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Posted: 2/25/2011 1:15:28 PM EDT
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Picked up two SDS packs from EntryGear, The Conflict and Engage. Taking a Look here at the Conflict. You can visit their website for all the basic details. https://www.entrygear.com/product.asp?id=S0001 Yea their pics are better than what my camera phone can muster but here goes.             This backpack is hefty its 5lbs. I have still the tag on it, I havent had a chance to use it yet. I am planning on using this for traveling and maybe as a replacement for my molle ruck for hiking. The build quality is excellent and there is molle webbing on every side of this pack. Yes this pack is made in Vietnam not in the US. There are mesh pockets on either side of the inside of the main compartment, they both have velcro closures on them. There is a cinch strap on the inside of the main compartment as well that runs from top to bottom. This also has the neoprene ports on the top under flaps on either side of the top of the main compartment for you comm equipment to pass through. The base of the main compartment is about 7in deep and 12.5in wide. You can see the side pocket in one of my pics that is between the main pocket and the 3 external pockets on the outside of the pack. This does have a hydration compartment in the same place as the Engage behind the mesh backpanel and stiffner. Unlike the Engage this pack does have zippered pockets on either side of the waist belt. The waist belt has stiffeners in it so if you are hiking somewhere you can open carry its suitable for you mount a holster, very cool. All the fastex style buckles are made by Rock Lockster. The zippers all have nicely done zipper pulls that are uniform. Biggest complaints are the weight and the extra material on the straps. I have a 30in waist and about a 39in chest, I have over a foot on either side of the waist strap in extra material without the pack being snugged/cinched down with a load. The ends are folded over and sewn so they cant come undone, which is nice. But I will probably cut these down to where there is maybe 5in or so on either side and fold an inch over and sew it. The chest straps and shoulder straps also have a ton of extra material and I will trim them as well. There are strap keepers on the pack everywhere but I dont see needing an additional 30in of material for my waist or 20in of material for the chest cinch strap, its just unecessary. The material for the pack isnt backed with anything and that helps keep the weight down but knowing they were already looking at a 5lb pack they should have included more organizers in the pockets in this pack. A pack like this has no business being sold under $100 and should easily go for closer to $200. $85 well spent I am not affiliated with SDS or EntryGear |
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I would suggest that prior to trimming any straps, the pack be worn, fully-loaded, on a few trips. Some of what might seem extra strapping, particularly on the shoulder strap adjustments and the load-lifter straps is there in order to be able to adjust the pack for very tall users, very stout users, and for both such users when they are wearing heavy cold weather clothing.
Once you have gotten the adjustments of the pack settled, then it might be time to think of cutting un-neccessary straps. Or maybe not. Doing so will make it difficult/impossible to fit some users to whom you might want to either sell or loan the pack someday. Mebbe you might gain some weight in the next few years. You might even have to move to a colder climate which requires heavier winter clothing. Not saying you can't or shouldn't trim the straps, just think hard about it first. Easy to remove, hard to add back. |
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I totally agree I have no plans to alter the the shoulder straps or lift straps. I just dont forsee having a 60+in chest or 50+in wait regardless what Im wearing. As bombproof as the build construction is I still dont think ill ever loan this pack out and I sell very little. I try and do my research before I buy stuff and buy quality gear the first time. This pack will used as a 3 day pack and hopefully for hiking. Leaving a foot of adjustment in the chest and waist should be more than adequate for ease of donning this pack. |
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Quoted:
I totally agree I have no plans to alter the the shoulder straps or lift straps. I just dont forsee having a 60+in chest or 50+in wait regardless what Im wearing. As bombproof as the build construction is I still dont think ill ever loan this pack out and I sell very little. I try and do my research before I buy stuff and buy quality gear the first time. This pack will used as a 3 day pack and hopefully for hiking. Leaving a foot of adjustment in the chest and waist should be more than adequate for ease of donning this pack. Understood. Prior to trimming, make sure to leave enough strap so that you can grasp the strap with gloves/mittens on, and still have adequate purchase on the strap to be adjusted. |
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this is what i chose as a BOB, so far I LOVE IT. It is heavy, however i believe with hard use it will hold up for a very long time. check out my thread
SDS CONFLICT BOB SET UP |
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SDS is the same company that makes the flc and assault pack for the army, correct? Seems like it would be quality stuff. How much did this go for? How big is this? Assault pack or ruck size? Specialty Defense Systems (SDS) is, and has been, a primary US Gov't contractor for issued GI gear. The Conflict pack is made to a higher standard than the run-of-the-mill GI gear, IMHO. Disclaimer, no financial interest in SDS, or entrygear.com, the vendor of the pack under discussion. Listed capacity is 3200 cubic inches @ $85, which is stupid cheap, IMHO. Go to Tactical Gear forum for my, and others' reviews of the Conflict Pack, as well as the smaller SDS Engage pack. I bought a Conflict pack, and glad I did. I wouldn't ask someone to buy something I hadn't spent my money on already. don't believe in unbiased reviews of "free" samples, if you get my drift. |
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Kinda funny that they've got that fastex buckle with the whistle on it in a spot where you'd have to open the pack and stick your head in to use it. Seems like it'd be more useful on the sternum strap. I thought the whistle was a bit hokey, too, but in fairness, the whistle detaches from its' mating buckle, and has a looooong strap attached to it. Not at all impossible to detach the whistle, run it out to the end of its' strap, and actually use it. Better to have it than nothing at all, I suppose. Hard to lose it, as things go. Agreed that it would be be better placed on the sternum strap, but it's a freebie, so no complaints from me. FWIW, it is seldom discussed, but a whistle can be an important survival aid in the latter stages of a rescue attempt. It is much easier to use a good whistle than to scream or shout, and the note of a good whistle carries much further, while requiring much less effort on the part of the user. A good whistle is essential to most outdoors kits, IMHO. |
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I have this exact pack. What do you think of the "brickhouse" textured fabric? I almost bought a black one the week after I got my coyote brown, now they only have desert camo and woodland left. I'm not sure what to make of it. I have an SDS-made "Improved RACK/LBV Harness" made of the exact same material. My Conflict pack was made from what I believe to be 500d cordura fabric, as it is the Woodland version. Dunno what the DC pack is made of. It is certainly lighter in weight than the equivalent 500d fabric, and I assume that the sewn-in reinforcements must, at least, act as a form of rip-stop in addition to being a sort of overall reinforcement against abrasion. It appears to be a much more breathable material, at least in my RACK, but perhaps the same material as used in the packs is of a coated variety. |
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