Mystery Ranch’s sizing options for the 3DAP and other Futura Frame packs are both a blessing and a curse.

The Blessing 

Rather than offering one size fits all, the Montana-based pack maker offers different sized yokes and waist belts to ensure a proper fit.  Have you grown in any direction since purchasing your pack?  For an extra fee ($85 at the timing of this writing), another yoke can be purchased from Mystery Ranch and swapped out by the user.  The waist belts are sewn in (more on than later).

The Curse

How can any of that be a bad thing?  Offering so many options can be confusing at time of order and Mystery Ranch hasn’t helped anyone with their recent changes.

Yoke Size

Are you a male over 6’3″ tall?  Then, like me, you should probably order a XL pack off their website.  Simple enough.  However, when you receive your pack, it will have a Large Yoke.  Huh?    

It gets better.  The new M/L is a Medium Yoke.  The Medium Yoke fits male torsos between 18-21 inches or 5’6″ to 6’2″ in height.  Mystery Ranch finds that fits the majority of people.  The Small is a Small Yoke, which is really the only intuitive size option in the bunch.  I guess if you’re small… well… you’re just small.  

There is a XS Yoke for Ant Man and XXL for the Hulk.  If you’re an Avenger, just call customer service and they’ll hook you up. 

Waist Belt Size

The NICE frame has individually sized waist belts.  Mystery Ranch will just ask for your size.  On the recreation packs like the 3DAP, Komodo Dragon, and others… the waist belt is of the universal variety that fits waists up to 52″.  That’s why you’re likely to have excess webbing on your waist belt (which you may or may not want to trim).  So where do the various sizes that you’ve heard about come into play?  That has to do with packs with the Live Wing Belt option and the Live Wing Belt Accessory for packs that don’t like the 3DAP (Note: the Live Wing Accessory has been discontinued and is no longer sold by Mystery Ranch).  The sizes are as follows:

25 to 29″ = Extra Small
30 to 34″ = Small
35 to 39″ = Medium
40 to 51″ = Large
52″+ = Extra Large

Of course, you can order different combos in Yoke and Live Wing sizes by calling Customer Service if you don’t fit perfectly within Mystery Ranch’s sizing tiers.  They can do that because the Yokes are modular and separate from the packs.  The company does offer a Fit Guide to help.  But with all the confusing size combos, it really only helps with the Live Wing sizes.  

Discontinued Accessories

Offering so many size combinations in their packs has resulted in a few recent casualties among their accessory options.  Mystery Ranch had to drop items like the Stick It and Live Wing Belt Accessory to free up production for some of their new products.  That’s because the accessories were also offered in different sizes which made it even more difficult to manufacture them consuming much-needed capacity.  

And, for what it’s worth, the sizes on the Stick It were also confusing.  For instance, the Small Stick It fits both compatible mid-sized packs like the 3DAP as well as smaller packs like the ASAP, 1DAP, and Street Fighter.  The Stick It also came in a Large Size (presumably just to confuse and torture us).    

In review, my properly sized pack would have a Large Yolk, Universal Waist Belt, Large Live Wing Belt, and a Small Stick It.  Got that?  Good. 

The post Mystery Solved on Mystery Ranch Sizing Options appeared first on Loaded Pocketz.

The new Camelbak Recon line made an appearance at the 2015 Outdoor Retailer Show.  There are two new packs in the line – the Quantico and Coronado.

Camelbak Quantico and Coronado

These packs are Camelbak’s second go at an Urban friendly design.  The first was their excellent Urban Assault series – the Urban Assault and Urban Assault XL.  The UA has one of my personal favorites for a couple of years now but I’ve carried both.

The new packs look promising by sticking to the same winning formula.  A good setup that provides protection and storage for a laptop and tablet, excellent water bottle pockets, and EDC friendly organization.  With the Multicam Black and external MOLLE, they’re not as “Gray Man” as the UA’s, but there are plenty of “tacticool” packs out there these days.   They won’t stick out as much now as when the UA’s were first released.

Here is a great video highlighting the features of each…

The Camelbak Recon Series will arrive early next year.  No pricing or spec information yet.  Stay tuned here for more information.

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I’ve been asked many times about my criteria for selecting a great Commuter or EDC Work Bag.  So, a video was long overdue…

Vertx EDC Gamut

A few other points that I didn’t mention in the video:

• As you can tell, I prefer backpacks.  Why?  My criteria is simple.  If I had to hump it out of the city and walk my way home… or in the instances when I’m not able to catch a cab and have to walk to my destination… then what type of bag would I want to be carrying?  Don’t get me wrong – messengers are great.  I have a few.  But, if you’re carrying a decent load-out, a single strap bag is not going to be something that you will want to schlep for long distances on foot.  Believe me.

• In addition to a padded bottom, a raised or suspended laptop compartment is ideal.  The laptop sleeve on the Gamut is flush (so the padded bottom is key), but the one on the Camelbak Urban Assault is suspended.  So that is one thing that the CUA has over the Gamut

• In the interest of time, I also didn’t say specifically why I prefer the Gamut over the Camelbak Urban Assault.  It really comes down to comfort.  The Gamut is the most comfortable mid-sized EDC pack I’ve encountered to-date.  Nothing is worse than enduring the grind of a daily commute with a bag that’s uncomfortable.  The Gamut takes my 15+ lbs of electronics, EDC kit, and clothing without issue.  In fact, the other day I had to take the pack off to double check whether I had remembered to carry my laptop.  That doesn’t happen with most packs.

• One last point.  A pack has to strike the right balance between being lightweight and durable.  The Gamut isn’t the lightest pack out there, but it isn’t the heaviest either.  And as you can see, it has held up to abuse really well.

Anyway, I hope that helps.  As always, comments and questions are welcome!

The post Selecting the Perfect Commuter or EDC Work Bag appeared first on .

One of my biggest fears when traveling overseas is getting sick from drinking the local water.  MSR is coming out with a product that is designed to eradicate that fear.  It’s called the MSR Guardian.

The MSR Guardian

MSR produced this video that talks about the product’s benefits.  It’s absolutely off the charts insane.

Take my money.  Whatever this thing costs is worth it.  Hell, I’m paranoid about some domestic water sources when I travel and so this would reduce my water bottle consumption big time.  MSR is releasing the Guardian in January.  It can’t get here fast enough.

The post First Look: MSR Guardian appeared first on .

These days I find myself being able to do more and more with my tablet while opting to leave my laptop behind.  I get the opportunity, when I ditch the larger device, to downsize my carry.  Usually a small day pack or shoulder bag.  One the packs I’ve been using in that role is the Direct Action Small Messenger.

Direct Action Small Messenger Bag

The Direct Action Small Messenger is an 8.5 Liter (519 cubic inch) shoulder pack made of DWR coated 500D Cordura nylon.  As with the Dragon Egg Backpack I reviewed earlier this year, Direct Action uses laser cut MOLLE to cut down on weight while still allowing the user to attach pouches to the outside of the bag – like this Hazard 4 Mil-Koala sheath containing my Leatherman Skeletool.

The new MOLLE is also good when it comes to slipping small lights, pens, and other items through the webbing for quick access.  I typical do that with tactical messengers so I don’t have to get into the main compartment for stuff I need quickly.  In the picture above, I slipped a Maratac AAA Copper flashlight onto the front flap.  My County Comm Embassy pen also rides on the side of the bag.  In both cases, they are mostly covered by the face fabric and therefore less prone to get dinged up.

Direct action made every effort to keep the outside of the Small Messenger slick.  Even the drag handle on top can be attached via hook and loop so it doesn’t get in the way when not in use. There are d-rings for attaching an included stabilization strap and a zippered pocket on the back panel that I often used as a dump pouch.  The pocket is lined with loop material so hook and loop pouches and other accessories can be added to the interior but I found the pocket a bit tight for that.  So it just served as an overflow pocket or a place to drop stuff that I didn’t want to store elsewhere.

There is more webbing under the front flap so an admin pouch, like this MSM Tac Organizer Pouch by Milspec Monkey, can be attached for added organization if needed.

The main compartment of the Direct Action Small Messenger features an exceptional layout.  There’s a padded sleeve that can protect an 11″ Ultrabook or a tablet – like my Apple iPad Air.  It’s secured via a strap of nylon webbing and velcro.

There’s a slip pocket on the other side that’s also secured with velcro where I kept a Moleskin for jotting down quick notes.

But, the gem is really the middle compartment, which like the outside pocket on the back panel, is also lined with loop material for hook and loop accessories like an admin panel or pouches.  I also found it to be a very good option for off-body concealed carry using an Orange Diamond Concealment kydex holster and magholder with my M&P Shield.

Initially I was worried about brandishing my gun inadvertently if I needed to get to my tablet or something else in the main compartment.  But, Direct Action cleverly addressed that issue by including a zippered opening on the top of the flap, which allows the wearer to leave the main compartment zipper open underneath as a pass through for discrete unfettered access to anything inside (including a firearm).  I can also pull out my tablet or notebook without anyone knowing I’m carrying.   It’s a very smart design and easily my favorite feature on this bag.

The bottom of the bag is covered with a rubberized non-slip material.  Setting it down on a wet surface wasn’t an issue.  The flap retention straps have elastic keepers for strap management.

The inside flap has a transparent map/document pocket.  It will fit a standard sized magazine (sorry, your over-sized copy of the latest RECOIL issue is a no-go).  There are optional hook panels to secure the flap if you opt not to use the buckles.  As was the case with the Dragon Egg, every zipper pull is glove friendly. I usually cut the pulls off most of my bags and replace them with heat shrink wrapped 550 paracord.  That isn’t necessary in this case.  These are the best OEM pulls I’ve encountered to-date.

The external dimensions are approximately 13″ x 9.5″ x 3.9″ with an empty weight of 835 grams or 1.8 lbs.  Overall, I found the bag’s size to be a good compromise between portability, storage capacity, and weight.  I’m not a huge fan of large one-strapped bags.  They just provide temptation to over-pack.  If you’re going to do that, then stick with a bag of the two-strapped variety.

Speaking of straps, the two-inch wide shoulder strap on the Small Messenger is plenty long enough to carry the bag cross-body or over one shoulder (even for a tall guy like me).  The pad is a good one.  It’s comfortable and made from the same non-slip material that was used for the bottom of the Small Messenger.

Again, I found the pass-through to be a great feature.  I loved being able to reach most of the bag’s contents without having the unbuckle the flap.

Overall quality was better than the price warranted.  I couldn’t find a crooked stitch or a loose thread anywhere.  Cordura brand nylon, Duraflex buckles, and YKK zippers were used.  I’m a big fan of what Direct Action is trying to do with their bag line.  Lots of useful features at a price that is relatively affordable.

SUMMARY

PROS:
Compact Size
Feature rich
Above average quality
Affordable
CCW Capable
Tablet/Ultrabook Friendly

CONS:
No water bottle pocket
Too small for laptop carry

The Direct Action Small Messenger retails for $79 and is available in a number of colorways including Ranger Green, Olive Green, Black, Coyote Brown, Shadow Gray and a number of Camo patterns. It can be purchased from Direct Action here.

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Even now and then, I come across a pack that is truly unique.  I don’t even remember how I found the Hill People Gear Aston House but, after reading about it, I immediately reached out to Scott and Evan Hill and practically begged them to let me do an EDC themed review on it.

Hill People Aston House

Why?  Because I immediately recognized the pack’s potential and not much had been written about it outside of their own forum.  Hill People Gear is a company better known for their backcountry and hunting packs and even they admit the Aston House is a bit of a departure for them.  Well, for a company not experienced at targeting products for the EDC community, they sure hit the ball out of the park with their first effort.

The Aston House is named after the real life version of “Q Branch” of James Bond fame.  Situated near Stevenage, Aston House was one of many British country houses “requisitioned” during the Second World War by the Special Operations Executive (SOE). Known as Station 12, its task was to design and supply gadgetry for special operations against the enemy including special weapons and custom explosive devices.

Aptly named, the Hill People Gear Aston House has a ton of bells and whistles.  As a result, it has lots of straps and anchor points.

A little “strappy”

Is that throwing a red flag?  Having TAD Litespeed Gen1 nightmare flashbacks?  Hold on.  First, in it’s fully kitted-out form, a small investment in elastic keepers and Web Dominators goes a long way towards cleaning things up…

Here is the result…

For an EDC pack, HPG should have paid more attention to strap management, but it’s a small oversight easily rectified by some extra hardware.

So what makes this pack so different?  Well, it extremely modular.  For instance, the compression load pocket provides more organization and storage…

But, it can be completely removed leaving almost no hardware behind.  The result is a “slick” pack that is sleek, low profile, and totally urban friendly.

HPG Aston House in its “slick” urban mode

Personally, I’d have no issue running the compression load pocket during my city commute but if you like your packs simple, you can strip the Aston House down to the bones and it’s almost like having two packs in one.

But it doesn’t end there.  The interior is completely customizable due to the Hypalon mounting points in each compartment and the use of 6/12 PALS cut fabric, velcro loop side out.  Virtually any accessory can be used in this pack.  Got a MOLLE compatible pouch?  Check.  How about a hanging pocket like TAD’s new CP1…

With a couple of Grimlocs, it fits like it was made for it.  Hook and loop accessories can be used also – like Hill People Gear’s new Tool Roll..

Hill People Gear Tool Roll mounted in the Aston House

Expect a separate review on it – coming soon.  

HPG also makes a number of accessories for the Aston House.  The AstonInsert is a hanging/drop-in panel that encloses a piece of HDPE in a combination PALS grid / velcro loop field on one side and 500d on the other side.  It can be used to add organization and provides a little more structure to whatever compartment its hung in.

The AstonInsert

HPG also makes two different versions of padded load bearing hip belts for the Aston, kit bags that can added as chest rigs and mounted to the shoulder straps, and other goodies. 

Speaking of the shoulder straps, the second generation yoke harness used on the Aston House is the most comfortable setup I’ve used to-date.  Previously, the Vertx Gamut had the best straps on any EDC pack I’ve reviewed, but the HPG yoke distributes heavier loads better.  A truly great design.

I’ll be doing a full multi-part review on the Hill People Gear Aston House after I’ve had a chance to carry it more and fully put its versatility to the test.  Stay tuned! 

The post First Look: Hill People Gear Aston House appeared first on .

Everyday Carry is hot right now so even manufacturers that don’t normally cater to the community are coming out with “EDC packs”.  Kifaru is better known for manufacturing bags and accessories for hunting and the military but their fans have been after them to design a pack that is more urban and EDC friendly.  Their first attempt was the Urban Zippy …

Urban Zippy

I think even the most ardent Kifaru fan would admit that the Urban Zippy still looks like a Backcountry pack.  So, earlier this year and with much fanfare, Kifaru added a second pack in their EDC line called the Kifaru Antero.

Kifaru Antero

EXTERIOR

In my opinion, the form factor of the Antero borders on perfection for most Everyday Carry.  The 1,500 cubic inch (24.5 Liter) capacity will not force its wearer to leave an extra layer behind due to lack of space and it will not be too bulky for daily use.  The pack itself is low profile, which is important for a city commuter that could spend time on crowded trains, buses, and in cramped taxis.  The appearance is understated making it suitable for recreational and casual business use.

The exterior of the pack is largely slick, except for one panel of MOLLE that could be covered by a MOLLE compatible admin pouch.  Overall, a nice looking pack that could be used in a variety of settings. 

The large padded grab handle is an ideal design for taking the pack on and off.  The 550 paracord pulls are long enough for glove friendly manipulation during cold weather months.  Kifaru even included a nylon loop to secure the top pulls…

And the bottom pulls for security purposes in large crowds.

The pack has a unique 4-way zipper that allows partial access to any part of the main compartment.  There are also detachable compression straps to secure a loose item to the bottom of the pack (see above picture).

The bottle pockets are a wonder.  They’re an open design that will take larger bottles like this 32 ounce Hydroflask.

And yet somehow the retention straps manage to keep the bottles from falling out the pack even when inverted.

Although the design clearly favors bottle use, Kifaru still provided a pass through for a hydration tube if the wearer prefers to use a reservoir in the main compartment.

I also used at least one of the bottle pockets for pouch storage – like this Tom Bihn Mesh pouch that holds cables and power adapters.

I wear both reading glasses and sunglasses.  I found the sunglasses pocket on the top of the pack to be a little small if you keep your glasses or sunglasses in a case.  Definitely a tight squeeze!

INTERIOR

Moving inside, Kifaru also includes one of their removable Chamber Pockets that attaches via metal three-bar clips to buckles at the top of the main compartment.

It’s also a good place to store glasses – especially if they don’t fit in the exterior sunglasses pocket.  A wallet, smartphone, or something else could easily go in there also.  The pocket is fairly deep.

The internal sleeve, which Kifaru says doubles as a laptop and hydration sleeve, is poorly done.  On a $300 pack, there’s no excuse for the sleeve to not be padded.  I had to add a Tom Bihn Cache with Rails to provide adequate protection for my laptop, which adds another $30 to the cost if purchased separately.

It attaches via Gatekeeper clips to the same loops that are used to attach the Chamber Pocket and on the plus side, it is a nice step-up because it rotates out of the pack for easy access to the device.

The Antero also does not have padding or even double layered Cordura to protect the bottom of the pack and the laptop sleeve is flush with the bottom.  So any device loose in the main compartment or carried in the sleeve without a case would be exposed to accidental damage if the bag is dropped on a hard surface.

Other than the Chamber Pocket, Kifaru did include an extra small zippered mesh pocket on the inside of the front panel.

However, as far as organization goes, that’s it.  No integrated admin panel.  No internal MOLLE or hook and loop.  No way to build out the inside of the pack for specific types of carry.  There’s plenty of real estate inside this pack to accommodate it, but Kifaru didn’t include it.

CARRY COMFORT

I’ve heard good things about the straps on other Kifaru designs but I just couldn’t get the Antero straps adjusted to my liking.

Everything I tried on loads of 10+ lbs put stress on my shoulders to the point that the pack was uncomfortable.   I also noticed that the straps tend to get twisted easily when taking the pack on and off, which was a bit frustrating.  Of course, everyone’s body is different and these straps might work for some.  They just didn’t work for me.  Your mileage may vary. 

I did like the 3/4″ open cell foam back panel and removable HDPE frame sheet.  But the support they provided couldn’t overcome the issues with the harness under load.

Even worse, the metal three bar clips that attach the bottom of the shoulder straps to the pack had a nasty tendency to dig into my side.  It was especially noticeable when I wore just a t-shirt.  It caused enough discomfort that it limited the length of time I could wear the pack.   I heard similar complaints on Kifaru’s forum so it is a known issue and its hard to imagine how it escaped the notice of testers before the pack was shipped.

SUMMARY

PROS

Near perfect size for EDC
Best aesthetic of any Kifaru pack for Urban Use
Typical (excellent) Kifaru quality
Best open bottle pocket design we’ve tested to-date

CONS

Expensive considering the lack of features
No protection for electronic devices
No integrated small EDC organization
Straps were not comfortable for loads that exceeded 10 lbs for the reviewer (6’4″ tall with broad shoulders and long torso)
Strap design flaw that could cause some (most?) users discomfort

Overall, it’s difficult to recommend an EDC pack that isn’t set up well for EDC. Couple that with the comfort issues that I experienced with just moderate loads and I’m sorry to say that the Kifaru Antero was a huge miss for me.  Given Kifaru’s reputation, I’m anxious to try some of their other packs since this was my first experience with the brand.  But, for the time being, I will be looking elsewhere for an EDC pack. 

The Kifaru Antero retails for $300 and is sold on Kifaru’s website.  It comes in a number of colors including black, coyote brown, wolf gray, and various camo patterns. 

The post Kifaru Antero Pack Review appeared first on .

Don’t believe everything you read.  I know that sounds hypocritical coming from someone who writes gear reviews, but it’s true.  I’ve known about the Hill People Gear Tarahumara Pack for years and until recently I avoided it because I read too many complaints on forums about it being too small and not having enough organization.  But, after receiving the Aston House from HPG for review and being so blown away by it, I decided to go all-in and find a gently pre-owned Tarahumara to try alongside the Aston.  And I’m really glad I did.

Hill People Gear Tarahumara

The Hill People Gear Tarahumara is a small daypack made from 500D Cordura nylon.  It’s a simple center zip design similar to the Grey Ghost Stealth, but without the rain fly to snag the zipper.

The back panel has quilted padding.  There’s a hidden pocket behind it that could be used to hold a tablet, map, etc.  Anything more substantial and the pack will not sit flat on the back and the panel will bulge, stealing space from the main compartment.   

The Tara features HPG’s outstanding shoulder harness.

The yoke-type harness has a non-removable sternum strap and removable bungee tie downs with cord locks that are very effective at securing a hydration hose or other small items to the straps.  The harness can also be completely unbuckled from the Tara and some have re-purposed it for use on other packs that have removable harnesses.  For instance, Kifaru owners have replaced their shoulder straps with it and in some cases not without some effort or even modification.  

Why would they do that?  Simply put – it’s one of the most comfortable shoulder strap designs I’ve encountered on any pack of any size.  

The author wearing the HPG Tarahumara harness.

The straps are extra wide – about 3.5 inches across.  The harness is one unit – not two separate straps sewn directly onto the pack.  This helps to spread the load evenly across the back and both shoulders reducing stress on any one part of the body.  The key is to adjust the length of the harness straps until the part of the yoke directly behind the neck lays flat.  Once I did that, the straps molded to my body and the setup felt like it was custom-made for me.     

Stripped of its harness, the Tara can also be used as a large compression pocket for use in other packs.  

More on that in our upcoming review of the Aston House.

The HPG Tarahumara has two compression straps.  Both of the straps can be completely removed if not needed (leaving very little hardware behind).

Unbuckling the straps and pulling down the center zipper reveals a main compartment that’s slick with no internal organization.  During hikes, I prefer to run the Tara with a Source Tactical WLPS 3L Low Profile Hydration System.

The pack is really designed around bottle use.  Case in point, they didn’t include a port for the hose.  It’s one feature I’m hoping HPG adds to the next version of the pack.

In addition to the Source bladder, I also added the optional Tarainsert.  The Tarainsert is a panel that encloses a piece of HDPE in a combination PALS grid / velcro loop field on one side and 500d on the other side.  It can be used to attach MOLLE and Hook and Loop compatible pouches and other accessories.  For day hikes, I mounted two clear tear-away Mystery Ranch Spadelock pockets to hold snacks, my headlamp, extra batteries, fire starter, wallet, keys, and First Aid Kit.

I also used the external bottle pockets to store another pouch that held my phone…

And my work gloves and folding knife.

If you opt to use the external bottle pockets as they were designed, then each can hold up to a 32-ounce Nalgene or USGI Canteen.  They don’t have elastic or retaining straps but I found unless the bag was inverted, the compression straps pulled double duty to hold them in place.

Hill People Gear also incorporated a 550 Paracord retention system on the bottle of the pack to hold an extra layer like my Triple Aught Design Stealth LT jacket.

It’s there to conserve precious cargo space in the main compartment but overall I found the listed 750 cubic inch carry capacity to be understated.  The Stealth LT leaves much to be desired in terms of packability and yet I was able to stuff the jacket in the main compartment along with my other kit.

Also, much to my surprise, the Tara didn’t carry “small”.  It only measures 17″ H X 9″ W X 4″ D but the harness adds some length and therefore unlike some other similarly sized packs (yeah, I’m talking to you Kifaru E&E), it didn’t feel or look out-of-place on my 6’4″ frame.

SUMMARY

Pros
Super comfortable shoulder harness
Understated carry capacity
External water bottle pockets
Modular design
Low profile
Carries bigger than the dimensions would indicate

Cons
Limited use due to overall size
Main Compartment Zipper is not water-resistant
No hydration port

The Hill People Gear Tarahumara is a specialized piece of gear and not suited for people who want one pack that does everything well.  It’s ideal for day hikes, trail runs, and (with the addition of the optional Tarainsert) light grab-and-go Everyday Carry for weekend or travel use.  If you stick within those Philosophies of Use then you’ll find the Tara to be an outstanding carry option.

The Hill People Gear Tarahumara retails for $125 and is available on HPG’s website and comes in ranger green, foliage gray, coyote, and black. 

The post Hill People Gear Tarahumara Pack Review appeared first on .

One of the great things about the Hill People Gear Tarahumara is that it provides a platform on which you can expand capabilities to meet a variety of carry needs.  I’ve tried other gear in combination with the “Tara” and one thing I discovered is you can easily clip in a Mystery Ranch Stick It pocket without any permanent modifications.

Hill People Gear Tarahumara and Mystery Ranch Stick It

The Tara’s upper compression straps buckle right into the Stick It.  There is a lot of extra webbing so I used ITW Web Dominators  to take of the excess.  The lower compression straps can still be used and in fact they do a great job of compressing whatever is in the pocket keeping it tight against the pack.

To anchor the bottom, I used the Tara’s paracord lashing system; ignoring the Tara’s top loops and using the bottom ones to attach the pack to the Stick It.  

This allows the Stick It to work as intended.  It can be unbuckled and yet still stays connected to the pack.  

Using the Stick It adds a quick access pocket to store items that you need to stash on the outside of the pack within easy reach.  It can also free up capacity.  For instance, I can move my gloves from one of the wand pockets to the Stick It.  I could then put a Nalgene in the wand pocket providing extra hydration.  That’s just an example, but you get the idea.

The Hill People Gear Tarahumara has proven to be an extremely versatile pack.  I continue to experiment around with it and will share other ideas as I do.   

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It’s been a while since I’ve done a Gear Diary so I thought I’d share thoughts on some of the kit I’ve used from Hill People Gear.

First off, I generally don’t play favorites and certainly Hill People Gear (HPG) isn’t the perfect fit for every philosophy of use.  With that said, I’m REALLY enjoying every piece I have from them right now.  The latest addition to my collection is the Snubby Kit Bag – Original Pattern.

I took a crappy picture of it the other night and then proceeded to leave my camera behind on my first hike wearing it.  But, as you can see in the pic, the great thing about the Snubby is that it fits right between the shoulder straps of the Aston.  I know from talking to the guys at HPG that a lot of people end up returning the Snubby because it’s too small.  I haven’t found that to be the case – yet.  Maybe the larger models would be more comfortable but right now I prefer the compact footprint of the Snubby and the original pattern version has the added depth to store everything I’d want to carry in it.  I guess time will tell.  

A downside to these kit bags? I’d have to say the setup is a little fussy. It definitely helps to get everything adjusted in front of a mirror before heading out on the trail. I made the mistake of messing with mine after I had done that and I wish I hadn’t.

Speaking of the Aston House, I tested its capacity limits for the first time by loading it up with my car camping kit and it took everything with no issue.  That included my stove and cookware, food, inflatable sleeping pad and pillow, jacket, 3 liter reservoir, a change of clothes, and the other items I normally take on my day hikes.  All included, a little over 20 lbs of gear.  

I used the Mystery Ranch Three Day Assault pack for the same purpose on my last camp out and I didn’t think the two packs could hold the same amount of gear.  Certainly you can get to stuff a lot easier with the Tri-Zip design of the 3DAP, but the top loading Aston is a much more versatile pack for Everyday Carry and I prefer the Hill People Gear harness for the size of loads I carry.  So, the 3DAP is probably on its way out.  I’m not a hoarder or collector.  I don’t keep packs around very long if they don’t serve a unique purpose.  That money can go towards upgrading other parts of my kit.    

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The newly released Vertx EDC Ready Pack is a more compact version of it’s larger cousin, the Vertx EDC Gamut.

Vertx EDC Ready Pack

However, Vertx didn’t take the easy way out and just shrink the Gamut.  They listened to customer feedback and addressed some of the common complaints about the Gamut by incorporating some feature changes in this new design.

The EDC Ready Pack is 19″ H x 11″ W x 8.5″ D and has a capacity of 25 Liters.  That’s three inches shorter and narrower than the Gamut while adding an extra 1.5 inches in depth.  For many under 6′ tall or those who have a smaller frame, the Ready Pack will be a more proportionally sized option.

The weight is 3.0 lbs empty (a full pound lighter than the Gamut). 

Here is a shot of the EDC Gamut and Ready Pack side-by-side…

Vertx EDC Gamyt (left) and Vertx EDC Ready Pack (right)

Both have grab handles directly beneath the sewn logo although the Ready Pack’s is more covert.  Gone is the Gamut’s top zippered compartment in favor of a larger, more versatile pocket on the lower front panel.

Speaking of the front panels, they can be tucked in and out-of-the-way on both packs to expose a MOLLE/Loop panel underneath…

On the Gamut, its tucked up and under and secured with hook and loop whereas on the Ready Pack it’s tucked down in behind the lower panel pocket.

The exposed area behind the lower panel pocket (shown above) is lined with loop material.  When the Ready Pack’s front panel is up, it makes for a great deep concealment option for CCW.

The back panel, sternum, and shoulder strap design is very similar on both, which is great because I found the Gamut to be one of the most comfortable packs under load that I use on a regular basis.

Vertx carried over the interior back panel compartment design.  It provides a large loop panel that can be used with Vertx’s Tactigami accessories to provide more organization or a quick access weapons compartment.  It also allows for zippered access to the pack’s frame sheet.

The design of the side panels of the Ready Pack has been simplified.  Gone are the Gamut’s zippered compartments and compression straps in favor of larger stretch pockets. 

Unlike the Gamut, the stretch pockets on the Ready Pack can be expanded via a bungee/cord lock pull to fit a 32 or 40 ounce Hydro Flask.

Although the larger bottle does steal a little space from the main compartment…

Moving inside, both packs have an admin area.  Vertx eliminated one slot on the Ready Pack and made the other three larger so they can accept a wider variety of knives, flashlights, multi-tools, etc.  

They kept the light-colored interior and added red zippers for even better visibility in low light conditions.   

The interior laptop sleeve on the EDC Ready Pack can fit up to a 15″ laptop.  It’s not as padded as the sleeve in the Gamut to cut weight, but it is slightly raised and the bottom of the pack has padding for added protection.   

There are external ports for a hydration hose so the sleeve can also be used to hold a 3 Liter Reservoir.

One change I didn’t like is the Ready Pack does not zip open flat like the Gamut.  I’ve never understood why manufacturers do this.  The justification is typically “so the contents don’t fall out” but bags that open flat are so much easier to pack and well worth the trade-off.  Plus, in all the time I’ve been doing this, I’ve never had a large YKK zipper open on its own. 

The Ready pack also has only one zippered mesh pocket in the main compartment versus the Gamut’s three.  Whether they are missed or not depends on how the wearer organizes his or her kit.  

Perhaps to account for that loss of organization, Vertx added a second built-in admin area in the lower panel pocket.

It allows quick access to small items without having to get into the main body of the pack.

SUMMARY

Overall, the Ready Pack is a nice addition to the Vertx 2.0 generation pack line.  It provides a daypack sized option that’s a step down in capacity versus the Gamut and Gamut Plus while still retaining some of the key features that people loved about those packs.  

The Vertx EDC Ready pack retails for $149.95 in Black and Smoke Grey.  I’ll post a full review after I’ve had more of a chance to carry this pack. Stay tuned!    

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Editors Note:  I wrote this review quite some time ago on “that other forum” and I’m re-publishing it here.  I only mention this because the photography isn’t up to my current standards.  But hopefully, anyone considering this pack will find some value in the review.

——–

I’ve had a lot of requests to review the 5.11 All Hazards Prime Backpack.   I’ve been a long time fan of 5.11 Tactical because they build products that are good quality at a very competitive price point. Also, most of their pack designs are built and refined based on feedback from First Responders (Police, Fire, EMP’s, etc.) who spend long hours in the field and so the layout and ergonomics usually reflect that. Everything generally has a purpose and makes sense – which is not something I can say about every manufacturer I come across.

5.11 All Hazards Prime Backpack

With that said, I blinked twice when I saw the $209 price tag; especially considering that the RUSH 24 retails for $149 and street prices generally come in under $100. Is the All Hazards Prime that much better than the iconic RUSH? Does it still represent the value that the 5.11 brand is known for?  That’s what I set to find out.

For part of this review, I decided to take the AHP on a “Twilight Ops”, which in this case is an early evening hike.  The weather here in Chicago has been sketchy at best and I was determined to test the wear-ability of the pack by taking it on the trail loaded up with some essentials and a full water bladder.

It was a great day. The leaves are changing here in the Midwest, but it’s still warm enough to hike without a second layer. Of course, that will all change here in the coming weeks!

In my opinion, the AHP is very tactical looking pack – even more so than the RUSH 24.  Myrddraal, who is a member on a forum I used to frequent, loaned me this pack to review in 5.11’s Sandstone color. I think it would be more understated in black, but even then the amount of external molle and loop patches, the beaver tail, and various straps give it a very military appearance. That can be good or bad depending on what appeals to you and your philosophy of use. Note Myrddraal included the tier straps so what appears to be lower compression straps don’t come with the AHP out-of-the-box.

As you can see, the AHP has good strap management. Every loose strap has an elastic keeper to keep things from flopping around, which I really like because you don’t have to make a separate (albeit small) investment in Web Dominators.  Again, 5.11 pays attention to the little details.

All of the interior compartments of the AHP open nearly flat for full access. The interior web platform is hi-vis orange which provides a nice contrast to pick up visually anything stored there. I threw a couple of pouches on there for this hike including a Tactical Tailor Fight Light Enhanced Admin pouch and a Maxpedition 5″ phone holster. As you can see, the panel is large and I could have fit more molle gear there if desired. The panel is laid out horizontally, which threw me at first. But, it’s designed that way so you can swing the pack off one shoulder and get to what’s inside more quickly. That works in theory, but I found that a little awkward because the upper compression strap attached to the beaver tail has to be undone to get into the compartment. The same is true on the RUSH 24, but due to the presence and intent of the web panel, I thought it was worth mentioning.

Another small issue is I noticed a lot of loose threads here and there on the molle stitching. You can see them better in the picture below. Not a big deal – you can trim or burn them off. But, it’s not something I’m used to seeing a lot of on 5.11 gear.

Also, and this is just personal preference, I would have rather had a large loop panel in lieu of the molle here. There is plenty of hook and loop gear out there now including some very good holsters, which would have made this a decent platform for concealed carry. A loop panel would have also added some more structure to the platform as it backs to the main compartment and not the back panel. But, as configured, the web platform still provides extra storage and versatility that other packs lack and so I’ll take it when I can get it.

The other side of the compartment has two mesh pockets, which have tabs so you can label what’s in there to keep everything organized…

The cool feature, which 5.11 added with the All Hazards Prime, is the ability to remove the pouches from the pack. They are attached with hook and loop to the panel and I found this to be a very useful feature – especially if you use them to store a FAK or other items that you need to pass around to others in your party. Even if that isn’t the case, it’s still really convenient to remove the pouch to get to the items inside so I hope this is something 5.11 incorporates into their designs going forward.

5.11 advertises that the AHP has a “padded” tablet and laptop sleeve. Indeed, the main compartment has a sleeve for a tablet on one side and a larger elasticized pocket on the other side, which could be used for a laptop. But, neither has any protection other than the tablet sleeve backs to the web platform which does have what feels about a 1/4″ or maybe a 1/2″ of foam padding built into it. Contrast this to 5.11’s COVRT 18 where the laptop sleeve actually has padding built-in.

To be clear, you can carry a laptop in the AHP. The RUSH 24 doesn’t have a padded sleeve either and I know many individuals who opt to carry their laptops in it’s main compartment. But, I think it’s a little misleading for 5.11 to advertise that the AHP has padded compartments when it truly doesn’t.

For this outing, I just carried my fleece pullover in the laptop sleeve. Behind it, the AHP does have a removable rigid frame sheet. This did help the pack carry better – especially with a full 100oz water bladder in the hydration pocket. It also helps prevent the hydration pocket from bulging into the main compartment and stealing capacity when full.

Up top, the AHP has a nice large padded grab handle – similar to the COVRT 18. The front features loop panels for a name tape and other patches if desired. They are molle backed so there isn’t any wasted space, which is important if you opt to attach a large organizer pouch to the beaver tail.

One other nice feature of the RUSH and AHP 5.11 packs… they are free-standing. It helps with access. I wish more packs were that way.

The soft material lined valuables pocket behind the grab handle is huge. I stored my Hazard 4 Mil Pod glasses case in there with room to spare and it isn’t small. 5.11 also improved the design by ensuring it’s fully padded and doesn’t flop around in the main compartment (reference the above pictures – it’s located above the tablet sleeve).

One more interesting feature. There is a pocket running horizontally along each side of the pack with a velcro strap keeper that is removable and ambidextrous (unfortunately not pictured, it was located on the other side). This could be used to secure any number of things like hiking poles, a tripod, or an umbrella in an urban environment.

The yoke configuration on the AHP is the same as the RUSH 24 but the straps are slightly wider. 5.11 added a mesh material on the back of the padded areas and straps to help with breath-ability. I found the material they used to be pretty rough against my body, but my concern about that ebbed as the pack broke in. It certainly wouldn’t be an issue even out of the gate if you wore it over a shell.

The chest strap helped stabilize the pack and it was relatively stable overall for a pack lacking a waist belt. It does have clips to attach a 1.5″ waist belt and you can adjust and/or remove the chest strap if so inclined. Overall, I’d say the pack carries very similar to the RUSH 24 due to the yoke system and that’s a good thing.

The hydration pocket is large enough to accommodate a Source WXP 3L Storm Bladder (pictured) or I believe a 17″ laptop (I’ll test that theory later). It has a strap to hang and stabilize the bladder, but I’m not going to lie – I did feel the bulge from the 3L Storm on my back at the beginning of the hike. Once I drank about a third of it, I didn’t notice it as much. There is a grommet at the bottom to drain away water if your bladder ruptures.

If you intend to carry a laptop then you have a couple of options. Below is my 14″ Thinkpad T420 in the main compartment’s laptop sleeve. The T420 measures 13.4″ X 9.17″ X 1.20″. As you can see, it fits with room to spare.

Here is my wife’s 15.4″ widescreen Hewlett Packard Pavillion DV6000 which measures 14.05″ X 10.15″ X 1.57″. Still room to spare. I suspect a 17″ will fit in there depending on the dimensions.

The AHP’s Beaver Tail can expand to carry a ridiculous amount of gear. I have it unclipped here, but you get the idea. It is not removable as it is attached to the pack at the bottom.

Here is the AHP’s Admin Panel, which is located in the Beaver Tail. Four pen slots, one larger slot in the middle for a knife or multi-tool, and two larger sleeves on either side. Two open pockets behind that and a couple of key keepers.

This is just personal preference, but I still like the RUSH 24 admin pocket better. The two sleeves with retaining straps are great for securing larger items like a FAK or Maxpedition Pocket Organizer. Not sure why 5.11 eliminated them from the AHP, but it’s not an improvement IMHO. They also eliminated the long sleeves on the panel, but that’s a wash since you can also store items in the AHP’s Beaver Tail. I also like the interior zippered pocket on the RUSH 24 versus having a second open pocket.

I close with some comparison shots of the All Hazards Prime and RUSH 24. The old saying goes “beauty is in the eye of the beholder” so I will leave it up to the reader to decide which pack is the best in show…

The 5.11 All Hazards Prime is not the perfect EDC pack but it’s a nice alternative to the 5.11 RUSH 24 if you’re partial to the brand and want something a little different for your carry.  That said, you’ll pay more for the AHP than what you’re used to paying for 5.11 gear and when you get into that $200+ range, they are a lot of excellent packs from high-end manufacturers that I would consider before investing in the AHP.  As always, your mileage may vary.

The All Hazards Prime retails for $210 and can be purchased from 5.11’s website and from other retailers where 5.11 gear is sold.

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When I consider buying an expensive pack, I always feel better about the purchase if I know it will get used a lot and not just sit in my closet.  It either has to replace a pack in a daily carry role (like my work bag) or ideally have the capacity and features that allow it to be kitted out for different kinds of carry.  The Hill People Gear Aston House definitely falls into that second group.  In my preview article, I tried to show how the Aston can be setup in different ways.  In this multi-part review, I’ll demonstrate how those different setups can be used.

Given its made by Hill People Gear, even though the Aston House is EDC oriented, it’s DNA is still that of an outdoor pack.

Hill People Gear Aston House

So, one of the first things I did was to take it on a series of day hikes.  Why?  I wanted to see how the lightly padded yoke harness would hold up over a decent distance with a heavier load.  I also wanted to get a better idea of the pack’s capacity by loading up the Aston with bulkier gear.

Capacity-wise, I was pleasantly surprised.  The Aston is a fairly low profile pack so I had my doubts whether it could fit something like my GSI cookware/stove set-up.  

Well, the organizer compartment expanded nicely and took the GSI as well as other items including my camera, first aid kit, fuel, food, and a shell with room to spare.

On another hike, I included my Klymit Static V Luxe sleeping pad.  No issue there either except that the organizer compartment started stealing space from the neighboring Removable Load Compartment.

For me, that wasn’t as much of an issue because I was using the Hypalon load hangers in the compartment to suspend a Source Reservoir.  I also left in the Aston Insert to give the pack a little more structure and prevent the bladder from pressing into the back panel.

Neither takes up that much space.  Optionally, if you prefer bottles, the Aston is designed to pair with the Prairie belt…

… or Recon Belt.

Both have PALS webbing that can accommodate HPG’s 1 quart or 16 ounce bottle holsters.  Doing so would free up more capacity by allowing the load compartment to be used for something other than a hydration pocket.  Note:  While the pack carries fine without a load bearing hip belt, at some point I’ll probably add the Recon belt for extended day hikes.

Why no sense of urgency on the hip belt?  It has everything to do with HPG’s excellent yoke harness.

Due to the fact that it’s somewhat free-floating, the yoke does a great job of distributing the weight of the pack evenly without having to resort to heavy padding that would have added weight to the overall package.  The adjustable load lifters keep everything riding high and stable while also pulling some of the weight off the shoulders.

You may notice in the above picture that there are buckles and straps blocking access to the zippered compartments.  Unlike say… the Triple Aught Design V1 Litespeed… it’s the straps/buckles of the Aston Pocket and NOT the load lifters that are the culprit.  And while the Aston Pocket is completely removable (including even the buckles), I found the pocket to be one of the more useful transporter tail/stash pocket setups on any pack I’ve used and therefore well worth the trade-off.

It can be used in the conventional way by securing items to the outside of the pack for quick access… like this camera tripod.  I’m also looking forward to using it to carry my Snow Shoes in the winter.

The panel also unzips to reveal a series of nylon and mesh pockets that provide more organization.

For Everyday Carry, HPG would have knocked it out of the park if they had included some zippers rather than leaving the pockets open and an admin panel for knives, lights, multi-tools, etc. would have been great too.  With that said, for these outdoor excursions, I used the various pockets to carry my fire kit, compass, gloves, and other smaller items and that worked out just fine.

The side straps of the compression panel, paired with the First Speer 6/12 slot pockets, made for an excellent place to secure trekking poles, fishing rods, and other longer items.

The bottom panel has compression straps and a zipper that (when opened) will accommodate and secure items in the load compartment that are longer than the pack.

That won’t happen as often as you’d think because the Aston is 21 inches long.  I welcomed the added length for my long torso, but it might be an issue for the “vertically challenged” crowd.

The 6’4″ author wearing the Hill People Gear Aston House.

Overall, I found the Hill People Gear Aston House to be a perfectly viable hiking backpack.  At 3.8 lbs empty, it’s not a good choice for the ultralight crowd but if you want your EDC pack to also log some trail time then I highly recommend the Aston House because the HPG yoke is one of the best harnesses I’ve encountered to-date.  Add-on one of HPG’s padded load bearing hip belts and you’d be able to comfortably carry as much weight as the Aston’s capacity would allow.

Pros

Expandable storage
Yoke Harness
Ability to add a Load Bearing Hip Belt
Transporter Tail/Stash Pocket with added Organization

Cons

Bulky items in one compartment steals space from another
Weight
Pack length might be an issue for those with shorter torsos
 

Part 2 of this review will focus on Everyday Carry. Stay tuned! 

The post Hill People Gear Aston House Review Part One appeared first on .

I’m had some bad experiences with Kickstarter companies so I’ve avoided projects on that site lately.  The exception would be campaigns kicked off by established companies that I know has a solid reputation for making great kit.  I reviewed their Commuter Messenger last March and was very impressed by the build quality, features, and attention to detail.  Now  Rickshaw has launched a Kickstarter Campaign for their new Potrero Backpack.

Rickshaw Bagworks Potrero Backpack

The Potrero, which is named for a residential neighborhood in San Francisco, is Rickshaw’s take on the classic American Jansport-style daypack.  The dimensions are 18 x 12 x 5 inches (46 x 30 x 13 cm) with a capacity of roughly 18 Liters.  The bag is made from 1000D Cordura nylon with a water-resistant X-PAC Sailcloth interior lining.

Features & Specs

• 1000D Made-in-USA Cordura® nylon fabric exterior
• Choice of 4 exterior colors: Black, Grey, Navy and Bordeaux
• Waterproof Made-in-USA VX21 xPac® sailcloth interior
• Medium grey interior color, so you can see your stuff inside the bag
• Heavy duty (#10 & #8) Made-in-USA YKK zippers
• Outside dual-zipper front organizer pocket
• Webbing loops for bike light attachment
• Second large outside dual-zipper pocket (easily fits a standard 1-inch binder)
• Two outside water bottle pockets (fits standard bottles up to 3-inch diameter)
• Dual-zipper main compartment with padded bottom
• Contoured padded shoulder straps
• Sternum strap
• Tubular webbing carry handle & bag hanger
• Built-in padded laptop sleeve (fits 15-inch laptops, or a small pile of paperwork)
• Padded back panel
• Made-in-USA Volara® closed-cell foam for all padding
• Super-strong Made-in-USA T-70 nylon thread throughout
• Main compartment dimensions: 18 x 12 x 5 inches (46 x 30 x 13 cm)
• Main compartment volume: 1080 cubic inches (17.7 liters)
• Weight: 2.1 lbs (0.95 kg)
• Target Retail Price: $199

 The early bid pledge amount is $99, which is very reasonable for a U.S. made pack constructed with these materials by a company that produces gear you know you can trust.  Because I’m tall, I wish they had made the pack an inch longer and a little deeper but many find this size of pack ideal for Everyday Carry.  

During the campaign, the Potrero will be offered in four colors.

The Potrero will retail at $199 with more custom material options but if you’re interested in this bag, don’t miss this opportunity to get it at a great introductory price.

The post First Look: Rickshaw Bagworks Potrero Backpack appeared first on .

On October 22nd, TAD hosted a launch party to celebrate the release of the Triple Aught Design Fastpack EDC V3 – a redesigned version of the larger pack in their Everyday Carry series.

At TAD HQ, they rolled out their new pack design… literally. Source: Triple Aught Design

As with the redesign of the Fastpack Litespeed that I reviewed earlier this year, the changes to the EDC are more than subtle.  Whether they represent a step forward or a step back will truly depend on the user and their own philosophy of use.

The new Triple Aught Design Fastpack EDC

This version of the EDC is slightly shorter and deeper with less taper at the top – 12″ W x 21″ H x 8″ D  versus the previous model – 12″ W x 22″ H x 7″ D.  As a result, the capacity has increased from 1,800 to 2,000 cubic inches.  That’s getting a bit large for a true Everyday Carry but, if you’re like me and tend to multipurpose your packs, then the extra storage space adds versatility.

Extra padding has been added to the back panel.  Also, the new straps on the Fastpack EDC are wider and more thickly padded with breathable mesh.

Unlike the Litespeed, rather than doing a straight drop, TAD kept some of the contour of the original design.  Most people who prefer the earlier version of the Litespeed commented that they missed the contoured straps so hopefully the straps on the new EDC will appeal to a wider audience and not drive people to seek out the old version.

Early reports also indicate the harness is designed for wearing the pack higher on the back.  If you like how GoRuck packs carry then I suspect you’ll like the change.  TAD did not include a hip belt with the V3 but according to rumors, it will be available later as an option.  If the pack rides higher, the belt might not be as functional for some people.  It’s good that TAD kept the length of the EDC at 21 inches.  That means a belt still might fall at the hips for people of average height.  Folks with longer torsos might have issues.

Perhaps the biggest design change in the new Fastpack EDC is the move from a 1/2 zip to a full clamshell opening main compartment.

It’s something I love on my GoRuck packs so it’s nice to see them move in that direction.  One thing I don’t like is the lack of an internal sleeve in favor of anchor points designed to attach either the transporter tail or the optional Control Panel accessory.

As I talked about in my Litespeed review, the conspiracy theorist in me screams that this design is less about functionality and more about selling accessories.  The sterile transporter tail for the Litespeed never materialized forcing the user to detach the tail from the outside of the pack to use it to secure gear in the main compartment.  The older version didn’t have a sleeve either but I think TAD missed an opportunity to address that short coming without requiring someone to add accessories to an already costly pack.  In my opinion, it is a step back (or sideways) and not a step forward.

Another big change is the flush mounted roll top compartment for laptop carry.

If you bike commute or walk long distances in bad weather with your laptop or tablet along for the ride, then you’ll probably welcome the addition because roll tops are definitely more weather resistant.  I’ve had first hand experience with roll top compartments on packs from Mission Workshop and I’ve found them to be more cumbersome to get into versus a conventional YKK Aquaguard zipper setup.  So, while the roll top is a cool feature, some may find it’s overkill and not worth the trade-off for EDC.

On the other hand, as a way to keep clothes and other stuff dry, for hiking it’s a very functional feature.  Unlike the conventional pocket in the EDC V2, it’s not setup for hydration carry so if you use a reservoir, it will have to go in the main compartment eating up some of that added capacity I mentioned earlier.  So, again… how you view the addition of the roll top will depend on your carry.

The Fastpack EDC is still 72 ounces (4.5 lbs) empty. As I commented in my Litespeed review, I would have liked to see TAD incorporate laser cut MOLLE and other lighter materials in their new designs.

Other notable changes include dual flashlight caves, better strap management, a paracord carry system identical to the Litespeed, and a change to the load lifters so they no longer block access to the main compartment.

SUMMARY

Pros

Slighter shorter for the “vertically challenged”
Added capacity
Improved padding for added comfort
Clamshell opening for easier access
Dual flashlight caves
Better strap management
Better load lifter design
Roll-top compartment for keeping gear dry

Cons

No hip belt
Still no interior sleeve
Roll top doesn’t support a reservoir
Still heavy

The new Triple Aught Design Fastpack EDC V3 is available direct from TAD’s website and retails for $340. It’s now sold out and only available in black. However, TAD has confirmed that Coyote and Foliage as well as another round of Black will be stocked before the end of 2015.

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One of my favorite clothing purchases in 2015 was the Arc’teryx Atom LT Hoody.  It was my first Arc’teryx gear purchase and it impressed me so much that I’ve since invested in a couple of additional pieces for my wife and I.

Arc teryx Atom LT Hoody in Carbon Copy

The Atom LT features 60 g/m² of Arc’teryx’s proprietary Coreloft™ Insulation.  Coreloft is made from short, highly crimped multi-denier siliconized polyester fibers.  It doesn’t have to be quilted/baffled like Northface’s ThermoBall insulation and therefore it’s not as “Puffy”.  It’s also not as warm since ThermoBall is more like Down in terms of its warmth versus weight ratio.  Still, I continue to be amazed at how warm the Atom is considering its meager weight of just 12.7 oz (360 grams) – roughly the same as a 12-ounce can of soda.  The Atom LT, when stuffed in a bag, also doesn’t consume much capacity because it compresses quite nicely into whatever unused space is available.

Conservatively, as a stand alone jacket worn over a base layer, it makes for a nice fall/early spring option for most people.  Worn under a winter weight shell or paired with more layers, I’ve used it down into the twenties or even the teens if I’m hiking or snowshoeing.  Of course, that’s very subjective.  Depending on whether you tend to run warm or cold, the comfort range for any jacket will vary from person to person.

Fit-wise, like most Arc’teryx pieces, the Arc’teryx Atom LT tends to run small. At 6’4 250 lbs, I fell between XL and XXL.  I ended up going with the XXL to have a bit of room underneath since I don’t wear it strictly as a mid-layer but an “XL and a Half” in this jacket would have been perfect.  Too bad Arc’teryx doesn’t see fit to make them in that size.    If you have to size up, it does help that the bottom of the jacket can be adjusted via a shock cord/cord lock setup.

The Visilon YKK zipper is smooth.  It rarely snags.  It is not of the water-resistant variety.

Many complain about the Atom LT’s hood because, unlike the warmer Atom AR, there are no adjustment points.  Personally, even in wind, I didn’t find that to be an issue but I also have an unusually large dome and I don’t run a helmet.  So your mileage may vary.

The jacket’s DWR will hold up to light rain or snow.  In a heavy downpour, mine wetted out after 4-5 minutes but still kept me warm and dry underneath with the exception of the neck area and some seepage along the unprotected zipper.

There are two lower hand warmer pockets and a single interior breast pocket that’s large enough to fit an iPhone 6 in a case.  The cuffs are not adjustable but they are made from a stretch material that is very glove friendly.

The Arc’teryx Atom LT has become one of my favorite jackets.  I recently purchased the Triple Aught Design Equilibrium Jacket to see if I preferred one over the other.  The Equilibrium was eventually sold and I still have the Arc’teryx jacket.  Why?  The Polartec Alpha insulation used in the Equilibrium breathed better during active use but overall it wasn’t as warm.  The fit wasn’t as trim as the Atom.  I also like having a hood when wearing it as a jacket and there were more color options.

The Arc’teryx Atom LT Insulated Jacket retails for $249 but the street price is much less because it’s easy to find a discount online.  Colors are seasonal so check the website for the latest options.  

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This week TAD (Triple Aught Design) sent us their new Fastpack EDC for evaluation.  After a couple of days carrying the redesigned pack, I’ve made some early observations which I’ll share in case some of you are considering the investment.

Triple Aught Design Fastpack EDC 2015 Edition

I’ll start by saying this.  Overall, Triple Aught Design has improved enough aspects of the Fastpack EDC that I would recommend upgrading if you have one of the older versions.  Also, it may be time to buy into the hype if you don’t have a Fastpack in your collection.  I don’t feel as strongly about the new Litespeed but they nailed the dismount on this one.  Even the Russian judge would probably give them a solid 8.5 score.

Why you say?  I thought you’d never ask.  In my opinion, TAD made two major improvements.  First, they greatly improved the harness and the back panel.  Here is a picture of an older Gen EDC alongside the GoRuck GR1…

The Older Generation Fastpack EDC (foreground)

And here’s the new EDC…

As you can see, the new straps have more padding and structure than those on the previous Gen.  Once I strapped myself into the EDC and adjusted everything, it had a rock solid locked-in feel.  Maybe not to the degree of say… the Futura yoke on the Mystery Ranch 3DAP… but it’s definitely on that end of the scale.  The pack also carries higher on the back – similar to a GoRuck GR1.  Whether you like that or not is a matter of preference.    

The other big change is they opened up the access to the main compartment.  The old pack was a three-quarter panel opening…

The new main compartment panel lays nearly flat.

Triple Aught Design Fastpack EDC 2015 with CP-1

With the new Fastpack EDC, it’s easier to get to the contents of the zippered pockets – especially if you also add the Control Panel accessory (CP-1).

Was there anything not to like?  As I mentioned in my First Look article after the announcement, I didn’t care for the inclusion of the roll-top laptop compartment.  After trying it, I’m still not a fan but not for the reason I anticipated.  Getting in and out is not as convenient as a YKK Aquaguard zipper would have been but the bigger issue is the compartment’s lining.  Unfortunately, the bottom is not sewn in and it wants to come out along with the device every time you remove it.  You then have to stuff it back into the compartment.  It didn’t take long before that was REALLY getting annoying.  A regrettable design flaw that is certainly not a show stopper but worth considering if you routinely carry a laptop or tablet. 

Later this winter, I’ll do a full review of the Triple Aught Design Fastpack EDC 2015 Edition. Stay tuned.  

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Hill People Gear keeps releasing intriguing products.  The Connor is a backpack/compression pocket.  

Hill People Gear Connor

It’s similar the discontinued Highlander.  However, Hill People Gear has made a number of improvements to the Connor including shaving an inch from the length (21″ H x 11″ W x 4″ D) to make it more manageable as a stand-alone pack and adding additional pockets along with a frame sheet to organize and carry more gear. 

Features include:

• Large main dimensional pocket fully lined with First Spear’s 6/12 PALS cut velcro loop fabric lets you create whatever organizational system you want.
• Center zip outer pocket with stretchy tweave fabric on the outside expands as you stuff it.
• Twin outer mesh pockets on either side of the center zip. Meant for drying your socks on the trail. Sized to take a bike bottle size bottle.
• Hypalon compression wings can be folded underneath for use on the Ute pack or brought around to the front when the Connor is used stand alone. The wings have a 2 channel pals grid cut into them for additional pouches either inside or outside of the wings.
• Dual mini-wand pockets are just big enough to accept bike bottle sized bottle, but excel for smaller items like trekking or fishing poles.
• Generously long bottom compression straps.
• Stay pocket is accessible from the suspension side. Can be used to store other flat items if desired.
• Harness mounting points are midway up the back to allow for a wide range of torso lengths.
• Includes (2) ITW repair ladderloc buckles. In pack mode, they are used for the load lifters. In pocket mode, they can be used on the very bottom tabs to tie into the bottom most compression straps on the Ute pack.

The Connor will replace my Tarahumara.  The footprint of the Connor is similar to the Aston House, which I found was a perfect length for my long torso.  The zippered outer pocket, dual mesh pockets, and external PALS will provide some nice options to organize gear.  And if I need more storage, I can always pair the Connor up with my Snubby Kit Bag or use the Connor as a compression panel on one of HPG’s larger packs.

Hill People Gear Connor used as a compression panel on the Ute.

According to Hill People Gear, the Connor should be available within a week or two.  Email the company at info@hillpeoplegear.com if you’d like to be placed on the notification list for its release.  The product page with additional photos is here. 

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I’ve always been a day hiker and car camper.  Maybe it’s my mid-life crisis coming on but all of a sudden I’ve caught the bug to go backpacking.  A mid-life crisis usually involves a motorcycle and dating a younger woman and so my wife has been supportive of this new venture.  She’d rather have me spend my energy on this versus risking life or limb riding a motorcycle.  And burying me in the back yard would take a lot of effort on her part if I got a girlfriend.

So, I started out doing a lot of research on the art of backpacking and the type of gear that’s needed to enjoy a multi-day trip into the backcountry.  Even for a gear head like me, choosing the right equipment was a real challenge.  I usually follow the “buy once, cry once” philosophy, but I also didn’t want to over invest without knowing if it’s something I’m going to stick with.  I settled on a middle-of-the-road strategy.  Purchase quality gear from good brands but not necessarily top of the line.  That way, I’m limiting my initial investment without hampering my enjoyment of the outdoors by having gear that’s super heavy, hard to use, or simply doesn’t work.

COOK SET

My first purchase was cookware (don’t ask me why).  I selected the GSI Outdoors Pinnacle Dualist Ultralight.

The kit includes a hard-anodized 1.8-liter pot with strainer lid, 2 insulated mugs with lids, 2 bowls, 2 cheap telescoping “foons” (which I promptly replaced with Lite My Fire Sporks), a welded sink and a stove bag.

After messing with it at REI, I loved how everything stacked together inside the sink.  It really saves space and the entire setup only weighs 1lb, 5 ounces.  Yes, a Snow Peak all titanium set would have been lighter but it’s also twice the cost.  This set received good reviews and I’ve already used it on one car campout with excellent results.  So far, so good.

Next up was my stove.  I wanted something light and compact that could fit inside the GSI set to save space.  It needed to be durable, simple to set up, have the ability to support the 1.8 Liter pot, easy to light, and relatively powerful for its size.

I opted for the Kovea Supalite Titanium.  The Kovea Supalite is 3 x 4.25 x 4.25 inches and weighs 2.1 ounces.

It fits inside one of the GSI mugs  and will boil a Liter of water in a few minutes.  I’ve also found it easy to control the intensity of the flame, which is important if you’re trying to simmer something versus doing an outright boil.

SLEEP SYSTEM

I’m a large human and a side sleeper, so I needed a sleeping pad that could comfortably cushion my 6’4 frame and keep me off the ground.  The Klymit Static V Luxe was one of the largest inflatable pads I could find.

It’s 3″ thick, 30″ wide and 76″ long and weighs 25 ounces.  Not exactly feather-weight, but as someone whose body has been through a lot, I’m willing to give up some ounces for the sake of comfort. The Static V Luxe packed size is only 8″ x 4.5″, which is crazy small compared to the foam pads I used to camp with.  The only downside?  It has a minuscule R-Value of 1.3, which means I’ll probably need another pad for cooler weather.  If you’re not familiar with R-Value, this Section Hiker article provides a pretty good explanation.

For a camp pillow, I splurged a little for the Sea to Summit Aeros Ultralight.

I was blown away that such a large pillow (16.5 “X 11.5 ” X 5.5 “) would net down to something smaller than an apple in my pack.  The valve holds the air after each breath so it’s very easy to inflate.  I also take it on the train with me during my daily work commute.  Worth every penny I spent on it.

I haven’t picked a sleeping bag yet.  I’m toying with the idea of going with something like the Kifaru Woobie or Enlightened Equipment Prodigy instead of a traditional bag for most of my warmer weather outings.

Kifaru Woobie

The Woobie uses APEX insulation, which is very light and compressible.  It’s also more versatile than a light sleeping bag because it can be used all around camp like a traditional poncho liner, as part of a car kit, or even at home as a quilt.  I’m hoping Santa will deliver one down the chimney this year. 

TENT

I caught a screaming black Friday deal on the Big Agnes Tumble 2 mtnGLO.

At the price I paid, I couldn’t go wrong with this tent.  The Tumble 2 is a three season, free-standing backpacking tent with an integrated lighting system.  I haven’t had a chance to put it up yet, but from all the reviews I read, it should be a pretty quick operation.  The packed size is 6″ X 20″ with a trail weight of 4lbs, 8 ounces.  It also can be carried in a fast fly configuration using just the footprint and rainfly that cuts the weight down to 3lbs, 3 ounces.

Why go with a heavier 2-person tent versus a 1-person tent or bivy setup?  It was a tough decision.  In the end, I wanted something that I could easily fit in and comfortably store my gear.  As I get more experienced, I could probably do something smaller and lighter, but I didn’t feel ready to make that leap just yet.  If you’re younger and more gung-ho then your mileage may certainly vary.

PACK

I haven’t selected my backpack yet but I definitely leaning towards the Osprey Atmos AG 50.

I checked it out at a local outdoor retailer and was immediately impressed with the features and organization on this pack.  It’s also got rave reviews from some experienced outdoorsmen whose opinions I value so unless something new comes along, it will probably be mine this coming Spring.

Overall, my kit is slowly coming together.  I fully expect some trial and error after I get out and get some practical experience with everything.  Hopefully, this will give you some ideas if you’re trying to tweak your setup for the upcoming season.  And of course, for any of you experienced backpackers out there, comments and suggestions are always welcome!

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It’s funny how I start thinking differently when selecting which pack I will take on vacation.  Especially if it involves airline travel.  What will I actually carry as part of my EDC on this trip?  Will a tactical pack draw more attention when passing through security checkpoints?  Will the bag be too large to take on an airplane?  Is it a bag that I can comfortably wear for hours if we go to an amusement park?  Is it small enough to carry on rides?  Will I be carrying items for other members of my family?  Will it hold a decently sized water bottle that I can re-fill to avoid paying for bottled water?  You get the idea.

For this last trip to Florida to visit family, I carried the Vertx EDC Ready pack.

The Vertx EDC Ready Pack

The EDC Ready Pack is part of Vertx’s second generation bag line that was released during Shot Show 2015.  We did a “First Look” on it this past October; comparing it to the larger EDC Gamut.  I’ve traveled before with the Gamut but I generally like to carry a smaller bag when I fly and the EDC Ready Pack at 19″ x 11″ x 8.5″ fit perfectly under the seat in front of me without extending out into the row.  Which is key during a holiday when flights are packed and overhead bins fill up in a hurry. 

Unlike the Gamut, the Ready Pack’s outer pockets will fit a Nalgene sized 32-ounce bottle.  I filled it up once I made it through security.  

The same pocket on the other size synched down nicely to secure the hard case for my sunglasses.

I almost always carry at least a “boo boo kit” with me and I used the lower panel pocket to hold a tear away Mystery Ranch Spadelock pouch with some first aid supplies.

At 25 Liters, I found the inside of the pack to be large enough to carry my iPad and a light EDC loadout while still having room for a rain shell and a few small gifts I got for Christmas that I didn’t want to carry back in my suitcase.  A red Matroskya Pouch from Alpha One Niner held my headphones and other items I wanted quick access to on the plane. 

The back panel and straps are very similar to the Gamut and that’s a good thing.  This pack checks all the right boxes.  The beefy yoke harness is almost overkill for a pack this size but I’m not complaining.  The generously padded back panel and removable frame sheet adds comfort and rigidity for heavier loads.  Overall, the Ready Pack is one of the most comfortable bags I carry.  

And it’s just long enough at 19″ to fit my 6’4″ frame.

SUMMARY

Pros
Great Ergos
External water bottle pockets
EDC friendly
Low profile/Non-tactical appearance
CCW capable

Cons
Limited colors/options
Expensive accessories

The Vertx EDC Ready Pack is one of the best mid-sized EDC packs available today.  It’s CCW capable (something we didn’t cover in this review but touched upon in the “First Look”) and yet non-tactical in appearance and completely urban friendly.  It’s a more compact option for those who thought the Gamut was too large for EDC but still carries well even for larger people like myself.  Plenty of organization with options to add more.  Overall, just a terrific pack and one I recommend without reservation.       

The Vertx EDC Ready Pack retails for $149.95 and is available direct from Vertx and other retailers in Black and Smoke Grey.

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