Hi all – here's my review of the new Maxpedition DevilDog Versipack. This bag has been my EDC for almost two months now, taking over from my Maxpedition Falcon backpack, and from my Maxpedition FatBoy versipack.
I've reviewed and discussed both of those bags at nauseating length in these threads, if you're inclined to learn more about them.
Falcon and Pygmy Falcon Review
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=UBB18&Number=581893
FatBoy, Proteus and CountyComm BOB Review
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=UBB18&Number=490115
Ok, so I've still got the same needs I had two years ago when I started my Manpurse Quest.
I've got more stuff that I like to have readily available than will fit in my pockets comfortably, I really like to feel 'unburdened', but about 1/3 of the time, I need to carry my laptop around, and at least 4 days a week, I walk or bike a little over a mile to work, regardless of weather, so I need a comfortable, secure and weather-resistant way to carry stuff.
Background
In the interest of full disclosure, I need to mention that I'm now a Maxpedition dealer. For the record, though I'm a dealer, I paid full price from my own pocket for this bag, so that I can continue to review from the buyer's perspective, just as I did before my travel agency started selling the Maxpedition line. You can check out our Maxpedition store at http://www.travelmeet.com/maxstore/travelstore.html
If you've read the threads above, you know about my failed attempts with the Maxpedition Proteus (too small), and the CountyComm Bail-out Bag (too big, sloppy to carry), and my successful attempts with Maxpedition's FatBoy (perfect for when I don't have the laptop) and the Falcon (perfect when I do have the laptop).
However, I still had the problem that every time I needed to carry the laptop, I was switching too much of my EDC stuff back and forth between FatBoy and Falcon, or I was taking the relatively large Falcon everywhere, even if I had nothing in the main compartments, which is pretty silly.
I'm clearly not unique here – it seems like the number one request I see on the boards for Maxpedition is a somewhat larger FatBoy, and the interest in the mid-size DevilDog and prototype Jumbo FatBoy, Monsoon and Typhoon versipacks and backpacks seems to indicate that there's a substantial market for mid-size carry bags.
Overview
After a nearly interminable wait from the January announcement of the DevilDog until it got into my hands in late April. The idea of the DevilDog is outstanding – a mid-size carry bag, able to be carried by a top handle, on a shoulder strap, or as a waistpack. Like the earlier and smaller Proteus Versipack, the waist strap of the DevilDog tucks cleverly away into a rear pocket, getting it out of the way when carried in either of the other two modes. Construction is Maxpedition's usual robust build, though the plastic snaps and hinges for the shoulder strap aren't especially confidence-inspiring. I'd really rather see metal for these critical pieces.
The number one question about any Maxpedition item seems to be 'how big is it?', in part because Maxpedition's photo model seems to be a gentleman of small stature, so the bags look really big in the photos, and often much smaller in real life. Here's a couple photos of the DevilDog next to my keys, and a Surefire L4.
While it's tempting to compare the DevilDog to the FatBoy, it's really more of a cross between the Proteus versipack and a Pygmy Falcon backpack. If you've looked at the Pygmy Falcon, the Devildog is much like 1/2 of that pack, with mesh holders on the sides, one main interior pocket, and an small external pocket for quick access. Then add on the Proteus' waistpack, top carry handle, dual-buckle compression system, and you've got the Devildog.
Here's the external pocket of my Devildog – holds my wallet, an ARC LSH-P with twisty, a USB key drive, and some business cards. Probably room for my keys in there also. There's no organizer system, just an interior flat mesh pocket to hold a couple items apart from the jumble in the pocket.
Like the Proteus, you really have to open both main buckles to access the external pocket of the Devildog – while I've gotten used to it, it does slow things down a bit. It is an option to leave the buckles loose, but then the bag get more 'slumpy, ' so I usually buckle them.
I'm a huge fan of the pen holders on either side of the external pocket – great to have pens readily accessible, and they're a good size match for this bag, unlike on the M-2 waistpack, or the Proteus, where the pens tend to extend beyond the outlines of the bag.
The main compartment of the DevilDog is great – a mesh divider at the back has an extremely robust nylon upper edge, perfect for clipping lights, pens, knives, etc., as shown here:
I usually keep my L4, a couple sharpies, and a small knife clipped here, and my Doug Ritter mini-survival kit, some sunscreen and a roll of dental floss at the bottom of the pouch. This photo also gives a nice view of my CP-M cellphone holder with my Motorola RAZR V3 in it, attached to the hardpoint on the water bottle holder.
There's also a nylon divider on the front side, with two pouches sewn in – my largish Sony NR-70 PDA goes in one, and my iPod mini in the other. Nothing really lives behind the divider yet. Since I don't usually keep the bag full, I notice that stuff sometimes comes out from behind the dividers if I've turned the bag upside down – a minor thing, but it's annoying.
My small first-aid kit in a Spec-Ops Pocket Organizer lives at the bottom of the main compartment, and there's plenty of space left for a denim shirt, windbreaker, rain shell, gloves, hat or…
…my laptop. I was amazed to discover that I can (just barely) fit my little Apple Powerbook G4 12" into the main compartment. It's a tight fit, as the opening is considerably smaller than the maximum size object that fits, but it does go in perfectly if you go one corner at a time, Nothing at all larger will fit – the laptop won't go in if I have it in a thin neoprene sleeve, for example.
In a major upgrade from other small bags and waistpacks, an 8.5x11" notepad or spiral notebook will fit. Most 3-ring or other binders that are larger than the paper itself will not, but the ability to carry paper at all is a big step up. I also find I regularly will roll up a brochure and stuff it in one of the side mesh pouches.
The mesh pouches on the side are substantially improved from earlier Maxpedition mesh – the closures at the top now feature shock cord, so they cinch up nicely, and the nylon reinforcing strip has been moved from the top a bit, also improving closure. They fit a Nalgene 1L bottle comfortably, though the bag gets heavy quickly, especially with two 1L bottles.
I actually like the Fatboy's combination of internal and external pockets better – it's the best-organized bag I've ever had, with everything sized for one or two items per pocket, so I always know where things are. The Devildog is both bigger, and more loosely organized, so that you can fit more different things, but not in quite such an orderly fashion.
One 'issue' with the DevilDog is that it's more than big enough to make it an uncomfortable carry if you load it heavily. I put my laptop (5lbs), and 2 1L Nalgene bottles in it, along with my EDC, bringing total weight into the 10lb+ range, and it got a bit uncomfortable to carry – that's a load that really could use a backpack.
Which brings us to carrying the bag. I vastly prefer a cross-body carry, which is one of the things I loved about the FatBoy. However, the Fatboy only rides comfortably in one or two positions, neither of which I like for biking or a long walk. I really prefer to shove the bag around so it's actually riding right on the small of my back or my belt, so it's out of the way, and not unbalanced. Due to the FatBoy's asymmetrical shape (or perhaps my well-curved figure), it won't ride like that.
The Devildog rides wonderfully in that position – it's great, and I EDC it on the shoulderstrap like that. The plastic strap hinges were squeaky until I put some silicone grease on them – much better now.
As just a waistpack, the Devildog is a little so-so – the strap is placed low on the bag, which means that if you have much weight in the top of the bag, it tends to tilt out a bit, twisting the bag – if you have the belt cinched tight, it's not bad, but if you tend to wear the waistbelt loose, it's not so great.
The couple times I've walked to and from work with the laptop, gear and a water bottle, it was too heavy for either the shoulder strap or the waistbelt alone – wearing the waistbelt to take off the weight, and the shoulder strap crossbody to stabilize worked very well – though it took a bit of fiddling to find the right length for the shoulder strap to distribute weight correctly.
Finally, I'll mention that the DevilDog has tons of attachment points for any kind of accessory – you need to be a little careful, though, as most of them are set up as part of the waistbelt system, and if you're not using the waistbelt, heavy attachments can be a bit floppy. I have a Keyper key clip and a CP-M cellphone sheath on it. I was carrying an M-1 waistpack on it as well for a few days, and it worked well, but I decided I didn't really need the extra space – the DevilDog had plenty of internal room for those items.
The bottom line – a highly versatile pack, great size for carrying more. Not as 'slick' or easy-to-use as the FatBoy, but able to do more. Easy to overload if you're carrying dense items like electronics.
I now EDC it, and have only moved back to the Falcon backpack one day, when I was overnighting, and needed a change of clothes and some other larger stuff.
At $83.99 it's a little pricy, but given the complexity of the bag, I don't know how you'd make it cheaper without removing features. Not an impulse buy, but if it meets your needs, it's worth every penny.
I've reviewed and discussed both of those bags at nauseating length in these threads, if you're inclined to learn more about them.
Falcon and Pygmy Falcon Review
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=UBB18&Number=581893
FatBoy, Proteus and CountyComm BOB Review
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=UBB18&Number=490115
Ok, so I've still got the same needs I had two years ago when I started my Manpurse Quest.
I've got more stuff that I like to have readily available than will fit in my pockets comfortably, I really like to feel 'unburdened', but about 1/3 of the time, I need to carry my laptop around, and at least 4 days a week, I walk or bike a little over a mile to work, regardless of weather, so I need a comfortable, secure and weather-resistant way to carry stuff.
Background
In the interest of full disclosure, I need to mention that I'm now a Maxpedition dealer. For the record, though I'm a dealer, I paid full price from my own pocket for this bag, so that I can continue to review from the buyer's perspective, just as I did before my travel agency started selling the Maxpedition line. You can check out our Maxpedition store at http://www.travelmeet.com/maxstore/travelstore.html
If you've read the threads above, you know about my failed attempts with the Maxpedition Proteus (too small), and the CountyComm Bail-out Bag (too big, sloppy to carry), and my successful attempts with Maxpedition's FatBoy (perfect for when I don't have the laptop) and the Falcon (perfect when I do have the laptop).
However, I still had the problem that every time I needed to carry the laptop, I was switching too much of my EDC stuff back and forth between FatBoy and Falcon, or I was taking the relatively large Falcon everywhere, even if I had nothing in the main compartments, which is pretty silly.
I'm clearly not unique here – it seems like the number one request I see on the boards for Maxpedition is a somewhat larger FatBoy, and the interest in the mid-size DevilDog and prototype Jumbo FatBoy, Monsoon and Typhoon versipacks and backpacks seems to indicate that there's a substantial market for mid-size carry bags.
Overview
After a nearly interminable wait from the January announcement of the DevilDog until it got into my hands in late April. The idea of the DevilDog is outstanding – a mid-size carry bag, able to be carried by a top handle, on a shoulder strap, or as a waistpack. Like the earlier and smaller Proteus Versipack, the waist strap of the DevilDog tucks cleverly away into a rear pocket, getting it out of the way when carried in either of the other two modes. Construction is Maxpedition's usual robust build, though the plastic snaps and hinges for the shoulder strap aren't especially confidence-inspiring. I'd really rather see metal for these critical pieces.
The number one question about any Maxpedition item seems to be 'how big is it?', in part because Maxpedition's photo model seems to be a gentleman of small stature, so the bags look really big in the photos, and often much smaller in real life. Here's a couple photos of the DevilDog next to my keys, and a Surefire L4.
While it's tempting to compare the DevilDog to the FatBoy, it's really more of a cross between the Proteus versipack and a Pygmy Falcon backpack. If you've looked at the Pygmy Falcon, the Devildog is much like 1/2 of that pack, with mesh holders on the sides, one main interior pocket, and an small external pocket for quick access. Then add on the Proteus' waistpack, top carry handle, dual-buckle compression system, and you've got the Devildog.
Here's the external pocket of my Devildog – holds my wallet, an ARC LSH-P with twisty, a USB key drive, and some business cards. Probably room for my keys in there also. There's no organizer system, just an interior flat mesh pocket to hold a couple items apart from the jumble in the pocket.
Like the Proteus, you really have to open both main buckles to access the external pocket of the Devildog – while I've gotten used to it, it does slow things down a bit. It is an option to leave the buckles loose, but then the bag get more 'slumpy, ' so I usually buckle them.
I'm a huge fan of the pen holders on either side of the external pocket – great to have pens readily accessible, and they're a good size match for this bag, unlike on the M-2 waistpack, or the Proteus, where the pens tend to extend beyond the outlines of the bag.
The main compartment of the DevilDog is great – a mesh divider at the back has an extremely robust nylon upper edge, perfect for clipping lights, pens, knives, etc., as shown here:
I usually keep my L4, a couple sharpies, and a small knife clipped here, and my Doug Ritter mini-survival kit, some sunscreen and a roll of dental floss at the bottom of the pouch. This photo also gives a nice view of my CP-M cellphone holder with my Motorola RAZR V3 in it, attached to the hardpoint on the water bottle holder.
There's also a nylon divider on the front side, with two pouches sewn in – my largish Sony NR-70 PDA goes in one, and my iPod mini in the other. Nothing really lives behind the divider yet. Since I don't usually keep the bag full, I notice that stuff sometimes comes out from behind the dividers if I've turned the bag upside down – a minor thing, but it's annoying.
My small first-aid kit in a Spec-Ops Pocket Organizer lives at the bottom of the main compartment, and there's plenty of space left for a denim shirt, windbreaker, rain shell, gloves, hat or…
…my laptop. I was amazed to discover that I can (just barely) fit my little Apple Powerbook G4 12" into the main compartment. It's a tight fit, as the opening is considerably smaller than the maximum size object that fits, but it does go in perfectly if you go one corner at a time, Nothing at all larger will fit – the laptop won't go in if I have it in a thin neoprene sleeve, for example.
In a major upgrade from other small bags and waistpacks, an 8.5x11" notepad or spiral notebook will fit. Most 3-ring or other binders that are larger than the paper itself will not, but the ability to carry paper at all is a big step up. I also find I regularly will roll up a brochure and stuff it in one of the side mesh pouches.
The mesh pouches on the side are substantially improved from earlier Maxpedition mesh – the closures at the top now feature shock cord, so they cinch up nicely, and the nylon reinforcing strip has been moved from the top a bit, also improving closure. They fit a Nalgene 1L bottle comfortably, though the bag gets heavy quickly, especially with two 1L bottles.
I actually like the Fatboy's combination of internal and external pockets better – it's the best-organized bag I've ever had, with everything sized for one or two items per pocket, so I always know where things are. The Devildog is both bigger, and more loosely organized, so that you can fit more different things, but not in quite such an orderly fashion.
One 'issue' with the DevilDog is that it's more than big enough to make it an uncomfortable carry if you load it heavily. I put my laptop (5lbs), and 2 1L Nalgene bottles in it, along with my EDC, bringing total weight into the 10lb+ range, and it got a bit uncomfortable to carry – that's a load that really could use a backpack.
Which brings us to carrying the bag. I vastly prefer a cross-body carry, which is one of the things I loved about the FatBoy. However, the Fatboy only rides comfortably in one or two positions, neither of which I like for biking or a long walk. I really prefer to shove the bag around so it's actually riding right on the small of my back or my belt, so it's out of the way, and not unbalanced. Due to the FatBoy's asymmetrical shape (or perhaps my well-curved figure), it won't ride like that.
The Devildog rides wonderfully in that position – it's great, and I EDC it on the shoulderstrap like that. The plastic strap hinges were squeaky until I put some silicone grease on them – much better now.
As just a waistpack, the Devildog is a little so-so – the strap is placed low on the bag, which means that if you have much weight in the top of the bag, it tends to tilt out a bit, twisting the bag – if you have the belt cinched tight, it's not bad, but if you tend to wear the waistbelt loose, it's not so great.
The couple times I've walked to and from work with the laptop, gear and a water bottle, it was too heavy for either the shoulder strap or the waistbelt alone – wearing the waistbelt to take off the weight, and the shoulder strap crossbody to stabilize worked very well – though it took a bit of fiddling to find the right length for the shoulder strap to distribute weight correctly.
Finally, I'll mention that the DevilDog has tons of attachment points for any kind of accessory – you need to be a little careful, though, as most of them are set up as part of the waistbelt system, and if you're not using the waistbelt, heavy attachments can be a bit floppy. I have a Keyper key clip and a CP-M cellphone sheath on it. I was carrying an M-1 waistpack on it as well for a few days, and it worked well, but I decided I didn't really need the extra space – the DevilDog had plenty of internal room for those items.
The bottom line – a highly versatile pack, great size for carrying more. Not as 'slick' or easy-to-use as the FatBoy, but able to do more. Easy to overload if you're carrying dense items like electronics.
I now EDC it, and have only moved back to the Falcon backpack one day, when I was overnighting, and needed a change of clothes and some other larger stuff.
At $83.99 it's a little pricy, but given the complexity of the bag, I don't know how you'd make it cheaper without removing features. Not an impulse buy, but if it meets your needs, it's worth every penny.