3V Gear Outlaw - Gear Slinger Shoulder Sling Pack

As a former scuba diver, infantryman, photographer, and law enforcement officer, I have had extensive experience with finding the "perfect bag." I also developed an infatuation with bags. My most recent obsession was with finding an Every Day Carry (EDC) bag I could use that would allow me to fit an assortment of items as well as a Fuji X100s, flash, and my work laptop with a 15 1/2 total diagonal size. I am not a survivalist, so I am not reviewing the bag from that perspective. My research led me to two primary brands: Propper and Maxpedition and then a host of "knockoffs", including the 3v. The term "knockoff" should not be construed demeaning in any way as they provide great value and very close quality to main brands costing double, if not more.The bottom line is that this bag is a great deal at this price. There is no other way to put it. Sure, it is a knockoff of the Maxpedition Sitka Gearslinger. But, so what. There are plenty of knockoff bags out there and being a knockoff does not detract from a bag's usefulness or applications. As you can see from the uploaded images, I had the opportunity to evaluate the 3V bag side by side with the Maxpedition. Hands down, Maxpedition (Made in Taiwan by the way, not the USA), is a higher quality bag for the reasons indicated in this review. However, at more than double the price, the 3V proves to be close enough that most people would be satisfied, especially for everyday non-survival urban use. If you are a hardcore survivalist or backpacker type who really puts your gear through serious abuse, you will likely want to purchase the Maxpedition and stay within that line for most of your gear.The 3V has a good overall build quality. I spent about 10 minutes cutting or burning all the loose threads however. Also, the bag has a slightly weird smell that will last at least two weeks. The layout of the bag is nearly identical to the Maxpedition, so much so, it is not worth mentioning the differences in detail. The Molle layout is not standard however and seems to be slightly off. So, if you plan on extending functionality of the pack through Molle attachments, be forewarned you might need to make some adjustments. I found the cross body strap of the 3v bag to not be as comfortable compared to the Maxpedition; just slightly different ergonomics that will probably make a difference only to those wearing a weighed down pack for extended periods of time.There are two major quality differences in my opinion between the 3v and Maxpedition; stitching and material. Clearly, the material of the Maxpedition is different and arguably slightly superior, though not a deal breaker in my opinion if the bag will be used as an urban EDC. It is stiffer (it will break in) and seems to keep it's structure (unpacked) just a little better. The potential deal breaker for some, especially hardcore enthusiasts, will likely be seam construction. When packed full, the 3v seams appear to "spread" compared to the Maxpedition, which do not. Upon close inspection, this appears due to the stitch count difference between the bags, with the Maxpedition slightly ahead. Once again, it may be an issue to those who will be really putting this bag through long-term abuse.The 3v is clearly a good to great bag in consideration of the price point. Most people will be very happy with it as an EDC. On a side note, I was impressed with the ability of the bag to hold my work laptop (HP EliteBook measuring 15.9 inches diagonally) in the main compartment. It is just a little tight, but it works, with room left over for my Domke camera bag insert to hold my Fuji x100s and some accessories.

Several month ago, I purchased a different 3V Gear bag (black) that would specifically be used for camping/hiking and for my primary "bug out" bag. I was very impressed with the quality, the size, and price. Recently, I've been putting together and organizing equipment for a smaller version of emergency gear that I can transport daily in my car as I go about my routine close to home. This would be a bag that, in the event of an emergency, could get me through until I could hopefully make it home. I figured that a bag about this size would be perfect and based on my previous experience with the 3V Gear brand, this would be a logical choice.When the bag arrived, I was ready to start sorting through my stuff and start packing this thing. It's a great size, and the left shoulder carry actually works really nice. The bag has plenty of adjustment points and this is done fairly easily. The material of the bag itself is very nice, and exactly what you'd expect for a pack like this. What I wasn't impressed with was the loose and slopping stitching that is supposed to be holding everything together. As I went through the pack and started to give it a real close inspection, I noticed that there were a lot of long hanging threads and even a hole close to the top of the bag where the top outer compartment is sewn to the main bag. I ended up just breaking out my sewing kit and completing what the manufacturer didn't. It took me about an hour, but it's definitely stronger now. I was just disappointed that there didn't seem to be any quality control with this one. My last pack from 3V gear also contained a bouns patch and I noticed that some reviewers stated that they had received one for this bag too. Mine didn't come with anything...well...just a couple of holes. Maybe it was field tested for an emergency situation? Who knows? Maybe I just got the runt of the liter? I read that one reviewer said that he had problems with the zippers. I've given those a close inspection and as far as I can tell, they look pretty good so far.Well, after mending it back together with needle and thread, I threw a "2nd Amendment" patch on it and welcomed it to my survival arsenal. The size and design of the bag are going to work really well for my intended purpose for it. Just disappointed I had to spend some extra time going in to fix it. While I understand that there will always be some manufacturing mishaps, it will certainly make me a bit more hesitant for future purchases.

Purchased this bag in February of last year.I first used the bag at a festival early last summer.In the bag were my reading glasses,a small micro fiber face cloth,and 2 16 ounce bottles of water, no problems.The second time it was used,this past week I was going to take it with me on my bike and the items that were going to be inside of the bag were my cell phone,sunglasses,keys and a water bottle and thats where 3 of the nylon zippers separated including the one on the bladder cavity and a zipper pull shattered when I tried closing the bag. This bag was hardly used and now its useless.The bag is nice but needs metal zippers.......I would purchase this bag again if the zippers were metal

I was looking for something to primarily use as a durable camera bag. I tried others and they simply didn't hold up to the extremes of the Arizona desert. I decided to try the Outlaw Sling Pack and discovered it was very comfortable and had plenty of room for my photography gear, plus room for a first aid kit, bottled water, flashlight, compass and an assortment of other items I frequently use out in the field. This bag should give me years of reliable service.

Great size for a day pack, can hold a lot more than you think. Webbing allows a great range of pouches to be added. Definitely my day pack of choice.

love it