Maxpedition Sitka or Kodiak?

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BadKarma46

Joined
Sep 20, 2012
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I'm getting a new pack and am looking at getting a maxpedition Kodiak or sitka. I had the monsoon and sold it because it really just didn't work. I've had a sitka and sold it because..... Well I didn't know how to organize a pack yet and really wish I hadn't sold it. I want to be using it for an edc pack: small med kit, occasional school or tech book, iPad or laptop, etc.. Any suggestions? Thanks BadKarma
 
Really depends on how much you're gonna carry. For me the Sitka was too small. I went with the Kodiak.
 
That was the original reason why I switched to the monsoon was for size. But the monsoon, to me, has a lot of wasted space with its shape. Do you feel as if the Kodiak has adequate spacing or is bigger than it needs to be?
 
I have a Kodiak which I used for college for a short while. I found that I prefer the traditional 2 strap backpack so it sits in the closet now. The diagonal strap is well padded and balances well on the body but all the weight from a fully loaded pack can bear down on that one shoulder (not comfortable if you're going to be carrying it all day/every day). I still get it out from time to time because its really well made but a model like the Falcon would have suited my needs better, IMO.
 
I've been carrying a kodiak for around 2 years now and I'm very happy with it. It is tricky to get the right weight because there are a ton of pockets tempting you to fill them, but loading the pack fully makes it uncomfortable unless wearing a thick jacket. My daily carry stuff could fit in a Sitka, but I like to know that I have extra space in my bag should I need to use it while I'm out. There isn't really any unusable space like on the monsoon, just depends on how much weight you want on one shoulder.
 
BadKarma46 said:
That was the original reason why I switched to the monsoon was for size. But the monsoon, to me, has a lot of wasted space with its shape. Do you feel as if the Kodiak has adequate spacing or is bigger than it needs to be?
Click to expand...

The two outer pockets on the Kodiak are rectangular cuboids. The main pouch and the bladder/weapons pouch are the same, except for the top of them which is gently rounded. I find the shape to be compatible with the stuff that I carry. I subgroup my gear into pouches. Things that I need frequently are carried loose in pockets in the back pockets. Things that I need once−in−a−while are carried in the outside lower pocket in a bag and things that I need infrequently, but still want available, are carried in the main pouch, in another bag. I've got an extra zippered bag attached to the outside Molle straps with Tac Ties.

I tried carrying a too-heavy load in it once and that was enough. I didn't like all the weight on one shoulder. But for my EDC, it's acceptable for short trips. I like being able to get into the bag while I'm wearing it, that's why I went with the "gearslinger" concept. I like being able to "lock down" the zipper pulls to prevent theft in crowded situations. It's not going to stop anyone cold, but it will take enough time and fumbling that I'll probably notice.

I prefer a conventional frameless two−strap backpack for longer trips and heavier loads such as when I'm traveling long distances on public transport.
 
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