Review of the Maxpedition Vulture-II

This is a review of the VULTURE-II backpack from Maxpedition.

So what do you look for in a 2 - 3 day pack? Well, some of the things I look for are 1,000 denier construction - which the Vulture II has.

Double stitched seams - check. Having a pack come apart on you while on the trail is no fun. Double stitched seams helps make sure that the pack will stay together even during heavy use.

YKK self repairing zippers - check. In May of 2007 my son, my daughter and I went on a short hiking/camping trip. We were only about a mile from the truck. We hiked along a nice clear stream and setup camp next to a fishing hole. One the way to the camp site, the zippers on my daughters pack failed. The pack came open and some of her gear fell out and onto the ground. The whole situation was a little unnerving. Especially when I realized the zippers were not self repairing. Meaning, the zippers would not close back up.

Main compartment for storing stuff like a one man tent, hammock, and other stuff - check. Asking for a large min compartment might sound silly, but you need a place big enough to put your stuff.

Outer pockets for organizing smaller gear - check. This helps for storing your maps, GPS, compass, first aid kit, bug spray,,, things that you might need while on the trail.

Attachment points on the bottom so sleeping bags and bed rolls can be strapped on - check.

Compartment for a water bladder - check

Adjustable shoulder straps and chest straps - check.

One of the really nice features of this pack is the padded shoulder straps - those can make or break a pack. But you do not have to worry about the shoulder straps digging into your arms or shoulders. There is plenty of padding on this pack.

With a capacity of around 2810 cubic inches, this pack should be able to carry whatever you need for a 2 - 3 day trip.