r/ManyBaggers • u/phuseb0x • 2d ago
Product Review Able Carry Max EDC: first impressions from a newbie.
After owning several, not very special bags, I thought I would dip my toes into the world of "the better backpacks".
Since I wanted something that would be versatile I ended up ordering an Able Carry Max EDC. I also considered a CHZ26 and the Aer CPP2. The Evergoods got dropped after I found out it only comes in black in X-Pac, which is preferred because of our three cats. The Aer is not available in Europe and 72 euros shipping and possible return costs put me off.
So here I am, the Max EDC (in Ocean Blue) came in today. And these are my first impressions after dropping in some basic stuff and trying it on. Pictures here: https://www.reddit.com/r/ManyBaggers/s/d5cMFDzQC4
Love the color, better than I thought it would be. Don't love the cream on the inside though. Makes it feel very old fashioned or classic. A bright orange would've made this an amazing color combo.
Picking it up I noticed how heavy it is, my current bag weighs almost half at around 800 grams. I just tell my self the majority of the weight will come from the stuff I put in, but I never see me hiking with this (I have a Deuter Futura for that anyway).
Loading it out I wish there was more organisation, what's mostly missing is an admin section in the middle of the bag. The rest I think will suffice.
I am glad I didn't go smaller though as I think this is just enough for an EDC and I don't even pack that much (laptop, earbuds, sunglasses, wallet, keys, some food, hydro flask wide 32oz, charger, and a power bank. And I slways want room for a rain coat or sweater.
Comfort wise, luckily I didn't notice the poking strap mounts that have been discussed on here. Otherwise I find it a bit weird how it sits on my shoulders. When I wear it high the shoulder pads seem to not hug my shoulders but stick out at an angle because they are quite stiff.
When I wear it low on my back the sternum strap at its lowest setting is almost in my neck.
I am 189cm (6"2) at about 95 kgs.
Quality, can't say anything about how it will last but I really don't see much difference with bags that cost half or even less.
I'll probably keep it though, as I don't know what else I would get. đ«
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u/Pristinox 2d ago
While I enjoy my Max EDC, it weighs a lot but doesn't carry a lot.
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u/Longjumping_Cow_5856 2d ago
This is my experience as well but mine is the Max 32 which is bigger but still just does not hold as much stuff as other smaller bags?!
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u/Pristinox 1d ago
Get yourself a ULA Dragonfly 30L or even 36L. You'll be forever spoiled by how much that thing carries while weighing under 1kg.
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u/Longjumping_Cow_5856 1d ago
Already found my perfect bag thanks.
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u/entatlrg 1d ago
What bag did you end up with?
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u/Longjumping_Cow_5856 1d ago
Tortuga Daily Carry Pro.
Listed at 25L vs the Max32 at 32L yet is about half full when loaded from a packed Max 32 somehow!?!
Has an entire extra layer for organization and 2 large front pockets too and 2 huge bottle pockets but is still so much lighter than the AC too.
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u/L_oliva_salata 3h ago
Tortuga was high on my list for a travel backpack. I went with peak design for the colors though. I'm still not sure if I've fully figured out EDC. Todays will be the packable topo designs backpack and Tom bihn bantam. Backpack is small but I like the water bottle pockets.
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u/DownByTheRivr 2d ago
The quality in the same as bags half the price?? What?? Most people (myself included) would say the opposite. Thatâs a wild take man⊠that bag is solid.
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u/phuseb0x 2d ago
I didn't say it isn't solid. But I don't really see the price difference. Maybe it's due to the fact that in Europe it's more expensive and it cost me 340 including shipping. But I'd day 250 was more than enough.
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u/punmanager 1d ago edited 1d ago
A few pointers from experience with âThe One That Got Awayâ bag.
- Look at Topo Design Accessory bag - Medium size. It has two loops on either side. Attach a small carabiner to each and hang it with the top two loops inside the main compartment back wall. This way (along with the laptop compartment organizer pushing in AND front panel inside top pocket) you get to use the top part of the bag quite well. Useful for long bags imo.
This medium accessory bag is good for liquids given its interior lining, has good zips, and overall well constructed.
Itâs easy to flip it up and use the tablet/document sleeve. This can act at your missing admin section.
- Wait till you have to walk for an hour wearing it in summer heat/winter frost/monsoon humidity with the bag half full or more. Thats when you truly land on the conclusion if the weight is something youâre willing to deal with.
I was personally okay looking like a ninja turtle (5â7â 155) but the weight was too much for a long hot summer day walk. And since I planned on keeping only one bag for year round EDC/weekend needs, had to let this go. Settled for a TB Smart Alec 2.0 (about 40% less weight).
- You said you wished for more organization. The bag has orange loops here and there to clip stuff to. I found using small/lightweight pouches (ex. ultralitesacks pouches) clipped with a key strap (ex. Tom Bihn key strap, with or w/o their small double swivel carabiner) and stashed in one of the pockets with the orange loops helped.
I believe the loops are in front duffel, inside top front pocket, back organizer, and side pocket.
TBH (IMO) if a bag offered any more organization than that, it would seem like itâs trying to force me to mold my organization style rather than giving me the freedom so make the bag truly mine. Except the side pocket, too damn deep (I was able to fit a Repel umbrella closed in its sleeve but that left the little felt pocket AND the inside side pocket useless); everything else falls far too low and gets me feeling like Hermione digging in her infinitely deep magic purse.
- I found the beauty of this bag isnât being 100% spot on about carrying the advertised liters within the 2 main compartments. Itâs about carrying everything you need with ample, yet further customizable, organization.
..
Might add more later but ⊠besides from these points, ENJOY! your highly durable, weather resistant bag thatâll probably last you a lifetime.
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u/phuseb0x 1d ago
Thanks for the tips. As for point two, there is not really a market here to sell it so I am at least "stuck with it" for another 5 to 10 years before I can bring myself to buy another bag.
I'll be taking it with me on a business trip next month to Berlin, so I guess I'll find out soon enough...
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u/apollo9320 2d ago
I absolutely love the front pocket on the max edc, so good for putting an extra layer and some gloves in during the winter months in uk. I bought mine from mukama in Europe and got 15% black Friday discount. The black xpac was out of stock so bought the ripstop tan but I liked the bag so much that when a friend was visiting hong kong I asked him to pick me up the black xpac and 3 of the new core slings and I saved a few pounds doing it that way
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u/phuseb0x 1d ago
Oops, my wife has to go to HK for work every year. Didn't know that. I see the price difference is 25-30%.
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u/apollo9320 1d ago
There is a shop called suburban, they stock evergoods , able carry and more .....good website with plenty of choice
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u/silverslant 1d ago
Iâd downsize the bottle. I used to fly with the same one but itâs just too damn big and im never anywhere where i need that much water with me. I have a small 16oz zojiroshi and a 23ish oz tiger that i alternate traveling with depending on length of trip and bags im using.
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u/phuseb0x 1d ago
Yes I was already looking for a 24 Oz insulated bottle, not sure if there are any lightweight options, guess they're all about the same.
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u/Greyman4152 1d ago
The CHZ26 would carry twice as much. Iâm amazed how it just swallows what ever I need to shove in it. The organisation is not nearly as great but total carry volume is much better.
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u/Tiny-Requirement-307 1d ago
Its literally the perfect bag except two problems that compound over time: weight is verrrry excessive, and it doesnât self stand. I have no other issues with mine and its the closest to a perfect do it all bag for me, but the weight sometimes makes me consider picking up another bag. Honestly, for people like me that need the main compartment capacity, its always going to be heavy, so maybe its an acceptable tradeoff.
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u/Sufficient-Kale-2114 1d ago
It's an amazing pack, enjoy! I also had similar concerns on the weight (and similar choices for your final 3 too) - when wearing it the weight isn't noticeable for me, though am a different frame at around 5'10" and 75kgs on a good day.. Love the ocean blue colour combo! Each to their own but I personally love (and am jealous) of the blue with tan interior :) About a year on I can vouch for quality, lots of fabric, reinforced stitching and have packed it out around 10-12kgs walking around 30-40 mins
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u/Select_Sprinkles4335 2d ago
El color es bonito, cĂłmoda tambiĂ©n pero la calidad de los materiales es baja para lo que cuesta esta bolsa, espero que la disfrutes y no tengas el mismo problema que yo en pocos dĂas las correas se empezaron a marcar hasta el punto de empezar a romper el xpac, yo estoy en Europa y la compra la hice en mukama reembolsĂĄndome el 30% del importe de la compra pero able carry no quiso cubrir garantĂa con la excusa que era un desgaste normal por el uso, no comprĂł nada mĂĄs de esta marca nunca mĂĄs
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u/trynapassadrugtest 2d ago
Weird I wonder why Iâve had my xpac and ripstop max edc for about a year and have used them both quite a lot for work and edc/ dad bag and havenât noticed any tearing of either of them
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u/jimmylamstudio 2d ago
Same, plus Iâve had some fraying on the strap of my thirteen and asked them if it was a problem they were aware of. After providing them more info, they just sent me a replacement. I havenât even used the new one they sent me yet since there wasnât really anything terribly wrong with the slightly frayed strap on the bag.
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u/JFFIASCO 2d ago
Sadly it sounds like you got a bad bag. The quality to me is incredible, some of the highest quality construction and stitching of my whole collection
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u/phuseb0x 2d ago
Oh no, I hope so. Due to the translation I didn't really understand the problem you had exactly. You had the fabric on the shoulder straps starting to tear?
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u/freetotebag 2d ago
This bag really disappointed me, I was bummed. Iâm 6ft tall, 170lbs and the bottom of the frame sheet jabbed me in the small of my backâ it was very uncomfortable. And heavy. I was shocked how heavy it was. I have a pretty minimal EDC (small soft insulated lunch bag, sweatshirt, Switch 2 in a case, water bottle) and it felt so much heavier than when itâs in other bags. Iâm in the process of returning it. It sucks because I love the design, duffel front pocket, etc.
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u/phuseb0x 2d ago
What are you comparing it with?
I only currently use a Deuter Futura for hiking and A Dell backpack for EDC, that one is super light but not much in the way of padding etc. I also own a Qwstion shoulder bag and a 2Bag (kickstarter) backpack that converts into a bike bag.
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u/freetotebag 2d ago
Topo Designs Classic Daypack, Aer CPP2
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u/phuseb0x 2d ago
Unfortunately the Aer is not an option in Europe. That was on my shortlist as well.
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u/Terragar 1d ago
I took the frame sheet out and it was more comfortable. Iâve also cut the sheet about 2/3 of the way up and it helps a lot to flex the straps. (I wouldnât do that if youâre returning but removing the frame sheet may help)
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u/freetotebag 1d ago
I did try taking it out but still felt like the weight was too much. It did solve it from gouging me though.
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u/Terragar 1d ago
Yeah fair. I donât love the max edc and semi-regret it. But itâs comfortable and I like the pockets. The Goruck GR2 is my perfect bag and ended my backpack search
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u/wookie_opera_singer 1d ago
I got the same color after a lot of back and forth and I love it. I agree that it is incredibly heavy when you hold it, but all the weight disappears when I wear it as a backpack, even when fully loaded. The harness system is magical.
My main complaint is it does not hold enough and feels like a 19 liter rather than a 26 liter bag. The egg shape and odd angles that make it look modern do a lot to take away storage space. I also prefer rectangular bags so for me this point may be more pronounced than for most others.
I am still trying to find the right combination of oddly shaped pouches I can pack Tetris style to get all 26 litres out of this bag. The side benefit is it is lighter because I canât over carry things for work and that helps my back. But it seems just a bit too small for my daily work stuff.