Maxpedition Waistpack

The Maxpedition Waistpack that I purchased in order to do this side-by-side comparison can be picked up here, but first lets take a look at a couple of comparison pictures of the Maxpedition Waistpack and the competitor waistpack.



The first thing you may notice is that the buckle receiver on the main flap is affixed firmly to the flap on the Maxpedition Waistpack, whereas on the other pack it is sewn on via a strap. I use the Maxpedition Waistpack for work (hence the tool peeking out of the left side) and I can tell you that it is much easier to re-buckle the front flap with one hand when it is firmly affixed as opposed to the other buckle that flops around while you are trying to buckle it.



In this picture, you can see how the waistpacks attach to either a MOLLE pack or your belt. You can't tell from this picture, but the Maxpedition Waistpack has a big slot behind those MOLLE attach points for your belt to slide through. This is great, as it affords the most support for the pack, holds it close to your body, and keeps it from flopping around. The other brand does not have a slot, it has those two MOLLE attachment straps that snap at the bottom. Those two straps are the only way to attach it to your belt. It doesn't stay snug, and who knows how long those snaps are going to last. You will also note that the Maxpedition Waistpack has a secret pocket nestled in between the first and second set of MOLLE attachment points that the other brand does not have. This is cool for stashing some emergency cash, emergency phone numbers, or whatever small item you may want to keep handy but not obvious. That pocket is 2 1/4 inches deep by about 2 1/2 inches wide, by the way.

The inside pockets of the two waistpacks are pretty much identical except for the fact that the Maxpedition Waistpack is made with 1000 denier fabric and the other brand is made with 600 denier. You can really feel the difference in durability between the Maxpedition Waistpack and the lower priced version when held side by side.

Both packs come with a shock-cord pull so that you can collapse the bag down a little when it is not full. A function that I didn't think I would care about, but boy was I wrong! Since I use my pack for work, I don't have it completely stuffed and the further I have the pack collapsed in, the less often I hit it with my arm or, most importantly, get it caught on cables or equipment that I work around. I don't see any difference in functionality between the two packs as far as this is concerned, though. They seem to work equally well in that regard.

Well, here I am wearing it. One thing to note is that I carry a pair of electrician scissors and an insulated knife for work that I use quite often. I have them in the front pocket and they stick up a little bit. One good thing about this pack is that it has a large Velcro patch sewn into it so that you can still get the flap fastened whenever you have an oversized load like that. Both the Maxpedition Waistpack and the other brand have that large Velcro patch so that is good.

And here is what I have packed in there! I try to keep it light, but am planning on adding a few things, mostly survival related stuff, just to see how much I can get in it before it starts to bother me wearing it all the time. So far with this stuff, I have no complaints!

As you can see by this picture, when you open the front flap, there are two dividers inside. The one towards the front is pretty easy to see. The one at the back is not quite as easy but it is the full width of this pocket. Also, you can see how the shock cord will collapse the pack in accordian style when you pull it tight.

By the way, here is a close-up of the shock cord grippers on the two packs:

I am not too sure what the difference is between these two except to say that the one on the Maxpedition Waistpack (left) is a little easier on the fingers. It also has a little slot/loop thing on the side of it that I am not sure what is used for. As far as I can tell, both work equally well, just one is more comfortable than the other.











This is the main zippered pocket on the M 1 Maxpedition Waistpack. You can tell that it also has two dividers in it. This Pocket is pretty large and can hold quite a bit of stuff.

There is something else to note here. The zipper on the Maxpedition Waistpack (left) has a little bit bigger teeth than the zipper on the other brand. However, the other brand covers up the zipper a little bit better, I guess for water resistance. (If it is a little hard to see, click the picture and it should take you to a larger version.)

Well, there you have it. That is the low-down on the M 1 Maxpedition Waistpack versus the lower priced version. In short, I think the Maxpedition Waistpack is well worth the money! The testing between these two packs is still on-going. I am wearing the Maxpedition Waistpack to work while Caddotx is wearing the lower-priced version to work. We both work with our hands and go into the pack for tools, so the conditions of use should be pretty close. We'll see which one gives out first, but I think that is a no-brainer. The material and construction of the Maxpedition Waistpack is just superior to the other brand.

You can pick up a Maxpedition Waistpack here. It is especially great if you have other Maxpedition gear and want to be able to attach it via the MOLLE attachments to other packs, etc.