Recommendation: 3 Day Backpack

GotSteel

GotSteel

Joined
Mar 1, 2016
Messages
803
Hey yall, need some help finding a bag, I have a couple of smaller ones around 20-30L and need something a tad larger maybe in the 50+ range, looking at Condor's 3 Day Assault Backpack & read that it's 1000 Cordura :eek: But needs new zippers. Looking for recommendations the only thing I'm not very interested in are backpacking packs.
 
a huge numbers of US soldiers use the Spec-Ops brand THE pack here:

http://www.specopsbrand.com/packs-bags/t-h-e-pack-tactical-packs.html

I know, I know. their marketing is pretty cheesy as well as the name but the product in itself is pretty solid. i got mine on active duty, used it including baghdad and fallujah, and still use it today as a daily civilian backpack (more than 10 years use). lots of soldiers carry this pack through various environments. it is the one of the more premium/pricey packs that is sold at the PX on military bases and is sold on a mass scale.

i think its a very solidly built pack, and its certainly well tested. it's 1000D cordura and 2550 cu. in = 40 liters, which is right in the middle of what you already have and what you're asking for.

if you need a bit bigger they have this newer one (of which i have no experience) that is 45 liters:

http://www.specopsbrand.com/packs-bags/t-h-e-pack-uap-ultimate-assault-pack.html


twice a year i spray mine down with 303 waterproof spray (https://www.amazon.com/303-Fabric-U...rd_wg=EAhp4&psc=1&refRID=C67DEHG1BEXD0QQAZAHN) and it holds out rain/snow/slush just fine even when i commuted on a bicycle/moped/motorcycle.


i have a spec-ops pack among many other brands (timbuk2 messenger, reload messenger, filson briefcase, kifaru 29'r, multiple chrome bags, etc.) and i still opt to use my spec-ops daily. it just works and doesn't break the bank. i'll never understand the whole goruck movement except that they have clever marketing. kifaru packs are built reasonably well but are overpriced and their customer service/website is terrible, and also the reviews for their product on their website are censored, so i overall i wouldn't recommend.


i have heard some solid things about mystery ranch but no personal experience. these packs look pretty good but i don't know if they look like "backpacking" packs to you by your standard:
http://www.mysteryranch.com/Packs/Mountain/Climbing


also mission workshop backpacks are very bombproof, tend to be entirely waterproof, expandable in size (for roll-top bags) and don't look too tacticlol. if i was on the market for a new pack to replace my spec-ops i'd look at these:

https://missionworkshop.com/collections/backpacks


hope this helps.
 
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Charlie_K said:
Have you considered the 5.11 72 hour pack?
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I did look at their bags a while back but 5.11 not for me, had 3 or 4 of their things (boots bags etc) all failed in some way with light-medium usage (zippers popping, seams busting), I look for durability since I grind it out in my gear, if you're really light maybe but I don't think they're built to take pressure

@ midget thanks will look at those
 
How about a Tactical Tailor 3 day plus pack. 46.6 liters. Well made gear.
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The 5.11 bags are actually very nice. I have the 24. It's very well made.

Stay away from Condor and similar priced bags, those will certainly fall apart quickly.

I've heard good things about that Tactical Taylor pack.

It depends if you want something more molle/military looking or something more climbing/hiking. If its the latter then there are a ton of options.

Exo mountain packs

https://exomountaingear.com/product-category/packs/

Mystery Ranch - Pricey

http://www.mysteryranch.com/Packs/Military/Assault

http://www.mysteryranch.com/Packs/Military/Sustainments

http://www.mysteryranch.com/Packs/Mountain/Backpacking

Hill People Gear

https://www.hillpeoplegear.com/Products/tabid/762/CategoryID/3/Default.aspx
 
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GotSteel said:
Hey yall, need some help finding a bag, I have a couple of smaller ones around 20-30L and need something a tad larger maybe in the 50+ range, looking at Condor's 3 Day Assault Backpack & read that it's 1000 Cordura :eek: But needs new zippers. Looking for recommendations the only thing I'm not very interested in are backpacking packs.
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I'm not understanding the question. Perhaps you can clarify?

What will you be using the pack for? Travel and dragging the bag through airports and on buses put different demands on a bag than carrying it for a long time like on a the trail. When you say, "I'm not very interested in are backpacking packs", are you saying you don't like the looks of backpacking packs and that you prefer tactical looking packs, or are you saying that you are primarily interested in a travel pack, and not something that needs to carry well for long periods of time.

As a rule of thumb, I see so-called "tactical" bags as just travel bags made for the military type. They need to organize stuff well and deal with being tossed around in and out of transports, but they aren't going to be as dialed in for walking for miles and miles on rough terrain. That's why military guys who are doing bigger miles end up going with tactical versions of backpacking packs, like say, the Mystery Ranch packs.

If what you are looking for is a good travel pack without the tactical look, there are some perennial favorites like the Kelty Redcloud 50 and Eagle Creek stuff.

If you can clarify use (travel or hiking) and looks (tactical or outdoorsy) I think you'll get more focused inputs.
 
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