Are either of XP's backpacks any good?

[ManInTheWall]

But since you have never owned one, you are just speculating on the quality of the XP pack when you say others can offer a better product at a lower cost.

Well, I think it's common sense. How many of these backpacks do you think XP sells a year? 100? 200?. And they have these custom made, that adds to production cost, along with the low volume. Then they have to import these. Also, low product runs like this, does not give much time to sort out the defects/problems. And XP is tagging a profit on it, along with the manuf. Where as a lot of the items on Ebay are manufacture direct, cutting out the middle man. You are also paying for the XP logo on the bag, another added cost.

Now take one of the ones on Amazon, thats made by a company, and sold under multiple private labels. They are probably making these 5,000 at a time. Allows a much lower production cost.

But as with many things, what may be best for you, may be terrible for me, and vice versa. I would buy both, and Amazon has very lenient return policy, and if you think that XP bag does magic for you, keep it, and send the other back. Keep which ever one you like!

For me, I like the compactness of the $29 or so bag I posted. So, you could not give me an XP bag for free. Thats my preference! I know my choice in women isn't the same as everyone else's either!

 

[Lodge Scent]

MITW, I am not questioning the price difference. I'm not even debating value. I'm just saying I don't know how you can comment on the quality of the XP pack or compare its quality to your pack or any other pack if you have never had the XP pack. Now we may not agree on packs but it is still possible we could agree on women. But this is not the forum for that.

 

[ManInTheWall]

MITW, I am not questioning the price difference. I'm not even debating value. I'm just saying I don't know how you can comment on the quality of the XP pack or compare its quality to your pack or any other pack if you have never had the XP pack. Now we may not agree on packs but it is still possible we could agree on women. But this is not the forum for that.

I've manufactured and imported and private labeled products. I just know that there are a lot of added costs to their product ( back pack ) , their profit, their design, shipping cost, low production numbers etc, thats going to raise the cost of their product vs one of the hundreds of other models online that are sold in larger quantity, reducing the price consumers pay for it.

As for quality... Quality can vary a lot from one production run to another. Wherever they are getting these made, by buy the zippers from one company one month, then the next change where they purchased it from, etc etc etc. My main point is, check out the 100's of other options available on Amazon, before you buy that product. Good chance something a lot cheaper ( price wise), may suit your needs better.

Companies make a lot of "spare change" selling accessory garbage I'll call it ( t shirts, apparel, useless accessories, etc). Consumers think they need everything. I got a laugh, I was at Walmart a few weeks ago, and they had "Tent String Lights", they were LED markers to put on your tent strings so you don't run into them in the night. How did we ever camp all these years without those! Maybe if you camp with lawyers who would sue you if they run into your tent line, I dunno? And now they are even selling refrigeration units to put women makeup in, now they think you have to store your makeup a special way!

 

[rogueaviation]

I have on of the "original" ones, I'm not sure which number it is, but it came out a couple years back.

The quality is very high, in my opinion. I have mainly backpacks from Kelty and a couple original US made Outdoor Products bags. I would rate the XP backpack with them. It is not quite as heavy duty as the SpecOps brand backpacks I have, but I'm not planning any long term military operations in the trash filled parks I normally go to, so that's not an issue at all.

I used the backpack to carry the detector in and out of hotels on vacation and around a couple of different sites I detected. It works really well, and keeps everything separarate and secure. I hate things clinking together in a backpack, and this one seems to keep things apart really well.

The design is thoughtful and the execution is really good.

Anyhow, my two cents. Don't forget, free advice is worth about what you paid for it.

--Matt

 

[abcoin]

I've manufactured and imported and private labeled products. I just know that there are a lot of added costs to their product ( back pack ) , their profit, their design, shipping cost, low production numbers etc, thats going to raise the cost of their product vs one of the hundreds of other models online that are sold in larger quantity, reducing the price consumers pay for it.

As for quality... Quality can vary a lot from one production run to another. Wherever they are getting these made, by buy the zippers from one company one month, then the next change where they purchased it from, etc etc etc. My main point is, check out the 100's of other options available on Amazon, before you buy that product. Good chance something a lot cheaper ( price wise), may suit your needs better.

Companies make a lot of "spare change" selling accessory garbage I'll call it ( t shirts, apparel, useless accessories, etc). Consumers think they need everything. I got a laugh, I was at Walmart a few weeks ago, and they had "Tent String Lights", they were LED markers to put on your tent strings so you don't run into them in the night. How did we ever camp all these years without those! Maybe if you camp with lawyers who would sue you if they run into your tent line, I dunno? And now they are even selling refrigeration units to put women makeup in, now they think you have to store your makeup a special way!

I hear you on the company merchandising front. It's true that brands are always making up new products that we don't really need, or taking useful things, slapping their name on them, and selling them for 2x or 3x what you can pay for the same thing from a lesser-known brand or source.

If you can show me a private-label version of an XP pack, that'd be awesome

 

[relicmeister]

I have the original XP backpack which is for big outings and trips where I need more. Even loaded it’s comfortable because of the waist strap and adjusters. But for dat to day use I haven’t found anything better than a Prince multiple tennis racket bag with added shoulder straps.( There are other brands but Prince is the best) This is because they open from the top exposing the whole detector which makes it super easy to deploy and re-pack. I added pouches for headphones and remote ( although it usually remains on stem) there’s another outer section where I keep mini shovel, etc. they have a shoulder strap if you don’t want to add backpack straps. Most will hold a second coil bc they are wider on one end where an 11” coil fits. Look them up on eBay and you’ll see what I mean.

 

[Lodge Scent]

I've had the 280 for a few years now and really like it. But I found it to be a bit too much pack in the hot summer months so I went and got the 240. The 240 is another quality pack. It uses lighter materials, is a bit smaller that the 280 (just as long but not as deep) and doesn't have as many compartments. It has plenty of room for the upper shaft and a couple of coils and what ever else you need to summer detecting and it is very comfortable. When the colder weather rolls around I will go back to the 280. It has the extra room I need for the clothing and gear I want with me on solo hunts out in the woods. Both the 280 and 240 are excellent packs. The 240 is a great value for that low cost.

 

[ColonelDan]

From one of my previous posts:


As many are probably aware, based on the posting of My First Relic Hunt with the Deus II, Mary and I took a flight up to Tennessee to visit our daughter and her husband. They recently bought a house on 12 never detected acres about 45 minutes from Nashville. Beautiful mountains, rocky terrain, trees galore!
Although I've had the 280 for awhile now, this is the first time I've taken it through the airport as the back pack it was designed to be. In a word, Perfection!
Efficiency: First and foremost this back pack is tremendous in how much and how well it can hold all parts and pieces of the Deus II with plenty of additional pouches designed into the 280 that can hold other items of mine I'm sure XP never thought of. Each section is graphically marked with the part it was designed to accommodate...an extremely helpful touch! My Deus is outfitted with the 11" coil and Steve Goss' carbon fiber shaft which is a mite longer than the factory shaft and the 280 accommodated that entire set up perfectly...and very securely. I also had my MI-6 pinpointer in its assigned compartment and thought if the TSA questioned anything as the back pack rode through the X-ray machine it would be the MI-6 because to me, it closely resembles a stick of dynamite! Just in case, I brought along the owners manual and photos from the web of all that equipment and was prepared to demonstrate their function if questioned. The TSA didn't even change their bored expression as it rode through the scanner. There are two pouches on the left shoulder strap...one for the remote and a larger one behind it I'm assuming for a cell phone. Since I tend to modify everything, no matter how well designed, I used the larger one for the remote and placed a cut piece of sponge in the smaller front one which added an additional layer of protection for the face of the remote...just in case I ran into an over achiever at the TSA.
Everything simply worked great and it fits very easily in the overhead compartment.
Comfort: I've worn many back packs and ruck sacks in my life as you might imagine and I'm here to tell you this is by far the most comfortable one I've ever had rest on my shoulders and back. The shoulder straps are wide and very well padded...totally and easily adjustable. With the chest strap in place the shoulder straps fit securely on your shoulders and don't slip off to the sides as I've had other packs do. As the pack rests against your back, it feels like a soft but firm support and you never feel any detecting equipment poking you in the back. The belt around your waist is also wide, adjustable, well padded and very comfortable.
Build Quality: The best I've seen. Heavy duty fabric, straps and buckles throughout with professional strong stitching all around as well. The zippers close easily yet very securely with each sporting a nice zipper pull attached.
Bottom Line: XP certainly didn't scrimp on anything in the design, choice of material or manufacture of the 280. This is extremely well thought-out and simply first class in every regard...5 all the way
Just the view from my foxhole...

 

[DigDog]

I have the 240 and it’s plenty good to store and carry around.
I believe the 280 is more if you plan to travel by plane and need to check in or pack your lunch and dinner as well

 

[Tenspeed]

I bought a 240 when I bought my Deus II and it works well. I use it in my vehicle to keep everything together so I can grab it and get everything in one bag when I hunt with someone else.