Maxpedition Fliegerduffel Adventure Bag - Durable Military Tactical Duffel for Travel, Camping & Outdoor Gear Storage | Water-Resistant & Heavy-Duty Carry-On Luggage for Hiking, Gym & Air Travel

I like this bag. I don't love it. I wanted to make some points about it, rather than re-iterate what others have said in other reviews. These are simply things to think about in your shopping decision for this bag before purchasing. There are some negatives that seem never to be mentioned, but please note that there are many positives that I agree with (e.g build quality, etc.); those have been covered well in other reviews and are not reiterated here. If you disagree with anything I write, please write your own review. And with that, let's roll:This bag has Molle on the top (the single neo handle top side) to attach bags. I have attached two bags (5.11 6.6 padded bags). The Fleigerduff bag is very dependent on the top opening and shutting; unlike a messenger bag, you cannot easily get in it without completely flipping open the top of the bag (like a suitcase). Well, heavy items on the top Molle will make this bag very hard to flip open. The top will bang down on anything behind it (the wall, the table, etc.) with the weight of anything attached to the Molles. In fact, even if you put something heavy in the mesh pockets inside the bag, bang, it will hit when you flip this open. I considered the Doppelduffel as I like larger bags, and that holds even more in the mesh pockets in the top, plus the middle top compartment--but do I want even more on there? No. You will not want to keep fragile things (e.g. camera, cell phone, etc.) in any bags to attach to the Molle on the top of this bag; it will keep getting hit when you flip this open.The zipper angles down on the outer sides, both sides. This limits your side space (although it looks cool). So, if you are stacking something in this bag, like shirts, you cannot stack as much on the sides of the interior as you can in the middle of it. This is, as opposed to, a regular carry-on, where the zipper runs straight across, making the depth of the bag the same all the way across. With the FleigerDuff, the side measurement (I think 9 inches, if I remember), is only for the middle; the end are only about 5 inches high. This cuts down on useable interior space. I also think by angling down that it is a little tougher on the main zipper, which is forced to run at an angle. You can feel it slightly as you pull; increased resistance at the angles.When you put something thick in the outer middle top sleeve pocket (under the neoprened top handle)--like I did with a rain poncho--it will push out the middle of the interior, thus reducing the interior space to some degree (the DoppelDuff. will do less of this--see photos of middle top pouch on DopDuff). Same with the two inner mesh side pockets: load it with something thick, and it will encrouch on the already somewhat limited interior space.The side Molle is directly over the side pockets (those long slim side pouches, one on each side), so If you Molle something to them, it had better be small (like a phone pouch) or narrow; anything wide (eg Mil-Spec Monkey Admin pouch) will interfere with your use of the side pouch zipper.The new bags, Feb 2014, do NOT come with plastic quick clip swivel buckles for the single side strap. They are strap to D ring style now. I contacted Maxped about it, and they kindly wrote me back and said that there have been many failures over the past two years with the swivel plastic buckles (their words, not mine), so despite all the Youtube vids you will see, the new designs is the strap to D-ring style. They have updated the photo on their website, but most online photos have the old strap system. Issue? No, I can see that it is sturdy, good now, no squeaking or moving. BUT, much more time consuming as there is no snap off for the side carry belt anymore (the backpack straps still use plastic, quick snap system). So, if you plan to switch to backpack style, you will need to either let the side strap hang, or take it off and put it back later--it's fairly complex, so be sure to study how it's on there before you take it off. It takes about ten minutes, plus fiddling, to put it on now (and get strap ends right length, etc.). I wish Maxped would simply use metal swivel buckles for the best of all uses. For anyone needing quick-on side strap (e.g to take the strap off at the airport), this may be a deal-breaker for you (or you will need to buy one of the inferior plastic straps, still available on Amazon for about twelve bucks).The zipper for the stuffed-in backpack straps on the rear/bottom of this bag works poorly. It is not smooth. You'll want to attach a small zipper pull to it, and it takes lots of fiddling to get it open and closed. It has to do with where the backpack straps are attached; no way to describe it, you will see when you get it. It's fussy.This system, unlike a messenger bag (the no longer made Larkspur, for instance), is very dependent on that main zipper. Should it fail there is no way to really use this bag (the compression straps are hard to get tight enough); so go easy with the zipper. It's high quality YKK, but still, this is a very zipper dependent system. You'll be yanking that main zipper open relentlessly. The zipper must be opened all the way around to the clam-shell hinge to open this bag fully. All the way around. If you try to open the top, even a little, but it is not fully unzipped all the way around to the back, it will stress the back portion of the zipper (had Maxped made the clam shell hinge longer, coming to the ends of the bag, one could still open it all the way up, but it wouldn;t be such a hinderance to opening the zipper all the way around to the back, a particular problem in a tight space, such as an airline overhead bin). Additionally, whereas a traditional duffel bag (like in PE class as a kid) has two handles and when one holds them both, the top zipper of the bag "wants" to close, the MaxPed FD/DD bags do the opposite: when one loads this up, and holds it by the only top handle (united with neoprene) and picks the entire thing up, the downward weight of the load wants to open the bag/stress the zipper, etc. If the zipper fails, the entire bag would drop open. I do not know that the main zipper would fail, I am just emphasizing how important the zipper is to this particular design.The Fleigerduffel is 14 inches across and the DoppelDuffel is only 13.5 inches across. The Doppelduffel is 4 inches longer than this FD bag. One could says the FD bag is a little more squarish than the longish DF bag. Most of the extra storage on the Doppel is in the outer pockets being larger; a mixed blessing, as I have described above. The Doppelduffel is very "long" on one's back--there's an online video of a fellow wearing both, it's under Maxpedition luggage (utube search that term, not under this bag's name on search). The DD comes way up to back of head, the FD does not. Need to consider when deciding which to buy, especially for different sized people.Maxped lists this as 2350 cc liters, but as backpackers know, its mostly about how you use the space, how it's divided and set up. Well, I think this bag, because of the features listed above (curved zipper, lower sides, out pockets encroach on inner space, etc.) does NOT use the 2350 cc L efficiently. I use this bag for my mobile office; I would not be able to squanch in several days worth of clothes in this. I could use it overnighter, only. YMMV. If you have a 2350 ccL backpack, that will have more space than this FD bag (but the backpack is less structured, less compartmentalized, etc.).I truly wish this had, like the Maxped luggage roller case, rubber "feet" on the bottom as that is the side one will be resting this bag all the time.The Fleigerduffel is wide, and when one is simply carrying the bag by the neoprene covered "top" handle, like a duffle bag, it is wide, will bump your leg, and you will need to sort of hold it out, taxing on the shoulder, if you get my drift. Regular gym style duffel bags are narrower and more amenable to this single handle style of carry. For the Maxped FleigerDuff, you will likely use the single top handle only to put the bag on something, like an airport TSA conveyor. You will be using the side strap or backpack straps to carry it any distance.I like many things about this bag--too many to mention. The handles are fantastic (although I wish they put one on the sides). The price is high, and it's hard to see if this is what you want until you get it. Thanks and enjoy. I own many Maxped products, this is a good bag, if you know what to expect.Note: Other bags for your to investigate when looking at this category are: (check out youtube videos on each)5.11 Brand: Mission Control, Soms and Cams bagsVoodoo Brand Mojo/Mini MojoHazard4 Brand (I forgot the name of their duffels and luggage).Hope that helps, and please feel free to ask any questions, fellow bag enthusiasts.UpdatedI orginally rated as 4 stars but have lowered my assessment to 3 stars becuase Maxpedition has addressed most of my issues with this bag in the newer Ironcloud model. So I deducted a further star because I would no longer buy this model or recommend it. If my Fliegerduffel duffel ever wears out I would not replace it and would instead buy the Ironcloud model.I'm actually considering retiring this duffel in favor of the Ironcloud because in addtion to addressing most of my issues the Ironcloud has a much better layout in regard to electornic storage.Orignal review (4 Stars)I've owned this bag and used it for carry on for seven years now and like it, although its not perfect.The Fliegerduffel is typical Maxpedition construction which basically means its bomb proof. I've also not had any issues using it as carry on and it fits the overhead bins. It is very versatile with a number of carry on options, sling over shoulder, backpack or by the handle(s). It has also held up to the test of time and in my case abuse. So for my primary purpose, as a carry on, it does the job very well.So why not a 5 star review - two primary issues.1) Lack of Side Handle - By design the thing is wide (14”) to meet the carry on regulations. However, while it has nice handles on the top and ends there are no handles on the side. So even though I'm over 6' tall I find it very uncomfortable to carry the bag by the handles. The top handle is excellent and seems to be designed to be the primary carry handle, however, the bag itself it two wide to carry comfortably by the top handle. Also because of the width it makes it awkward to carry in tight spaces like down the airplane isle. While you could carry by the end handles which places the bag much closer to your body (9" vs 14") the length of the bag (21") makes carrying this way also awkward.While carrying the bag with the strap allows you to carry the bag sideways which distributes the weight well and allows you to carry close to your body, sometimes using the carry strap is just not convenient (like going down airplane isles). Note, I tried shortening up the strap and using it as a handle but that does not work all that well.Therefore, what the bag is missing is a good handle on the side which would solve this problem. In the end I created a handle on the side by looping webbing through the side molle. Not the best solution but it gets the job done. I wish they got rid of the molle on one side (or both sides) and replaced with a proper handle, like the ones on the ends.2) Interior pockets under the lid - These are a great pockets but once you put anything in them they make the lid very heavy. For my use, where I'm only in a place for night and living out of the bag, I find dealing with the heavy lid frustrating. If I want access to something on the lid of the bag there is molle on the outside to attach a pouch. So while I like the pockets, I wish they were on the interior side ends of the bag instead of the inside of the lid.Minor points1) Compression strapping - while a good idea to secure the bag and provides support in side carry, I find the webbing provided to long. The bag has good strap retainers which helps manage the straps, but for my use as a carry on all this extra webbing just gets in the way. Note, I debated cutting off some of the webbing but could never bring myself to doing so on the off chance that I would regret doing so (although in 7 years of use I've not yet used the extra length).2) Backpack attachment straps - these little straps on the bottom of the bag flop around when not in use which since I mostly use strap carry is most of the time for me. Besides looking sloppy, I remain concerned that they will get caught on something. Although, this has yet to happen. For now I've attached webbing to the two buckles and tightened together so they are flush with the bag. Not perfect as the webbing could get snagged but, maybe, better. I wish that the bag included a means to stow these straps i.e. a little slots to shove into the bag and out of the way.3) Molle - this is personal preference but I wish it did not have it. Having molle screams tactical and I prefer to be the grey man when I travel. While I fully understand that molle allows you to customize, for my primary use as a carry on I'd be better served with handles on the sides (see above) and expandable pockets on the top of the lid where the Molle is. Note, expandable pockets on the top would help ease the complaint that many have stated that there are not enough outside pockets.4) Shape – rather than having sloped sides I would prefer to have bag squared up. This would provide a little more interior room which would be nice.5) Weight - owing to its construction this thing is heavy on its own. This is the cost of the quality materials used. However, today, I would be looking for something using 600 d (vs 1000 d used) which is lighter but still very strong.If you know Expedition you have hardly any doubt about the quality of the materials and craftsmanship so let us put that aside. What might be less obvious is the size. It looks real big, it feels really big... but it perfectly fits Rayanair cabin luggage requirements. You can pack as much as you want, ware it as a bag, duffel or a backpack, and still have no worries at the airport.One handy tip: you'll probably need some organizers as this bag has hardly any compartments or divisions and things tend to fly around in it.Oh, did I mention it looks darn awesome!Decievable in size - fits much!! Durable and comfortable to carry as a backpack when fully loaded...quality in every respect.His is by far he best travel bag I have found. It's roomy, tough and looks good. I have used jis for travelling over last few months and can't find any negatives.It came in on time. Just before my trip to London and proved to be really good for travelling. I had quite heavy stuff in it this time, so shoulder straps helped me a lot. Altought a bit pricy I would recommend it if you need a multifunctional travel bag.En el Fliegerduffel puedes llevar muchas cosas, ya sea, equipo o indumentaria en un duffel compacto. Es de tamaño mediano y se puede usar para viajes sólo recomiendo que se verifiquen las dimensiones con la compañía de aviación para usarla como equipaje de mano. Tiene múltiples compartimentos que te permiten organizar las cosas que lleves de manera práctica y funcional. Puedes usar organizadores compatibles con el sistema PAL o MOLLE. El Fliegerduffel de Maxpedition es funcional, la recomiendo.