Luke, that funky stitching is a spot where the sewer has likely seen issue and has decided to run a little bit of back stitching to help prevent unraveling of the stitching. Not something one sees much these days but as my mother was a seamstress for many years I've seen a lot.
@@nawwk79 no I didn't use Google translate nor was I drunk, I was simply typing on my phone with my extra extra large very arthritic hands so cut a guy a little slack.
I have to say, I own that backpack for the past 3 years. and it has kept its ground extremely well. I agree with most of the things you mentioned about it. I use it as edc pack, cycling and as a day pack for smaller trips. I have used it for 1 overnighter and you can do it, though it will not carry as comfortably as with the smaller load. In that case its better to take a bigger bag that is not full rather then over-houling that one. But ower all, I had not a single problem with that pack ower years and even after continuous use day by day. It holds its ground very well. Well worth the little money It costs!
I bought this backpack based on your prior review. Its a terrific, light duty day pack. I agree it's not meant for any much more that a day out of hiking. Now that its summer my wife and I spend a lot of time on the local beaches it holds everything we need for the day. Thanks for the update on this product. Its worked out great as long as you keep the $42 limitations in mind! Cheers!
Agree, I do now use this for work and not hiking. I love the pockets for organising EDC and smaller work gear and the main compartment is great for a laptop, lunch, water bottle and a few other items. It's much more comfortable than my older work bag that 'died' on me. Plus it's an aesthetic I like.
Well, I have this backpack for almost two years and I was curious about real volume so I made 1 litter zip bags and actually 29 of them fit in. So volume 28 litters is correct (with outer pockets of course). Second, for this money is quality very good, no stitching issue on my piece. 3) organization of gear in this backpack is the best for hiking and tramping. I actually use this backpack for two days in the woods, sleeping bag attached on the bottom. What I miss is better and wider waist belt with pockets. Otherwise it's great backpack and I would buy it again.
For $42 this looks like a pretty nice pac. Especially for the causal user. Might make a nice SHTF pac. Because of the low price it could be loaded and set aside for that rainy dsy.
i own the 60+10 waist of money , every five minutes you have to readjust the straps and the zippers holding the side pouches slowly unzip . it lays in a pile right now
I got the 20l for Xmas this year and use it as a work bag. The hip belt on it is unnecessary and when I've got it tightened up the hip belt runs along my rib cage. Works well for going from the car to my job and carries my swim gear for work without issue.
Good, fair, balanced review. It might not be grunt proof, but some times more expensive tacticool backpacks (e.g. LAPG 3 day assault pack) aren't grunt proof either.
Oh I had an LAPG 3 Day Assault Pack that was not great! The strap broke off on a 10 mile hike. Not to mention the compartment liner all ripped out about 3 months in.
I know someone who has one of their packs (I think the 35L) and carries MOLLE pouches (including a full IFAK) on the outside. It handles it great. He previously used it heavily loaded as his school backpack. It's holding up extremely well. I have their 40L and 75L packs and I'm overall very impressed. Their packs do hold up. I'll add that their 40L pack will easily hold at least a 16" laptop in the hydration bladder sleeve. I chose this because it's so hard to find a laptop bag with actual storage nowadays. Works great when traveling; I used it as my carryon.
The lack of ventilation is kinda a small deal breaker for me, since the pack im currently looking for is for day hikes in very hot and humid weather. $42 is very cheap for a pack like that though. Durable enough, cheap enough and good enough is pretty much my motto when it comes to buying stuff so its really tempting.
oh man the market has been flooded for over a decade with these faux tactical packs from companies like RothCo (or even more no name brands for that matter) and they've always been in the sub $60 range. They seem impressive to people at first because it's the first bag they've bought that isn't a jansport book bag. Mardingtop is maybe the newest evolution of a very old trend.
My edc and day hike backpack is the tactical baby gear diaper bag. It’s just big enough to handle an accidental overnight or keep your lunch and some emergency supplies. It’s comfortable and has lasted a year of daily use. You may want to give it a shot
I’ve got the larger 50l for work. I’m an equipment operator in an oil sands mine. I’m way for 15 hours a day. It holds all my food snacks, and energy drinks for the day.
Used to use one to carry my cable splicing tools & odds and ends, but had to stop using it because the zipper seam on the middle pouch gave way. Fortunately, it was only holding bagged rf and ether cat connectors so nothing was lost. I did not have it overloaded though.
Love this pack! Bought it for day hikes thanks to this video. He had me really worried about the side pockets being too small but I honestly have no idea what he’s talking about. He made it sound like you’d only be able to fit a plastic water bottle into them but they easily fit both my 24 oz Grayl Geopress or my wide 32oz Pathfinder steel bottle (even when its in the nesting cup!) I don’t see how he couldn’t fit the Nalgene into them unless he’s got a 48 oz or something. Unless they did a redesign over the last few months I’m calling shenanigans on his part.
I might buy this for a basic EDC bag for work.(I am a security Guard) . I would have to get a laptop sleeve . Some sites require me to carry more gear then others but I don't think I would be able to fill it in most cases. I have a 5:11 that is about the same size or maybe a little smaller but the layout isn't that great. I need more pockets on the out side then in. The 5:11 has 1 large outside pocket and 2 small ones .
Hey Luke, I'm not aware of you've ever had a look at the manufacturer "Mystery Ranch" but their backpacks seem pretty interesting. Definitely not cheap like this one but it's be cool to see if you've ever reviewed one of those. I'm currently interested in the Mystery Ranch 2 day assault pack. Great video as always. I respect the process.
Great review! I love the way you remind people that you have to consider what you are getting for the price. It’s got some great features and some serious cons….but it’s only $42!
I am adding a comment after seeing the video you published today (10/15/24). I have been using this pack when I ride my mountain bike in the mountains and desert. I carry what I might need if something went wrong and I found myself stuck overnight. I also carry bike repair parts and snacks. I am thrilled with it. I would be happier and willing to pay more if it were of a better material. I'd really like it if the side pockets were bigger. I think it is a steal at $42. In fact, I may buy another one as a backup.
Thanks for the review Luke. I appreciate that you turned me onto military surplus binge buying years ago. My three day US Army MOLLE assault pack is currently serving duty as my range bag when I go shooting. It holds everything from ear pro, eye pro, FAK, mags, shooting bags as well as many hundreds of rounds of ammo for me and several friends. It's heavy and beat to hell and back but keeps on doing it's job with over 50lbs of weight in it at times! Though I still have quality daypacks from REI and Kelty none of them would be trusted as much.
oh by the way your an absolute legend loved your content for years, its done in a great way and I love the way you operate. thank you! much love from the uk!
Based on the measurements given on Amazon, I make it 22 litres however I wonder if the 3 pockets add up to another 6 litres? It a big problem with rucksack manufactures were some only measure the bag and some add in the pockets as well.
I have a 70L from them. Basically just bigger version of this one. It makes my hands go numb! I am in the market for a new EDC bag. Mine is tearing by the handle. At this point, I am reluctant to purchase from them again, but I might with your recommendation. We will see.
I own this backpack in green, it served as an upgrade to my Walmart "molle" backpack. As such, it worked OK for a while, but I eventually upgraded to an Akmax Medium Rucksack, which has more space, better ventilation, and better organization. It's not a bad pack, but as a bugout bag it was just too small, and I was concerned how well it would hold up in a crisis. It felt like it could split open if it was packed to capacity and then scraped against trees and rough rock. I think it could work decently well as a car camping bag, or an overnight bag.
Good evening Luke, I truly enjoying all your videos. What is your favorite coffee an hot chocolate….. Blessings to you and family. Keep up being you, and I’ll keep watching and praying for you.
Very good Luke, appreciate the review, interesting pack. I have had an Osprey Stratos 25 for 7 years now, same size range, very comfortable with trampoline back for ventilation, held up well, lifetime guarantee, but costs more. Also made in Vietnam not China which I prefer.
I have the 80l pack which opens the same. my stiching wasn't great in places but it hasn't broken I used some fabric glue to reinforce the stitching, the bigger bag does wobble a bit but generally for the price 3 years later its still holding up. sadly a line of molle on the front wasn't stiched in any of the middle parts I had to sew it myself I was offered 15% off another product but I didn't want to invest in another product that may have a problem although I may get this pack as I need a good day hike bag. its ashame the 80l needs to be completely full otherwise its kinda folds in on its self but it is comfortable enough to do what I need, I think it would have been OK with glue on the stiching but the straps where it joins at the top where pulling out and I wasnt going to risk it breaking fully loaded in a middle of a wood. for someone on a budget it's a good piece of gear, with a few design changes and a better stiching protocol it could be a brilliant contender to some more expensive pack's. I would recommend there products although I would keep in mind as you sat you pay for what you get. I've abused my bag to the max for over 3 year's in thick woodland and its held up, you just have to be very careful how you pack it because it can be unbalanced especially if you use the molle for extra pouches. I did add an extra 40l of pouches in the winter and it's not something I would do again, the bag did take it without failure, but I have glued every seem on the pack
My daughter used such a backpack for five years in school. Loaded very heavily with books and school journals. Plus other stuff teenagers nowadays need. It holds up perfectly until today - her very last days at school. I am sure she will continue to use it, as it is still going strong. At least for this specimen, I cannot say nothing more than I am very impressed. For that price - perfect. It got dragged over floors, endured rainstorms and snow, very hot summers and cold winter days (she used to walk to her school every day). Can only recommend this pack.
If you want something at least grunt-resistant and you're willing to fork out more than $42 try Tactical Tailor. They build stuff specifically for mil use but a lot is good for us regular folks, too. No going gentle required. I've beat on my pack pretty good.
I bought the Mardingtop 75 L and while its a nice pack, it didnt have the room to pack it right. A lot of their interior is outside pouches, etc like was mentioned before. Also no "tactical" style loops on the outside. I then got their 50 L which opens like a clamshell like the "28"L you tested. Even though its smaller its easier to pack. It has lots of exterior webbing which I like.
First . Pretty good final thoughts .. for 42 bucks I would say it’s pretty good , I’m not a hiker and hikers who use packs very frequently shouldn’t depend on economical gear to begin with .. .. I would say this pack would be a way better option for the occasional day hiker to actually carry some supplies to get them through the night ok in the event of if something unplanned happened .. sure beats the crap out of those altoid tins people try to use as a survival kit .. I happen to have scored the condor pack that’s about the same size at a local thrift shop for 5 bucks and got a Stanley 24 oz cup with out the lid or green cups inside was in side it when sold ,, can’t go wrong that cheap !
Luke, That was a fair review of this pack. I think you were right about the size at around 25 liters. I have a foldable backpack at 30L that seems about the same or greater volume than this pack. To me 25-30L is really for day pack use only. As for looks, I liked the pocket layout as well and it seems similar in appearance to other, actual tactical backpacks such as the Spec Ops The pack, Tasmanian Tiger Trooper Pack, etc. However those packs are larger and more expensive than this one, albeit made with better materials. For my use case as an occasional hiking pack/Bob I prefer something better made with a 35L+ capacity. If Mardingtop revamped this with better internal materials and a more rigid, ventilated back panel, along with better shoulder straps, this might be a daypack budget contender.
Looks like a perfect 24/48 hour emergency bag or a GHB to leave in a vehicle. lots of organization for BASIC emergency or GHB gear. I'd put some simple shelter, water, food, fire, headlamp, multitool etc. and just keep it as an emergency pack. Lol, I think one of my daughters will have to get this for me for Xmas 😉. Thanks for the review Luke
Good review, Luke! I can see utility in specific applications. Some mentioned by you, and others here. I have several small packs, lumbar, etc., that fulfill my personal needs adequately. BTW- Your PT shows! You look strong!
I've got one of their 28L backpacks, slightly different style to the one you tested, mine us model M6290 bought on Amazon UK for £49.99 and seems to be made of the same materials. Mine has a padded waist belt with Molle loops however they are useless for 2 reasons, firstly anything attached gets caught on your arms when you walk and secondly the back length of this model is very short meaning at 5'10" normally taking a medium length back, this is far too short. Quality wise everything else is OK for day hikes, plenty of room and decent internal pockets and the waist belt can be tucked away. What is missing on my model are the D rings on the shoulder straps. I think your comments on the quality of materials and this brand being "tactical style" is accurate.
Thanks for the feedback, i get what you are saying about the civilial/smaller molle pacs, i wonder if you would have a look at the Viper Garrison Pack 20L? I thought it was going to be what i was after, its Viper, i like their gear, i have some of their pouches (all in coyote) so i bought one, im still not convinced 🤔
Said it before when purchasing a pack especially one from a chinese company always make sure to get the inner dimensions of the main compartment, most pack manufacturers especially on the low end will include ALL storage space in the marketing material for total pack size. You need to calculate the cubic inches of the inner compartment and convert that using a cu3 to liters converter to get true pack capacity.
I am glad this pack has the ability for a camel back system. A lot of pockets which makes it appear as a good day pack. But it definitely doesn't look like a 28L pack though it looks more like a 25L as Luke has mentioned. That definitely is not a tactical pack. No ventilation as well. I don't think that I would trust that pack for rugged use especially if you have to baby it. At first glance, I thought it might be a good product, but I would rather have something that I can use without worrying if it would survive a day hike. Thanks Luke for your honest assessment of this system.
It looks nice. Basically, for me 28 liters is a day pack. It is not something I can take camping with me. It won't hold enough stuff. Is that one fine for the money? Probably. I have tons of them about that size. They will end up carrying stuff that goes in my trunk and will go with me car camping. But for the hard yards of backpacking in? I need a 70 liter backpack. I got too much stuff for a Musette bag, or day pack, or haversack, etc.
👍👍👍 $42.00. Not a bad 'starter' pack for someone testing the 'Outdoor Scene Waters'. Would I buy it or something similar? Yes, I did .. about ten-odd years ago. A local Military Surplus / Outdoor Store 30 litre 'name brand' pack. Still got and use it .. although a Savotta Jääkäri S Mini Day Pack with add-on pockets now steps in for the more serious stuff. One should not let 'price' alone be the Alpha-Omega in kit selection. Sensible consideration regarding application and cost-effectiveness should also play a part therein.
I ordered this awhile back and it was an instant return. Most uncomfortable pack I've ever put on. I bought a Kelty coyote 105 instead and it's a great pack. Not a tactical style pack but comfortable and well designed.
Does the form insert come from the pack or is sewn in? If it comes out roll it up the opposite direction and tape it for a couple days. If doesn’t then it is not worth the price especially when you go to clean it.
Is the foam sheet 'frame' removable in a pocket? Because in that case you may be able to change it for anything more solid, or put a sheet of something like acrylic behind it.
Good review Luke. It looks more like a good day pack than a 3 day "assault?" pack. Looks like it will hold a tarp of small to medium size, change of socks, Light windbreaker, or rain jacket, fire starting kit, small first aid kit and lunch. Glad you do these reviews because there are so many people that will go by what Amazon or the manufacturer claim and we all know that most of them are focused on sales. Military style? Maybe. Military grade? No. Your honest opinions are welcomed. Stay safe and God bless.
I stay away from packs that don't at least have some thought put into their suspension system. Anything larger than a camelbak carrier deserves a waist belt, sternum strap, and load lifters on the shoulder straps at the minimum.
I would wager it is a 28 liter pack but some companies do a grand total of every single pocket on a pack, including the water bottle pockets. This is especially common with daypacks. So to us it's not a 28L pack but "technically" they could call it that.
Thanks for the great review, as always. Is there a higher quality bag similar to this one that you do recommend? Im looking for a high-quality day pack with a fair amount of built-in organization like this one.
I've had a couple of these cheap tacticool backpacks. in the end it will be cheaper to buy a decent one at once. I ended up getting the Jääkäri M backpack for shorter trips. Jääkäri Xl for long hikes. Expensive…yes but those will last a lifetime.
They really need to make either adjustable water bottle pockets or make adjustable ones. For me, not having full size nalgene bottles is huge deal breaker. Maybe they'll fix this in V.2 ...
Well, I do have three Chinese 600D polyester backpacks, from three different manufacturers and I can say that I am 50/50 on the whole deal - I really dislike one of the backpacks, I am not sure about the second and I really like the third. They are all in the realm of $40 - $46. They are are mostly marketed as outdoor and tactical backpacks with one being marketed at least partially as a military one. I've used them for airsoft, some hiking, none of them have really torn on me, just the inside coating of the one I dislike the most is peeling off. Some have YKK zippers are on there too and they can all hold a hydration bladder, but one does it better than the others. That being said, I am not a fan of those hydration bladders. I'd say you generally get what you paid for, but there are some misses and there are some good hits. Involves sone research and you need to decide if that's what you need and if that is worth for you. I do think there is a time and a place for these.
This pack seems 'just right' for a child or grandchild's first teen-aged pack. They will enjoy the 'tactical' big person's look and the weight-bearing load out will be fine. As a quick 'grab and go' emergency bag, this will also do, especially for the price.
I wouldn't purchase it for 42 dollars and I have had many different backpacks over the years and the ones that I own have held up great and the only problem with the smaller ones is they do suck on ventilation and in the winter time it's not too bad, but in summer I would rather go without it but when you are out looking for someone who's lost you need the pack to carry things you might need. I guess if you need one a day hike and you aren't going to carry much it would probably be ok and if you want one for a true tactical pack order from a company that only deals in quality products the price will be higher, but the quality of the product is better.
The only major con that i can see is lack of padded hipbelt. For a couple dollars more i think it would be a good upgrade and that it would make it đore comfortable and functional. Other than that for the money it seems great.
It look like a small copy of the Tasmanian Tiger trooper. With a prix around 250€ Of course the TT got all the needed feature for military. But the overall look and pockets look the same.
FYI, I’ve used pvc piping to make internal frames on a few of these cheaper packs, and it works well. Mimics the external Alice pack frame, but is inside the bag. Quite a few TH-cam videos on the concept.
@@davidpyle7333 makes sense. What size PVC? It seems like it would bend too much or break (but maybe it's just the older plastic plumbing lines that are brittle)
@@jwmmitch I used regular 1/2” from Home Depot, nothing special, and it was fine. The elbows and T’s also add strength. Dave Canterbury makes a heavy duty external version at th-cam.com/video/N9fOa98ry1o/w-d-xo.html
Surprised you didn't mention the clamshell opening as a Pro. It was the only reason I made this purchase a couple of years ago. My advice to anyone is don't load it past 25lbs and it will last.
I might buy it for a "quick" pack or something thrown into a car with the minimum of gear to get me home. As for anything else, I'd use a real pack. I have two SOG packs, one is made similar and I like it for very light loads. I might have to get and try this one. It looks even smaller than those two packs. Take Care and Stay Safe.
Good call on the packaging issue & water bottle pockets. It looks like a decent pack (not something I'd use), but the back could use some more attention like a lumbar pad to get the pack off one's back. 600D is TOO much for a day pack. They could cut down some weight with a lighter grade material and really, it doesn't need that much MOLLE webbing. Nobody's going to use the side webbing (half of that real estate is lose once water bottles are in place). They could do away with that and add shock cord which would be way more useable. A sub-40L pack shouldn't have webbing at all other than maybe daisy chaining especially one that has several zippered pockets already on the outside of the pack. That pack is easily a pound heavier than it needs to be. IF it was meant to carry real weight (ala' what 600D packs do), then they would've invested more engineering into the back and made it a legit internal frame pack. And you're still wrong about their large packs! 😂
Luke! Awesome video (as is the TOGR Standard!) I have a Condor 30L Assault Pack. Similar to the Mardingtop but I think higher quality. Have you reviewed CondorOutdoor Packs? I'm also looking at Forclaz (French mfgr) Forclaz Men's MT100 Easyfit 70 L backpack. Just wondering if you've reviewed Forclaz packs? I would love to see your review on either of these mfgrs. P.S. I love TOGR soundtrack! Cheers, Tom -- What's a Creek Devil? One of many names for Sasquatch before the "Bigfoot" moniker became popular.
@@jamesgibbs8827 Ditto that! First Nations and Native Americans combined there are 500 names for this creature. With that many different names from hundreds of tribes centuries before mass communications, that tells us they all couldn't be wrong. Bigfoot is a real creature.
If the foam padding is removable, try hitting it with a heat gun or leaving it out in the sun (or it might even work through the material of the pack). I have great luck getting foam to go back to its original form with a bit of heat.
Chinese manufacturers have a habit of slapping PALS webbing on every inch of their packs and using the standard military colours (olive, tan, black) to call them 'tactical'. Even though PALS webbing has been used literally everywhere in civilian applications -- photography immediately comes to mind as pretty much every Lowepro pack has webbing on the outside these days.
Luke, that funky stitching is a spot where the sewer has likely seen issue and has decided to run a little bit of back stitching to help prevent unraveling of the stitching. Not something one sees much these days but as my mother was a seamstress for many years I've seen a lot.
Dude, either used Google translate or is drunk when he wrote this.
@@nawwk79What’s the problem? I understood it.
@@nawwk79 i mean its not that hard to understand
@@nawwk79 no I didn't use Google translate nor was I drunk, I was simply typing on my phone with my extra extra large very arthritic hands so cut a guy a little slack.
@@zerocontent3171 don’t even give this guy another thought. Thanks for the info, I’ve seen this before and wondered, now I know!
I have to say, I own that backpack for the past 3 years. and it has kept its ground extremely well. I agree with most of the things you mentioned about it. I use it as edc pack, cycling and as a day pack for smaller trips. I have used it for 1 overnighter and you can do it, though it will not carry as comfortably as with the smaller load. In that case its better to take a bigger bag that is not full rather then over-houling that one. But ower all, I had not a single problem with that pack ower years and even after continuous use day by day. It holds its ground very well. Well worth the little money It costs!
I bought this backpack based on your prior review. Its a terrific, light duty day pack. I agree it's not meant for any much more that a day out of hiking. Now that its summer my wife and I spend a lot of time on the local beaches it holds everything we need for the day. Thanks for the update on this product. Its worked out great as long as you keep the $42 limitations in mind! Cheers!
Agree, I do now use this for work and not hiking. I love the pockets for organising EDC and smaller work gear and the main compartment is great for a laptop, lunch, water bottle and a few other items. It's much more comfortable than my older work bag that 'died' on me. Plus it's an aesthetic I like.
Well, I have this backpack for almost two years and I was curious about real volume so I made 1 litter zip bags and actually 29 of them fit in. So volume 28 litters is correct (with outer pockets of course). Second, for this money is quality very good, no stitching issue on my piece. 3) organization of gear in this backpack is the best for hiking and tramping. I actually use this backpack for two days in the woods, sleeping bag attached on the bottom. What I miss is better and wider waist belt with pockets. Otherwise it's great backpack and I would buy it again.
For $42 this looks like a pretty nice pac. Especially for the causal user. Might make a nice SHTF pac. Because of the low price it could be loaded and set aside for that rainy dsy.
i own the 60+10 waist of money , every five minutes you have to readjust the straps and the zippers holding the side pouches slowly unzip . it lays in a pile right now
@@wildsau1965 thanks for your input. Have to rethink my opinion.
I got the 20l for Xmas this year and use it as a work bag. The hip belt on it is unnecessary and when I've got it tightened up the hip belt runs along my rib cage. Works well for going from the car to my job and carries my swim gear for work without issue.
Good, fair, balanced review. It might not be grunt proof, but some times more expensive tacticool backpacks (e.g. LAPG 3 day assault pack) aren't grunt proof either.
Oh I had an LAPG 3 Day Assault Pack that was not great! The strap broke off on a 10 mile hike. Not to mention the compartment liner all ripped out about 3 months in.
I know someone who has one of their packs (I think the 35L) and carries MOLLE pouches (including a full IFAK) on the outside. It handles it great. He previously used it heavily loaded as his school backpack. It's holding up extremely well. I have their 40L and 75L packs and I'm overall very impressed. Their packs do hold up. I'll add that their 40L pack will easily hold at least a 16" laptop in the hydration bladder sleeve. I chose this because it's so hard to find a laptop bag with actual storage nowadays. Works great when traveling; I used it as my carryon.
The lack of ventilation is kinda a small deal breaker for me, since the pack im currently looking for is for day hikes in very hot and humid weather. $42 is very cheap for a pack like that though. Durable enough, cheap enough and good enough is pretty much my motto when it comes to buying stuff so its really tempting.
oh man the market has been flooded for over a decade with these faux tactical packs from companies like RothCo (or even more no name brands for that matter) and they've always been in the sub $60 range. They seem impressive to people at first because it's the first bag they've bought that isn't a jansport book bag. Mardingtop is maybe the newest evolution of a very old trend.
My edc and day hike backpack is the tactical baby gear diaper bag. It’s just big enough to handle an accidental overnight or keep your lunch and some emergency supplies. It’s comfortable and has lasted a year of daily use. You may want to give it a shot
I’ve got the larger 50l for work. I’m an equipment operator in an oil sands mine. I’m way for 15 hours a day. It holds all my food snacks, and energy drinks for the day.
Used to use one to carry my cable splicing tools & odds and ends, but had to stop using it because the zipper seam on the middle pouch gave way. Fortunately, it was only holding bagged rf and ether cat connectors so nothing was lost. I did not have it overloaded though.
Love this pack! Bought it for day hikes thanks to this video. He had me really worried about the side pockets being too small but I honestly have no idea what he’s talking about. He made it sound like you’d only be able to fit a plastic water bottle into them but they easily fit both my 24 oz Grayl Geopress or my wide 32oz Pathfinder steel bottle (even when its in the nesting cup!) I don’t see how he couldn’t fit the Nalgene into them unless he’s got a 48 oz or something. Unless they did a redesign over the last few months I’m calling shenanigans on his part.
I might buy this for a basic EDC bag for work.(I am a security Guard) . I would have to get a laptop sleeve . Some sites require me to carry more gear then others but I don't think I would be able to fill it in most cases. I have a 5:11 that is about the same size or maybe a little smaller but the layout isn't that great. I need more pockets on the out side then in. The 5:11 has 1 large outside pocket and 2 small ones .
A good get home emergency bag? or for an overnight with the fishing pole and the basic bush craft gear.
Good afternoon from Syracuse NY brother and thank you for sharing your adventures and equipment testing and the facts and truth brother
Hi my friend
Hey Luke,
I'm not aware of you've ever had a look at the manufacturer "Mystery Ranch" but their backpacks seem pretty interesting. Definitely not cheap like this one but it's be cool to see if you've ever reviewed one of those. I'm currently interested in the Mystery Ranch 2 day assault pack.
Great video as always. I respect the process.
Great review! I love the way you remind people that you have to consider what you are getting for the price. It’s got some great features and some serious cons….but it’s only $42!
I am adding a comment after seeing the video you published today (10/15/24). I have been using this pack when I ride my mountain bike in the mountains and desert. I carry what I might need if something went wrong and I found myself stuck overnight. I also carry bike repair parts and snacks. I am thrilled with it. I would be happier and willing to pay more if it were of a better material. I'd really like it if the side pockets were bigger. I think it is a steal at $42. In fact, I may buy another one as a backup.
Thanks for the review Luke. I appreciate that you turned me onto military surplus binge buying years ago. My three day US Army MOLLE assault pack is currently serving duty as my range bag when I go shooting. It holds everything from ear pro, eye pro, FAK, mags, shooting bags as well as many hundreds of rounds of ammo for me and several friends. It's heavy and beat to hell and back but keeps on doing it's job with over 50lbs of weight in it at times! Though I still have quality daypacks from REI and Kelty none of them would be trusted as much.
love your videos, but can you do a hiking video where you have a back pack solar panel / power bank to test them?
oh by the way your an absolute legend loved your content for years, its done in a great way and I love the way you operate. thank you! much love from the uk!
Based on the measurements given on Amazon, I make it 22 litres however I wonder if the 3 pockets add up to another 6 litres? It a big problem with rucksack manufactures were some only measure the bag and some add in the pockets as well.
I have a 70L from them. Basically just bigger version of this one. It makes my hands go numb! I am in the market for a new EDC bag. Mine is tearing by the handle. At this point, I am reluctant to purchase from them again, but I might with your recommendation. We will see.
I own this backpack in green, it served as an upgrade to my Walmart "molle" backpack. As such, it worked OK for a while, but I eventually upgraded to an Akmax Medium Rucksack, which has more space, better ventilation, and better organization.
It's not a bad pack, but as a bugout bag it was just too small, and I was concerned how well it would hold up in a crisis. It felt like it could split open if it was packed to capacity and then scraped against trees and rough rock. I think it could work decently well as a car camping bag, or an overnight bag.
Good evening Luke, I truly enjoying all your videos. What is your favorite coffee an hot chocolate….. Blessings to you and family. Keep up being you, and I’ll keep watching and praying for you.
Very good Luke, appreciate the review, interesting pack. I have had an Osprey Stratos 25 for 7 years now, same size range, very comfortable with trampoline back for ventilation, held up well, lifetime guarantee, but costs more. Also made in Vietnam not China which I prefer.
I have the 80l pack which opens the same. my stiching wasn't great in places but it hasn't broken I used some fabric glue to reinforce the stitching, the bigger bag does wobble a bit but generally for the price 3 years later its still holding up. sadly a line of molle on the front wasn't stiched in any of the middle parts I had to sew it myself I was offered 15% off another product but I didn't want to invest in another product that may have a problem although I may get this pack as I need a good day hike bag. its ashame the 80l needs to be completely full otherwise its kinda folds in on its self but it is comfortable enough to do what I need, I think it would have been OK with glue on the stiching but the straps where it joins at the top where pulling out and I wasnt going to risk it breaking fully loaded in a middle of a wood. for someone on a budget it's a good piece of gear, with a few design changes and a better stiching protocol it could be a brilliant contender to some more expensive pack's. I would recommend there products although I would keep in mind as you sat you pay for what you get. I've abused my bag to the max for over 3 year's in thick woodland and its held up, you just have to be very careful how you pack it because it can be unbalanced especially if you use the molle for extra pouches. I did add an extra 40l of pouches in the winter and it's not something I would do again, the bag did take it without failure, but I have glued every seem on the pack
My daughter used such a backpack for five years in school. Loaded very heavily with books and school journals. Plus other stuff teenagers nowadays need. It holds up perfectly until today - her very last days at school. I am sure she will continue to use it, as it is still going strong.
At least for this specimen, I cannot say nothing more than I am very impressed. For that price - perfect. It got dragged over floors, endured rainstorms and snow, very hot summers and cold winter days (she used to walk to her school every day).
Can only recommend this pack.
If you want something at least grunt-resistant and you're willing to fork out more than $42 try Tactical Tailor. They build stuff specifically for mil use but a lot is good for us regular folks, too. No going gentle required. I've beat on my pack pretty good.
I bought the Mardingtop 75 L and while its a nice pack, it didnt have the room to pack it right. A lot of their interior is outside pouches, etc like was mentioned before. Also no "tactical" style loops on the outside.
I then got their 50 L which opens like a clamshell like the "28"L you tested. Even though its smaller its easier to pack. It has lots of exterior webbing which I like.
Because of the sweate issue imma pass, otherwise id get it 100%.
Fantastic honest and indepth preview. Much appreciated!
It seems good as an edc/day trip bag.I bought a similar ‘cheapo’ type bag and it works great.
First . Pretty good final thoughts .. for 42 bucks I would say it’s pretty good , I’m not a hiker and hikers who use packs very frequently shouldn’t depend on economical gear to begin with .. .. I would say this pack would be a way better option for the occasional day hiker to actually carry some supplies to get them through the night ok in the event of if something unplanned happened .. sure beats the crap out of those altoid tins people try to use as a survival kit .. I happen to have scored the condor pack that’s about the same size at a local thrift shop for 5 bucks and got a Stanley 24 oz cup with out the lid or green cups inside was in side it when sold ,, can’t go wrong that cheap !
Luke, That was a fair review of this pack. I think you were right about the size at around 25 liters. I have a foldable backpack at 30L that seems about the same or greater volume than this pack. To me 25-30L is really for day pack use only. As for looks, I liked the pocket layout as well and it seems similar in appearance to other, actual tactical backpacks such as the Spec Ops The pack, Tasmanian Tiger Trooper Pack, etc. However those packs are larger and more expensive than this one, albeit made with better materials. For my use case as an occasional hiking pack/Bob I prefer something better made with a 35L+ capacity. If Mardingtop revamped this with better internal materials and a more rigid, ventilated back panel, along with better shoulder straps, this might be a daypack budget contender.
Can you put a m16 mag in outer pockets
Hi Luke, informative you always let people know what up ,the good and the bad great review
Looks like a perfect 24/48 hour emergency bag or a GHB to leave in a vehicle. lots of organization for BASIC emergency or GHB gear. I'd put some simple shelter, water, food, fire, headlamp, multitool etc. and just keep it as an emergency pack. Lol, I think one of my daughters will have to get this for me for Xmas 😉. Thanks for the review Luke
Use the same pack for hunting have had no problems. Good pack to beat up and not worry.
Good review, Luke! I can see utility in specific applications. Some mentioned by you, and others here. I have several small packs, lumbar, etc., that fulfill my personal needs adequately. BTW- Your PT shows! You look strong!
That actually looks like a pretty cool little pack. Thanks for the review
I've got one of their 28L backpacks, slightly different style to the one you tested, mine us model M6290 bought on Amazon UK for £49.99 and seems to be made of the same materials. Mine has a padded waist belt with Molle loops however they are useless for 2 reasons, firstly anything attached gets caught on your arms when you walk and secondly the back length of this model is very short meaning at 5'10" normally taking a medium length back, this is far too short. Quality wise everything else is OK for day hikes, plenty of room and decent internal pockets and the waist belt can be tucked away. What is missing on my model are the D rings on the shoulder straps. I think your comments on the quality of materials and this brand being "tactical style" is accurate.
Thanks for the feedback, i get what you are saying about the civilial/smaller molle pacs, i wonder if you would have a look at the Viper Garrison Pack 20L?
I thought it was going to be what i was after, its Viper, i like their gear, i have some of their pouches (all in coyote) so i bought one, im still not convinced 🤔
Which came first this or the mystery ranch blitz?
Said it before when purchasing a pack especially one from a chinese company always make sure to get the inner dimensions of the main compartment, most pack manufacturers especially on the low end will include ALL storage space in the marketing material for total pack size. You need to calculate the cubic inches of the inner compartment and convert that using a cu3 to liters converter to get true pack capacity.
The design of this backpack just like Mystery Ranch Blitz 30.
I am glad this pack has the ability for a camel back system. A lot of pockets which makes it appear as a good day pack. But it definitely doesn't look like a 28L pack though it looks more like a 25L as Luke has mentioned. That definitely is not a tactical pack. No ventilation as well. I don't think that I would trust that pack for rugged use especially if you have to baby it. At first glance, I thought it might be a good product, but I would rather have something that I can use without worrying if it would survive a day hike. Thanks Luke for your honest assessment of this system.
I need a backpack 🎒 for a day hike. Seem like it a perfect buy for me
It looks nice. Basically, for me 28 liters is a day pack. It is not something I can take camping with me. It won't hold enough stuff. Is that one fine for the money? Probably. I have tons of them about that size. They will end up carrying stuff that goes in my trunk and will go with me car camping. But for the hard yards of backpacking in? I need a 70 liter backpack. I got too much stuff for a Musette bag, or day pack, or haversack, etc.
👍👍👍
$42.00. Not a bad 'starter' pack for someone testing the 'Outdoor Scene Waters'.
Would I buy it or something similar? Yes, I did .. about ten-odd years ago. A local Military Surplus / Outdoor Store 30 litre 'name brand' pack. Still got and use it .. although a Savotta Jääkäri S Mini Day Pack with add-on pockets now steps in for the more serious stuff.
One should not let 'price' alone be the Alpha-Omega in kit selection. Sensible consideration regarding application and cost-effectiveness should also play a part therein.
I ordered this awhile back and it was an instant return. Most uncomfortable pack I've ever put on. I bought a Kelty coyote 105 instead and it's a great pack. Not a tactical style pack but comfortable and well designed.
thank you - very honest and informative review !
Does the form insert come from the pack or is sewn in? If it comes out roll it up the opposite direction and tape it for a couple days. If doesn’t then it is not worth the price especially when you go to clean it.
Is the foam sheet 'frame' removable in a pocket? Because in that case you may be able to change it for anything more solid, or put a sheet of something like acrylic behind it.
Good review Luke. It looks more like a good day pack than a 3 day "assault?" pack. Looks like it will hold a tarp of small to medium size, change of socks, Light windbreaker, or rain jacket, fire starting kit, small first aid kit and lunch.
Glad you do these reviews because there are so many people that will go by what Amazon or the manufacturer claim and we all know that most of them are focused on sales. Military style? Maybe. Military grade? No. Your honest opinions are welcomed.
Stay safe and God bless.
I stay away from packs that don't at least have some thought put into their suspension system. Anything larger than a camelbak carrier deserves a waist belt, sternum strap, and load lifters on the shoulder straps at the minimum.
ive been looking for something like this for the back seat of my truck
Kind of like that tactical style pack! Doesn't seem to be a bad deal at all for the money.
I would wager it is a 28 liter pack but some companies do a grand total of every single pocket on a pack, including the water bottle pockets. This is especially common with daypacks. So to us it's not a 28L pack but "technically" they could call it that.
Luke I was wanting to know your thoughts on the Teton 22L hydration pack.
Thanks for the great review, as always. Is there a higher quality bag similar to this one that you do recommend? Im looking for a high-quality day pack with a fair amount of built-in organization like this one.
I've had a couple of these cheap tacticool backpacks. in the end it will be cheaper to buy a decent one at once. I ended up getting the Jääkäri M backpack for shorter trips. Jääkäri Xl for long hikes. Expensive…yes but those will last a lifetime.
Is this backpack in the review the Khaki or Ranger Green?
They really need to make either adjustable water bottle pockets or make adjustable ones. For me, not having full size nalgene bottles is huge deal breaker. Maybe they'll fix this in V.2 ...
Well, I do have three Chinese 600D polyester backpacks, from three different manufacturers and I can say that I am 50/50 on the whole deal - I really dislike one of the backpacks, I am not sure about the second and I really like the third. They are all in the realm of $40 - $46. They are are mostly marketed as outdoor and tactical backpacks with one being marketed at least partially as a military one. I've used them for airsoft, some hiking, none of them have really torn on me, just the inside coating of the one I dislike the most is peeling off. Some have YKK zippers are on there too and they can all hold a hydration bladder, but one does it better than the others. That being said, I am not a fan of those hydration bladders.
I'd say you generally get what you paid for, but there are some misses and there are some good hits. Involves sone research and you need to decide if that's what you need and if that is worth for you. I do think there is a time and a place for these.
This pack seems 'just right' for a child or grandchild's first teen-aged pack. They will enjoy the 'tactical' big person's look and the weight-bearing load out will be fine. As a quick 'grab and go' emergency bag, this will also do, especially for the price.
I'd probably prefer a school style bookbag ( jansport) other than that. For me a bag must be heavy duty. I'm pretty hard on that part of my equipment.
Looks like a great little “day-hike” bag
What do you thing of the mardingtop 28l M6290?
That looks like an awfully nice patch, Luke! Any plan on selling those? Or is it simply a special made item from a viewer? S&H, Eric
I wouldn't purchase it for 42 dollars and I have had many different backpacks over the years and the ones that I own have held up great and the only problem with the smaller ones is they do suck on ventilation and in the winter time it's not too bad, but in summer I would rather go without it but when you are out looking for someone who's lost you need the pack to carry things you might need. I guess if you need one a day hike and you aren't going to carry much it would probably be ok and if you want one for a true tactical pack order from a company that only deals in quality products the price will be higher, but the quality of the product is better.
We will just add that to the “avoid” file. Thanks luke.
The only major con that i can see is lack of padded hipbelt. For a couple dollars more i think it would be a good upgrade and that it would make it đore comfortable and functional. Other than that for the money it seems great.
It look like a small copy of the Tasmanian Tiger trooper.
With a prix around 250€ Of course the TT got all the needed feature for military. But the overall look and pockets look the same.
Thank you for another informative video.
Great value for the price. Seems great for a bug out bag that will just sit in a car or closet
Do you think it would work/help to replace the foam backing with something rigid? Like Masonite or acrylic sheeting?
FYI, I’ve used pvc piping to make internal frames on a few of these cheaper packs, and it works well. Mimics the external Alice pack frame, but is inside the bag. Quite a few TH-cam videos on the concept.
@@davidpyle7333 makes sense. What size PVC? It seems like it would bend too much or break (but maybe it's just the older plastic plumbing lines that are brittle)
@@jwmmitch I used regular 1/2” from Home Depot, nothing special, and it was fine. The elbows and T’s also add strength. Dave Canterbury makes a heavy duty external version at th-cam.com/video/N9fOa98ry1o/w-d-xo.html
This pack sounds like a good, value daypack for typical day hiking. I would buy it at that price for this use.
Surprised you didn't mention the clamshell opening as a Pro. It was the only reason I made this purchase a couple of years ago. My advice to anyone is don't load it past 25lbs and it will last.
I might buy it for a "quick" pack or something thrown into a car with the minimum of gear to get me home. As for anything else, I'd use a real pack. I have two SOG packs, one is made similar and I like it for very light loads. I might have to get and try this one. It looks even smaller than those two packs. Take Care and Stay Safe.
Always good content! Keep em coming!
I think I'd prefer a used surplus but the idea is still good
Good call on the packaging issue & water bottle pockets. It looks like a decent pack (not something I'd use), but the back could use some more attention like a lumbar pad to get the pack off one's back.
600D is TOO much for a day pack. They could cut down some weight with a lighter grade material and really, it doesn't need that much MOLLE webbing. Nobody's going to use the side webbing (half of that real estate is lose once water bottles are in place). They could do away with that and add shock cord which would be way more useable.
A sub-40L pack shouldn't have webbing at all other than maybe daisy chaining especially one that has several zippered pockets already on the outside of the pack. That pack is easily a pound heavier than it needs to be. IF it was meant to carry real weight (ala' what 600D packs do), then they would've invested more engineering into the back and made it a legit internal frame pack.
And you're still wrong about their large packs! 😂
Luke what is the name of the theme song you use at the beginning and end of your videos
Luke! Awesome video (as is the TOGR Standard!) I have a Condor 30L Assault Pack. Similar to the Mardingtop but I think higher quality. Have you reviewed CondorOutdoor Packs? I'm also looking at Forclaz (French mfgr) Forclaz Men's MT100 Easyfit 70 L backpack. Just wondering if you've reviewed Forclaz packs? I would love to see your review on either of these mfgrs. P.S. I love TOGR soundtrack! Cheers, Tom -- What's a Creek Devil? One of many names for Sasquatch before the "Bigfoot" moniker became popular.
What's a SABAE? Name given to Big Foot by First Nations Native American People, for hundreds of years as well I believe. Thanks for the info mate.
@@jamesgibbs8827 Ditto that! First Nations and Native Americans combined there are 500 names for this creature. With that many different names from hundreds of tribes centuries before mass communications, that tells us they all couldn't be wrong. Bigfoot is a real creature.
If the foam padding is removable, try hitting it with a heat gun or leaving it out in the sun (or it might even work through the material of the pack). I have great luck getting foam to go back to its original form with a bit of heat.
Thank you for that... 🙂
Is that a Schmedium shirt?
would love to see a video of your all time favorite load out bags packs tent etc.. every piece of gear needed say for a 3 day trip .
No….. would not buy one!! Thank you for the review! They are always the best
looking at just the dimensions posted on their website, the bag is only about 22Liters. not even near 25 and very far from 28
Fine as a casual use pack on a budget. If you need durability though... pay for it.
What about a camelback underneath?
Looks versatile at a decent price.
Yes I would but for day hikes
I would pay for the exact same bag with a bit of Frame on the back I would probably pay 60
I like that shirt, who makes it?
The beautiful immortal Elves of Rivendell.
nice review
Chinese manufacturers have a habit of slapping PALS webbing on every inch of their packs and using the standard military colours (olive, tan, black) to call them 'tactical'. Even though PALS webbing has been used literally everywhere in civilian applications -- photography immediately comes to mind as pretty much every Lowepro pack has webbing on the outside these days.
very nice backpacj