I like Maxpedition kit but I've found it cost prohibitive especially if you buy it in the UK. Also it isn't really suitable for my use being generally (but not exclusively) made for the military. It's certainly rugged and hard wearing. I find the rucksacks are too small and the Versipacks are a little cumbersome, but the principle is there and some people I've met swear by it.
So what made me splash out on the Rolly Poly Extreme? Well it wasn't the name that's for sure, nor was it the price at £68 ish for a 10 litre rucksack. But I was attracted by the versatility of the whole package. It was exactly what I wanted to fill the gap between a large rucksack and packable smaller daysack.
Let me try and explain. You take your large rucksack for 3 or more days in the woods, and then you decide to go for a wander, forage, wildlife watch or whatever for the day. Where do you carry your water, a bit of lunch, possibly a stove for a brew, folding saw and all the other little nick-knacks you take along? A shoulder bag, for me, gets a little heavy and annoying to carry all day and a bum bag (fanny bag to you guys in the US) is also a bit unwieldy after a few hours. You could take an additional daysack, but where are you going to stow it on your walk in? Enter the Maxpedition Rolly Poly Extreme (can I use RPX - I really hate that name!)
The folded and stowed size of the RPX is 5in x 5in x 4in. This means it can be attached to a belt loop by the handle (as shown above) or the Pals fittings at the back can be attached to belts or other compatible equipment. At that size it will fit anywhere in your large rucksack.
Once it's unpacked you have a fully functional daysack of about 10 litres. This doesn't seem a lot but it's enough for a day trip. The pockets are gusseted so they expand out from the wearer.
You have three zipped external front pockets; the smallest top pocket is wide enough to take a laplander saw.
The main compartment is top loading and fastened by the Velcro flap instead of a zip. This is the same flap that closes the unit when folded. I wasn't sure of this but it in fact works quite well. The main compartment is divided into two but the flimsy hydration divider can easily be pushed to the front or rear making one large area.
There's an additional small zipped pocket inside the main compartment (at the front) and a key clip. Drainage holes are in the bottom of both sides of the divider. The rear compartment could easily take a 3 litre hydration unit, but it wouldn't be a snug fit.
The straps are a little flimsy and not padded but you shouldn't be putting a great deal of weight in the sack. It fits nicely on the back and it's surprisingly comfortable, but anyone with broad shoulders or large chest would have to wear the chest strap to stop the shoulders straps from falling off the shoulders.
The male clip of the chest strap has an in-built whistle. It's loud as well. Nice touch.
When you want to pack the sack away, all you do is fold in the straps, fold the unit in two halves and overlap them and roll it up, finishing up by attaching the Velcro flap onto the outside of the rucksack. Less than ten seconds and the job is done!
I've tested this out as a daysack a couple of times and it can pack everything I need for a day out plus those aforementioned small items. I tend to put my small folding sit mat in the rear of the RPX so that it's a little more comfortable and the contents don't rub against my back. I'm extremely pleased with this little unit.
I got mine from Heinnie Haynes and had to wait two weeks as they had run out (pretty popular it seems) but they now (end of July 2009) have them back in stock again. This may seem an expensive item, but it is very functional and works just as well as an ordinary light weight day sack.
Cheers for now,
Pablo.
