Our Camelbak Urban Assault review was one of the first we did here on Loadedpocketz and it remains a favorite. After reviewing the Urban Assault, I heard Camelbak had a concealed carry version of the same pack called the Urban Assault Concealment or “UAC”. Since then they have renamed it and It is now the Camelbak Dispatch.
The UAC earned a bad rap when it was released because Camelbak decided to only make it available to certain Government Agencies, Law Enforcement, and Military Units. That understandably angered many responsibly armed civilians who had heard about its availability. According to Camelbak, they had originally designed the pack for the USSS (United States Secret Service) and promised them at the time that it would not be sold to the general public. Even to this day, the company still restricts sales of the Dispatch. However, we had no problem sourcing one for this review. If a civilian wants one and is willing to expend a little effort, he or she can get one. Just don’t expect a discount.
The Camelbak Dispatch is essentially the Urban Assault with some slight but very important changes. We’ll cover the mods here. For the rest, refer back to the original review.
The Dispatch comes in a few different color combinations, which alone distinguishes it from the base model. In the black-on-black colorway, you’d have a hard time distinguishing it from the original pack; which is exactly why I chose it.
The Camelbak Dispatch Concealment Pack
The main compartment of the Camelbak Dispatch has a strap system that can take pretty much any type of holster that is designed to go on a belt. Pictured below is my Sig Sauer 1911 Ultra in an Old Faithful hybrid rig.
Camelbak Dispatch and Sig Sauer 1911 Ultra
A holster that takes up less real estate would also allow room for a mag carrier. The system really secures everything well, but putting the firearm in that location is a tricky proposition if accessing the main compartment is a priority.
Fortunately, there is another option with this pack. The back panel of the Dispatch looks pretty much identical to the Urban Assault.
The only tip-off are the zipper pulls, which reveal a hidden lumbar pocket. The pocket easily takes the Ultra, which only has a 3.3 inch barrel.
It can also fit my Springfield XD45 Compact with room to spare. A full size service pistol should not be an issue either.
I’ve taken the Camelbak Dispatch to multiple venues where the bag was searched. I wasn’t carrying in those situations, but not once did security personnel check that pocket or even know that it was there. It is a very effective deep concealment setup. The downside is you can definitely feel the bulge of the firearm when the Dispatch is on your back. There’s no discomfort due to the padding but you know it’s there.
Camelbak also loop lined the pocket behind the transporter tail. They claim you can place a back-up weapon there but the pocket isn’t reinforced. I found it useful to store back-up magazines using a hook and loop magazine carrier but anything heavier than that just flops around in the pocket.
That’s pretty much it. Is the pack worth it’s $189 retail price tag? I think it is. The additional features made a very good pack even better.
The lumbar pocket is a stroke of genius. Even if you don’t use it for concealed carry, it makes for a very secure place to store sensitive documents and other items away from prying eyes and fingers. The strap system can secure pouches or any other item that would normally clip to a belt (like a knife or multi-tool).
I wish Camelbak would reconsider its policy and make this bag available to a wider audience. It’s a great EDC option and without a doubt one of the best concealed carry bags on the market today.
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