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Maxpedition hard-use cases

by Dick Eussen
Australian Hunter 40

Extac Australia has an amazing and wide range of outdoor gear for hunters and shooters. One brand they import and sell that I believe will be of great interest to hunters and other outdoor adventurers is the Maxpedition range of soft-cloth Cordura-style shooting bags, knife pouches and carriers. Maxpedition is highly rated for its mil-spec, durable, rugged-use, user-friendly designs and meticulous workmanship, and it backs its products with a lifetime warranty. I was recently sent three items for review by Adrian King of Extac, and couldn’t wait to give them a go.

Dodecapod Knife Carry Case
This case is intended to carry up to 12 of your favourite knives in individual padded compartments, but I believe it could also do double duty as a pistol magazine case and be quite handy when competing with several different guns in competition. Indeed, the eight standard and four oversize pockets can be used to carry lots of other stuff.

The case has overall dimensions of 457x165x50mm and weighs 380g. It features a heavy-duty carry-handle and D-rings for an optional shoulder-strap and is made from black material, either Cordura or ballistic nylon. Both are favoured by the military for combat use and have replaced webbing that was in vogue four decades ago. It is tough, durable material that last forever.

I have been using bags, rifle and pistol cases and a wallet made from this stuff since the early 1980s and the only thing I have problems with are the zippers. Even tough, mil-spec zippers and push/clip buttons corrode when exposed to salt sprays and tidal flats salinity. I carry my cases in my boat when I am fishing or hunting in tidal estuaries and if not cared for, the zips lock up from salt corrosion. The only way you can undo the damage is to douse them with black powder solvent, which slowly dissolves the corrosion. Graphite or petroleum jelly applied on the zippers/buttons can prevent corrosion from forming though. RRP: $79.95

R10 Razorshell
Also reviewed was the R10 Razorshell. A simple, nylon-zippered case, measuring 280x101x25mm, it is perfect for carrying and protecting a couple of good knives together when travelling. This product is also available in the slightly smaller R7 Razorshell, which measures 203x89x25mm. RRP: $39.95

Maxpedition Pistol Case
What took my fancy the most was the Maxpedition Pistol Case - a briefcase that has more pockets in it than Prime Minister Julia Gillard’s wallet! Measuring 203x304x50mm when closed and originally intended to accommodate one handgun and up to five magazines, it also makes an ideal case to carry your laptop in (and more stuff than you probably need) on most bush trips.

When you’re on a long flight, extra pockets are always handy for all those bits and pieces you want to take along. As soon as I saw this product, I pounced on it, as it looked to be just what I wanted for my long trips away, whether by vehicle or plane. As a outdoor scribe, I need the laptop, Thuraya satellite phone, Lowrance Endura GPS, pens, notebooks, reference material, magazines and more with me and most importantly, at my fingertips. Mate, believe me, this case has room for it all and more. Yep, even for a spare toothbrush!

The case has dual lockable zipper slides, 25mm elastic loops at the bottom, an interior 101x152mm loop field, a removable centre business card folder, plus various hook strips for small items. The exterior has a 72x152mm loop field for your ID and a removable shoulder-strap for easy carrying. RRP: $54.95

Summary
If you are in the market for extreme bush gear for your next expedition, the Maxpedition range of outdoor gear is well worth a look. The range includes backpacks, rifle and handgun soft cases and just about everything else you can think of. I found their range of products to be absolutely amazing.

For more information, visit www.extac.com.au