XP 280 Backpack = Perfection On The Road

[ColonelDan]

As many are probably aware, based on the posting of My First Relic Hunt with the Deus II, Mary and I took a flight up to Tennessee to visit our daughter and her husband.  They recently bought a house on 12 never detected acres about 45 minutes from Nashville.  Beautiful mountains, rocky terrain, trees galore!

Although I've had the 280 for awhile now, this is the first time I've taken it through the airport as the back pack it was designed to be.  In a word, Perfection!

Efficiency:  First and foremost this back pack is tremendous in how much and how well it can hold all parts and pieces of the Deus II with plenty of additional pouches designed into the 280 that can hold other items of mine I'm sure XP never thought of.😉  Each section is graphically marked with the part it was designed to accommodate...an extremely helpful touch! My Deus is outfitted with the 11" coil and Steve Goss' carbon fiber shaft which is a mite longer than the factory shaft and the 280 accommodated that entire set up perfectly...and very securely.  I also had my MI-6 pinpointer in its assigned compartment and thought if the TSA questioned anything as the back pack rode through the X-ray machine it would be the MI-6 because to me, it closely resembles a stick of dynamite! 😅  Just in case, I brought along the owners manual and photos from the web of all that equipment and was prepared to demonstrate their function if questioned.  The TSA didn't even change their bored expression as it rode through the scanner.👌  There are two pouches on the left shoulder strap...one for the remote and a larger one behind it I'm assuming for a cell phone.  Since I tend to modify everything, no matter how well designed, I used the larger one for the remote and placed a cut piece of sponge in the smaller front one which added an additional layer of protection for the face of the remote...just in case I ran into an over achiever at the TSA.
Everything simply worked great and it fits very easily in the overhead compartment.

Comfort:  I've worn many back packs and ruck sacks in my life as you might imagine and I'm here to tell you this is by far the most comfortable one I've ever had rest on my shoulders and back.  The shoulder straps are wide and very well padded...totally and easily adjustable.  With the chest strap in place the shoulder straps fit securely on your shoulders and don't slip off to the sides as I've had other packs do.  As the pack rests against your back, it feels like a soft but firm support and you never feel any detecting equipment poking you in the back.  The belt around your waist is also wide, adjustable, well padded and very comfortable.   

Build Quality:  The best I've seen.  Heavy duty fabric, straps and buckles throughout with professional strong stitching all around as well.  The zippers close easily yet very securely with each sporting a nice zipper pull attached.

Bottom Line:  XP certainly didn't scrimp on anything in the design, choice of material or manufacture of the 280.  This is extremely well thought-out and simply first class in every regard...5 all the way 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Just the view from my foxhole...

[CPT_GhostLight]

Thank you for that review, Colonel! I got my 280 long before I got my D2 and it accomodated my other detector well, but haven't flown with either yet. I actually never considered using the 280 to fly with and usually pack my detectors (all except the control pods) in a checked suitcase. I have to fly next month with the D2 and was wondering if I could put the coil in a checked bag or would have to carry it on with the control pod because of the internal batteries. I was considering getting the hard plastic case to carry on the whole D2, but your review convinced me I can use the 280 instead. Thank you again!

[ColonelDan]

5 minutes ago, CPT_GhostLight said:

Thank you for that review, Colonel! I got my 280 long before I got my D2 and it accomodated my other detector well, but haven't flown with either yet. I actually never considered using the 280 to fly with and usually pack my detectors (all except the control pods) in a checked bag. I have to fly next month with the D2 and was wondering if I could put the coil in a check bag or would have to carry it on with the control pod because of the internal batteries. I was considering getting the hard plastic case to carry on the whole D2, but your review convinced me I can use the 280 instead. Thank you again!

What I related is just my TSA experience at the two airports we used. Like beaches, they(airports and TSA crew)  can all differ to some degree I suspect.  

Having said that, I much prefer keeping important pieces of equipment with me rather than trusting them to some unknown fate that's out of my sight and out of my control.  The 280 fits that bill perfectly.

[Lodge Scent]

I could not agree more Colonel. It really is a superior pack. There was no skimping in the quality of materials or workmanship. Well thought out design too. My one concern was would I be able to stuff a winter coat in it with all my othe gear. Often it might be in the teens when I head out early morning but when it gets into the thirties, the heavy jacket is coming off. I am able to squish it into the main compartment with the shaft assembly etc. 

[ColonelDan]

It wasn’t a heavy winter coat but I did strap a coat onto the 280 as shown

[Ogliuga]

280 is the best XP top end backpack, it’s just a really well made detecting backpack. I have a 240 one, it’s more than enough for me. I always wear my 240 with D2 and 9” + 11” coils. A friend of mine owns a 280 and he’s happy with it.  Compliments for your beautiful and big 280.. 👍

 

[F350Platinum]

Excellent thoughtful review, Colonel. 👍 I have the 280 and keep it on hand as a go bag, but normally now I use a fly fishing vest to keep my on-hand stuff and coils on my back, it has a small backpack as well and pockets everywhere. 

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B08PPB6V37

I cut the front black pockets off with a seam ripper, the pockets behind them hold coin boxes and my cell phone.

For 45 bucks it's a steal. 🙂 Completely adjustable too.

[ColonelDan]

F350, that’s clever.  Creatively clever.  👍🏻😊

[F350Platinum]

2 hours ago, ColonelDan said:

F350, that’s clever.  Creatively clever.  👍🏻😊

Don't mean to steal the 280's or your thunder, but Chase has a similar vest, I stole the idea from him. 😀