MAK 4-tub Surf Bag?

[Green Light]

Hi All!

I am seriously thinking of getting the MAK 4-tub surf bag. I have reviewed several bags, and this one looks like it would be a good bag for wearing on a belt during wetsuiting trips.

Does anyone have any experience with this bag?

Thank you in advance for your much appreciated feedback.

[numbskull]

I don't own the bag but I would think 4 tubes in a line (12") would be bulky on a belt. The MAK bags are very well made from what I have seen.
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[tlapinski]

I agree with Numbskull, 4 tubes worn on a belt is likely going to be too bulky. I use either my 3 tube Commando or 4 tube cube Commando bag when weitsuiting. The 3 tube is the perfect wetsuiting size!

[Zeno]

I would think 4 tubes is a bit much...strictly talking wetsuiting...but then again, I've seen a guys in wetsuits that never got into water passed their knees. For whatever reason I tend to associate the wetsuits with "swimming" however short distance to a rock. Four tubes then becomes a little too much...But for wading to the rocks in wetsuit it should be fine. I should say I am not much of a wetsuiter...

[JohnR]

Keep in mind the 4 tube bag is 4 BIG tubes so if you do fill it it will be jammed with stuff. Go the three bag...

[ivanputski]

It depends... If its the mak "angler" which is their production 130$ bag, the tubes are smaller than 3"...more the size of a VS single row.

if its the high end 4 tube, they are big tubes as John said... thats a big belt bag!

[Green Light]

numbskull, tlapinski, Zeno, JohnR, and ivanputski thank you for the feedback!

I did not know that the tubes varied in size between the "angler" and the high end bags.
I am going with the high end bags, so I will go with the 3-tube bag.

Thanks again. You guys rock!!

[afterhours]

i have a mak 4 tube- i think it's a little big for the belt. i'd go with the 3 tube or better yet imo- the mak 2 tube. even a night on cutty or block i rarely use more than 4-8 plugs. i remember the days when i would'nt venture out with less than 30 plugs, seems most of them only came for the ride .

[PaulS]

I never wear my Commando 4 tube wetsuiting. Use the 3 tube Commando all the time.

[SurfCaster413]

I love my Commando 4 tube, I couldnt believe how many plugs I could fit in my 4 tube. Its the only bag I will ever buy again, now that I got some christmas cash a 3 tube might need to be ordered. lol

[new jack]

MAK bags are made right here in good ol' massachusetts. Gotta love that.
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[eskimo]

I own a 4 tube also. I wouldn't recommend it if your attaching it to a belt. A 3 tube would be perfect and the tubes are plenty big.

[Peter Lajoie]

3 tube commando all the way. Check them out.

[Green Light]

afterhours, PaulS, SurfCaster413, new jack, eskimo, and Peter Lajoie thank you also for your feedback.

I have heard and read great things about both Commando and MAK. To be honest, I am leaning to MAK. But, to keep my self "honest", I will do a side-by-side comparison of the 3-tube Commando vs the 3-tube MAK. I will place my order in Jan 2012 and start off the new year right!

Thank you all again.

Tight lines (and screaming reels)!

[Liv2Fish]

You can probably see them both at the RI show in a month or so. I know the guy from Commando was there last year. Nice guy.

[Surf Caster]

Commando 3-Tube all the way. Tom makes a great product and will tweak his standard design to your specs if need be. I have 3 Commando bags and love them all. The 3 tube is my go to most of the time (using it on my belt when wetsuiting).

[GregW]

I was in the same position as you last winter. I was looking for a bag and looked into several makers.

I ended up getting a commando 3 tube for several reasons.
The first was the the quality and craftsmanship. I don't think it is matched by the others. The second was the customer service. I emailed commando and got extremely fast responses. Another builder still has not gotten back to me.

I can't say enough good things about the bag. I fished alot this year (averaged 5 nights a week) and the bag performed flawlessly. It is a perfect bag for wetsuiting.

[chefchris401]

3 tube commando all the way, tom makes the best bag around imho, i put mine thru the ringer this season and shows no signs of wear, tons of ss drainage holes and the ability to make it completely custom.

Toms customer service is great, responds fast and builds the exact bag you want, plus the warranty is insane.

I compared all the bags last season, and decided to go with the commando for a few reasons.

customer service was great, fast response and great communication

his price was 140 LOWER than ebbpoints price for the same bag built to my specs

the ability to customize it to my specs.

Knew a few people that had put them thru the paces in 2010 and loved them.

The mak bags are the same as the AS elite stuff, and i never got any response from him either and cant customize anymore. Mak bags use brass grommets for drainage which will last but ss is better in the longer run.

Go with a commando it will be the last bag you buy unless you lose it.

Toms eta for a bag is like 3 weeks i think, might be worth seeing all of them at a show and deciding then.

The three tube for me is great, two tubes for plugs and one tube for rigged eels. I used a double barrel last year for wetsuiting and loved it but always felt i needed just a little more room. especially when fishing numerous spots in one night, nice to have all the bases covered in case their keyed in on something.

[Chubby-Chaser]

How about going with 2 2tube bags, more flexibility than just one bag and the same amount of space, plus on those nights where you only need a few plugs you can travel light and leave one in the truck.

[afterhours]

[QUOTE=chefchris401;910714]

"The mak bags are the same as the AS elite stuff."



that is not true- they not in the same ballpark. look at daves stuff it is second to none-period.

[chefchris401]

[QUOTE=afterhours;910755]

Originally Posted by chefchris401

"The mak bags are the same as the AS elite stuff."



that is not true- they not in the same ballpark. look at daves stuff it is second to none-period.

sorry was mistaken, i looked at his bags at risaa last year and thought they were the same material.

theres a great thread from the edge forum, its a few years old but luds reviewed a bunch of single row bags and side by side shots with them.

Single row plug bag - Edge Angling Forums

[Green Light]

Originally Posted by Liv2Fish

You can probably see them both at the RI show in a month or so. I know the guy from Commando was there last year. Nice guy.

Liv2Fish, I just checked out the RISAA exhibitors page: New England Saltwater Fishing Show. Commando and MAK are not listed. :-(

[Green Light]

GregW and chefchris401, good point on customer service. There is not worse than sending an email to a vendor is not getting a reply.

[luds]

You said you want to wear it on your belt wetsuiting. Personally when I do that with my 3 tube I don't feel the need for the shoulder strap. I think you will find it actually gets in the way. I don't think the MAK bag comes with a removable strap which would be a negative for what it seems like you're looking for.....Commando does. The commando 3 tube is also roomy on the outside of the tubes so if you were thinking 4 tube originally you can always stick a few extra plugs in easily on the outside if you need to in a pinch. In most cases the 3 should be more than fine. Less is more!

[numbskull]

I've built and used all sorts of bags by now. For serious big fish, difficult terrain plugging I find the 4 tube cube, attached to a belt and supported by a shoulder strap, the bag I use the most. For short trips focused on one spot, or when carrying mostly small plugs, I use a 2 tube belt bag instead.
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[Clogston29]

i swim with a 4 tube commando all the time. doesn't bother me, but I don't attach it to my belt, just shorten up the strap a bit. I don't like swimming with a bag on my belt. I'd rather have a 4 with only two plugs per tube than a three tube with more when swimming because it gets tough dealing with all the trebles tied together in a tube. i'll eventually get a 3 tube commando for more focused trips where I don't need as many plugs, but still won't put it on my belt. just personal preference i guess.

[PaulS]

If you go with the 3 tube just make sure you get an exterior pocket on the front for riggiers/rubber. I have an early model which doesn't have the pocket. That is the only thing I would change. My 3 tube still looks brand new after 2 seasons.

[Thumper]

You simply can not beat the Commando Bags. The quality and reputation is unmatched in the custom bag market, Tom is a master designer and tailor, every single bag is meticulously stitched and inspected. The bags are 100% customizable with a lifetime warranty, how can you beat that? The customer service and generosity of the company speaks for itself, you don't see any other companies donating surf bags two at a time and to every raffle event for great causes. Take a look around at all the heavy hitters fishing Commando Bags, I bet they aren't just fishing them because they look nice...

[Peter Lajoie]

Originally Posted by Thumper

You simply can not beat the Commando Bags. The quality and reputation is unmatched in the custom bag market, Tom is a master designer and tailor, every single bag is meticulously stitched and inspected. The bags are 100% customizable with a lifetime warranty, how can you beat that? The customer service and generosity of the company speaks for itself, you don't see any other companies donating surf bags two at a time and to every raffle event for great causes. Take a look around at all the heavy hitters fishing Commando Bags, I bet they aren't just fishing them because they look nice...

Couldnt of said it better!!!

[Liv2Fish]

Originally Posted by Fish360

Liv2Fish, I just checked out the RISAA exhibitors page: New England Saltwater Fishing Show. Commando and MAK are not listed. :-(

Now that you mention it, Tom was at the Plymouth, MA show later in the spring. I believe MAK rep was there too.