perfect for Victory Vision

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I pre-ordered one of these when they first came out and wasn't disappointed. It was my first Maxpedition purchase, and I ended up buying a Rat wallet for the belt, and a (discontinued) pouch that was a Barnacle next to a sheath. I put that one on the side opposite the water bottle.

If I had a criticism it would be that, the modularity is addicting! You'll probably end up with a few different Maxpedition pouches because they work so well together. I found it essential to have more small/mid size item storage for the bag. It doesn't have a lot of mid size compartments, though the belt zip pouch is great for your wallet, and there is a nice zipper pouch on the inside. The concealed hydration pocket is very handy. The water bottle holder is one of the main reasons I got the bag (and the waiststrapit REALLY takes the weight off my shoulder).

I added a camera pouch to the front strap and it is so comfortable taking it out in that position. I have hiked for 5-6 hours and not felt any soreness, even with 12-15 pound loads.

The compression strap system and front flap is ingenious. You could actually use the two different sections of the compression straps (bottom, and sides) for carrying discrete loads in each area. Carrying a Frisbee is essential to me so this works perfectly secured behind the front flap. You can still fit the jacket, and yet attach a pocket to the flap as well.

You can have so many different load outs with this pack. I stuff oranges, apples, water and heavy stuff inside the inner slip pocket. These weighty items end up riding perfectly on the small of my back, aided by the waistbelt which I wear snugly. The bag is very comfortable, though I have to tighten the shoulder strap nearly all the way. I use the waistbelt almost all the time, as there's usually more than a few pounds of gear, water, and food inside. When there aren't a lot of items inside I can cinch it down very small and tuck the waistbelt away.

It looks spectacular. I got the black and I love it. I can even take it on business.

I bought an FR-1 for the inside and relocated the Rat to the FR-1. The Rat ended up getting in the way of my left arm when it was attached to the waistbelt.

The Monsoon does not hold rectangular items as well as some other bags, but I found a Saunders slim case/clipboard that fits great and holds my essential music papers. You can stuff a surprising amount of gear in here with ease, and the teardrop shape drops the weight into the small of your back. When you need something, just loosen the shoulder strap and swing it around. It is an amazing design IMHO, very futuristic, and looks SICK!.

UPDATE: Still loving this bag. I put a 5x7x2 Horizontal GP Pouch - Low Profile attached to the back flap, and it fits PERFECT. It adds some much needed small item organized storage (and another outer zipper pocket), and is very easy to get to. It does not get in the way of the bag's functionality at all. In here I put ibuprofen, Band-Aids, lip balm, snack bars, fruit, trail mix, sunglasses.

I also added another 5" sheath on the side, near the belt zipper MOLLE.

When hiking, I slip a Four by Six onto the bottom of the shoulder strap to fit my compact binoculars when I need them. These two pouches are great added to the Monsoon!

I still have an M-2 fastened to the shoulder strap at all times, across the top of my chest, for my camera, phone, pen/pencil, and batteries. The M-2 is a thick pouch and sticks out a little further from my chest than I would like. I may replace it with a Barnacle or Anemone someday...or not

I usually throw the FR-1 (mini first aid, toiletry, and survival kit) into the bag for camping or overnighters.

I have another LED Lenser sheath that I can fit on the belt MOLLE next to the other sheath when I need another flashlight. I also have a Victorinox sheath that I sometimes add here.

With this loadout, I have like 7 pouches attached to the Monsoon, and there is room for more! It looks pretty intense in the city, so I only add the Four by Six, LED Lenser, and Victorinox sheath if I need them.

A Maxpedition Janus will arrive in a few days, and I can add that one too when needed. When not threaded into the strap on the Monsoon, I plan to use the Janus with a standalone 2" shoulder strap for EDC: Phone, wallet, sunglasses, knife, lighter, pen, pencil, ibuprofen. I will not use the extension strap on it with the Monsoon because the Monsoon strap is already really long.