Comments on: Rugged, versatile duffel – Maxpedition Baron Load-Out

By: Till

Till — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 05:46:42 +0000

Oh, yeah. Custom logos or embroidery are no problem at all on Cordura. You will certainly find someone that has a machine strong enough for that. Even a good household machine should be able to do it. What is hard is triple layers of the material or layers with leather. Still, if you have a machine that can sew triple layers of 12oz jeans material, it should get through triple layers of Cordura. Ballistic is stiffer, harder and slippery which makes it harder to sew, even if the material weight is nearly the same between 1050d ballistic and 1000d Cordura. This might explain what I perceive as a slight price differential between the two materials. I have no idea, though, how much the raw materials cost.

I am more and more for a review of the Eagle Industries bags. Perhaps compare the Eagle Industries Alpha heretically with the Briggs Riley 224 convertible tote? I could do that one Kevin. I love stark contrasts. :)

By: Michael W.

Michael W. — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 01:21:22 +0000

I used the Small Aviator as a checked piece for my last trip to SE Asia. It was great!

I also wish they had some some D rings, but I guess their goal was to keep it simple, simple, and its the simplest QUALITY bag I’ve seen in ages. And I love the “won’t accidentally open” zippers that only open when you tug the pulls.

BUT I wish they had made it “lid opening” style instead of putting the zipper in the middle.

If the zipper were way off to one side, I could load the bag like a bin.

As it is, with the zipper in the middle, it’s usually easier to open it half way and load it on its side (stuff things down into it, instead of laying them flat and closing the lid).

I have the Extra Small Aviator too, it’s even better for pure carryon.

By: Kevin

Kevin — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 22:20:04 +0000

Andy: Not at all; I actually thought the post would prompt a few comparisons, so this is good. I totally agree with Till – it ought to be relatively easy to mod your Aviator.

By: AndyW

AndyW — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 21:50:34 +0000

Hmmm… interesting.

That would mean that I could sew a custom logo or script on the bag as well.

Thanks, I’ll have to look into that option.

(Sorry to take the thread away from your review)

By: Till

Till — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 21:24:09 +0000

Andy, the Aviator is so well built, it would be no problem at all to have a local guy stitch some D-rings to it. Use a leather or cordura patch, box stitch it (a box with an x inside). This might require hand stitching but it would be worth to check it out. I’ve been to the Austin Shoe Hospital here and asked if they could sew 1050D ballistic. They said yes. So Cordura should be even easier. This particular place is also a repair center and dealer for Briggs Riley. So that might be a good way to start your search if you want to get your Aviator customized.