The Sitka Gearslinger is our sling designed bag which allows the user to “swing” the pack to the front while the pack is still worn.
A one-strap design maximizes utility when the bag is rotated to the front of your body, and a ventilated, padded back keeps you comfortable. The Sitka Gearslinger is a practically indestructible, sling-style bag that allows you to “swing” the pack to the front while it’s still being worn. Originally designed for military and law enforcement professionals in
Great EDC bag from Maxpedition,
The Maxpedition Sitka Gearslinger is a top quality product from Maxpedition. If you are looking for a rugged, well designed, extremely strong and durable Gearslinger then look no further than Maxpedition. They offer lots of gear that is some of the best and most durable around.
I recently upgraded from the Remora to the Lunada and now the Sitka. I use the Sitka regularly as my Every Day Carry (EDC) bag and I think I have finally found the perfect bag for me. It holds approximately 618 cubic inches of gear. That is a lot of space to carry your daily essentials. The shoulder strap is designed for left shoulder carry only and it comes with a cross strap for added stability (the cross strap can be tucked away if you choose not to use it). The shoulder strap is heavily padded and very comfortable, much more so than the Remora or Lunada. The cross strap is very useful if you pack your Sitka full of gear as it will securely hold it in place. The cross strap is also beneficial to reduce shoulder fatigue if your load is heavy. The buckle on the cross strap has a built in whistle that is very functional. The side of the pack which rests on your back is heavily padded and very comfortable. A unique feature of the Sitka is that you can get to your gear by simply rotating the pack towards the front of the body without having to take it off. This is a very slick feature. It also comes with top and side handles for carrying.
The Sitka has the following:
– Large main compartment (15″ high x 8″ wide x 3″ thick with internal organization),
– Front upper pocket (4″ high x 7.5″ wide x 2″ thick with internal organization),
– Front lower pocket (8″ high x 7.5″ wide x 2″ thick with internal organization),
– slip pocket with an anti-theft device,
– Side water bottle holder capable of holding a 32 oz. Nalgene bottle,
– Hydration area capable of holding a 100 oz. bladder or CCW gear. CCW gear can also be attached inside the main compartment.
The front of the shoulder strap that rests on your chest also has PALS attachments for attaching sheaths for such items as a flashlight or multi-tool. It is amazing how much gear you can stuff into the Sitka Gearslinger. In addition you can add optional gear using the PALS attachments. In my opinion the Sitka Gearslinger is about the biggest size one should get when dealing with a single strap pack. Maxpedition does make a larger version called the Kodiak which holds 1100 cubic inches but I think it might be a little too big to comfortable wear on a single shoulder. If you need a larger pack than the Sitka I would recommend moving to a backpack such as Maxpeditions Pygmy Falcon-II which holds 1400 cubic inches (I have a review on that backpack on Amazon).
The Sitka Gearslinger is a well designed and well thought out pack which works great for everyday carry (EDC), hiking, minimalist overnight camping, or for use when attending sporting events. Maxpedition only makes high quality gear and you won’t be disappointed. I highly recommend the Sitka Gearslinger.
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|Great for day trips or every day carry,
I use this to haul my ‘junk’ with me on a daily basis. Keeps my iPod, cords, snacks, flashlight, pistol, GPS, etc. Very useful. It functions as an every day carry (EDC) and day pack at the same time. This pack allows me to keep my daily use items, as well as my weekend hiking/outdoor items as well. Instead of switching it out, I just keep everything in there. No need for switching out my ‘gadget nerd’ stuff for my ‘outdoor’ stuff, it all fits well, I might as well keep them together. So, I have all the stuff I need for a day at work (iPod, cords, pens, phone charger, etc.) , plus everything I take with me outdoors (1st aid kit, pistol, GPS, survival kit, hat, etc). For me, this pack really is the best of both worlds. Even fits a compact lunchbox well.
This bag is very well made, compared to similar day bags Ive owned this one seems like it will last a long time. I especially like the sling aspect of it since I usually only carry a regular backpack with one strap anyway. The ability to swing it from your back around to the front for easy access without taking it off is a brilliant idea, with a few flaws though. While the side access aspect is great, in order for it to work the pockets inside are sideways so you can access them while it is spun around to your front. Depending on what you carry and how its packed, this can cause items to fall out of their pocket and move around inside the bag while being carried upright on your back. I overcame this with some thought out packing and the use of pocket organizers, like the ones Maxpedition also sells.
Pros:
-Well made, one of the best Ive owned.
-Highly organizable.
-Secure and easy to access.
-Discreet CCW if desired.
-Comfortable.
-Perfectly sized for every day use.
-Secure fit when slung with strap across your chest.
-Doesn’t make you look like ‘Survival Dude’ if you carry it around with you. Good for people like me who have office jobs where that doesn’t fly to well at the workplace.
Cons:
-Internal pockets allow for small items to ‘wander’ around the pack while carried upright.
-Almost too many zippers to deal with when accessing the pack. Great for organizing, but can become a hassle when they all stack up in the same areas.
If I lost it, Id buy another one. That should sum it up easily.
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|EDC nirvana – FINALLY! 🙂,
I feel like I too have FINALLY found the perfect bag for all the stuff I want to carry – without toting a huge pack or having to make sacrifices as to what I am going to carry.
I have used the Remora for over a year – several times a week at least. It holds a wonderful amount of stuff – tons more than my Fatboy and actually, it gives my Jumbo Fatboy Versipack a run for it’s money on holding stuff.
BUT, I wanted to pack a light rain jacket, maybe some lunch at times, maybe the video camera and the regular camera, and my M-2 waistpack with the survival stuff in it…and with the assorted gum,candy, carmex, contact lens stuff…it just wasn’t gonna all fit in my Remora.
The Gearslinger concept – I can’t live without it after having carried the Remora for a year. Either shoulder, backpack style, front of the body, on the side like a man purse…it’s awesome. I don’t take off the Sitka, just like I didn’t the Remora when I am on a ride at a themepark, or in a resturant, or when the airport makes you take that bus to the car…etc…actually, one cool part I like is sitting at an NFL game- all my stuff, right at hand and I’m not gonna lose it, or leave it behind, etc..I just stand up and sling it around to my side or back as needed. My Sitka also fits neatly in the top of my Duluth canoe pack, a bag within a bag, if you will.
The Sitka itself – as the other review said here – go to the Max web-site – or you tube it – the smaller pockets are plenty for me and my stuff and I actually found mesh zippered bags to be a great thing for the inside of the larger pockets to divide up some stuff without it getting all jumbled together. For example, my daughters old mesh pencil case holds my contact lens spares, glasses, solution, case, etc.. This rides in a slip pocket in the outer, lower pocket of the Sitka.
Like all Maxpedition products – wow! I just can’t believe how great they are. Tough, well thought out, yes, expensive, but well worth it.
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