Is this bag a "hero"? Does it have flimsy back support?
Yes, it's a Hero. I felt one up yesterday when they were unpacking them at the store. Flimsy might be giving it a little too much credit. :thmbdown:
It's a Magellan. Plain and simple. Rebranded with Innova logo, they removed some of the mesh from the front pocket & one side pocket (for mini's I assume), added 2 small pencil holders, and included some flimsy plastic/velcro dividers and side supports. The back padding is changed as well - and not for the better. Instead of thick shoulder pads and a waist paid, they went with a thinner, all-down-the-back pad, and it looks to be even less comfortable than the Magellan (as if that was even possible), and much hotter in the summer time too - as there is no venting or anywhere for the sweat to evaporate. I anticipate a lot of hot, sticky, sweaty backs after wearing this bag in the summer.
It's made of the same thin material that the Magellan is made from - NOT the thicker Innova bag material we're used to. Looking at and handling the bag, it was pretty obvious that a Magellan with a well built PVC frame is a better setup. That flimsy plastic inserts will collapse pretty quickly under any kind of use. The other thing I made sure to check - there are NO improvements to the strap/stitching where the shoulder straps connect to the bag. That is the Achilles Heel of the Magellan, and it will be the same for the Innova version.
Look - anyone who reads DCGR or has any sort of passing knowledge of what's going on in DG bags lately will laugh their asses off at these pathetic bags. Especially knowing it's a $30 Magellan with $5 worth of plastic/dividers added to it. However, it WILL look like a *deal* hanging on the wall next to $200+ DD, Grip, and Lat64 high end bags. This is clearly made for the casual shopper or "disc-golf gift giver" who thinks "Oh, my husband/boyfriend would love a backpack for DG, but I can't spend $200 on one. Here's one for $89!"
Bottom line? Those of us who laughed at this bag were right. It's a $40 bag, tops. They didn't fix any of the shortcomings of the Magellan, they simply contracted Hero to change 3 minor things and re-brand it as Innova. It's not better, and one might even argue - not as good as the Magellan (especially at it's target price point) with a PVC frame.
If anything, I think it's going to drive more Magellan sales lolololol.
