OK so this is my first item review. Ever. So I hope you'll go easy on me.
Anyhow, so I got one of these little guys for a deployment. Honestly, at the time, I didn't know we were issued the amazingly well-built assault pack that we were. I thought it was just the ruck that we got.
Onwards.
http://www.diamondbacktactical.com/...-Assault-Pack-with-Side-Pouch-Flaps,91,30.htm
There's a link.
I have the gray version. I'm not sure of the technical name for the color.
I gotta say that this is an amazing bag. It's HUGE for an assault pack. One of the main points that I love about it is that the main compartment zips ALL the way open. It would work great as an aid bag for this reason. It also has MOLLE attachments INSIDE the bag. The entire inside part that goes against your back is covered with them as well as a few on the other side. The other side's attachments, however, are taken up by two small zipper pouches.
It's as rugged as can be, machine washable and comes with (Optional, it would seem,) a semi-rigid frame that can be removed.
The outside is crammed with more MOLLE attachment points. They SEEM standard, however (And I'm not sure where the problem lies here...with the pack or with the equipment...) the squad medic kit I'd gotten just didn't QUITE line up with the bottom attachments. A little 550 cord fixed it right up.
Of course, it has the standard option of holding a bladder inside for fluids, which I opt not to use, sternum strap, load lifters and an optional (I didn't opt for it) kidney belt.
There are some features that seem to set it out from the crowd, though.
The first one, although simple, is genius! On the outside, left and right, of the main compartment are open top (the newer models have a flap) compartments that are as tall as the pack is. They make a GREAT place to put some trail nosh, extra water bottles (That's what I put in there, most of the time) or some little odds 'n ends that you can easily get to without opening a zipper. A buddy can easily get into them as well without you even taking the pack off.
Second great feature is the AWESOME lower back pad on the thing. I'm not sure what's in it, but it's the most contouring, squishy, comfortable kind of thing since the ol' PT mat on the ALICE frame trick!
Rounding out the pack is two external storage compartments, one subdivided into....well, almost like a storage compartment with a little storage wart on it...and a set of 4 side compression straps.
It also has a little hook 'n loop (just the loop) area on the top part of it for an ID patch or what have you.
The down sides I've figured out about this thing are that the little stretchy loops used to tame the shoulder adjustment strap excess dont last very long. But I dont think that's really to be expected.
And that it doesnt attach to the standard MOLLE ruck QUITE as easily as the issued assault pack (But it DOES attach to it).
Oh yah...and I'm still not QUITE sure if those MOLLE attachment points are 100% standard or not. Every piece of equipment I've put on it EXCEPT for that medic kit has worked out just fine.
Well...that and it may be a little pricey.
After two years of being kicked around, dropped, thrown, dragged, tossed and over-stuffed, mine is still going strong and appears to still have years of life left in it. It's been through a motorcycle wreck and two deployments and looks better than I do.
Would I suggest it to a buddy?
Without hesitation.
Would I use it instead of something else? I've used it instead of the issue assault pack just about forever.
And I think you should consider one.
Anyhow, so I got one of these little guys for a deployment. Honestly, at the time, I didn't know we were issued the amazingly well-built assault pack that we were. I thought it was just the ruck that we got.
Onwards.
http://www.diamondbacktactical.com/...-Assault-Pack-with-Side-Pouch-Flaps,91,30.htm
There's a link.
I have the gray version. I'm not sure of the technical name for the color.
I gotta say that this is an amazing bag. It's HUGE for an assault pack. One of the main points that I love about it is that the main compartment zips ALL the way open. It would work great as an aid bag for this reason. It also has MOLLE attachments INSIDE the bag. The entire inside part that goes against your back is covered with them as well as a few on the other side. The other side's attachments, however, are taken up by two small zipper pouches.
It's as rugged as can be, machine washable and comes with (Optional, it would seem,) a semi-rigid frame that can be removed.
The outside is crammed with more MOLLE attachment points. They SEEM standard, however (And I'm not sure where the problem lies here...with the pack or with the equipment...) the squad medic kit I'd gotten just didn't QUITE line up with the bottom attachments. A little 550 cord fixed it right up.
Of course, it has the standard option of holding a bladder inside for fluids, which I opt not to use, sternum strap, load lifters and an optional (I didn't opt for it) kidney belt.
There are some features that seem to set it out from the crowd, though.
The first one, although simple, is genius! On the outside, left and right, of the main compartment are open top (the newer models have a flap) compartments that are as tall as the pack is. They make a GREAT place to put some trail nosh, extra water bottles (That's what I put in there, most of the time) or some little odds 'n ends that you can easily get to without opening a zipper. A buddy can easily get into them as well without you even taking the pack off.
Second great feature is the AWESOME lower back pad on the thing. I'm not sure what's in it, but it's the most contouring, squishy, comfortable kind of thing since the ol' PT mat on the ALICE frame trick!
Rounding out the pack is two external storage compartments, one subdivided into....well, almost like a storage compartment with a little storage wart on it...and a set of 4 side compression straps.
It also has a little hook 'n loop (just the loop) area on the top part of it for an ID patch or what have you.
The down sides I've figured out about this thing are that the little stretchy loops used to tame the shoulder adjustment strap excess dont last very long. But I dont think that's really to be expected.
And that it doesnt attach to the standard MOLLE ruck QUITE as easily as the issued assault pack (But it DOES attach to it).
Oh yah...and I'm still not QUITE sure if those MOLLE attachment points are 100% standard or not. Every piece of equipment I've put on it EXCEPT for that medic kit has worked out just fine.
Well...that and it may be a little pricey.
After two years of being kicked around, dropped, thrown, dragged, tossed and over-stuffed, mine is still going strong and appears to still have years of life left in it. It's been through a motorcycle wreck and two deployments and looks better than I do.
Would I suggest it to a buddy?
Without hesitation.
Would I use it instead of something else? I've used it instead of the issue assault pack just about forever.
And I think you should consider one.