified the attachment system at some point sincethe vertical strap is now split in two and they've altered the flap a bit as well. I think it's so that you can put one bit through a molle strip but it does move around a bit if you fitit like that. It's also a bit shorter so more of the tool is on show. With the torch the whole thing ends up riding quite high.
It's a really good multitool sheath if you don't mind something rather bulky, fine for police, Ambulance people or if your putting it on a pack strap for walking.

Phone holder
This uses a similar attachment system but is shrunk down for the small size. The vertical strap fits through molle straps. The size is easy to adjust but I think most modern phones will need it on just about the smallest setting. It holds the phone well but doesn't offer any weather protection. It's a bit scratchy if you have it under a T shirt
It would have been ideal for my St John stuff except the max belt size is 1.5inch when the duty belts are 2inchs. That was my fault for not reading properly, I've rigged up a way of mounting it and used it a fair bit without any trouble (a short malice clip round the belt works well). I fancy a larger one for holding the radio but don't use them that often so haven't bothered yet.

M2 Pouch
This was my second bit of MaxP kit. The main section has little deviders that can hold a phone, multitool etc and the front pocket has room for a fairly bulky GPS unit. When used on a belt you have to undo the belt to take it off (unlike the sheaths) but it can fit on really large belts. This can result in it moving about a bit on a smaller belt though. The main problem I've had with putting things in the internal deviders is that it's hard to get stuff out if there's a lot in there. I've ended up using this to hold a battery pack for my bike lights most of the time. It clips to a bike bottle holder well and has lived up to getting crud from the road thrown at it.

Mini Rollypolly
I wasn't quite sure about this when I ordered it. Having got it though this has quickly become one of the more used bits. When I first got it I either had it rolled up on a belt and never used it or it spent all the time unrolled.
With airsoft (the mini will hold two of my mags) it stays unrolled and keeps the top open since it's fairly stiff. When I'm using it with St John stuff it fits nicely on the wide utility belt, movesround when unrolled and emty bt rolled up it stays put and looks neat and tidy. I'm not sureI'd want a larger one as I think it may flat around a bit and I wouldn't want any more the 1kg hanging off my belt anyway. It will hold a 2L pop bottle if you really want (just fits and comes up to the top of the lable) but will also hold a 1L bottle or 2 500ml bottles.
In nasty weather I've used it to store a apir of waterproof trousers. It's not going to give a greatdeal of weather protection but with water bottles that's not an isue and if your putting a pair of wet overtrousers away it gives them aslight chance of drying off a bit.
An odd bit of kit but one which I have found very handy

[Danzo]

It's 'pseudo' Andy, not 'sudo'.....



Danzo

[soup_monger]

...

[rlocock]

It's 'pseudo' Andy, not 'sudo'.....



Danzo

So sudocreme is not a low fat alternative then?

[Dougie]

Interesting views Andy.

On my duty belt everything is Maxpedition apart from a Blackhawk scissor pouch and the pouch for my dosimeter.

Why? Over a 22 year career I've used numerous radio and pouch manufacturers products and found that almost all of them are either poorly designed or made from inferior materials.

Attachment:

If you need to add or remove a pouch for some reason, e.g. cleaning, then the ability to remove a single pouch quickly without having to take everything off the belt is an absolute must!

Materials:

Abrasion resistance and adequate stitching ensure not only a long service life but also that the contents of the pouch are kept safe and secure. IMHO nothing is worse than a furry nylon belt or pouch in which the nylon is curled or unravelled.

Protection:

What is the point of carrying something if the pouch allows the contents get damaged too easily?

Appearance:

Colour fastness is something that may or may not bother you if you are in the field/bush all the time but on a duty belt nothing looks worse than badly faded mish mash of pouch colours! I've actually seen an expensive scissor pouch I bought degrade from a nice black colour to a washed out grey in a matter of months due to unstabilisd UV dyes being used in its construction.

When I first started using Maxpedition products I too thought the 'pseudo' military look was just for cosmetics. However, after using this stuff for over 2-3 years now I can honestly say I have come to appreciate that the military appearance is more to do with functionality than anything else.

I do feel that some of the pouches are bulky but allowing for the above criteria I find that it is a trade off I am prepared to endure to have the use of such high quality gear.

The only other manufacturer IMHO that is as good as Maxpedition is Blackhawk. Unfortunately some of the pouches I need/require are not made by them meaning that the best available now is Maxpedition.

Doug

[Andy]

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