Over the last few years we have seen a steady rise in the popularity of military inspired products. Many of those offerings are little more than olive drab imitations of the real deal. Family owned Snugpak of Silsden, England is not in the business of just making tactical facsimiles; many of their products are in active service with the British military. The Xocet 35 backpack is one of their more popular offerings and came to us with high recommendations from our friends at Pak-Meister. Over the span of several weeks, we’ve put the Xocet 35 through the paces, and have to say it’s a great pack with an exceptional value.
As the name would imply, the Xocet provides 35 liters of storage making it an ideal for everything from daily carry, to use as an emergency ditch bag. Unlike many military inspired packs, the Xocet isn’t overly compartmentalized and complicated. The main compartment is accessed with one primary zipper and backed up with dual compression straps. Two mesh side pockets accommodate water bottles and quick-grab items and an external zipper at the upper end of the pack accesses a small pocket. Five MOLLE straps increase the organizing options.
Inside the pack a large padded pocket accepts a hydration reservoir, or in our case a 13-inch laptop. An internal zippered pocket paired to organizer sleeves keeps small essentials within easy reach. The suspension system includes well padded shoulder straps and a generously padded waist belt which can be retracted and stowed in small pockets in the lumbar of the pack.
In use, I found the pack straps afforded more adjustment than usually found on packs of this size. For larger users the Xocet 35 is an almost guaranteed fit. Another thoughtful addition is the inclusion of Velcro “strap keepers” which secure excess strap length and keep it from flapping around needlessly. The quality of construction appears to be top notch and the best feature might be the price. Available through Pak-Meister for only $93.50, it’s an impressive bargain.
www.pak-meister.com
