I've been working on this for ages. The problem I've had is that I've got a ton of stuff, but no one place for it. So the whole point of having it, for emergencies and quick evacuations, is negated by the fact that it's never all together in one place. It's mixed up between EDCs, day packs, know I'm going somewhere bags, family go bags etc.
I went for a walk up Moel Famau last week and thought I'd bring this badboy to test it's practical appliance. This is the hiking and wild camping set up you see in the picture, so for my hike I dumped the sleeping mat and just took the bag. Inside is all sorts of gear that I didn't need, like my tent and sleeping bag, but the point was the make sure it was all carry-able over a long distance.
Was it? Well yes. I ended up getting hopelessly lost on the way up the hill, and then hopelessly lost on the way down too. So I trekked for six hours in total, and covered about 15-18 miles. Mostly up bloody hill. Even on the way down somehow.
The bag is the Maxpedition Vulture II which is called a three day pack. But I didn't manage to fit clothes and things like that in, so really, I'd say it's a two day (one night) wild camping pack. That's if you are squeezing the tent and sleeping bag into it. But as a usual Go Bag/BOB etc, you could dump that stuff and easily fit extra clothes and things into it.
My back was incredibly sweaty after the hike, but it was reasonably comfortable to wear. Although near the end of the walk I found that I was slackening the shoulder straps and chest strap to relieve the pressure on my collar bones.
A few lessons learned, but overall a good load of kit methinks. Now I need to unload it all again because I need the bag for work...
