MultiCam RUSH 72 Backpack

Comments about 5.11 Tactical MultiCam RUSH 72 Backpack:

I bought this bag to be able to carry my office things along with my workout gear, and/or to use as a packout bag with multi-purpose use. It is durable, looks really good and carries a lot of stuff. I'm not sure what y'boy Ziggy is talking about, but this bag is very well laid out with what seems to me to be a lot of thought for what it was designed for, tactical use. Perhaps if you're going on a month trek or looking to pack the house, you may look for some of the rolling duffles, but if you want to pack for say 3 days, get this pack. You can use it for the everyday trek to work and back, or take it for the weekend. Either way, it is well worth the money.

Comments about 5.11 Tactical MultiCam RUSH 72 Backpack:

I have used this backpack during special operations which entailed hiking through the mountains with all of my gear. This backpack was comfortable and functional. There are numerous pockets and compartments for anything and everything. The pocket for my water bladder worked perfectly and kept my water insulated. The folks at 511 really outdid themselves when they created this one! Wow!

Comments about 5.11 Tactical MultiCam RUSH 72 Backpack:

I just received this pack, after buying a "hydration-centric" brand bag, because I need a good Bug-out bag to carry the essentials for roughing it, to include boots, clothes, ammo, equipment, food, and most importantly, WATER.

I chose the Rush 72, because the "hydration-centric" brand bag did not have the cargo choices to add enough additional MOLLE based equipment, but was excellent for hydration.
After getting the Rush 72, I discovered the exact opposite is true. It has plenty of attachment points, but the hydration pocket is almost unusable. There is nothing between the hydration pouch and the main compartment except for a thin sheet of nylon. So my boots, ammo bags, anything that has a 90 degree edge is going to rub right against the water bladder right through that paper thin membrane. To make matters worse, someone thought it would be a great idea for a drainage metal grommet to be placed right up against where the wall of the bladder would touch when the pack is loaded, complete with a nice sharp edge to cut it open after you start humping. The hole is designed to let all your water supply out when your bladder finally opens up after enough wear on the badder wall.

As for all the rave reviews about the amount of pockets and storage, it escapes me that except for a few people, no one seems to have trouble filling those pockets, because they are not gusseted to allow natural expansion. Its like the bag was designed to carry lots of small paper thin items, not actual equipment that takes depth. Once my binos are in the admin pouch, its full, except for adding maps, and briefcase type items.

I am utterly shocked at the tremendous lack of thought into the 2 most important areas that is needed in a 72 hour pack. Maybe I just expect too much. For an office bag, camping, or going to a sporting event, its ok, but I don't have confidence enough to bet my life on it. Maybe I will change my mind after I load it up and test it, but its hard to be objective when I already know I have to modify it out of the box.

If I do decide to keep it, I am have to cut out and sew the grommet hole closed and slide a neoprene sheet in the pouch to protect the water bladder from gear inside the main compartment. Call me crazy, but I should not have to be doing that for a bag designed by an operator.

I am a big fan of 5.11, and have many products, which I love, but this bag falls well short of the excellence I have grown accustomed to.