Gear backpacks

Hitchy

Private
Minuteman
Sep 14, 2018
10
2
I’m pretty new here, and have read a lot about the bags everyone shoots off of and rear bags everyone likes. what about the backpacks everyone carries there’s stuff in to shoots what’s everyone’s favorite
 
ON top of what people use, Id also like to see some pictures of how you arrange everything in it.

Currently I keep everything in a bag but its not strapped or anything beyond handles for carrying, I have everything stacked in a particular pattern like tetris but it would be nice to get aback pack that I could zip all the way down and see everything at once instead of just the top of the stack.
 
+1 on the phantom pack

keep an eye here on the PX. got mine here and seen one or two more recently go up for sale.

here is a picture when I first got it. i've since laid it out a bit different. (i don't use the scabbard)

Tripod on side pocket
ear pro, LRF, weather meter, sun glasses in top pouch
PRS bag, and sandsockgear pillow in large portion.
Little baggy of hex tools and odds and ends in the elastic pouches inside large compartment
Water bottle in other tall side pocket with wheeler wrench set at bottom
Rite in the rain index cards in small side pocket
two magazines in other small side pocket

just got a pair of binos I will need to find a space for. but plenty of room left.
IMG_1514.jpg
 
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Agreed, make sure it splits wide open from top to bottom somehow, if it’s topload only you’ll hate it eventually. I have a Khard 30 right now and liking it pretty good. Also think very highly of Goruck, have one for city work/traveling but would be just as content using it to tote around my rifle stuff.
 
Mystery Ranch Overload. Has a ton of room, two pockets on the top pouch for the smaller essential and a large main compartment that opens wide open quickly. The outside has some side pockets and compression straps that are very convenient for carrying a tripod, and the pack folds away from the frame quickly and has straps inside for weapons carry or for bulk stuff. The frame and harness system is the most comfortable I’ve used. Nothing compares to Mystery Ranch.
 
I made the switch from Eberlestock to Mystery Ranch over the last year and I love the packs. I have two 3DAPs, one old gen and one new and an ASAP. I use them for different types of matches.

I'll try to remember to get a pick up of how I load them out later today.
 
Not specifically about a backpack but I like to organize some of the gear I take in my pack in zippered pouches like these from Cumberland Concepts.

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I call them a poor man's Magpul DAKA pouch because they're about the same as a medium pouch at 12" X 7.5" but they're only $7 each. They aren't waterproof but they have a rubberized coating on the inside to make them water resistant. They also come in a variety of colors and I bought several of them to sort of color code what's inside. I have a tan one for gun stuff like my Otis cleaning kit, Hawk Hill feet, a sling, extra ear plugs, empty chamber indicator, stuff like that. An orange one holds target gear like a staple gun, targets, pasties, a glue stick, etc... This way it keeps stuff from rolling around my pack and I can easily put in and take out what I need based on if it's a range trip or match.
 
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Not every bag gets carried at every match but this is my load out for my one day matches.

Outside:
Traust Gamer Bag
Armageddon Gear Medium Bag
Armageddon Gear Stretchy Rear Bag
Kestrel in Armageddon Gear Pocket
HSGI Bleeder pouch
HSGI Water Bottle Pouch

Main Compartment:
Armageddon Gear Game Changer
HSGI Pogey Pouch (holds tools and spiked bipod feet)
TAB Silent Ammo Carrier
Swaro 15x56 Binos
Snacks/extra water

Clamshell Top Compartment:
OTM Chamber Cooler
Spare Ear Pro
Lense Cleaning Kit
Wallet/Phone/Keys


Like I said the equipment I carry varies. I don't always bring four bags. Sometimes it's two or three. In fact I haven't been using the game changer as much and may or may not take it to my next match. If it looks like cooler or wetter weather is coming, I bring my 3 DAP instead of the ASAP pack pictured above. Same thing if it looks like a lot of hiking between stages. If that's the case my Tripod gets strapped to the side.

Hope that helps.
 
I run a Mystery Ranch 3DAP also, it's a great pack. I've used it for 2-day team field matches and 2-day individual PRS/NRL matches. Fits everything I need. Key and snacks in the top of the clamshell pouch, binos in the clamshell. Tripod on the side of the pack and gam changer and pump pills clipped to the molle on the back. In the main compartment I have a set of wheel wrenches and other tools, bipod extensions, rain gear, LRF and 100 rds of ammo in 2 MTM boxes as well as a spare mag. My main mags and kestrel go on my belt if it's an individual match or on my battle belt with my LRF and maybe a pistol for field matches.
 
Eberlestock low drag 2. I’m closer to a minimumist when it comes to shooting. So even in this smaller pack I’ve got room to spare.
 
Another vote for the Mystery Ranch 3DAP, it' all around great pack. Plenty of similar offerings from Eberlestock, Kifaru, and Tactical Tailor as well others.
 
If you're not wanting to ruck your gun in the pack, I still use a ATS RAID II. Not too big like some of the Eberlestocks yet you can easily scale it, or really cut everything down off it and cinch it to wear like a book bag. Runs just fine if you are wearing a chest rig/carrier and primary weapon as well.

I have mine setup to be standalone for just the bolt gun and have everything I need in one well layed out pack, or to add it to whatever I have on if I all of a sudden need to supplement a rifle/mission where I need my precision 'gear' that I otherwise wouldn't be lugging around.

The genius in the pack is that its the perfect size, full molle basically everywhere, the inside reinforced flap is also full molle that you can set up for pouches to stow specifically what you need/where you need it instead of tossing it in a larger cavity. The ruck also opens to where you can have it laid out perfectly flat. A problem you run into with bags that have multiple compartments is that you end up having to loosely toss your shit in there and its never in there the same way, or back to the original way once you take stuff out/put it back in. Additionally, you can't stow larger items like a helmet if needed.

If you're interested in the utility of this, let me know and Ill lay out exactly how I have mine set up and why.
 
If you're not wanting to ruck your gun in the pack, I still use a ATS RAID II. Not too big like some of the Eberlestocks yet you can easily scale it, or really cut everything down off it and cinch it to wear like a book bag. Runs just fine if you are wearing a chest rig/carrier and primary weapon as well.

I have mine setup to be standalone for just the bolt gun and have everything I need in one well layed out pack, or to add it to whatever I have on if I all of a sudden need to supplement a rifle/mission where I need my precision 'gear' that I otherwise wouldn't be lugging around.

The genius in the pack is that its the perfect size, full molle basically everywhere, the inside reinforced flap is also full molle that you can set up for pouches to stow specifically what you need/where you need it instead of tossing it in a larger cavity. The ruck also opens to where you can have it laid out perfectly flat. A problem you run into with bags that have multiple compartments is that you end up having to loosely toss your shit in there and its never in there the same way, or back to the original way once you take stuff out/put it back in. Additionally, you can't stow larger items like a helmet if needed.

If you're interested in the utility of this, let me know and Ill lay out exactly how I have mine set up and why.

PM sent!
 
Erblestock Halftrack. Milsurp one because I am a cheapskate and I DNGAF what color a range-only bag is. Later got the gun sleeve thing. Occasionally change it up and use for class/match work with other stuff in it, but is normally set like this for precision rifle work.

2018-10-13 23.03.43.jpg


Lots of stuff, probably forgetting some:
  • Spotter on one side pocket, tripod on the other
  • LRF and Kestrel in pouches in the front panel
  • Ready to fire ammo in mag carriers in the lid
  • Boxed ammo and spare mags in the top area, along with logbook
  • Cleaning stuff mostly in top area pockets, also long tubes along left side (as shown)
  • Light stuff on bottom (backpacking tip: always do heavy stuff high), including bags, blocks, and for tomorrow's setup at least, the magnetospeed, but often also mats, clothing, etc.
  • Lower area pockets also have pruners, range card, lightsticks, etc.
  • Outside of panel and outer pocket has glasses case, chamber flag, some camo scrim bits
  • Top pocket has tools, batteries, mirage band, and so forth
Not my favorite pack for long distance comfort, but I rarely carry it very far and it is set right, so can strap it on and ruck away with it.


And to those talking up the RAID, I have too many other packs, so a spare one in OD (hint hint...)
 
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I recently picked up a pack from goruck because I wanted to downsize from my gunslinger2. Already sold the gunslinger. The goruck packs are really comfortable and extremely well made.