I asked for extras, so that I could make a strap that goes around things and they just sent me some for free.

Oh yeah, I wasn't really complaining. I just wish I didn't have to throw down $300 to get a bag.

Bunch of review videos on YouTube as well if anyone has time (of course you do). I especially like the one uploaded by MW.

you don't have to.

you can buy a lower quality bag for less and have a fraction of the product. less longevity, less enjoyment, less practicality, less ability.

you can though... in fact anyone living in america who uses a cycling backpack daily should be able to budget a mission workshop bag if they work hard enough.

300 ain't that much money if you don't have car payments, debt, or bad habits. a lot of us do, and that's okay too.

just don't complain about spending 300 on a bag that is worth it. these are worth it. not so much for some other bags, regardless of where they are made or if the workers making them are treated fairly.

Got mine for a steal at like $150 (city grounds sale).

Kaz, a rambler will be huge, and the straps are spaced to far apart for me - and I'm 5'10". If you get one, I'd recommend the waist stabilizer and constant use of the chest strap.

Now, if I could just get my wife to stop driving. The bag is worth it, and I don't regret the money I spent.

And to be fair, the $300 was for the bag, hip belt, and the chrome accessory pouch.

And me! I gots the hookups with her too! Matching bags!

Also, this bag is seriously the perfect thing for me. I'm 6'4", 200lbs, I carry a lot of **** a lot of the time, and it comes in my favorite color. I'm stoked.

im 6'3" and the vandal is perfect size and still is large. hate to be smaller and wear it tho.

Threadjacking.

If you are interested in extreme quality at a good price


This is the pack I use. Osprey Quasar. It's a climbing pack, but I couldn't have asked for a studier pack. I paid $90 for mine. It's super strong, carried about 80lbs in it personally, and it has a bunch of adjustable straps for load displacement. I use it for school, riding, everything. It has a spot for a water bladder in it too.

/Threadjacking.

I completely agree that a good bag is worth every penny. I got the Chrome Ivan, instead of the Vandal, largely because of the price difference (about $100 less), and while I really love my Ivan, it's no Vandal and I wish I'd gotten the Vandal. Specifically, the Vandal has those convenient zippers to expand it, while the Ivan doesn't.

Dang, if I don't pick up the Chrome Soyuz, I'd definitely get a MW Rambler. I had the Ivan but it was a little too big for my tastes. Anyone know how much smaller a Soyuz or Rambler is? Or the Vandal for the matter, so I can get an idea in my head based in OP's picture!

I feel the same way about my Metropolis. It fits me perfectly and is still large but looks absurdly large on anyone smaller than me.

Big bags need to be worn with attitude.

Here's me: 5'4" with an almost-fully packed Rambler:

Wow thanks for thatpic. I think the rambler would fit quite nice on me.

If I had loads like that to carry often, I'd get a trailer or an Xtracycle or go all in and order a Big Dummy. Or a bakfiets. I would also be getting some gears on the bike.

Nice that the bag can hold so much but it's not a good idea to have that much weight on your back when you ride. Center of gravity is too high and unstable. As you said, you almost fell over just getting onto the bike.

Osprey packs are super nice. I have a Talon-22 I use for bikepacking, day hiking, and epic mtb rides. It is a seriously nice pack. Between my Vandal, the Talon-22, and my Chrome Metropolis mess bag, I have pretty much all of my carrying needs taken care of.

I almost did this once, because I had just moved to a new place and bought a whole bunch of heavy stuff at once, carrying it in my backpack and two grocery baskets. There was also a heavy crosswind that day, which made going home even more exciting. I quickly learned to make more frequent, lighter grocery trips in the future.

I'm not familiar with the product myself (I have a Chrome Mini-Metro), but Mr. JesusBananas is a quite fond of his Osprey pack. It's great for hiking, although it is worth noting that he doesn't ride, so I don't know what it's like on the bike.

I'm here for the MW Vandal love, too. My LBS hooked me up with a Vandal for $150 over black friday. w00t!!

I've carried some pretty crazy loads, too. The first one was a 22" LCD monitor, which was cake, due to the stretchy buckle strap. My most grandiose accomplishment so far was the 32" LCD TV I had to bring back to work to ship out. That required a little headscratching and an additional bungee. The best part is pulling up to a stop light and watching the person in the car next to you freak out. Like a BOSS.

Well, here was another time I put crazy things in my bag.

Is that a toaster oven?

It is a microwave.

Microwave. Nice.

My wife and I both have Vandals. Why? Because we support a S.O.P.W.M.T.O.S. Period. I hate the idea of giving money to foreign countries of I don't have to. Yes, there are some fine products made there. No, that doesn't help my community, region, economy or country.

I support guys like MW, Soulcraft, Paul, White Industries because they offer a product that is made in the U.S.A. with pride. I know that pride when I go to work every day and put in 8 hours to put out a product that I'm proud of - not that's "cheap to the degree that it won't break now, but who cares in 31 days."

My 11 year old son has even asked for a Rambler, which we've seriously considered. If he keeps it through college it not only pays for itself - but we know he has a bag that is strong and won't hurt his back. I remember growing up and having a new backpack every year - and every year I had more problems with my back as a kid because cheap bags suck.

lvleph: Did you ever mention how tall you were? Your vandal looks like it fits pretty nicely for your body size, yet redpear's rambler seems to fit perfectly on his 5'4" frame.

I tend to feel that bigger bags look more appropriate, especially when packed. If I was even 3 inches taller, I'd have gotten a Vandal.

I'm about 5'9" and my chrome Ivan was a bit annoying due to its size. Stilled liked it though. I saw a comparison between the two, and they were pretty, uch the same height except the vandal was a bir more compact.

I had major problems with vision when looking over my shoulder!