A tactical backpack is one of the most basic pieces of tactical gear because it allows you to easily carry your gear, clothing and essentials. Tactical backpacks differ from other backpacks (such as hiking backpacks) in materials and colors. They are made of more durable materials to withstand rigorous abrasion during field use. Furthermore, they also have more compartments and pockets which allow you to organize your gear meticulously. Precisely due to the very durable materials and numerous compartments, they are usually heavier than other backpacks. Here we selected and reviewed the best tactical backpacks to make your buying decision a little easier.

We only listed durable and lightweight tactical backpacks in this review. To suit everyone’s needs we listed two tactical backpacks with a capacity of more than 40 liters and three tactical daypacks with a capacity of less than 40 liters. How big a backpack you need, greatly depends on the gear you plan to carry with you.

1. Our Picks of Tactical Backpacks

1. 5.11 Rush 72
2. Kelty Raven 2500
3. Blackhawk Stingray 2-Day
4. Maxpedition Falcon II
5. Direct Action Dragon Egg MK II

2. Comparison of Tactical Backpacks

Feature/Product	5.11 Rush 72	Kelty Raven	Blackhawk Stingray 2-Day	Maxpedition Falcon II	Direct Action Dragon Egg
Weight	5 lbs. 1 oz.	5 lbs. 5 oz.	4 lbs. 3 oz.	3 lbs. 3 oz.	3 lbs. 9 oz.
Weight (Metric)	2300 g	2400 g	1900 g	1451 g	1620 g
Volume	55 l	41 l	30 l	23 l	25 l
Material	1000D Nylon	500D and 1000D Nylon	500D Nylon	1050D Nylon	500D Nylon
Backpanel	Padded with air channels	Padded with air channels	Padded with air channels	Padded with air channels	Padded with air channels
Hip Belt	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Sternum Strap	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
MOLLE Compatible	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Colors	Black, Coyote, MultiCam, TAC OD, Sandstone, Double Tap, Storm	Black, Coyote	Coyote, Black, Urban Gray	Foliage Green, Khaki, Black, Wolf Gray, Khaki Foliage	Adaptive Green, Black, Coyote, Multicam, Olve Green, Pencott Snowdrift, Pencott Sandstorm, Shadow Grey

3. The Selection

1. 5.11 Rush 72

Suitable for:

• Military use
• Police use
• Hunting
• Airsoft
• Everyday use

 

The 5.11 Rush 72 backpack is very popular among soldiers, hunters and outdoor enthusiasts. The backpack is made of abrasion-resistant 1000-denier nylon and thus it provides superb durability. The durability is further enhanced with high-quality YKK zippers. The 5.11 backpack has a capacity of 55 liters and is thus suitable for activities lasting up to three days. It has a spacious main compartment and a smaller front compartment. The stash pocket between these two compartments is perfect for storing bigger items, like a helmet. The main compartment also has two spacious mesh pockets while the front compartment features an organization panel which allows you to securely store maps, pens and other small items.

The 5.11 backpack also has two large side pockets, a water reservoir pocket and two external pockets at the top. The side pockets are perfect for storing water bottles and other items which you want within easy reach while the two external pockets at the top come in handy for small items (tactical flashlight, compass, sunglasses etc.); one of them is lined with fleece to protect items from abrasion. The water reservoir pocket is placed between the back panel and the main compartment, and fits water reservoirs with a volume of up to three liters. The back panel has a single aluminum stay to provide good support when you are carrying heavy loads. However, the aluminum stay can also be removed if you want to reduce the weight of the backpack. The 5.11 backpack features wide and well-padded shoulder straps and hip belt. It is also equipped with a sternum strap. All in all, the 5.11 Rush 72 backpack is a great option for everybody who likes to spend time in the great outdoors.

 

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2. Kelty Raven 2500

Suitable for:

• Military use
• Police use
• Hunting
• Airsoft
• Everyday use

 

The Kelty Raven 2500 tactical backpack is designed for radio operators and thus it allows you to easily carry a military radio together with different antennas. Nevertheless, as the radio-specific holders can be removed, the backpack can also be used for more general tasks. The Kelty backpack is smaller than the 5.11 Rush 72 but otherwise has a quite similar design. It features a spacious main compartment and a smaller front compartment with a stash compartment (for a helmet or similar) between them. The front compartment is equipped with many small pockets and holders so that you can meticulously organize your gear.

The main compartment features a radio holder on the backside and a spacious pocket on the front side. The radio holder can securely and firmly accommodate different military radios and allows you to vertically adjust the radio. The holder can also be removed in case that you are not carrying a military radio. The backpack also has two zippered side pockets and a zippered pocket at the bottom. In the pocket at the bottom is a rain cover. The Kelty Raven 2500 backpack is made of 500-denier nylon, but reinforced with 1000-denier nylon in areas which are prone to abrasion. The back panel is rigid and the shoulder straps are wide and well-padded. The backpack is also equipped with a hip belt and a sternum strap. All in all, the Kelty Raven 2500 backpack provides great functionality and durability. It is especially recommended for radio operators.

 

3. Blackhawk Stingray 2-day

Suitable for:

• Military use
• Police use
• Hunting
• Airsoft
• Everyday use

 

The Blackhawk Stingray 2-day backpack has a capacity of 30 liters and is thus best for one- to two-day tasks. This robust backpack is made of 500-denier nylon and has a main compartment with a zipper closure that extends to the bottom of the pack. This allows you to lay the backpack flat and open it completely for easy access to gear. Therefore, it’s perfect for medics and radio operators. The pack features laser cut MOLLE webbing on the front side and in the main compartment so you can easily attach pouches and other accessories.

In terms of gear organization, the pack has two side pockets, a padded pocket at the back and a fleece-lined valuables pocket. The padded pocket at the back is perfect for storing a hydration bladder or a laptop. Eva-molded side wings protect you gear from bumps and drops, and the pack comes with YKK zippers for long lifespan. The pack is available in black, gray and coyote color. Blackhawk sells this pack also in 23-liter (Stingray EDC) and 36-liter version (Stingray 3-day).

 

4. Maxpedition Falcon II

Suitable for:

• Military use
• Police use
• Hunting
• Airsoft
• Everyday use

 

The Maxpedition Falcon II tactical backpack has a capacity of 23 liters and is thus best for one-day tasks. The backpack is made of 1050-denier nylon for good durability. The durability is further increased with sturdy YKK zippers and high-quality Duraflex buckles – which can be closed silently due to their special design.  The fabric is also treated with Dupont Teflon coating for better water-resistance.

The Maxpedition Falcon II backpack has a spacious main compartment, large front admin pocket (with mesh pockets) and two small zippered front pockets for accessories. All pockets/compartments allow you to easily organize your gear as they have many mesh pockets and holders. The Maxpedition Falcon II is also equipped with hydration bladder pocket which is located just behind the back panel. The backpack has a hip belt and sternum strap for good fit. The Maxpedition Flacon II backpack is a great option for those who need a durable tactical backpack for day tasks.

 

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5. Direct Action Dragon Egg MK II

Suitable for:

• Military use
• Police use
• Hunting
• Airsoft
• Everyday use

 

The Direct Action Dragon Egg MK II backpack has a capacity comparable to that of the Maxpedition Falcon II backpack. It is, however, made of a less robust material – merely 500-denier nylon in comparison to the 1000-denier nylon of the Falcon. The Direct Action backpack is, nonetheless, equipped with robust YKK zippers and Duraflex buckles. The straps are wide and well-padded for good fit. For storing items, the backpack has a spacious main compartment, front admin pocket, zippered pocket at the top, two side pockets and a zippered compartment between the main compartment and the back panel.

The latter is perfect for storing a water reservoir, but it also fits 15-inch laptop without a problem. The front admin pocket has numerous mesh pockets and holders which allow you to meticulously organize your gear while the zippered pocket at the top is lined with fleece and thus perfect for storing sunglasses. The Direct Action backpack is also equipped with a sternum strap and hip belt. The hip belt is unfortunately not padded like the hip belts of the other backpacks in this selection. The front side of the backpack is equipped with laser-cut MOLLE webbing for attaching extra pouches. The Direct Action Dragon Egg MK II backpack is a very versatile backpack which is useful for different tasks.

 

4. Tactical Backpack Buying Advice – What is important?

Weight:

Tactical backpacks are heavier than hiking and backpacking backpacks for the volume they provide, because they are made of more durable materials and have more pockets and compartments. Nevertheless, a tactical backpack should be as light as possible without compromising quality as lightweight gear reduces the strain on your muscles and thus allows you to move faster. Manufacturers make backpacks lighter by using cutting-edge materials which are lightweight but provide superb durability and abrasion-resistance. In this selection we only listed lightweight products – they all weigh less than 6 pounds.

Material:

Tactical backpacks are normally made of nylon because nylon provides good durability and abrasion resistance. Nylon is available in different deniers – the higher the denier, the more durable and heavier the fabric. High-quality tactical backpacks are made of nylon with a denier value of 500 or more. In comparison, lightweight hiking and backpacking backpacks are usually made of nylon with a denier value below 250.

Compartments and pockets:

In addition to the main compartment, a tactical backpack should have plenty of external and internal pockets in different sizes. Pockets and compartments allow you to easily organize your gear. It is crucial that you know where every piece of your gear is at any moment as this allows you to react quickly to different situations. All backpacks in this review have plenty of internal and external pockets.

Back panel:

The back panel of a tactical backpack should be ergonomically shaped and sufficiently padded. Furthermore, the back panel should also have ventilation channels so that the sweat from your back can evaporate. Tactical backpacks usually have foam back panels. Bigger tactical backpacks often have aluminum stays behind the back panels. Aluminum stays are very useful when you are carrying a heavy load as they efficiently transfer the weight from your shoulders to your hips (via the hip belt).

Hydration System Compatibility:

Hydration system compatible backpacks have a pocket or a sleeve for water reservoir/hydration bladder and an opening for a tube at the top. A hydration system allows you to hydrate without having to take off your backpack first to unpack water bottles. For more information about hydration systems read our article Hydration Systems VS. Water Bottles.

MOLLE Compatibility:

It is a great benefit if a tactical backpack is MOLLE compatible because MOLLE webbing allows you to easily attach other MOLLE gear – for example pouches. The MOLLE system consists of rows of durable nylon which are stitched to the main fabric. All backpacks in this selection are MOLLE compatible.

5. Questions and Answers