The Triple Aught Design Spectre 22L has been discontinued for a while now. However, I recently had the opportunity to pick one up second-hand and I remembered being interested in it after TAD tweaked the design and released the VX21 version in Black. I quickly pulled the trigger and then reached out to someone else who I knew had the optional matching transporter tail. Those have been a bit of a unicorn and I had to make an aggressive offer to pry it away. Mission accomplished.
You’re probably thinking, so what and why do I care? TAD has abandoned the line. Think again. I reached out this past week and confirmed that they are targeting Spring or Summer 2020 for a re-launch. And the Gen 2’s are coming down in price. So now is probably a good time to revisit one of the most underrated packs that TAD has ever produced – the Spectre 22L.
Triple Aught Design Spectre 22L
EXTERIOR FEATURES AND OVERALL FIT
If you haven’t read my review of the Spectre 34L, then take a few minutes and do that because the packs have the same DNA. For instance, the Triple Aught Design Spectre 22L features the same water bottle pockets that can hold a 32-ounce Nalgene. It also has the same impressive side compression system that I talked about in the 34L review.
Each of the TAD Spectre 22L’s water bottle pockets have a zippered pass through and a retention loop on the bottom that can secure longer items like this camp knife or even trekking poles.
The Spectre 22L has 1342.52 cubic inches of capacity and measures 10.5” (26.67 cm) W x 21” (53.34 cm) H x 6” (15.24 cm) D. Taller hikers or those with longer torsos will appreciate the extra length, which is also great for carrying tri-pods, broken down fishing rods, and other longer gear.
The 6’4 author wearing the TAD Spectre 22L.
Unfortunately, TAD didn’t fix the strap length issue with the Gen 2. After properly adjusting the harness, I only have about two inches of webbing left which may be an issue come winter when I have to wear this pack over layers. The pads are also a little short, which means there’s more webbing coming in direct contact with my ribs than I’d like. This has been an issue lately with TAD’s packs (the Axiom line suffers from the same flaw). It’s not a show stopper, but it’s an annoyance since it’s such an easy issue to fix. And something I hope TAD addresses before they release their next round of designs.
That said, I really do like the yoke design of the Spectre 22 Gen 2 harness even though it lacks the adjustment feature of the Gen 1. Some of the most comfortable packs I’ve carried feature yokes. And, aside from the length, I do like the straps. They have a good amount of padding, load lifters, and ladder webbing to attach a hydration hose, carabiner, small pouch or other gear.
Probably the biggest change on the 22L between the Gen 1 and 2 was the omission of the fixed non-removable waist belt. I find belts on packs this size to be an unnecessary feature that has limited utility and gets in the way most of the time. So I was glad to see they removed it in this version of the pack.
Finally, the transporter tail is a very good add-on if you can get your hands on one. It adds some needed external capacity, looks great, and overall was worth the money I paid. Which I won’t divulge, but was well over the original retail price.
Triple Aught Design Spectre Transporter Tail
INTERIOR FEATURES
Since the release of the Spectre packs, TAD has added a couple of new control panels to their line-up. I’m using the new version of the Control Panel 1 in the Spectre 22, which features two gusseted zippered mesh pockets and PALS webbing on the opposite side.
Triple Aught Design Control Panel 1
The pack has an integrated medium-sized drop pocket with a vertical zipper that sits behind where I mounted the control panel. It’s a little fussy to get to if you’re using a control panel since you have to flip the panel up and out of the way to reach it. But, I welcome it in a pack that overwise lacks built-in internal storage options.
The Triple Aught Design Spectre 22L comes hydration ready with a sleeve behind the back panel that can accept a full-sized reservoir.
CONCLUSION
PROS
- Advanced materials that are lighter weight, weather resistant, and durable enough for most trail and EDC use (VX-21)
- Low profile
- Effective side compression system
- Dual water bottle pockets that can each hold a 32-ounce Nalgene
- Yoke-style harness with load lifters that are well-padded
CONS
- Discontinued and only available from secondary sources until 2020
- Straps should be longer
- Very little small item organization out of the box
- Some accessories (like the OP-1, Control Panels, etc.) are costly and sometimes out of stock.
Overall, I’m really glad I was able to find the Spectre 22L. For some use cases, I like simple, straight-forward setups (like a GoRuck Bullet) so I will run this pack without any accessories from time to time. But, since I’ve already invested in some other TAD gear, the Spectre 22L ends up being a pretty versatile pack for me. It’s built for outdoor use but doesn’t look out of place in an urban environment – especially with the tail attached. Mounting an OP-1 admin organizer to the PALS webbing behind the tail and a transport sleeve to the interior can transform the Spectre 22L into a nice EDC option. With the control panels, I can even use it for deep concealed carry.
The Triple Aught Design Spectre 22L retailed for $225. It’s currently out of stock but you can find out more about it at TAD’s website here. Sign up for TAD’s newsletter to get notified when the new packs are launched next year.
The post Gear Revisited: Triple Aught Design Spectre 22L Review appeared first on Loadedpocketz.