Datsusara PGB3 Bag Review
In Japan, the term Datsusara refers to the act of quitting one’s job for the sole purpose of finding a more fulfilling line of work. It’s about spending your time/efforts doing what you love. Having said that, it’s safe to say that the Datsusara MMA PGB3 Bag captures the essence of this change of lifestyle by standing out and not conforming to the everyday norm. The fact that it’s made of hemp is just the start.
The Good
It’s true that Eddie Bravo and Joe Rogan would approve of an item made of 100% hemp canvas (they both may vote libertarian as well — if they even vote that is). Although we won’t be sporting any LSD induced tattoo designs on our arms anytime soon, the hemp material makes a lot of sense. It’s anti-microbial (this is a wonderful thing), stronger than normal cotton, and allows your gear to air out. The material feels more sturdy compared to the PGB2 model, and less soft. Many will probably prefer it this way though. Hemp is also UV resistant (so it’s basically Blade, or at least his bag of choice).
The shoulder strap has been improved from the previous model as well. It covers more of your shoulder with a wider build as opposed to the narrow rubber strap on the PGB2. The handle straps are also as sturdy as ever.
For everything the PGB3 has going for it, perhaps its best feature is its roominess. The Datsusara MMA PGB3 Bag provides plenty of space to carry tons of gear. The bag may seem huge to some (28×13x14 inches, 72×34x36 cm), but for those that carry plenty of gear, it’s a good thing. Our bag alone carried the following items:
- 2 pairs of 12oz Everlast boxing gloves
- Judo Gi (w/pants and belt)
- Sprawl fight shorts
- Sprawl grappling top
- Datsusara “nasty” bag with 2 dirty shirts
- Pair of Hayabusa hybrid MMA gloves
- Water bottle
- Shake bottle
- Towel
- Athletic tape
- Jump rope
- Shockdoctor compression shorts
- Wallet, keys, watch
Much more gear could have probably fit into this MMA bag. It also provides plenty of pockets to separate your stuff in a nice organized manner. There’s pockets specifically designed to hold items such as MMA gloves, keys/wallet, and a mouthpiece container. The end pockets really do fit a pair of boxing gloves (ours were 12oz, but 16oz would fit as well). The mesh pockets on the end are quite handy as well as they can hold your water bottles and just about anything else.
The zippers (YKK brand) on the PGB3 differ from the PGB2 — which were made of a nice metal material (the straps), but apparently these are a higher quality. We have had no issue of the zippers snagging or acting unreliable. Another nice addition to the PGB3 is allowing a little customization with the side patch logo. The side logo can be removed and replaced with anything else that you would like. Previous models simply had the Datsusara stitching instead.
You probably noticed a Datsusara “nasty bag” mentioned in the list of gear above. It’s a nifty bag to help separate your smelly wet clothes from the other things within the PGB3. This “nasty bag” included with the PGB3 is a vast improvement over the PGB2 — the material is far superior as is the size.
The Bad
If you order a PGB3 now, it comes with a sweet little Datsusara patch. Wait too long however and you’ll have to purchase it separately. The same goes for the “nasty bag”. Those will also start selling separately in the future.
The Ugly
The price tag may be an ugly thing for some ($99.95). You could always opt to go the Phil Baroni way and carry your gear in a garbage bag, but the PGB3 will take you far and more than pay for itself in the long run.
Conclusion
What more can be said about the Datsusara MMA PGB3 Bag? It holds a gargantuan amount of gear, looks stylish, improves upon the previous model in many ways and stands out from every other bag in the market. Whether you’re looking to ditch that dead end job or replace a dull duffel bag — the Datsusara MMA PGB3 Bag can help you take a step in the right direction. Did we also mention that the bag is now built by a better manufacturer, and meets full U.S. Mil spec standards?
For being a quality product that should last long enough to make up for its somewhat steep price, we here at MMA Claw have dubbed the Datsusara MMA PGB3 Bag a Grade A Prize.
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