I have always been a “pack” kind of guy, ever since high school. Back then the only kind of packs were double strap packs and I would only use one strap when I carried it around and that worked OK. As time went on they finally invented the “sling” pack and that was just what I needed. I began to look at the Maxpedition company because I liked what I saw and I thought it would work for me. I purchased a Maxpedition Kodiac Gearslinger pack and used it for a few years. It was an awesome pack but just a little too big for me to carry everyday. So I switched to the Vertx Dead Letter Pack in December of 2019 and that has worked for me until now. I decided to get back to my roots and get another backpack. Since I liked the Kodiac Gearslinger so well I picked up a Maxpedition Sitka Gearslinger Pack since it is a little bit smaller, I felt it would work better for an EDC pack and that is what this article will be about.
Why I Changed to Another Backpacks?
Back a few years ago I purchased the Vertx Dead Letter Pack, this pack holds a lot of gear but you also have to purchase some additional organizers in order to let the pack hold more gear. the main reason I went with that pack was because of the concealed carry delivery system. Vertx does a great job making it very easy to get to your pistol from a pack. The only thing about this pack was that it is more like a briefcase then a pack. It does slip on your back and rotates around to your chest but its just not a backpack. So most of the time I found myself carrying this pack around by the handle and not even putting it on my back. This kind of defeated the purpose of a good handgun delivery system. So for this reason I changed to a Maxpedition Sitka Gearslinger Pack.
The Layout Of This Pack
- Overall size: 10.5″(L) x 7″(W) x 18″(H) View
Product Dimensions Diagram - Volume: 940 cu.in. / 15L
- Weight: 2.3 lbs.
Exterior front
- Y-compression strap made from 1″ webbing
- One (1) 7.5″(L) x 2″(H) loop field for patches
- 4 rows of 2-channel PALS webbing
- Sleeve and bungee cord retainer
- One (1) 7.5″(L) x 5″(H) x 2″(W) zippered pouch
- One (1) 7.5″(L) x 3″(H) internal slip pocket
- Internal 3-channel elastic organization
- One (1) 7.5″(L) x 8.5″(H) external horizontal zippered pocket with Button-Lock™ security strap
- One (1) 8″(L) x 9″(H) x 2″(W) zippered pouch
- One (1) 8.25″(L) x 5″(H) internal
horizontal slip pocket - One (1) 7″(L) x 7.25″(H) internal horizontal slip pocket
Exterior rear
- One (1) 9″(L) x 17″(H) zippered compartment with internal loop field to accommodate 100oz/3L water reservoir or
CCW - Breathable padding for comfort
Exterior left
- One (1) 9″(H) x 3″ diameter cord cinch pouch for 32oz/1L water bottle or radio
Exterior right
- Grab handle made from 1″
webbing - Anti-theft zipper capture system
- D-Ring attachment point
- 6 channels of PALS webbing
Exterior top
- 1.25″ integral padded grab handle
Main interior front
- One (1) 9″(L) x 5.5″(H) zippered
mesh pocket - One (1) 6.5″ x 5.5″(H) zippered mesh pocket
- One (1) 15″(L) x 7″(H) slip pocket with 8.75″(L) x 7″(H) internal loop field for CCW
- Enclosure strap made from 1″ webbing with quick release buckle
Main interior rear
- One (1) 9.25″(L) x 6.75″(H)
slip pocket - One (1) 7″(L) x 6.5″(H) slip pocket
Straps
- Integral 3″ ergonomic shoulder strap with 2″ quick release buckle, 6 rows of PALS webbing, and metal snap clip
- Concealable sternum strap made from 0.75″ webbing with distress whistle buckle
Other features
- 3.5″(L) x 4″(H) waist pad with 2 channels of PALS webbing
- Full clamshell opening
Why I Like a Gearslinger-Style Backpack?
Most backpacks need to be removed from your back in order to get the items you need from that pack. The Gearslinger Backpacks are designed so you can sling your pack from your back around to your chest and access all the contents of your pack without taking it off. That is a very unique design and one that I really like. Can you remove those backpacks and access your contents – of course, but with these packs you have the option of using them both ways.
My Frustration About This Backpack
This backpack has many great features and I love everything about this pack except one thing, Years ago Maxpedition made both left and right-handed versions of their backpack and it sold me on the company. This is one thing that put this company way ahead of its competitions in my mind was that they had both a right and left-handed versions which was excellent in this right-handed world. Their packs are great and I really have liked them for many years, but when a company caters to both left and right-handed folks that went a long way with me. Then three or four years ago they stopped making their left-handed packs and that begin to tick me off. So in that one area they are like all the other companies out there that just go for the majority, who cares about left-handed people who buy their products. So I still like their products but they are not as high in my mind as they were when they catered to us lefties.
Does It Hold Enough Gear?
The Maxpedition Sitka Gearslinger is a great EDC pack and it has 15L of space for your gear. The question is, “Does it hold enough gear for most people”? The answer is, “That Depends”? If you are one of those fanatics that need every new gadget on the market, then probably not! If you are an average person that likes to carry a fair amount of gear for most occasions then I say yes! The thing about gear is that the more you carry, the heavier it is. And for me that is a determining factor.
I started out with the Maxpedition Kodiac Gearslinger pack (22.6L), which is the same exact pack design only bigger. I loved that pack as well but after carrying it for about a year, I realized that it was just too heavy for an EDC pack. It was then that I bought a Vertx Dead Letter Pack and I liked that because it was smaller. I have a problem with my packs, if it has more room in it I will fill it up! It’s a bad thing that I need to overcome. After a few years of wearing this pack I thought about the Maxpedition Sitka Gearslinger Pack. It is a carbon-copy of the Kodiac, just scaled down to 15L, and I really like it. So this pack works great for an EDC pack without the added size and with a little bit of organization it works great. But I still use the Kodiac pack as a clothes pack when I travel.
Final Comments
This Maxpedition Sitka Gearslinger Pack is an excellent EDC Pack. The material used in this pack is extremely strong and heavy duty. The design of this pack is really nice, you can sling it from your back to your chest and get what you want without removing your pack. I see this to be an excellent advantage when in crowded situations and you might fear someone stealing your pack. This pack also has a way to gather all the zipper pulls and locking them down, good job Maxpedition!
I never buy a pack anymore without CCW capabilities and this one has them. It works pretty well in that department. I made a zipper-pull using the Cobra weave, and put it on the zipper that I used to access my handgun. This way there is no way I can get mixed-up in what zipper to use if I need my handgun. Is this as good as using a holster – NO! But it works in situations when I cannot wear a holster, like at my normal job. You just need to always be aware of when your pack is, if it is not on your person.
So out of all the packs I have used in the last 10 years, the Maxpedition Sitka Gearslinger pack is by far the best! If you want a mid-sized pack with many great features, you need to try this one out. I highly recommend this pack for EDC use!
If you have any questions about this post or anything related to Everyday Carry (EDC)/Concealed Carry, feel free to leave a comment below and I will be happy to get back to you.
All the best,
Larry
Founder of Everyday Carry Essentials