Maxpedition Falcon KnockOff - Comments and Pics.

[jtice]

I have been wanting a small backpack for hiking and such, for a while now.
I have a HUGE pack that i take on big camping trips, but its too large for just a casual hike, and I find myself packing more than I need to sence I have all that room avalible.

But, I have alot of other variouls bags etc, Fatboy, Proteus, few other cheap backpacks.
So I didnt really want to spend alot of one.
Well after a long time of serching, i stumbled onto a KnockOff of the maxpedition Falcon Pack.
The Real Falcon
The knockoff.

The knockoff was less than half the price of the Falcon, and as you can see, is designed exactly like it.
I dont doubt tha the real Falcon is alittle better made, maxpedition stuff is make like a tank.
But, the knockoff is definately alot more than half the qaulity, for less than half the price.

The only real complaint I have so far are the straps, they are not Un-comfortable, they are just a design I dont like all that much.
They are much like an Alice packs straps. The Falcons straps are like that too, but I think they are slightly contoured.

This is not a large pack by any means, alot of average school packs can hold more, but mainly cuz this one has 5 divided main pockets, instead of just one large one.
but like the Falcon, it can compress, and expand a gread deal.
The slim width of the pack makes it great for hiking, its not sticking out to the sides catching on branches.
Though it will stick out off your back over a foot when fully stuff.

The main compartment is JUST wide enough to stuff a Pelican 1200 case in sideways.

I really like all the straps and attachment loops, you can add alot of other small pouches etc to this pack.
In my photos you will see a Maxpedition Proteus attached to it.

My Photo Gallery of the Pack.

Feel free to ask any questions you might have.

~John

 

[Deanster]

Very interesting... Imitiation is the greatest form of flattery, and all that...

My original Falcon had the old-style straps, as the knock-off does, and my gosh, were they uncomfortable. Thin, hard, square, and they bit me everytime I moved.

The new Falcon straps are wide, soft, well-padded, and nicely contoured - a vast improvement!

I'm amazed at how close the knock-off is in design... usually they'll change a couple things to make it visibly different. How's the quality of the stitching, fabric, zippers, buckles, etc?

 

[junior]

Hey jtice,

I have seen that knock off up front and have messed with a bit. I sell quite a bit of outdoor equipment on ebay so i sort of know what is good and what is not.

Any how, the knock off pack is made in china or taiwan and the outside looks ok untill you take a peek in the inside. The inside of the pack is not sewn that well and the materials look real cheap. Also, the knock off packs do not use YKK zippers like maxpedition. They use knock off zippers that may create a problem in near future. In my opinion, the knock screams of cheap and then cheap. In my opinion after purchasing the pack and paying shipping, you could easly surf ebay for a good used day pack for real cheap.

My friend and I currenly use a SDS day pack that we bought at a gunshow for $25.00 bucks. The packs were used and we looked them over to make sure they were good. They also sport ykk zippers and sewn real well with great materials.

pm if you have any more questions

 

[jtice]

Re: Maxpedition Falcon KnockOff - Comments and Pic

The material is about like my other good packs, good thick stuff, your not gonna rip it.
The stitching, well thats always the weak link, and I can see a couple spots where its not as good as it could be.
Overall though, I think its sewn as good or better than a pack you would see in Walmart or something.

The zippers, they are the large ones like Maxpedition usees, as far as size goes, I am not sure what ykk zippers are, guess a better locking style?

The straps arent REAL bad, but they could be wider, they are completely removable though, so who knows, maybe Maxpedition would sell me a replacememt set? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif If they didnt know what it was going on. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/icon15.gif

Ill report back if I find any problems with the pack as I use it.

 

[junior]

Re: Maxpedition Falcon KnockOff - Comments and Pic

Im sorry jtice, i did not know that you already bought the pack. I thought you were looking for opinions on the pack. Next time i will read better, sorry.

Good luck with your pack.

 

[KDOG3]

Re: Maxpedition Falcon KnockOff - Comments and Pic

Eh, It doesn't look like it will be able to take much abuse. The stitching looks weak compared to the real McCoy. But like you said you paid less half for it, so you got what you paid for...If it was me, I wouldn't buy it for myself, but I might get one for my son to use as a book bag, or use it as a super duper nice medical kit, survival/disaster in-the-closet bag, etc...

 

[Deanster]

Re: Maxpedition Falcon KnockOff - Comments and Pic

I've bought enough cheap gear, then had to buy the decent gear to replace it, usually in short order, and ended up spending more than if I'd just bought the right thing the first time.

No more poorly-made cheapies for me. The reason I buy Maxpedition is precisely because I'm sick of stuff that falls apart the first time you overstuff it, or you pull super hard on it, or whatever. However, not every use needs the wildly over-built approach of Maxpedition.

FYI - YKK zippers are generally considered to be the best out there, and are substantially more expensive than other zippers - if someone is looking to cut costs, it's an easy place, but one that makes a real difference in the owner's experience. YKK's open nicely, close tightly, and hold like a pit bull. I've never had one go bad, regardless of how much abuse I've handed out.

Lower quality zippers tend to separate, twist, jam or lose teeth - in my experience, always at an inopportune moment. Caution is indicated with non-YKK zippers - not all are bad, but it's an instant sign of quality.

I hope it works out for ya!

 

[junior]

Re: Maxpedition Falcon KnockOff - Comments and Pic

The zippers, sewing and materials is how i gauge the used gear i sell. There are alot of times i buy gear that may not be the best, but i price it and describe it as such.

There are also alot of times i pass gear by and not purchase it to sell for it does not meet what i feel is respectable use for outdoor use.

Now i also know that most people do not have a need for tactical rigid gear and are happy to get gear that is good and affordable. So sometimes knock off gear might be ok for most, but not for all.

The only problems i have with knock off gear is the pricing i see sometimes, especially on eBay. Some people try to get and sometimes get high dollar for gear that is sometimes junk. Also, im not cool with knock offs in general, for if they copied my gear i would be pretty mad....

just my .2cents

excuse the bad grammar, long day

 

[03lab]

Re: Maxpedition Falcon KnockOff - Comments and Pic

[ QUOTE ]
Deanster said:
The new Falcon straps are wide, soft, well-padded, and nicely contoured - a vast improvement!

[/ QUOTE ]

Deanster, do you know when the Falcon was last changed? TIA

 

[Deanster]

Re: Maxpedition Falcon KnockOff - Comments and Pic

You'd need to check w/ Maxpedition to be 100% sure, but I understand the new Falcon strap design arrived sometime in February or March of 2004 - the only other changes I've noted are that the buckle for the Y-strap seems to have changed style slightly, from a curvy to a more anglular version, and the chest strap now has a bit of elastic in it.

Other than those three features, my early 2004 Navy Blue Falcon (most likely produced in late 2003), is mighty close to identical to current production.

That said, the old-style straps were uncomfortable enough to cause me to purchase a new-style Falcon (before I was a dealer - my own cash), just for the strap upgrade. There may have been advantages to the older style, but not for me.

 

[nonbox]

Re: Maxpedition Falcon KnockOff - Comments and Pic

cheaperthandirt is sold out of the Maxpedition Falcon KnockOff.

In the online pics of the Maxpedition Falcon KnockOff, the backpack looks purple. Is it a faded black color?

 

[03lab]

Re: Maxpedition Falcon KnockOff - Comments and Pic

Thanks Deanster, I have a Falcon on the way and was worried about getting one with the old straps, but that should be unlikely then.

 

[jtice]

Re: Maxpedition Falcon KnockOff - Comments and Pic

nonbox,

That is probably just the pics, though some materials look alittle purple in certain lights.
I purchased the green one. So I cant really tell you.

I used the pack the other day on a short hike down to a local cave, it was great, but that wasnt long enough to tell if the straps are comfortable for a long hike.

Some things are a tight squeeze to get in the pack, but it does a good job of staying small, and still holding a good bit.

 

[flashlight]

Re: Maxpedition Falcon KnockOff - Comments and Pic

Well if anybody doesn't like their knock-off version (black color) & wants to sell it pls. drop me a PM. Thanks /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[junior]

Re: Maxpedition Falcon KnockOff - Comments and Pic

Hey guys,

Yesterday i went to a local surplus store that has those knockoffs, for my friend wanted to buy one. Well, to make a long story short, he was messing with one and the velcro tore off and became unstiched. Needless to say he changed his mind. Now, it could be that the pack was just a bad one, but guys you need to be carefull and do your research. (No offense to anyone just trying to help)

Any how, here is a link to the surplus store that has them, i believe they only have the black ones and they have lable "mil-spec plus":

www.majorsurplusnsurvival.com

 

[jtice]

Re: Maxpedition Falcon KnockOff - Comments and Pic

damn, that volvcro part toward the top?
hmm, that seems to be on real well on mine.
now yea, i am betting these vary alot, QC is probably real low, you could easily get a lemon.

hmmm, if your talking about this...
http://www.majorsurplusnsurvival.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=157208&Category_Code=36

thats different from the one I have.

 

[junior]

Re: Maxpedition Falcon KnockOff - Comments and Pic

hey jtice and guys,

that line of packs "mil-spec plus" sells copycats of not just maxpedition but others as well. I saw the one you have jtice, but just not in olive drab but in black. Overseas are kicing them out like crazy and some companys are just puting their names on them. Youll be amazed how many companies they are copying! They had a large display case of them yesterday and i could name about 5 companies that were knockoffs on that case.

jtice, the velcro you are talking about is exactly where it ripped.

There website may not have all the ones i saw yesterday. They are real slow at updating their website.