Yeah Buddy! MyFATBOY VERSIPACK Just Arrived

Hey, GoCart-

I have a question for you. I've been thinking about the same piece of gear, so I'd appreciate it if you could answer me two questions.
1- The big pocket - how big is it? Big enough for a 1911?
2- Does it have the velcro to enable use of the universal holster?

I'm trying to decide if I can get away with this one vs. the JUMBO Fatboy. I'd appreciate any info.

Congrats on getting a new cool piece of gear!

The pistol doesnt go in the large pocket (the one covered by the flap), it goes in a flat pocket that is closed by a zipper. My 5" 1911 fits in the Jumbo with very little room to spare. It has velcro for a universal holster, Maxpedition sells a $10 one.

Kharn

I got my Fatboy last year and it didn't come with velcro, it's something they added recently I think (the Jumbo always had it I believe). So if you order one make sure you're not getting old stock if you want the velcro.

There has been a lot of talk about the Maxpedition Versapacks over on Glock Talk. Here is a compilation of things I’ve posted there on this topic.

For those who are considering one of the Maxpedition shoulder sling Versapacks, but are unsure of which one to purchase. I previously ordered the Fatboy Versapack after several others recommended the Jumbo Versapack (due to size considerations). The Fatboy is a great little bag, but it is fairly small. It is very useful for day trips where you don't necessarily need to pack water, etc., or for a ccw with a smaller firearm. I originally wanted the Fatboy for hiking, and/or as a “get home bag”. I was a little disappointed that there wasn't as much room in the pack as I had expected from looking at the pictures. I found it difficult to pack all of the things that I wanted for a hike. As a result I ordered and just received a Maxpedition Jumbo Versapack. The Jumbo is very much what I was looking for. The size if perfect, and should prove much more useful (sizewise) for hiking. As I said above the Fatboy is great within its limitations, but if I plan to spend a day in the woods, I'll grab the Jumbo. It easily fits my Katadyn Hiker water filter, and MRE in the main pocket with room to spare. The Nalgene water bottle pouch is a very good use of space in my opinion, as it leaves you room in the main pouch for other important gear.

Since the post above the packs have become primarily supplements to my bug out bags, as well as day hiking pack. Currently the contents for each of the packs are as follows:
Maxpedition Fatboy Versapack

Main pouch:

Bible
2 meal replacement bars
2 small packages of beef jerky
Mini Mag Flashlight
Bota H2O On Demand Water Filter Straw w/container cup
25ft of paracord
10x Tasco monocular
Tacoma Mountain Rescue Storm Shelter “Instant Pocket Tent”

Front zippered pocket:

AMK Rescue Flash signal mirror
AMK Fox 40 Rescue Howler safety whistle
Silva Companion compass
Sportsman emergency windproof butane lighter
collapsible cup
First aid kit (contains an assortment of band-aid, tape and gauze bandages. Also assorted antiseptic wipes, Tylenol and aspirin packets)
1 body warmer
2 hand warmers
rain poncho
AMK 2 person emergency blanket
mylar emergency blanket
small led light
bottle of hand sanitizer

Side zippered pocket:

Emergency candle
Large glow stick2 extra small glow stick
magnesium fire starter w/ flint
bottle of potable aqua water purification tablets
bottle of potable aqua water naturalizing tablets
100in roll of 2in duck tape
1 box of waterproof matches
Fishing kit inside 35mm film canister
Tinder cubes inside 35mm film canister

Small pouch in front of front zippered pocket:

1 small tablet

Vecro flap side pouch:

Surefire G2 Flashlight

Clip pouch above velcro side pouch w/ side pen holders:

Leatherman Wave (original model)
Track phone
1 permanent marker
1 pen

Rear zippered CCW pouch: modular holster for Glock 26

Hanging from carbiner: Nothing


Maxpedition Jumbo Versapack

Main Pocket:

Small Bible
Small Tasco Binoculars
SAS Survival Guide Handbook (mini-edition)/U.S. Army Survival Manual FM 21-76
25 ft paracord
1 (MRE) Meal Ready to Eat (entrees)
2 MRE heaters
3 packages beef jerky
1 Meal Replacement Bar
2 Power Bars
Bota H2O Water Filter Straw w/cup
AMK 2 person Heat Sheet Emergency Blanket
Tacoma Mountain Rescue Storm Shelter “Instant Pocket Tent”
Emergency Candle
Glow Stick
Box of firestarting sticks (no matches necessary)
Frost's Military Mora (Clipper Version)

Front zippered pocket:

2 hand warmers
1 body warmer Rain poncho
Mylar Emergency blanket
100in roll of 2in duck tape
small bottle of hand sanitizer
Campers silverware
bottle of water purification tablets
AMK Rescue Howler Emergency Whistle
Kershaw magnesium Firestarter & striker
Waterproof match container filled with emergency matches (add box)
3 tiny glow sticks
AMK Rescue Flash Signal Mirror
Silva Fisheye Compass
1 small led light
1 book of MRE matches
Leatherman Folding Knife
1GI type can opener

Small pocket front of zip pocket: Empty

Side zippered pocket:

Mini Mag Flashlight
Sportsman windproof butane lighter
Leatherman Wave (original model)
Small Fishing Kit
First aid kit (small zippered pouch contains an assortment of bandaids, tape and guaze bandages. Also assorted antiseptic wipes, Tylenol and aspirin packets

Small pocket front of zip pocket: Empty

Pouch behind side zip pocket: empty

Large Side Pouch: Nalgene Water Bottle

Top zippered pocket: Empty, but will hold digital camera, and other odds n ends.

Zippered pouch on flap: Small Sun Micro II Compass, clamp and key chain clip for Doug Ritter Freedom Photon led light

Rear zippered CCW pouch: modular holster for Glock 17

Hanging from carbiner: Nothing

Sounds like a lot of stuff, but I think it demonstrates the viability of using the Maxpedition bags as "Emergency Get Home Bags", or day hiking packs. The packs are pretty much full, but not overly so. The Jumbo still has an entirely empty top zippered pouch, as well as a lot of room left in the large front zippered pouch. Still room for additions. Many of the items are quite small, light and don't take up a lot room. The Fatboy tends to be my car pack while away at work. The Jumbo is used for day hikes. Both also supplement my car Bug Out Bags.

As far as weight goes, according to my scale with the contents I've listed, the Jumbo Versapack weighs 8 ½ to 9lbs. The regular Fatboy is going at just around 6 lbs. That is without the Glocks, and with an empty Nalgene water bottle of course. Not too bad IMO, and a lot better than a full Alice pack pulling at my shoulders when I want to poke around some of the more remote local historic sites.

I've included a picture may help anyone interested in comparing the size difference between the packs.

You'll be happy with the pack, GoCart.

I use mine as my primary trauma medical kit in my truck. It's a good pack that doesn't take up much space but holds enough gear to be useful. I have it hanging behind the passenger's headrest so it's easy to grab in an emergency.

Goodness Doug, that's a lot of stuff. If I ever get waylaid in the sticks I hope you're nearby. We didn't have that much stuff in our survival pack in the helicopter.

I've been thinking of getting one for my hunting partner. We usually just carry small day packs but he had a pacemaker put in last year and is leery of packing much weight with the strap right on top of it.

I know, I've received a lot of good-natured "ribbing" about the contents of my packs. It does demonstrate how handy the packs are though, I think.

Nice Bag

Added to my list of gear-I-gotta-have.

A purse that screams, "GUN!". Guys, to each his own, but that's not something I would pack over a shoulder in town and expect to carry "concealed".

As an emergency kit under the seat, it may have some merit.

As a day pack for hunting or hiking, I believe the single over-the-shoulder strap, even if well designed, will probably prove a load distribution nightmare.

One man's opinion. YMMV. What's important is that you like it.

Do other people's CCW classes tell the women that it's bad to carry a gun in your purse, because you will then never be able to allow yourself to put your purse down again? (and that's near impossible to do)

Shouldn't the same rules apply to these? When I sit down I always put what I'm carrying down. If I lived in the states I don't think I'd carry one of those.

I love it when insecure (and most likely closeted) men have to beat their chests to prove that yes, they're manly men and nothing else will do! Grow up guys.

Most people perceive the regular Fatboy as a camera bag. The larger Jumbo does not look out of place in the woods. Neither looks like a "purse" in my opinion. Historically it was not uncommon for a man to carry a shoulder strap "necessaries bag". It's only the he-men of today's modern American society that seem to take issue with said shoulder bags. You'd think with all the PC crap in our society today, that there would be a reduction in homophobic males, but I guess not. That said, my CCW are usually on my person, not in my Versapacks. I do like the option of carrying it in my bag if desired though.

GoCart, glad you found the lists useful.

Around East Tennessee there are enough folks in hiking gear and biking gear and 20,000+ college kids that a guy with a bag on his shoulder wouldn't automatically stand out if it looked like hiking or biking or student gear. OTOH, these stand out. If they don't in your area, cool, but they would here

Click to expand...

Ditto. In South Florida, the only guys you see wearing shoulder bags are tradesmen and college students. In order to look like you're one of them, you have to either dress in a cable TV repairman's uniform, or you have to look and act like a twenty-something college student. Neither is a desirable option for me. Same goes for fanny packs. The only place where one doesn't stand out is in a theme park, and it has to be the kind with a water bottle strapped to each side. I can't tell you what a non-gunny thinks when he sees a guy wearing a fanny pack but as for me... well, first I look for pockets. If his pants or shorts have no pockets, then maybe there's no gun in there. If he's in jeans, or cargo shorts, then there's a gun in the fanny pack.

I have to think that if I believe there's a gun in there, so will any potential bad guys.

Something In Blue?

I don't see any in blue.

I wonder if I could talk them into doing a line in dark blue?

All you fans of red, orange, yellow, and green can wait.

Dark blue would fit with my normal mock-up; heck, even light blue would work.

People are used to seeing me carry a camera bag and an "everything" bag with phone accessories, spare batteries, compass/altimeter, gps, spare knife, flashlight, memory sticks & thumb drives, and other geek things.

I get kidded about it, but I always have what I need.

Definitely blue.

for everyday carry ..
im inclined to agree with the posts above..

it screams ..hey i have a lot of stuff in here..might be valueable ..might not be ..but either way i have a lot of stuff to carry or i wouldnt be using it.

now if youre at like an amusement park or something like that and wanted to use it for the camera bag and etc (no gun obv its a park) id use it.

but for CCW unless you kept you hand in the pocket most of the time (obv not while walking inside the mall etc) i dont think id use it for that

but they are sweet bags and i hate to think i havent looked at them many times

My gear bag.

It's functional, well made, and doesn't scream "gun!!!" or look out of place. (Poster is a mid-twenties, ethnically Asian male, typical mode of dress is business casual, lives in the Dallas, TX area.) My preference is for tucked IWB carry, but bag carry can provide for a workable alternative.

The front flap fits my S&W 3914, and provides for fast and easy access. I use the ring loop as an attach point for the holster for a clean draw. Other than that, there's more than enough space for the rest of my electronics and an emergency first aid kit.

Mine is in black to appease my inner manliness though.

Yeah, the black one's best. Still doesn't fit my style, though.