One Guy's Jumbo; a Love/Hate Relationship (picture heavy)

This is just one guy's load out and perspective, so take it for what it is worth.

Lots of times folks will ask about sling bags generally, or the MaxP Jumbo specifically, and I always reply with something like this-

The Jumbo, and bags like it, are horrible for carrying weight while traveling on foot. I own two Jumbos, one of which pretty much always goes where I go. I has a VoK, two Israeli bandages, a chest seal, some QuickClot, a bag with all of the smaller items from a traditional "10 essentials" hiking checklist, and some personal must haves. You toss in a quart of water and, perhaps, something else heavy, and you are talking 12-14 pounds.

This is absolutely not a problem for short distance/short duration/low mobility carry, but I assure you, as distance, duration, and the need to move with a purpose increase, so will your dislike of the bag; especially at this weight. At 5 pounds, that's likely a different story.

For instance. I take the bag everywhere I go in a vehicle. I sometimes push the shopping cart for my wife. I've made short scouts prior to hunting season. I occasionally take the family to roadside attractions- museums, caverns, and the like. The bag, configured the way I have it, is never a burden doing these things.

On the other hand, I have tried hiking with it. I have walked fair grounds for hours with the wife and kids. I have waited in very long lines for hours. I have had it on during a mandatory two hour picket duty, marching in a little oval. In these situations, the bag is horrible.

My only point is that you should really think carefully about what you want to put in the bag and how far or long you may have to carry it at any one time because single strap bags, especially ones that are sort of designed to ride at 3 or 4 o'clock, have very real limits.

I will say that the MAXPED Jumbo is a very well built bag. The older of the two I have- and the one I use most often- must be 6 or 7 years old and shows very few signs of wear. Also, there have been many times when other people have come up and admired the bag. In fact, one gentleman ran up to me so fast as I was loading the wife and kids into the truck that it was almost a 'problem". Such is the magnetic draw of Jumbo.

Anyway, here's my bag what all is crammed inside.

The bag is being modeled by one of my sons.


Here are the contents of the exterior sleeve pockets.

27 oz. Kleen Kanteen, Bahco Laplander, HD straw, EMT sheers, and an EESE 3.

Contents of top zippered pocket.

Wipes, duct tape, SAK classic, spare cells, EDCF coin, button light, Sm boo-boo kit, and a tiny bag- not even sure where that came from.

Front zippered pocket.

A Suunto compass and a bandana.

Right side zippered pocket.

The water treatment pills may be the only thing that are not obvious.

And this rides in that pocket too.

Also all pretty easily recognizable stuff.

Zippered pocket under the flap.

Rite-in-the-rain pad, survival blanket, Buff, 550 bracelet, Funny Father's Day card from years ago (let's call it a good luck charm), paraffin coated cotton pads, MRE TP, Petzl headlamp, two flashlight diffusers, and some ear plugs.

The main compartment contains this bag.


Which contains most of the so called 10 essentials, seen here.

A second space blanket, signal mirror, 550 cord, sandpaper, lighter, storm matches, Altoids tin with char cloth, tape, whistle, lip balm, Magnisium, SAK Explorer, Modded Maglite (both in sheaths), candles, and Iodine pills.

Also in the main compartment, all of this.

TR's VOK, 2 Israeli bandages, QuikClot gauze and sponge, and a not pictured chest seal (sorry, it was in one of those internal sleeve pockets and I didn't snap a photo).

And finally.

I keep this Ti Olight tethered to the MOLLE and slipped into the little sleeve just below where the strap attaches to the rear of the bag. There is also a magnet under the flag patch.

That pretty much covers it. Like I said earlier, you are talking serious weight here. There are obvious redundancies that could be stripped out, but remember, I'm often with my wife and small children, so...

This, of course doesn't include what I carry on person- a knife, light, MT, and bandana at a minimum.

Nor does it include, during the work week, the ever present lunch box (six more KKs), the two MREs in the truck, or the MaxP Rollypolly backpack that would be needed to carry all the extra stuff home if I had to, Heaven forbid, walk.

Anyway, it is ridiculous to carry that much stuff, weight wise, in a single strap bag. I keep doing it because it is a very compact package on a seat and I can handle the associated discomfort for those times when I feel like I really need to be walking around with all that stuff for some reason or another.

So even though I do it, I can't really fathom why anyone else would. Two straps are clearly the way to go once any real weight is involved. 

I know, I know, ymmv.

OK, so that's mine, let's see yours.