I got this pack for my son as a gift, so I'll let him do the review..
I'd been debating over whether to ask for this pack for a couple of months, while I checked out user reviews and did some research online. Satisfied that "military assault pack" wasn't total BS, I asked my mom to order it for me. The price ($120) was absolutely reasonable for what came in the box. Let's cut to the chase. I'm not active or reservist military. But I know good 'gear' when I see it. I hike a lot, and I can say that the MAP 3500 is an excellent pack for most uses. It has aluminum stays in the pack to keep shape and also to give some sort of back support. Several compartments to store various items. The 'admin' area will do nicely for people who commute or work out of a pack during the day, such as students. Space for a couple of pens/pencils, etc.
To give you an idea of how tough this pack is, it is used by the Seals to train with, and they put weighted plates in it. I can grab this pack by the daisy chain, which is ordinarily not exactly heavy-duty on a pack, and shake the pack by this all over the place. No seam rippage.
Kelty is a very good company, and this pack is a very good deal. I've had it only a couple of weeks, but I am always finding reasons to sling it on and take it with me. The straps are velcro adjustable, and very well padded. They will fit a big guy like me with no problems. The only thing I deduct a star for is the waist belt is a few inches too small to fit me. Since it is a reasonably light pack, I only take away 1 star. I doubt most people will need the belt. But, it is removable. I might lose a few pounds later on and see if I can fit it on. But, as I said, not a deal-breaker for this style of pack. You likely won't be loading that much inside. I mostly have some books, daily odds and ends, and a jacket for when it's windy.
The pack is hydration 'ready'. That means, it has a sleeve where you can put a hydration bladder (such as Camelbak), and a pass-through port out of the compartment to run your hose. There is also a strap-secured sleeve in front of the hydration sleeve, where you could in theory stow a 2nd bladder, or anything else you need to keep secure, like a small laptop computer. I put my netbook in there in it's neoprene case. It fits well.
There are mesh pockets on the outside for drinking bottles or canteens, one on each side of the pack. They are cinchable, and can hold most commercially available bottles. The small to medium ones, anyway. I've found a tall bottle will ride better if you tuck it under one of the pack's compression straps.
I chose foliage because I have *A LOT* of black packs and bags, and foliage is very neutral. It doesn't present a bright image. Handy for if you are bird-watching or otherwise trying not to be very conspicuous. It's a nice neutral color scheme. I was also impressed with the variety of color choices Kelty offers for this pack. I notice a lot of 'military' packs come in 1 to 3 colors, no more. This one has several, and you should be able to find something you like.
As a hiking or daypack, this pack is *PERFECT*, in my opinion. It's not too big, not too small, and will organize what you need organized. It can stuff a lot of items inside. More than you'd think, given the profile. But, all in all, I really like it. I also like the lack of drainage grommets. I have some packs that have massive drain holes that all manner of insects and critters can get into. As long as you keep this thing zipped, it should be secure.
To summarize, it is a great pack, reasonably priced, and should be good for just about anything you might need a backpack for. Great for school, great for light travel. It's considered a 3 day pack, I believe. I know I can put 3 days worth of clothing inside, with room to spare.
I bought my MAP 3500 a few months ago and use it 5 days a week for work, and I'm not just throwing it on the front seat of my car and dragging it to the office, but I walk to work at least twice a week 6 miles one way 12 round trip.
There's plenty of room for my laptop, iPad, books, lunch, water, a couple cans of coke, wipes, etc... and the nice thing about it is it doesn't look bulky while wearing it and its extremely comfortable, supportive and durable. I stuff it full or items for the day and am happy to report that there are no signs of wear and tear! I walk in rain and it wears nicely.
Where I live, it can reach up over 100 degrees for weeks at a time, and that's where the back panel comes in keeping it as cool as possible, off the back, in the heat. Lots of loops, straps and adjustments for comfort.
I can't say enough about this back pack. It's nice to know that there are still some companies out there that make good products and Kelty is one of them.
Buy Map 3500 3 Day Assault Pack 2300 Cu in Volume - Foliage Green Now
I got this pack for train-up before deployment. I got the Multi-cam version to mix with the new uniforms. I knew the Kelty name from my other 3 hiking packs and knew the quality would be good.
When I first used the pack for a 2 day op, it fit well, was sturdy, and held my gear, water and MREs securely with the cinch straps. The outside pockets held 48 oz nalgene bottles very well. But what I really loved were the shoulder straps and back panel... Good air flow and moisture control! This has become my favorite pack for long day trips or overnights. I'll likely get another one in brown for everyday use.
Read Best Reviews of Map 3500 3 Day Assault Pack 2300 Cu in Volume - Foliage Green Here
This is the pack I've been looking for. Couldn't find just what I wanted and needed in the stores; nice packs but not just what I wanted. This pack is used to haul all the stuff you need for a day at the zoo or a cold morning at the soccer game. It's full of ponchos, water, sunblock, you name it. When the weather warms up, the jackets and sweaters go into the pack. The waist belt is removable for what I need; can be reinstalled if needed for a real hike. The ONLY thing I would suggest is larger zippers, but the ones that come with it now are not a deal breaker. Size wise I call it a day pack. A week in the woods and I would want an external frame and as large of a pack as I could move with. This looks like it will last a long time.
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My husband bought a kelty map 3500 for use at work. When we planned a trip to the local zoo, I decided to take the pack with us. We bought the camelback bladder and put the kids clothes, snack, books, first aid kit. The bag worked so great, all the things fit nicely and it was not burden to carry, like my old diaper bags. The fact that I could drink fresh water whenever I wanted without having to buy bottles of water was so nice.
I have now bought a pack of my own and whenever we go anywhere we take our packs with us. Everyone always comments what a nice idea it is to carry the pack with the water. I know that before I had the pack I would buy water and soda at very high prices, not anymore.
I love this pack.
We travel alot and my 5 year old son needed a suitcase that he could easily handle himself. First, of all the design is perfect for my little traveler. He can easily handle the case himself due to the 360 wheels and adjustable handle. Eventhough, this is a small suitcase it has plenty of space for my son's things for our travels. Our first trip he loved running through the airport with his stylish suitcase in tow. Great Buy!
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