- Joined
- Jan 18, 2000
- Messages
- 386
Ive been carrying a Jumbo Versipack off and on for about six months. I dont carry it everyday; its more of an auxiliary bag I use when going to classes and such. While I like a lot of things about the Jumbo, I often found it to be too small. For example, I needed to attach a Maxpedition H2 pouch to hold some of the medications and first aid stuff I carry around. Also, while the main compartment is big enough for a paperback, if I happen to be reading a hard cover book, it would not fit. So, when the Colossus was announced, I ordered one right away, and it arrived yesterday.
Despite the name, the Colossus isnt really that huge, although it is bigger than the Jumbo. Laying the two side by side, the biggest difference is that the Colossus is substantially thicker than the Jumbo, and somewhat more boxy in shape. This increases the size of the main compartment, allowing it to hold larger books. The two bags are about the same width, because the Colossus lacks the Jumbos side pouch and bottle holder. I never used the bottle holder anyway, and both sides of the Colossus have full attachment points, so you can add whatever accessories you desire.
The main design difference between the two is that while the Jumbo is a satchel-type bag, with a flap that hangs down over the front and buckles at the bottom, the Colossus is more like a box with a hinged lid on the top that closes with a zipper. This makes it much easier to get into the bag while youre carrying it on your shoulder. You just open the zipper, flip the top out, away from you, and reach inside. I like this design aspect a lot.
The Colossus is vertically symmetrical, so there are no right and left hand models. The flaps connected to the main box, to which the shoulder strap connects, are the same size, with two attachment points on the front of each one and a pocket on the back. This provides a lot of flexibility in how you carry the bag. You can put it on either shoulder, or sling it across the body in either direction, with equal comfort. The back of the bag has waterproof, black webbing for air circulation, and beneath that, a thick pad that both cushions the bag against your body and protects the contents inside. There is more of the web/padding combination on the flaps, beneath the strap attachments.
Just inside that heavily padded back is the first of many outer pockets. This one closes with velcro and a snap, secured to a strong piece of leathery/rubbery material called hypalon, which also functions as a belt loop. This is a pretty big bag to wear on a belt, but to each his own. The inside of the pocket has more velcro inside. This pocket is designed to hold a 50-oz hydration reservoir. At the top of the pocket is a D-ring that you can use to hang the bag from a hook. I have no experience with hydration equipment, so I cant tell you how well this works. I use this back pocket to hold flat things, such as a couple of trash bags and a bandana. Its largely open top makes it unsuitable for anything you want secure, such as a handgun.
Just in front of this back pocket is another full size flat pocket that opens with a bidirectional zipper just above the opening to the main compartment on the front of the bag. This is the CCW pocket, lined with velcro, and designed to hold a firearm, using the Maxpedition universal holster (not included). The pocket is easily big enough to hold a full sized pistol, such as a 1911, along with a spare mag or two. I have the holster in there, plus a Fallkniven WM1 in a sheath, which I attached with some adhesive velcro.
The main compartment, as described earlier, is right in front of the CCW pocket. The lid has a zipper running around three sides, so that it opens away from you when youre carrying the bag. Inside the main compartment are two pockets, front and back. The back one is full size, with a velcro flap to hold it closed. The front one is also full size, with two additional black netting pockets sewn onto it. In between these two pockets is the main compartment of the bag.
The lid of the main compartment has storage both inside and out. On the inside of the lid is a flat zippered pocket of black netting with two elastic holders on top. On the outside of the lid is an attached pouch that can expand to about an inch and half thick when you fill it with stuff. Im using this for my first aid and medication. Theres a pocket and some more elastic holders inside. On the outside of this pocket are some tubular sleeves, open on both sides, more velcro, and a web of elastic cord. I assume that you could use this to lash things to the outside of the bag, such as a flashlight, but I generally like to keep my stuff on the inside. Ive found that the bag handles better when you have something in this top pouch. When its empty, the lid is just flexible canvas that you have to hold open to get inside the bag, but when its full, the lid has some weight and is more rigid; it flips right open and stays open, allowing you to get to the main compartment more easily.
On the front of the bag is another big zippered pouch, with three pockets inside and a smaller zippered pocket on the outside. This one will stretch to about two inches thick if you want it to. This pouch has another interesting feature, a detachable internal divider that enables you to split it into two compartments horizontally. The top compartment is accessible through the pouchs main zipper, and the bottom one opens with another zipper at the bottom of the pouch. In other words, if you want to get to something at the bottom of this big pouch, you can just open the bottom zipper, instead of taking everything out. Very cool.
As with all of the Maxpedition gear Ive seen, the build is top quality, with heavy canvas, strong zippers, and a two inch wide, detachable, adjustable strap. The only things I would like to see added are some dedicated pen/pencil slots and a key ring tether, to which I usually attach a Photon light. I have packed everything into this bag that I use to have in my Jumbo, without the need for the extra H2, and the main compartment is still empty. Its easy to carry, and easy to get to your stuff. I like it a lot.
Despite the name, the Colossus isnt really that huge, although it is bigger than the Jumbo. Laying the two side by side, the biggest difference is that the Colossus is substantially thicker than the Jumbo, and somewhat more boxy in shape. This increases the size of the main compartment, allowing it to hold larger books. The two bags are about the same width, because the Colossus lacks the Jumbos side pouch and bottle holder. I never used the bottle holder anyway, and both sides of the Colossus have full attachment points, so you can add whatever accessories you desire.
The main design difference between the two is that while the Jumbo is a satchel-type bag, with a flap that hangs down over the front and buckles at the bottom, the Colossus is more like a box with a hinged lid on the top that closes with a zipper. This makes it much easier to get into the bag while youre carrying it on your shoulder. You just open the zipper, flip the top out, away from you, and reach inside. I like this design aspect a lot.
The Colossus is vertically symmetrical, so there are no right and left hand models. The flaps connected to the main box, to which the shoulder strap connects, are the same size, with two attachment points on the front of each one and a pocket on the back. This provides a lot of flexibility in how you carry the bag. You can put it on either shoulder, or sling it across the body in either direction, with equal comfort. The back of the bag has waterproof, black webbing for air circulation, and beneath that, a thick pad that both cushions the bag against your body and protects the contents inside. There is more of the web/padding combination on the flaps, beneath the strap attachments.
Just inside that heavily padded back is the first of many outer pockets. This one closes with velcro and a snap, secured to a strong piece of leathery/rubbery material called hypalon, which also functions as a belt loop. This is a pretty big bag to wear on a belt, but to each his own. The inside of the pocket has more velcro inside. This pocket is designed to hold a 50-oz hydration reservoir. At the top of the pocket is a D-ring that you can use to hang the bag from a hook. I have no experience with hydration equipment, so I cant tell you how well this works. I use this back pocket to hold flat things, such as a couple of trash bags and a bandana. Its largely open top makes it unsuitable for anything you want secure, such as a handgun.
Just in front of this back pocket is another full size flat pocket that opens with a bidirectional zipper just above the opening to the main compartment on the front of the bag. This is the CCW pocket, lined with velcro, and designed to hold a firearm, using the Maxpedition universal holster (not included). The pocket is easily big enough to hold a full sized pistol, such as a 1911, along with a spare mag or two. I have the holster in there, plus a Fallkniven WM1 in a sheath, which I attached with some adhesive velcro.
The main compartment, as described earlier, is right in front of the CCW pocket. The lid has a zipper running around three sides, so that it opens away from you when youre carrying the bag. Inside the main compartment are two pockets, front and back. The back one is full size, with a velcro flap to hold it closed. The front one is also full size, with two additional black netting pockets sewn onto it. In between these two pockets is the main compartment of the bag.
The lid of the main compartment has storage both inside and out. On the inside of the lid is a flat zippered pocket of black netting with two elastic holders on top. On the outside of the lid is an attached pouch that can expand to about an inch and half thick when you fill it with stuff. Im using this for my first aid and medication. Theres a pocket and some more elastic holders inside. On the outside of this pocket are some tubular sleeves, open on both sides, more velcro, and a web of elastic cord. I assume that you could use this to lash things to the outside of the bag, such as a flashlight, but I generally like to keep my stuff on the inside. Ive found that the bag handles better when you have something in this top pouch. When its empty, the lid is just flexible canvas that you have to hold open to get inside the bag, but when its full, the lid has some weight and is more rigid; it flips right open and stays open, allowing you to get to the main compartment more easily.
On the front of the bag is another big zippered pouch, with three pockets inside and a smaller zippered pocket on the outside. This one will stretch to about two inches thick if you want it to. This pouch has another interesting feature, a detachable internal divider that enables you to split it into two compartments horizontally. The top compartment is accessible through the pouchs main zipper, and the bottom one opens with another zipper at the bottom of the pouch. In other words, if you want to get to something at the bottom of this big pouch, you can just open the bottom zipper, instead of taking everything out. Very cool.
As with all of the Maxpedition gear Ive seen, the build is top quality, with heavy canvas, strong zippers, and a two inch wide, detachable, adjustable strap. The only things I would like to see added are some dedicated pen/pencil slots and a key ring tether, to which I usually attach a Photon light. I have packed everything into this bag that I use to have in my Jumbo, without the need for the extra H2, and the main compartment is still empty. Its easy to carry, and easy to get to your stuff. I like it a lot.
thanks:thumbup:
