Mardingtop 65L Backpack Field Test Failures : The Unfortunate Reality of Cheap Tactical Gear
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- Опубликовано: 26 авг 2024
- Today Luke is field testing the Mardingtop 65L backpack and the results are ABSOLUTELY HORRIBLE.
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I've got the exact same pack and have no issues at all! First of all it looks like you've got it adjusted wrong and that the hip belt is sitting above you're hips. You have to adjust the pack correctly in order to give an honest review. When adjusted properly I find it very comfortable to wear - even with a heavy load and with no wobble at all. Compared to my Karrimor SF Sabre 60-100 which is a military pack, the Mardingtop is a great pack for the price!
So true. How is your longterm and heavier weight experience? Should I go to tailor right away to double stitch on shoulder straps?
@@BushcraftEurope I haven't had it for more than 4 months, but so far I've had no problems. Been using it almost every week on different trips
I’m 72 and my camping (exclusively in recent years) has been my RV. Dad started taking me camping in the 1950’s and we both started hiking in the early 1960’s when I joined the Boy Scouts. With the scouts, my dad and friends I hiked until about 33 years old when after a second knee surgery overnight hiking trips became a thing of the past. The equipment that a person has to choose from now is awesome, the 20 years plus that I did this kind of 3 day to 2 week backpacking trips your selection was very limited. If you wanted a great pack you had a Kelty from their store in Glendale Ca. If you wanted to stay warm at night you had a Eddie Bauer sleeping bag, there were no lightweight tents you had a plastic tube tent. I know the name Kelty is still around but originally they had 3 frame sizes and you could get a portioned pack or an open pack and it was an outrageous 35-40$ out the door. Great channel, I love watching your reviews, I forward many to the daughters for the grandkids who are getting into this activity.
It's cool to hear the stories from the older folks. Thanks for sharing it.
I'm nearly 45 and have been camping since I was 5 years old. At 18 I joined the dutch army and a tough infantry brigade so 1996. They gave us some great gear that is still sold today. Berghaus Goretex Yeti gaiters.
A canvas tent half with buttons, 1 pole and a couple of stakes. Okay really where's the rest of the tent? Well you find a buddy, he has the other half and pole and sleep in it together. It's connect together with buttons like on a jeans. How in the world is this piece of *beeep* gonna be waterproof. But it was and it was tiny but it worked.
New isn't always better and people weren't crazy in the old days. Some things have improved yes but not all things.
And I agree it's a great channel Luke has, Good vibe, good people, respect. Love it.
I'm 65 still ride a bicycle with packs. Keep on trucken camper🎉
I just bought the 75L last week. Lonewolf 902 sold me on it with his reviews. I really like the way the compartments are laid out on the 75L. We’ll see how long the material holds up.
Edit: it was on sale so I picked it up for 82 bucks. Could definitely get a more quality pack for $200-300+ but for the price it’s not that bad.
how is it going?
@@Fede_uyzI have 75L too. It is amazing! Very happy with it.
Just ordered 28L and gonna attach two side pouches for my water bottles with a source convertube.
I have a DD Bergen as a daypack but I dont like it. Ordered a 25L Mardingtop few months ago and I was pleased with that one as well.
I also got it because of Lonewolf 902's review video. The pack is crap though, I got the green, and the color doesn't match what they advertise so they refunded e thankfully. Regardless , the pack itself is not comfortable because of the way the frame is attached.
I got it because of lone wolf the packs are sh1t don't bother buying !!!!!
I have a 75 liter version of this backpack and I can tell that after only 2 trips with around 20kg (around 44 pounds) the stitches on the load lifters started to become undone. Also the grab handle stitches look flimsy. In the end bought local brand backpack for much cheaper and much better quality materials.
Thanks for the review on this backpack. I took your advice and bought a surplus military-style backpack from Colemans Military Surplus. They sell great gear. Anyway, it is a British Bergen (medium) and I love it. It is really heavy and needed some cleaning up, but it makes a great Get-Home-bag. It is 7 lbs but bomb-proof with deep pockets to keep gear organized, so it suits me just fine. Thanks for the recommendation. Cheers!
Coleman’s is my go-to for military surplus, love those guys!
I've used the M6226 Mardingtop 60L for many years now as my trail blazing pack. For lighter weight on groomed trails I use a different set up. Unfortunately people don't realize that different packs do different things there's really no great all in one. If you're a thru hiker I seriously doubt Mardingtop would be the pack you would choose. However if you're going through thick brush I doubt a thru hiking pack would be the one you would choose. Mine doesnt have the adjustable back like the one you are using has. However I have noticed that to get it right you do a lot of adjusting to figure out the sweet spot If you have it wrong it feels very wobbly and unstable would be the best way I could put it. Mine runs hot but I predominantly use it in the winter so it doesn't matter. Other than that no problems with the zips or strength. I did just get the M6480 Mardingtop 70L With the new adjustable harness set up but I have not used it enough to give any sort of opinion.
I never do backpack reviews because it all depends on the person using it and if they know how to use it and there body type, one person the pack may fit great while another person it doesn't.
Just my 0.01 cents
Oh and 31.8 loadout
I love my 75L and the V2 type suspension system.
I ruck with 45-50lbs and as long as the load carrier straps are tight and the “hip” belt is synched across my belly button it stays in place without shifting or pulling me back.
Love how you threw it up on your knee holding the D-loopthen slung it around. Only one other way and it’s to throw it on over the top.
Thanks for everything that you do brother, Strength and Honour
Great video! I would never have known the items to look for while evaluating a new backpack. Thanks Luke!
At 14 minutes you can see the adjustment markers for the torso .you have this set on the the wrong setting , which gives you lateral movement when you walk.
You need to try this again wearing it correctly . Drop it until your hip bones are engaged by the hip support
It looked to me like it was very high up on his waist instead of using the hips. But the load lifters seemed to be at the right angle so I'm not sure if bringing the hip belt lower would correct the situation. Not my kind of pack anyway since the last thing I'm interested in is looking like I'm gearing up for military conflict! LOL ASll that Molle webbing is just added weight without the pack having the ability to support using it to add other gear or pockets to it anyway.
You're absolutely right! My thoughts exactly. I've got the same pack and have no issues at all. He needs to raise the shoulder straps quite a bit...
@@fimbuloutdoors I think he's wearing incorrectly on purpose .
If I'm not mistaken, you can replace the frame with a better one. Also, maybe they have gone downhill with their quality, or I got lucky with a good one, but I've had this pack for quite a while and don't have a lot of these issues. I genuinely really like this pack and for the price I got it (around $60) think it's really good.
One could probably reinforce the frame by screwing a flat aluminum profiles to connect the existing metal elements and create a grid, or glue a rigid plastic sheet or even a thin plywood from an RC model store. Many years ago I purchased a military style, molle, 45L backpack and stitches surprisingly started to undone from the loadout. It was probably not the best backpack, but back then I just reinforced the spot with a fabric camo tape and put more stitches. I tried to locate the fix area now, out of curiosity, and took me a while, it blended so well ;)
I appreciate your hopefulness and positivity. You’re always willing to give products a fair shake at meeting their proposed features and effectiveness no matter what the common sense assessment might be. We need more people who are unabashedly honest and simultaneously respectful. Cheers!
THIS is why I tend to rely on you and a few other YT'ers reviews when it comes to my equipment purchases! I bought the Snugpak Endurance 40 and like everything except the lack of rigidity and I also prefer a slightly heavier duty material(For that reason I am now in the market for a Gen 2 ILBE). This pack gets WAY too many good reviews. Thank you for NOT having an agenda! Bill Doyle from NJ
Somewhat off topic: I fully understand and appreciated your love of Fjallraven's Vidda Pro trousers. Bought two pairs, on your recommendation, and have had zero regrets. Thank you.
I've been using this very backpack for over 2 years now. I was kinda chuffed that I managed to get it in the two-tone army-green/black scheme which looks cool.
My first trip out with it was total agony, because _rookiee mistake_ I hadn't adjusted it to my torso height properly. Once that was done, it's been fine since.
I reinforced the useless plastic internal frame with a titanium grill in it's pocket, it was thin enough to fit in there and drastically improved the bending problem.
The adjustment straps do slip occasionally, you really need to use the elastic ties to wedge them up tight (which all seem to be missing from Luke's in his video here for some reason?) while I replaced the front buckle entirely with an alloy quick-release.
The molle webbing...lol...I found that when I started adding a few molle packs, *the webbing isn't exactly to military spacing.* You may have issues adding pouches _aka nightmares._
Water bottle pouches are a waste of time, you cannot reach them. I store small things in there instead and use a dedicated water bottle pouch on the hip belt or a hydration bladder.
Overall though, for an amatuer overnighter it's alright, for anything more..you need to look for a more susbstantial backpack.
The reason Chinese-branded products are so bad even though a lot of high-end Western-branded stuff is also made in China is because western branded stuff was designed down to the last stitch by a westerner who went to a western university. The reason nothing that the Chinese make is of any real quality is because even when they actually try hard, they still fail because they were never trained and educated in design and engineering principles like us westerners are. There's always been a huge difference between 'Made in China' and 'Designed in China'...
Yea that's great, except all the western entrepreneurs take the designs made by the western engineers they hire and give them to Chinese industrialists. Then the entrepreneur says to the Chinese industrialist "run off 10,000 of these for me". The Chinese industrialists oblige, as well as runoff another 10,000 for themselves on the down low to sell on Temu.
The point here is westerners give the designs to the Chinese to save a buck manufacturing. Once in the hands of the Chinese those western designs are no longer anyone's intellectual property for all intent and purpose. This is the trade off western entrepreneurs knowingly make when they take their intellectual property to China to be manufactured.
You are correct in that there is another market of hack job entrepreneurs in the west whom go to China and have the product they want to market designed in some back alley in Bejing.
Regardless, the fact remains that the Chinese make exact copies of western designs all the time. They do also have a black market of designers and that is where it gets wild regarding quality.
How did the Chinese finally get good at making steel? By operating western steel factories on their soil. It's not hard to steal a design and ideas when the person you're stealing from hands them to you for profit
With all that said the Chinese like all capitalists, and yes the Chinese government is very capitalist, will cut corners. Given there is little to no regulation of product safety and claims in China even when a company has the western design they will still usually cut corners. Often because they cannot source the higher quality materials because often times the western company will provide the materials and hardware for the process. A good example of this is a slingshot I purchased recently. It's. $10 Chinese knock off of an American made $50 slingshot. The frame is identical, so how is it $10 not $50? Well they used a cheaper plastic. Not cheap plastic, just a cheaper plastic. The American made one uses a cutting edge polymer that is way stronger, overly strong in fact. The Chinese one molded theirs with a high density polymer, which is more than enough for the task at hand. The Chinese offering used.crappy clips to secure the bands. They were crappy because the screw was a bolt designed for hand tightening not a screw driver or Allen key. Solution....I bought the better clips separately from simple shot for $9 put em on my $10 Chinese slingshot and it's as good as the American one. It still is using inferior plastic but again it will never break bend or fail so who cares. Of note is everyone replaced the bands even on the American version so I obviously put better bands on it as well. At the end of the day it was still over half the price. You may ask why would I bother for $20 and the answer was to see if I could. Of course I want to support simple shot and do with other purchases, but I'm not gonna feel bad for buying by a Chinese knockoff in addition to the American stuff.
The Chinese military has stuff that works and probably we'll designed stuff,they just don't sell it to westerners,they keep that to themselves,while we just sell everywhere.
Thats cap, u literally said its made in china, anything that says made in us is specially all these tactical gear is made in china and they buy it bulk and snap their logo on it
Thanks for the review, and the heads up! Having not seen it personally, from what you show, it was an obvious no go from about the middle of the video. Thanks for all the hard work! 👍🏻
I have their Day Pack in Artic Camo and their 65+10L. I carry my 12 gauge disassembled in it and all my gear, no issues. But I'm not a petite male and it actually fits me.
😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆
😂😂
Hey Luke, good stuff as usual! Friendly constructive feedback, you gotta remove the 5 minutes of nothing at the end. Has the whole family scrambling for the remote.
I have Mardingtop 65L & 75L Backpacks, they work well for me. To be fair I don't use them as hard as you but for me I like them. I do value your comments and reviews on all things camping. I remember your earlier reviews I think you did on your living room floor, all great.
100% love mine. Loaded 60lb in Midwest woods and it's been absolutely great. Wonderful price. It looks like your straps are not fully secured and that your pack is poorly adjusted. Mine seems to be doing just fine.
Fantastic channel! Thanks for all the info! Just to be fair, i have the Mardingtop 28L Tactical Backpack and is fantastic. I have it since about 2018 and i use it almost every day for going to work. No complains and its holding great.
i bought the 65l+10. well ill give it a 3 out 5 . what i dont like about it is i had to constantly tighten my straps . i tried everything i possibly knew to get them to stay tight but never happened. i no longer use it because i got tired of tightening them , cheap bought is buying twice
I have a similar pack from them with the removable side pouches and you may have gotten a bad pack as my load lifters and straps work just fine and don't come loose like yours were doing. Also I didn't notice that side to side movement on the pack was any worse than any other internal frame pack I have used, of course that could be because my straps were staying dialed in and not slipping. Granted I'm also not packing it above 30 lbs since anything above that I really prefer an external frame pack. Over all it has been good to me for weekend and maybe a weeks length trip where you are not trying to cover a really long distance/day but need somewhat rugged gear, i.e. your not an ultra light through hiker taking this on the AT or PCT.
In my opinion, it looks more like a shoulderpack than a backpack. It rides way too high, it would definitely be uncomfortable for me to carry.
Yeah, those load lifters are too close to vertical.
Luke; thanks for your relentless and fair testing; it's why I bought the Litefighter tent (which I really like) a couple of years ago. Just curious; have you ever tested the US military Large 'Alice' (LC-1) pack with external frame? I'd be interested in your assessment.
I can say for the money, an Alice pack with frame, is not bad. Not the most comfortable, but it's a solid pack and the way it's set up, allows for a lot of air flow so my back doesn't sweat as much. I've always liked military surplus packs, even though they are usually heavy and not the most comfortable, for the money, there's nothing more robust on the market. I've had my Alice pack with frame for over 6 years now, and having the USMC FILBE pack as well, I find the FILBE pack rides better as it's wider and doesn't hang so far off from your back like the Alice does, but it seems to trap a lot more heat with less air flow and the pack is heavier. I bought my Large Alice pack with the frame from a flea market for $45 and it's the real Alice pack, canvas made, frame was a little beat up but not bad and no straps, but the straps are cheap. The FILBE pack O bought from from an online military surplus dealer for $68 and it had some holes in it, but those were easily stitched up and the waist strap, some of the fabric is worn through with holes but it still works and a replaceable waist belt is not expensive either. The only issues most people make with these packs, because they can hold a lot of gear, load them up with too much stuff and gets way to heavy.
I own 2 used US military Alice packs. Hiked up Mt LeConte (GSMNP) twice with it. They are not bad packs, but replaced it with a Camelbak pack. Don't think that it is currently being made. IMHO I like the USGI MOLLE II setup better then the old Alice packs. Take care hope you find one you like. Add a Camelbak hydration system to a pack. Nice easy to get a drink. No reaching back to get water. Mount the tube on one of the straps. Reach over and sip away.
@@tompinnef6331
Camel backs or having a hydration bladder in general is very nice to have when hiking and such for the exact reasons you stated.
@@tompinnef6331 I recently got a large LC-2, and I'm waiting on a frame. I've had a Camelback for several years. Great on the hike, but I prefer drinking from my Grayl on the stops.
@@Cetok01 I understand, what ever works for you. In my case, i've had 5 heat strokes due to my many years in the fire service. So I am 'always' sipping due to that. (yes i know it could be bad for me to hike sometimes during hot weather) But I like to walk and hike at times. My Camelbak at times is some type of 'Gatorade' type liquid due to this problem. I try to limit my walks / hikes to cooler weather. If you 'run into me' on a trail. I'll be wearing a old friends boonies hat he gave to me. (RIP John) Say hello - Spinner is nick
I have the mardingtop 60L. I bought the 55L but they were all out of the color i wanted so they upped the size for no extra charge which was nice. I haven't had many major issues with the bag and I've used it quite a bit. One thing I do have an issue with is the water bottle sleeves and how poor they can hold even the most basic water bottle due to the 60L side pockets protruding right on top of them. I never carry more than 30lbs so that probably should be taken into consideration.
I bought a used US,Army pack from my local Surplus store that is organized identically with the 3- bag structure, only it has an aluminum frame that joins a hard plastic base where the waist/hip area is. It has the same straps, too. I haven't tested it out yet, but when I donned it at the store , i could tell it will manage the weight much better than another I got from the same store. It cost me $70. The upper compartment rain protection is pretty worn out, but a plastic bag could slip over it ok to protect my gear. It was all I could afford. I am glad I found it. The sales lady said it was actual US Army issue.
It would be helpful if you mentioned how much weight that you were carrying and where the heavy items were positioned in the backpack.It makes a difference in how a pack performs or fails.
NOT THE POINT HES TRYING TO MAKE LMFAO.
I used this pack for a 3 day hike at marble meadows BC and it was extremely comfortable on my back. The internal fram kept my back straight and with an evenly pack load it was super stable and comfortable on my back. Straps never came loose even after 7 hours straight hiking. The construction is almost identical to the osprey 300 dollar bags at cabaleas however this storage system is better in my opinion. Would recommend this for back country hiking or hunting price to value is extremely high. Try to keep the weight at 50 pounds max mine was at 45 pounds but any back over that will wear out and kill your back. My body weight is 244 for reference total weight 288. Then again it's the 75 not the 60 probably some difference in quality.
"This trail is so steep"
*Laughs in Colorado*
I used a pack from this manufacturer over five days on a trail hike in 2016 because I prioritised sleep and shelter gear and thus opted for a cheaper pack. My experience was very similar to Luke's, and although I didn't have any issues with material deterioration it doesn't sound like they've made many significant changes in terms of quality since then.
I ended up getting an Osprey pack in the sales and it was an eye-opener as to how a well made pack can make your trek much easier, in spite of weighing a kg or two more.
The Mardingtop pack that I started hiking with was just too squidgy to handle the volume of gear that it proposed to carry - only consider buying one if you can't stretch to a more robust pack.
Better yet safe up for a better suited pack or get a good deal on used or new surplus.All the best to you.
I've had my Mardingtop 60 litre backpack with the side pockets for well over a year. I do a lot of canoe camping and with that comes a lot of bushwacking and it's held up very well. My usual load weighs anywhere from 35 - 42 lbs. I also have their 75 litre with side pockets and use that for my winter camping trips and again have had no issues with mine and last but not least i have their 28 litre pack ( Like the one you're using in your Bigfoot vid )for just day outings with no problems. Either i've been very lucky or you've been very unlucky, that being said i am not saying that this pack is better than brands like Savotta or Mystery Ranch etc. but when you compare the price difference (at least here in Canada) between these packs I think for most non military use the Mardingtop would be fine.
It's gotta be rough when you check your YT feed and see your product called one of the worst, but hopefully they'll take the feedback and improve it.
that's not a frame, that's a piece of shipping plastic to maitain shape during gransport !!!!
With your reviews you are teaching. What things do you want to consider when choosing a pack for a planned use. Thanks.
I hope that these people saying how wonderful these packs are don't plan on using them for an emergency (SHTF, etc) because they ARE garbage. Four of my soldiers bought these for use during an FTX and all failed. Three failed on the FTX (2 with broken shoulder straps and 1 with a split seam near the bottom) and one as the soldier was loading up to go home ( bottom seam failed dumping everything onto the pavement). You want a good SHTF pack? Stay away from polyester and get a name brand pack.
One question - why are your soldiers buying gear like this on the market? (I’m assuming you’re US Army.) I got out in 1998 and from talking with friends who got out a lot more recently I know that at least while deployed soldiers have a lot of latitude with footwear, but I’d think issued stuff would be required for most other gear.
I'll bet the issue with the straps isn't just the hardware. It's probably inferior webbing. I ran out of mil spec webbing while making a bag once and used a different type. I ended up regretting it because it wouldn't stay put in the hardware. Had to go back and replace it.
Yep, if the straps are also polyester that might be the problem because it’s more slippery than nylon.
I'd love to see outdoor gear review review the rockgartor 40 liter dry bag , I've had mine for a few years now an like it but would nice to see your thou woooghts on it it great for a quick trip into the woods it's even saved me from a nasty fall the straps and buckles held well no problem there
Hello Luke,, that back pack looks so uncomfortable to me. thank you again for your review.
I bought this pack two years ago for a 15 mile solo overnight. This pack hurt my shoulders so bad on the way back, I ordered an Osprey Aether 65 before I even made it back to the parking lot. I knew it wasn’t going to help me on that trip but I wanted to make sure I never had to go through that pain ever again.
I did use the Osprey the fallowing month carrying the same exact gear. Its a knight and day difference. or should I say heaven and hell difference.
The only reason I don’t regret getting the mardingtop & putting myself through that pain is because without that experience I probable would have bought my 9yr old at the time a cheap bag for her to go on these overnight hikes with me. She would never had made it due to the sheer pain of the backpack. So I got her an osprey for her first pack and shes able to carry all of her own supplies for hammock camping without any issue in the Osprey.
"without any problem", but yeah. You get what you pay for. Amazon is the premier seller of cheap chinese garbage. The name "Mardingtop" says it all.
Good to see ya calling out these glaring issues. The buckles and straps not staying snug is super dangerous. If a shoulder strap pops on 3rd or 4th class terrain, definitely gonna throw off your balance.
I've had my mardingtop 70L since 2018. No issues and holding strong.
Thanks for the review. It looks like a cheap made in China replica from the Savotta Jääkääri series which are the best backpacks imho.
I have a backpack I bought from Amazon which is a little small for my torso. If I backpack more, I will try to find something that fits, but I'm kind of more into car camping and day hiking lately. Can't really justify the price, but if I do it will be something that is made for my torso.
Look for a second hand Osprey. You will not regret it! Lots of selection in sizes both for fitting and capacity.
@@jimbojones6169 Yeah, that would be my first choice.
I must got lucky. I have the 65 +10 and it's been a dream for 4-5 years!
I bought the 75 backpack. Had 55lbs in it 😅 was car camping lol. Love it! I haven’t hiked long distance with it yet but so far it has held up on a few trips and seems like pretty decent quality. Able to put way too much in it lol
[Olde Phart Flag On] I enjoy the grousing by "softies" (internal frame packers). 55+ years ago, I routinely lugged monster loads on my external frame backpack. There's nothing that compares with them. Plenty of ventilation. Great load capacity. Sure, they don't flex, but they also keep the load closer to your center of gravity. Softies are great for mountaineering and such, but when hiking and camping, there's nothing as good as an external frame pack... with a hip belt that truly gets the load off your shoulders.
(Hmmm, I wonder how easy it would be to add a grommet strip so I could mount a modern frameless backpack to my frame?)
Educate yourself so you don't further embarrass yourself out of ignorance.
Looks to be a poorly made item. Dad took us camping in the late 60 / early 70's. Canvas tents where the norm. Heavy cast iron pans so not much 'back packing' in those days. Was still fun and exciting to get out of town and 'rough' it for a weekend or the yearly 1 week camping trip to Wisconsin or Minnesota. Best trip was the boundary canoe trip from 'landing one' to Alice lake. 4 boys, mom and dad. So many portages carrying canoe on your back. Oh the portage was measured in 'rods' not feet. Didn't mind the 50 yards portages. The killers where 80 to 100 rod ones. Take care, hope the family and you are doing well.
Luke, awesome review! Thanks 🎒
Good gear review report...one of a very few reviews where a person loads and actually hikes this backpack prior to reviewing.
There are several RUclips review videos of the Mardingtop backpack that give them great reviews: nearly all of these reviews are out of the box / first impression opinions. In none of these videos do these people do more than maybe load it and put it on their back, then give their "gear review" without even having REALLY USED this pack.
I would like to see you do a backpack review of the newer Mystery Ranch "Bridger" 65L Backpack.
Just got the overload.Like-WOW.
@@thomaspenrod2756 - On that Mardingtop Backpack...it did appear like the pack was riding a little high on you. Were you certain to have the torso adjustment properly fit to you? The belt also looked like it was higher above your hip bones. Maybe if you had it fitting a couple of inches lower, with the belt riding on your hip bones, it may be more secure to your back and reduce sway? Just inquiring...also, how much weight were you carrying in it.
I do agree that a slight pack adjustment will NOT address the really flimsy internal "frame", or correct slipping buckles.
Several other reviews also reported the slipping buckles / straps...some tie knots in the straps...a crude work-around.
aww man, I got this backpack for christmas and the wife and I have been scouting out a place to go.
For the frame 1CM corroplast/hi-core would probably do the job, it might go by different names in different regions. That stuff is stiff as a board and pretty light for what it is. It's the stuff they make heavy duty signs and stuff like that from.
Or carbon fiber, I plan on buying a small sheet from McMaster-Carr and making a replacement frame sheet for my GG Crown2 60 to see if I can carry another 10lb comfortably. It’s so comfortable with 25-30lb that I’d love to try it with loads I normally use my Osprey Aether 70 AG for.
@@philsmith2444 or that, most hardware stores have the other stuff, or throwaway signs from signage places.
Be interesting to see how well either solution would work out with heavy loads.
Just checked my order from Jan last year and I have the 75l. Liking this video so I can do a comparison at a later date. I have to add that I thought we had the same, but no. Mine is huge on me and I do like the feel of if when loaded and on my back. Had 21kg in it before when I could be bothered to weigh it and used it many times. I'll probably do a load out vid myself. The carry loop on mine feels flimsy and I do worry that it will break when I lift with it. Currently have a frozen shoulder so camping not possible which is very frustrating as I've missed using my Mr Heater too
I feel ya, just had my rotator cuff done and I am out of the woods for a while too. Hope you get better soon
@@JO-rk5gu 6 months post injury Jo and had the MRI result today. RCT and ligament thickening. steroids injection in 3 weeks. So should be good in 10 years if the NHS has anything to do with it. I'm hoping for some improvement as I have a 2 week wild camp booked for June on a UK island and a Jamaica trip in August.
Thanks for the review Luke .
Huh, I have a 75L Mardingtop and love it, never had any of those issues at all, weird.
Luke Great Job Demo...You Can Tell Going Downhill You Were Having Problms....Oh My Gosh Not Even Worth 20 For That Pack Great Job Thank You
I was wondering how the camera got in front of him when he took the backpack off after turning around so we can see it.
He sets the camera up first, then walks back and walks back up to the camera or acts like he is walking away. It makes for amazing footage, but really demostrates just how much effort he and other content creators put in to make us these awesome vids
thanks for saving me the hassle. it looks nice but i thought the price was too good to be true and apparently, it is.
I love mine. I did close to 100 miles last year and haven't seen any problems with mine. It's built like a truck.
Love your reviews. Keep them coming!
I know nothing about these. But could tell the top was leaning out. That can't be comfortable. 🤷♀️
I got the same size pack but I believe it was their previous model. It's 95% the same. It has the exact same problems, and just like you said, those problems compound exponentially the more you go above 25lbs. I used to wear this on the treadmill for a minimum 2 mile walk on incline every day and I could never keep the straps adjusted properly. They always loosened up. I bought the pack before I discovered your channel. Thankfully I've upgraded since then!
Guys, it's a good pack. The
price is also very good. The odds are you won't be out every weekend, you don't need the Cadillac of backpacks for a few outdoor experiences.
None of his complaints are that big of a deal and CAN be adjusted.
Finally, pockets I can fill with Tic Tacs
It'll make a good duffel storage for my gear pouches...
Expensive bags are just inconvenient to use... I bought 75L today. I think it's a good bag for the price.
Travel backpacks are a simple means of transportation.
I have several backpacks, a few of them are expensive, e.g., Mystery Ranch Terraframe 3-Zip 50 Backpack , Eberlestock X2 Pack, and a Frost River Isle Royale Bushcraft Backpack -45 Liter. I also bought moderately priced backpacks for my wife and two sons. My boys are actually young men. I took a chance on buying the Mardingtop 75L Molle Hiking Internal Frame Backpack. We needed at least one large backpack for all our extra gear when camping. Upon receipt of the 75L backpack, that I purchased on Amazon, I gave it a quick inspection. I was impressed since I only paid $96.99. Anyway, we’ve been using it on our camping trips without having it fail on us. I was cautious about putting too much weight in the bag. I’ve been weighing it out to be no more than 27lbs. (Clothes, sleeping bags, towels, and a tarp…the bulky stuff). I recommend the 75L bag. It’s material is 600D polyester and the back support is extremely stiff. Polyester isn’t as good as nylon, but for the price, the backpack can’t be beat. As for the strap slippage you experienced, there was to much weight in the bag. In a pinch, you could have tied a knot in the strap, provided it’s in the right spot.
Luke, your reviews are hands down the best anywhere. Rock on, brother!
I have a 75 l mardingtop and i'm really Happy with this model..is a very good rucksack.
My buddy have the 60l and what he did was a knot so it doesn't keep getting loose. I think that was a good idea because he didnt even complained after that
U look nice. Cool hat n glasses. Hi Suzy. Hope ur both well. I’m 67. Love walking. Esp in nature God bless u
Purchased after lone wolfs review (he was clearly paid) and I sent it back the next day it was absolutely shocking !! It looked thrown together with crappie zips !!! Get yourself an osprey 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼
The complaint about the strap "hardware" not holding the strap is an easy $1 fix. Get a 25mm metal slide buckle (or wider) =[|]= and thread the tail of the strap through it. The increased friction will do the job. Remember, plastics have less friction. Of course, it will also be a bear to quickly change strap length. . . D'Oh.
Why invest another dollar in something that is complete garbage ?
Heard the deal though, I’m 6’4, 240 & have very broad shoulders, what does not fit you may very likely fit another. Diff sized bodies fit diff stuff
I have been using the mardingtop 75l for three years.... carrying up to 16kg... stuffed to the max. Had no issues at all.....best pack I ever had personally. Not ONE single issue
Well one thing I always say is never say never or always. Also peoples needs and things they judge varies from person to person
@@claycarpenter8625 absolutely...I have 3 different mardingtop packs and all.have been brilliant so far
Do you have experience with other bags of this size? I don't mean that as an insult just genuinely curious how you'd compare them. I used to buy a lot of more budget packs but over time have moved to more mid-high end bags like 5.11, Maxpedition, Kelty, Mountainsmith, etc. From my experience with budget versions like Red Rock, Voodoo Tactical, Fieldline, Condor, etc is that there is a noticeable step down in quantity and durability but that doesn't mean they're junk, just a lower end option. I love TOGR but do think he is on the harsh or dramatic side when he doesn't like a product. I think Decathlon has incredible designs and quality for the money.
@@DL-ij7tf well honestly.....I have never spent over £100 UK on a pack. I can just say that after 3 years of continuous use, my mardingtop has not let me down once. It's comfortable, can be stuffed to the max, never leaked, no zip failures ...... it's just stood the test of time and I am sure it will continue
@@veganoutdoorsman That's good to hear, I like hearing when inexpensive stuff pans out. Like I said I've used a lot of more budget gear and it generally did pretty well. If it works it works. That being said, I have found that bags are a "get what you pay for" item and while there's always an option to spend way too much, more money can net you lighter, more durable, more comfortable, and usually better designed packs.
Watching this video I noticed something that make it hard to take the review seriously. Respect I will say 1) the walking style is very heavy footed, almost stomping down the trail. 2) the pack seems to be loaded with a lot if weight towards the outside away, making lean back. Both will cause issues and pain.
I stick to packs by Crib Gogh, Savotta, Mystery Ranch, Blackhawk,Jayjays and Warrior assault systems and Osprey amongst others.
wish I would have seen this video before I bought the exact same backpack 24 months ago during the lockdown.
Complete junk eh ?
Thanks for posting this review...saved me some money and frustration!
Last spring I actually bought one of the Mardingtop bags, but after watching your video right now, I went and looked at it. The frame was actually more substantial than the frame was in your video. I honestly don't know which version it is, I'll try to hunt that down.
ive got the 50L and the "frame" goes to the top of the bag. it seems that they larger bags are suing the same frame as the 50L. probably a cost cutting move. In the 50L with a normal weight of 35-40lb it feels okay. I am guessing when you get to 50lb in the 50L you would have problems
savotta jäger m in mo5 camo is going to arrive today, rlly pumped to take it out!
Thanks for great the very useful review. Can you recommend one that it Front-Loading like this, but is better quality please ? (it's proving quite hard to find good front-loading back packs)
It was your review on the Marine Corp ILBE that convinced me to get that pack and I'm still happy with it. Thank you for all the reviews that you do, please keep up the great work.
so what is a bulletproof 35 liter pack you recommend that would last for years being overloaded? Searching for one is so overwhelming!
When it comes to anything " tactical " i only trust one label. The NSN number.
For a pack that has great potential, they skimped out on the hardware and the frame that really prevents it from being a great pack. That said, one of the best purchases for a good pack was the FILBE pack, I got one for $65 and yeah it's heavy for a pack at about 10lbs, but it's very well built and so far I find it quite comfortable to wear. It's about on par with the comfortability and use of the large Alice pack with frame, but the Alice pack with frame offers a little more versatility as I can detach the bag and use the frame for carrying other things if needed.
For not much over $100 you can find Granite Gear Crown2 60l packs. They’re not “tactical” and you won’t want to carry much over 35-40lb, but the weight difference between the Mardingtop and GG is an easy 3lb reduction. I don’t like carrying much over 30lb in mine, but I don’t have to go over that weight unless I’m going out in subzero temps.
i still use my web gear and alice pack from when i was in the army and my large ruc sack ........both perfect for short and long trips
beautiful forest and trail
What do you suggest as an alternative please? What is your opinion on the best made, most affordable pack? Thank you!
Back ache inevitably with that lack of support...
I have the Savotta jääkari L I can't recommend it enough. But it is a military pack so if you want something strong and robust and still comfort check it out
High, i have the older modell with the bigger side-bags. I like it very much, because of the great usability. Kindly Fiete
I love my mardingtop... I haven't had any issues with mine...
Luke, thank you for this review. Comfort is the biggest issue for me with regards to a good backpack and it looks like Mardingtop did not do well in that department. So, I'll strike off this product of theirs from my list.
Great review Luke. We know Mardingtop wont do anything to improve it, or will they? What i would like to see ? You make the improvements, i.e., the hardware for the straps, possibly a simple frame, and anything else you find...then send it back to Mardingtop for them to see what needs improvement.. lol( yeah, right..i know, they dont care) still, would be funny to do the improvements like you did with the One Tigris stove you cut a feed hole in...👍😎🤟
You should try out a Crossfire DG3. Or a DG16. That would be a good video.
I feel like this pack is marketed towards high schoolers who want that army bag.
For those that may not know, the number one thing you need to worry about when getting a hiking backpack is how much space it can hold (liters) with the load range. This bag has the liters but no real load range, almost as if it is around 25 pounds itself which sounds ridiculous on liter to load. The second of course is comfort. You want it to be as comfortable as it can be while you are hiking. This bag doesn't have any form of it since if you go over 25 pounds it'll undo itself and throw the weight on your lower back.
Bought a Gregory 65L couple years ago, love it!!
The wife bought a Osprey and loves it, in the last 2 years we have backpacked over 20 Nat'l Parks and monuments and Battle fields, mostly out west!!
Another case of you get what you pay for. Sad the pack layout and looks are good it just underperforms
not quite like Savotta Jääkäri Large in terms of durability...