I got myself a Maxp Kodiak, had to swallow very hard indeed to pay140 rats, but it's tuened out to be the purchase I ever made.............instant access to all my stuff simply by swinging the thing 'round to the front, and as long as it has not much more than 20 lbs. or so in it, I don't even know I've got it on..............and no, it doesn't drag down on one shoulder at all.........I'm well over 60, and I do around 10 miles a day with this bag every day, carry carving kit, saw, axe, large knife,bins, wood gasifier + brewkit, fak, 'phone and waterproof plus loads of all the little bits that make life easier in the woods.
The crowning glory of this bag for me in the ceaselessly wet weather we've been having, is this: I carry a DD poncho in the rear hydration bit, and when I need to put it on I don't need to take the bag off - hardly even need to stop walking - and then when it's on I've still got covered access to all my stuff and nothing gets wet.................it really is great to be able to ready and use optics, fak or 'phone etc. without getting stuff wet in any weather......................
I'm sure some of the copies are great value, but the Kodiak gearslinger is a perfect example of the old "you get what you pay for" chestnut....................atb mac