Ranger_Captain
Pissin' people off one post at a time
Registered: July 2005
Location: West Point, New York
Posts: 1,229
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Review Date: 16/4/09
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Would you recommend the product? Yes |
Price you paid?: £100.00
| Rating: 10
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Positive aspects of the product (pros):
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Big, Able to hold virtually anything one would use in airsoft, easy to open, very durable
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Cons:
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Limited color sellection
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5.11 Rush 24 Hour Pack
Introduction
In a growing and growing world of tactical gear options one thing portion of equipment commonly used by real troops but ignored by airsofters are the packs. You see them now and again but even a light assault pack is a not a common find among even serious airsofters. They are however extremely useful and versatile tools that can make a full day event that much easier on the back.
In steps the 5.11 Rush 24 Hour Pack. The few packs one sees out there are usually the 3-Day assault variant but in order to break from the norm I opted on a 5.11 pack and this one, after a bit of research, seemed to fit the bill.
Manufacturer Information
RUSH 24 Backpack Description:
• Water-resistant 1050-denier nylon
• Flexible main storage compartments
• Internal dividers
• Compression straps
• Hydration pocket
• Fleece lined eyewear pocket
• Sternum straps
• Molle-compatible webbing on front and sides
• Elastic keeper for strap ends
• Name tape and flag holder
• YKK® zippers
• Two colors; black and flat earth dark
• 20" H x 12" W x 7" D
Functionality
Sized for a twenty-four hour excursion, the RUSH 24 Backpacks are loaded with the features operators need and want. Designed by special operations combat veteran, Kyle Lamb of VTAC™, these backpacks come with two large compartments and a compression strap system that allows expandability depending upon how much gear you carry. The front section of the pack includes an organizer; a separate zippered compartment, a key fob and radio/magazine pockets with hook and loop straps. The main compartment has three mesh zippered pockets and a separate large cinch pocket. There are two full-length side pockets that can handle a variety of different items including water bottles. The top of the backpacks has a separate fleece lined eyeglass pocket and 2 smaller external zippered gear pocket. We’ve added molle-compatible webbing to the front and side of the pack, allowing you to attach a host of different 5.11’s SlickStick™ accessory. We’ve also included a reinforced hydration pocket that allows you to add a hydration bladder for immediate access to water. We finished the pack off with a heavy-duty, nylon carry handle at the top.
Hardware
Constructed of water-resistant 1050-denier nylon, the RUSH 24 Backpacks are built to last. We use quality YKK® zippers throughout and our high-impact plastic clips remain stable in all temperatures. We’ve added elastic keepers to secure the ends of all straps. Once you’ve got the pack adjusted to your size, you’ll be able to secure the ends of all straps with these elastic keepers.
First Impressions
Getting this pack I was actually a little disappointed at first. I had bought this pack with the intention to use it primarily as a school bag but secondarily as an airsofting pack. At first glance I was worried it was too small for what I needed, roughly enough space to fit a decent sized laptop and at least 2 textbooks with notebooks. Airsoft wise I needed ability to strap a rifle to the side of the pack, carry a full 2 Liter bladder, 2x 5000 round bb bags, a sidearm with holster and extra mags and my M-Series 10 magazine bandoleer plus any other odds and ends that I’d rather carry in a droppable pack rather than my rig.
In short it was to serve as a medium class ruck sack and double as my school bag at the Academy. Of course, getting it on a school day, I tried it out as soon as I got it out of the packaging.
I ordered it on ebay (gasp, I know, the dreaded ebay) and it arrived, or at least I picked it up, just after lunch. That day I only had one last hour class so I had some time to set up my pack.
As I said I was worried at first but once I dumped the textbooks and laptop out of the bag I was currently using (which was a POS) and loaded this one up found myself smiling. This thing is HUGE and full of great features.
Features
This thing is a jammed packed (pun intended) with features that actually work great for both a student and airsofter. I’ll be brief on student stuff, and just say it will EASILY hold more than enough books for a college student with room for calculator(s), pens, rulers, laptop, and at about 2 textbooks w/ binders (3 without the laptop).
For sizing sake that’s what it looks like with a standard issue size 9 ACU Boot.
The pack has 3 major compartments plus two smaller ones. Obviously there’s the main compartment which I was able, later on, stick 2 full ACU uniforms (that includes one pair of boots) plus underwear and socks. Alternatively I’ve been able to fit a MICH helmet, a full box of MAG midcaps, 2x 5000 bb bags, and my COM gear without having to use any of the other compartments.
Also within the main compartment are two zippered section and final partition on the bottom with a draw string. At first I was unable to figure out what this was for but then goofing around I found it to be a perfect fit for an M4 stock which allows you to carry one vertically in the pack.
The other two storage areas are on the rear of the pack, one on the bottom which is an accessory area and the top for other little odds and ends (I found this to be perfect for my hex set and lighter).
Eyeglass pocket
Moving to the outside the pack is covered in PALS strips and two Velcro areas; one for a name tape and the other is roughly flag sized. Right now I have my PSP pouch mounted on one side (ACU looks goofy on a black pack but w/e (the pack does come in OD and Tan as well)) and a water bottle pouch on the other. The PALLS strips are very tightly sewn on as they are doubles stitched. Similarly there are PALLS strips on the straps and although I wouldn’t really advise mounting anything there I find them great for holding my knife, pens, and radio (so I can dump the COM gear when it gets annoying :P )
On the sides of the pack are some retention straps with buckles which allow you to adjust how tightly held the equipment is inside. I prefer to keep it tight as possible (I run with the pack a lot) as it keeps whatever you’re carrying from bouncing around. If you’re trying to overload the pack it has an additional expansion area that can be used by unzipping around the edges of the pack.
A word on the zippers. I know among serious geardo’s zippers can be a point of careful attention. Well these are top notch. I’ve already given them the shot test, 350 point blank and they held up just fine; both the track and the zipper itself. Similarly the buckles are made out of high impact plastic and are extremely sturdy. I have doubts that baring serious abuse any of them should give out.
One last note on features; as some of the comments on 5.11’s site say, there are so many compartments and features on this pack that actually one can find themselves having a hard time utilizing all of them. So far I haven't found anything, practically speaking, that I can’t fit SOMEWHERE in this pack and in a way that doesn’t involve just dumping it in the main pocket.
Comfort
This is important. Anyone whose done real backpacking or road marching (that’s more than 10 miles in one sitting IMO) knows that how comfortable a pack is for long term carry can make or break your whole day. Well this pack makes it in flying colors.
This pack uses an internal frame which is coated with foam to keep it from causing and discomfort. And let me tell you, I’ve ran and marched for many miles with this pack and I have zero complaints. The pack is designed to be worn “high” (with the straps tightened as much as comfortable) and even when worn over a piece of equipment (I use it over my CIRAS) it still remains quite comfortable and out of the way.
About the only slight negative thing I can say is that because the pack is worn fairly high up, anything you mount on the sides of the pack is going to bang into your elbows if you run with it. Whenever I carry a bottle of water or can of soda in my drink pouch it bangs into my elbows something fierce and actually gets annoying. While this is a minor issue that’s mainly my fault, it is something to keep in mind when considering accessories for this pack.
Another note on comfort. I’ve noticed with my metal frame and other external framed packs and even some other packs (3 Day Assault pack included) after extended use (wearing for more than a few hours of constant movement) I get a pressure squeeze on the top of my shoulders and in the case of metal frame packs, lower back pain, not from weight, but from the frame sorta banging on my lower back. Now in the case of my issue ALICE pack, I’ve adjusted and readjusted it to death and yet this problem always remained but with this pack I’ve never had this or any other issue. It’s just there, to put it simply. With about 25 pounds of stuff in it you feel that you’re carrying something, but not a “pack” as the shoulder pressure point issue is yet to arise.
The longest road march I’ve done so far with the pack is about 14 miles and obviously by the end I was dead but I will say I didn’t have any of the same back aches the next day that I always got with both my ALICE and even the new plastic framed MOLLE pack (including the issue Assault pack). Weight wise I know I was carrying about the same as I did in the other packs but at no point during the march nor afterwards did I have any pinches or pains. Of note I did use the chest clip to keep the pack stable which I’ve come to like more than kidney belts, which I’ve found just push on my bladder and make me have to take a piss the whole march.
On the other side the farthest I’ve ran with this pack so far is 2 miles exactly and aside from the fact that’s the farthest I’ve ever “ruck runed” (Florida is SOOOO much better than West Point for Ruck Runs, the whole State is as flat as a pancake), this pack didn’t bounce around nearly as much as my other packs do. There was some travel and the aforementioned elbow thing got unbelievably irritating after about half a mile, but as far as abusive weight shifting (which I always got with my ALICE pack) the internal pockets and external retention straps kept what I had in the pack (about 20 pounds of stuff) from making my whole body sway with each step. To me this is a huge comfort plus as if you have to run while wearing a pack, having a huge shift each time you take a step can at best make you move awkwardly and at worst, cause you to fall or trip.
Usability
Well as I said for school I found this perfect, but how’s she do for airsoft? Well unfortunately I’m required to use a black backpack at the Academy so this thing looks a tad… off with just about any loadout one could use, I’ve found that it actually works just fine (I wear ACU anyway so visibility isn’t THAT big of an issue when it comes to the pack :S ).
I find that this pack is perfect for airsofting as it holds all those odds and ends that either a) bulk up your rig or b ) stay back at the ready area and you WISH you had them in the field. The fact that its MOLLE is a nice feature as what I’ve done is taken one M4 pouch series off my vest (the center one) and mounted it on the back of the pack. This lets me got to the prone more comfortably without sacrificing ammo.
Now you could get that done with ANY MOLLE pack so why use the RUSH 24 hour? Well here’s why. I’ve used the old metal frame rucksack, I’ve used Eagles 3 Day pack. I even had a T.H.E. Pack, and out of all of them I found this one to be unique in its dimensions which makes a huge difference. Instead of being wide this pack is just long and skinny. What makes this a key advantage is that it gives you a greater range of motion when in the prone and also gives you more leeway when moving in tight spaces. I’m yet to bang into something with this pack which is more than I can say about my 3 Day pack.
Similarly this pack is a perfect size for airsofting. You can comfortably fill it with a change of uniform, helmet, MRE, bladder, and a few bags of BB’s, and that’s about it, which in the long run is about all you need from your pack. I found 3 Day packs to be just too big. Both size and carrying capacity is about where a full day skirmishes equipment load should be.
Like I said previously, since this pack doesn’t have much travel with it when you run it served very well at the MOUT site. Running up stairs and around buildings was quieter and easier with this pack than my old assault pack. Plus being able to carry around the odds and ends that you sometimes find yourself wish you had (*cough* dejamming rod *cough*) with you I’ve found to be a big plus but not having to carry a pack that is WAY too much pack for airsoft is something I found very useful with the RUSH. No wasted space. You can just about fill it with your full day’s kit and not need much else.
Conclusion
Overall I would rate this pack as a perfect accessory for airsofters. It’s extremely durable and easily sized for both small and large framed individuals. Similarly it can easily be adjusted for wear on top of our sometimes large rigs.
What I liked most of all about this pack for airsofting was that it let me carrying everything I brought with me to the field, into the field (minus gun case). This kept me more tidy minded when leaving the house and it put my mind at ease about leaving expensive batteries, lunch, and cases of ammo and mags back in the ready area (we’ve all had AT LEAST one mag stolen, or even just “mis-took” before).
Thus I’d say this pack gets a 10/10 because for durability and appropriateness, this pack is PERFECT for airsofters. It holds just enough to get one through the day and it’s out of the ordinary setup is a nice diversion from the norm of pack design.
Credits:
http://www.511tactical.com/Shop
http://www.511tactical.com/browse/Home/Law-Enforcement/Accessories/Bags-Backpacks/RUSH-24-Backpack/D/30100/P/1:100:10000:10900:10905/I/58601
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Never argue with a gun, it may argue back...
United States Corps of Cadets, USMA
Cadet, United States Army
2012 "For More Than Ourselves"
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Registered: July 2005
Location: West Point, New York