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Which pack to use?

BERTMAN77MK2

BERTMAN77MK2

Gunny Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
Dec 17, 2009
2,991
96
67
displaced TEXAN
I want a pack for everyday carry that can be used without limiting ability for mountain biking, climbing, and urban use of any kind. The TAD Litespeed has caught my eye but would like to hear from those with experience as I plan to purchase only 1 time. Another consideration is quality, not looking for anything cheap. I ride bicycles, motorcycles, and hike a great deal. I am currently overcoming an auto accident and want a good pack as described above. I have used professional messenger bags for 30yrs and am going with a backpack. Thank you in advance for your insight.
 
The TAD FAST Pack EDC is what I use for camping / hunting / etc. For my around town and travel bag I have a GORUCK. Both are very good quality, the GORUCK is a bit more subtle than the TAD, but I have HSGI Taco pouches hanging on my TAD pack; those get the stink-eye when I fly with it.
 
I just bought a TAD EDC and its amazing, I'll be doing a review of it when I have some more time and experience with it but first impressions are great. Its built like a tank, has plenty of storage, and made in the USA. Its going to be my new range/competition bag for sure.
 
Tactical Tailor Removable Operator Pack. Sure it's made to be strapped onto a bigger pack, but it is near perfect by itself for my needs. I use it for running and hunting. It is very well made in the US.
 
You mentioned using messenger bags for years...have you looked at any of the Timbuk2 backpacks? Certainly not tactical, but the quality of construction is outstanding and sewn right here in the USA.
 
Does it have to be the tactical type of bag or would you consider packs like Gregory, and Osprey. Those are lighter weight, and will allow for airflow across your back more when biking, and hiking. You could do a Gregory Z30, Z40, or bigger depending on the size you might want. I have a maxpedition Falcon II, which allows for a lot of organization, but after taking it hiking in moderately warm weather, my shirt had a nice wet rectangle, the shape of the pack
 
I don't own a TAD pack, but sure would if I had the funds and wanted one nice pack. That being said, I don't really like riding my bike too far without a dedicated pack. Hiking and biking packs have pretty different ergonomics. You might want one of each.
 
No, it doesn't have to be "tactical", just high quality. I have carried heavy items and handguns and even broken-down 7.5 AR15. Have Timbuk2 mess bags but unaware they made any pacs. Thanks for all the ideas---will check em out on the web ASAP.
 
X2 on the osprey line, many different sizes, available on line or at good backcountry stores (so you can try them on), lightweight but very well made, doesn't have a "tactical-I have a gun in here" look, and the line also have water reservoir/bladder compartments for your camelback or similar hydration gear.
 
x3 for Osprey. I have an Osprey Stratos 34 (Stratos Series has 4 volumes models) that I do day hikes with and I use for exercise when I way overload it with 40 pounds of ammo. I love it! The airflow system they use on the Stratos system is the best thing I've ever put on my back. I selected this pack because I knew I would be walking around in public and I didn't want to appear like a wacko with MOLLE all over my shit trying to be as tacticool as I can possibly manage ;) just a friendly ribbing guys ;)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xs3WeOa7gSA
Key point for this pack is the AirSpeed suspension. Jump ahead to around 1:00 and he talks about it. It is this really high tension mesh that touches your back but the frame is arched the opposite direction so the pack never actually touches your back but stays in tension. It's AWESOME! You'll still sweat, but you won't sweat like you do with a normal bag that touches you constantly because with this system the bag is never in contact with your body. I wish Osprey would license that concept to some other companies because there are some tactical packs I'd like to get but I can't get away from how awesome this system is. These are the systems that use the AirSpeed: Osprey Packs, Inc :2013: Official Site

An aside: Backpacking has been popular for a lot longer than civilians buying tactical packs. Up until recently our options for "tactical packs" were what? Surplus ALICE and that's about it. The backpacking and camping community has this pack thing figured out. For example the Marine Corps current pack was designed by ArcTeryx. It was made by a cheaper company but the company who designed it was a high end outdoor manufacturing company, not some tactical brand like 5.11 or whatever. It seems that people like us, who like tactical stuff are more inclined to buy stuff because its tactical not necessarily because its good. $325 for a pack? I'm sure its a good pack but that's Mystery Ranch money. Hell that's MORE than comparably sized Mystery Ranch stuff and MR packs are some of the best you can buy.

$235 for comparison. Yeah its not as MOLLE happy but... good :) lol
Snapdragon Pack | Mystery Ranch Backpacks

No ill will intended towards anyone or anything with what I've said. It just bothers me that the tactical pack community hasn't taken more cues from the backpacking community to meet somewhere in the middle for people who want a more discreet tactical bag that is still a good pack. I've used enough packs while in the Marine Corps to know military packs are not the best thing in the world. The ILBE was a HUGE improvement over the previous packs (I carried both ALICE and MOLLE) and I'm sure it had entirely to do with it being designed by a civilian backpacking company.

ETA Molle packs also seem to me as less discreet than non molle bags. But that's just my opinion of course
 
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I've used the TAD Litespeed, for mountain biking, short hikes, overnights, camera bag.....etc. Like someone said above, it is built like a tank. The transporter tail helps a whole lot with carrying extra gear, plus with the right pouches attached, you have more options on having all the smaller stuff within easy reach without going digging in the main pack. The straps are super comfortable as well. Highly reccommend it.

E.T.A, The one thing that's useless on the Litespeed is the waist belt, took it of right away.
 
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Thanks for all the great selections (u crack me up VJJ !). Am doing lots of research on the web as there are not many places where I can try 'em out. Thanks everyone!
 
The Camelbacks are built off of Mystery Ranchs design and are a good value
 
Mystery ranch did the harness for the Camelbak Linchpin, I'm not sure if they did any others for Camelbak
 
The litespeed is a well crafted pack but it weighs a whole lot for a 1300ci pack with a whole lot of suspension for a light speed pack and a shiny penny and is not ideal for speed mountain travel; biking, climbing where it demands simple and light. I cannot understand why a small speed pack comes with a 3 pound suspension, what type of load is carried in 1300ci that requires 3 pounds of suspension. These type of packs are for speed where weight and suspension is a major hindrance. The top zipper access is a poor design for me, I prefer a traditional klettesak with expandable top lid.

For less weight and about the same price, the Wild/Things Andinista is considered the top shelf pack for decades, 1800ci to load hauling. The #1 pack for speed mountain travel. I have carried over 100 pounds in mine over 2+ week of guiding, been all twisted climbing, running, trekking, biking, etc to include toting around the town.

Or a WT guide pack for half the weight and price at 1600ci.

A Black Diamond speed 22 weight just over a pound with 1350ci at almost 1/3 of the cost.

I have the TT Operator too, nice simple pack for speed and ease of use. I do not like the top zipper for backcountry but I have, its mostly my day, city and range training pack.

good luck
 
Cobracutter said:
Yea, a $7000 backpack made in china is the obvious choice..............:rolleyes:
Click to expand...

Please point out which one cost 7k. They very well may be made in china but would you mind posting a reputable link that states so. Since you are such the aficionado, what would you recommend? It's awfully easy to criticize and offer NO SOLUTION.
 
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Here2Learn said:
Please point out which one cost 7k. They very well may be made in china but would you mind posting a reputable link that states so. Since you are such the aficionado, what would you recommend? It's awfully easy to criticize and offer NO SOLUTION.
Click to expand...

Are you dense or just dumb? Clearly exaggeration is lost art.

Yea pay a left nut for a pack made in china .... great idea.

Sorry I forgot everyone here is a gear queer and needs $600 packs to ride their shwin to starbucks or carry a load from the car to the office.
 
Still looking at every website mentioned----thanks to all the suggestions. A little more info may be helpful---I ride a bike 365 days a year and walk everywhere else. My pack has to survive crashes, rockslides, and any kind of weather imaginable. iPad and documents obviously have to stay dry and protected and straps have to be comfortable on shoulders for 18hr days. Has to be able to carry SBR'ed AR15 when necessary (inside). I have no preference as to "looks", but some of my lightweight backpacking packs would not survive road rash or mountain biking crashes. I have lots of other packs that are "specific" for their intended use. This pack will be for EVERYDAY use. If I knew I was just hiking, or just climbing, or just biking for the day----I have the proper packs for such. If a pack is too tactical for the mall or church, I get a form fitting rain cover for it. I was a sponsored road/MTB racer for many years and have several Camelbacks for MTB and adventure racing; also backpacking specific stuff. When a pack is too wide I have trouble climbing, when straps are not comfortable........you get the picture. I am not a man of unlimited means and am of course looking for the best value also. If it is a TAD or Mystery Ranch that is the only thing meeting my needs, then I will have to save up a little longer. I wish to buy only once, unlike my box of tried and untrue AR15 parts! Thanks again to everyone, I am checking them out. Recovering from my accident and hope to go to work again soon, thus the need for this pack.




I am almost 60 and ride over 100mi per day on days off,( 200mi is the farthest in a day) I used to do the 26.2 marathons (20 yrs running before biking) and enter triathlons and bike races occasionally to this day. I don't visit Starbucks but can be found at Denny's occasionally.
 
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hows about one of these bad boys, you can fit lots of snipery things in them and can be had at a reasonable price from any surplus store, it's perfect for what yer wanting

<a href="http://s767.photobucket.com/user/jayjaypunisher/media/duffle_zps803ed6d2.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i767.photobucket.com/albums/xx319/jayjaypunisher/duffle_zps803ed6d2.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo duffle_zps803ed6d2.jpg"/></a>
 
BERTMAN77MK2 said:
Still looking at every website mentioned----thanks to all the suggestions. A little more info may be helpful---I ride a bike 365 days a year and walk everywhere else. My pack has to survive crashes, rockslides, and any kind of weather imaginable. iPad and documents obviously have to stay dry and protected and straps have to be comfortable on shoulders for 18hr days. Has to be able to carry SBR'ed AR15 when necessary (inside). I have no preference as to "looks", but some of my lightweight backpacking packs would not survive road rash or mountain biking crashes. I have lots of other packs that are "specific" for their intended use. This pack will be for EVERYDAY use. If I knew I was just hiking, or just climbing, or just biking for the day----I have the proper packs for such. If a pack is too tactical for the mall or church, I get a form fitting rain cover for it. I was a sponsored road/MTB racer for many years and have several Camelbacks for MTB and adventure racing; also backpacking specific stuff. When a pack is too wide I have trouble climbing, when straps are not comfortable........you get the picture. I am not a man of unlimited means and am of course looking for the best value also. If it is a TAD or Mystery Ranch that is the only thing meeting my needs, then I will have to save up a little longer. I wish to buy only once, unlike my box of tried and untrue AR15 parts! Thanks again to everyone, I am checking them out. Recovering from my accident and hope to go to work again soon, thus the need for this pack.


I am almost 60 and ride over 100mi per day on days off,( 200mi is the farthest in a day) I used to do the 26.2 marathons (20 yrs running before biking) and enter triathlons and bike races occasionally to this day. I don't visit Starbucks but can be found at Denny's occasionally.
Click to expand...

Cordura may be your friend for abrasion. I have never taken any kind of yard sale that would damage my soft gear, skin yes. Cycling I would want a non framed pack so the pack conformed to my body not road on it like a frame would do. I used panniers sometimes but mostly a front bag clipped from the bars to haul from the stores, If I had a large load, I carried my Lowe Alpine clam shell pack. For paper and documents, a clam shell pack with its wide profile and top opening zipper Vs a thin profile klettersak may be best. For weatherproof, do not rely on the pack but slide the contents of your pack into a plastic trash bag, I prefer contractor due to their extra thickness. This will keep packs contents much drier than a cover and I believe easier to access those contents.

I use to run an hour, hydrate then bike for 50 miles every day after work. In the morning I would run 30mins and do some lifting. I switched to hour run and 50 mile bike on alternating days and only lift in the am, speed work every two weeks. Eventually run up to 3 hours every other day, I love to run the mountains and quite biking, too dangerous. I prefer cafe del mundo and yes I can be seen their. I had a Schwinn too, super la tour, superb bike and it served me a long time. Sold it for more than I paid for it with many 1000 miles on it. No I do not need a $1000 pack to carry kit from my car but my free WildThings Andinistas has seen more vertical terrain, more alpine terrain, more hiking, more rock crawling, toting game than the average hard and large, so, yep, I am just a gumbie.

good luck in your search, its a short list of product that may meet your needs,
 
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DVOD7909 said:
I have an Eagle Industries A-III Pack that I used for years for about everything. Great all around pack and durable/reliable.
Click to expand...

I'll have to second this. I've had one for ten years and it has seen some hard use. Very well made pack.
I'm actually thinking of getting a newer one with the MOLLE.
 
Cobracutter said:
Are you dense or just dumb? Clearly exaggeration is lost art.

Yea pay a left nut for a pack made in china .... great idea.

Sorry I forgot everyone here is a gear queer and needs $600 packs to ride their shwin to starbucks or carry a load from the car to the office.
Click to expand...

Not sure how this ^^^^^^ fucking retard is still here....

Regardless, I'll share some input that is useful to the actual topic.

I have the TAD Litespeed, EDC. For what you describe your uses as I think either one will be adequate. They are both extremely well constructed and everything seems to have its place on the pack. They do have lots of Molle so they have the "look" but function awesome.

couple of things I don't understand from previous posts on this thread is about 3lbs of suspension on the litespeed. There really isn't any level of suspension in the pack like you'd see in packs made for heavier loads. The whole thing only weighs 3lbs. The EDC does have a framesheet that helps with the rigidity.

The waist strap on the Litespeed is not designed for transfer of weight to your hips like most waist belts. It is designed to keep the pack on your body and keep it from slopping around when you cannot have the shoulder straps tightened to the fullest. It works very very well for that. If you want more details of pics of the two side by side or hell we can skype and I can show you them in real time. Hit me up. I like the "Made in the USA" that means a lot to me when looking at items.

Good luck, you won't go wrong with most any of the packs listed here.
 
Bertman YGPM

With your newly provided info, you may want to consider Osprey's larger biking packs. The Manta
Manta Series - Osprey Packs, Inc :2013: Official Site
They have an integrated rain cover like the Stratos but they're smaller and narrower.
Amazon.com: Osprey Men's Manta 28 Hydration Pack: Sports & Outdoors
Amazon.com: Osprey Men's Manta 36 Hydration Pack: Sports & Outdoors
They do have the Airspeed suspension so they have a lightweight frame like the Stratos.

The Raptor I PMed you about is frameless but semi rigid backed, its also half the volume as the packs above. The Raptor is Osprey's "Mountain Biking" pack but given your needs it may be a little on the small side. I don't have an SBR to try but I could put a few complete lowers in there and see how they fit
 
There is absolutely no one best back pack. I have five right now and have used at least ten others. Conditions change, equipment changes, hell even your favorite color changes. Buy something you like that fits you and get after it. Planning to purchase one pack is noble but isn't going to happen. You must learn what you need and no one here can tell you that.
 
VJJPunisher said:
hows about one of these bad boys, you can fit lots of snipery things in them and can be had at a reasonable price from any surplus store, it's perfect for what yer wanting

<a href="http://s767.photobucket.com/user/jayjaypunisher/media/duffle_zps803ed6d2.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i767.photobucket.com/albums/xx319/jayjaypunisher/duffle_zps803ed6d2.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo duffle_zps803ed6d2.jpg"/></a>
Click to expand...

This^^^ After a tough night of bouncing at the double deuce, I like to fill mine with straw, then hang it from the rafters in the loft of the barn that I rent from a farmer. Makes a great punching bag, and in fact I've finally perfected my Mule kick with it.
 
Triple Aught Light Speed is a good choice. I have several of their packs/messenger bags and they have held up well. I also recommend taking a look at Tactical Tailor and London Bridge. Old Eagle Industries pre Dominican Republic made stuff is really good also.
 
I'm not sure if its too big, but I really like the Arctery'x Khard packs. The velcro adjustment system inside is really nice for organizing your stuff.
 
VJJ I have one of those surplus military packs and it is for bicycling my laundry+ to the mat! (Takes concentration to ride with 90+lbs inside!!
 
I can vouch for the durability of Gregory packs. Mine have been put through the wringer and are still good as new. My mountaineering pack has taken the brunt of more than a few of my tumbles on really abrasive rock and hardly has a scratch on it. I've got a Savant 38 that I use for hiking, climbing, short backpack trips, everything.
 
I recently purchased an Arcteryx khard 30, got it on sale for 30% off so I couldn't resist.

So far I really like this pack, it appears to be of very good quality and I don't expect to have any durability issues with it, though time will tell.

The pack does have a different design though. Here's a video from Arcteryx do demonstrating the pack and its capabilities:

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=kjucYZ3ETGY

Sent from my Nexus 10 using Tapatalk 2
 
I used to use Kifaru packs pretty much exclusively, but someone talked me into trying the Arc`Teryx Khard. I tried it, and then immediately sold 2 Kifaru packs to buy my own Khard 45. I just used it at the PRS finale last weekend, and it performed awesome. Its very comfortable and I had easy access to all my gear for the whole match. It was actually very organized and kept a bit of stress off of me for the weekend, knowing exactly where all my gear was and being able to get to it efficiently. I will probably buy a Khard 30 pretty soon to have the same format, but a bit smaller.

Bill
 
Not to try and hijack but to add more to the conversation....

Can someone who has had their hands on a Mystery Ranch with their "Y zipper;" tell me if they like it? People say they are rock solid but it seems like with that zipper, your stuff would go everywhere when you attempt to open it. I don't know, maybe I just need to try and find one in Houston to get my hands on, but it just looks like an awkward design when trying to retrieve something, if that makes sense!

Thanks
 
Genhawk said:
Not to try and hijack but to add more to the conversation....

Can someone who has had their hands on a Mystery Ranch with their "Y zipper;" tell me if they like it? People say they are rock solid but it seems like with that zipper, your stuff would go everywhere when you attempt to open it. I don't know, maybe I just need to try and find one in Houston to get my hands on, but it just looks like an awkward design when trying to retrieve something, if that makes sense!

Thanks
Click to expand...

I've got a Mystery Ranch Komodo Dragon
Komodo Dragon Pack | Mystery Ranch Backpacks

Had it over a year now without issue. It's dedicated for my bolt-gun work so it gets used but not as a day to day pack because of it being MTC.
Was a bit skeptical of the tri-zip at first but it's also what got me onto it. You can zip it all the way open and have access to the spotter, tripod in sleeve, puff jacket, ammo, water, whatever you want you can get at it without issue... It is by far superior to digging around and removing everything like a normal top loader.

That being said, my good mate has a Kifaru pointman that has probably a slightly better frame and pad setup but the functionality of the tri-zip is excellent and I doubt you'd be unhappy.


IF you put stupid sharp stuff in there against the zip, like anything of course it has the possibility to let go on you but with the Komodo you have two compression straps to take the weight off the actual zips.

Hope that helps a bit.
 
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