Curious about the unique naming of 5.11 RUSH® backpacks, which use hours instead of liters to communicate capacity? Wondering how to identify the perfect RUSH® backpack for your specific requirements? Look no further. In this backpack capacity guide, we will delve into the reasons behind their unconventional naming and guide you through the selection of the ideal RUSH® backpack for your needs.
5.11 Tactical RUSH® backpacks are designed with specific time durations in mind to help professionals, for example military personnel, easily determine the suitability of the backpack and its capacity for their missions. Instead of using liters to measure the capacity, the RUSH series uses numerical values that correspond to the duration of the mission in hours.
To help you compare the RUSH series with other deployment packs and hiking backpacks you need to know the litre sizes of the backpacks. So, let’s examine the litre sizes of the RUSH series and explore how they stack up against typical deployment packs and hiking backpacks.
This backpack is intended as a day pack, suitable for missions or activities lasting up to 12 hours. It offers a compact design, making it convenient for shorter outings while still providing ample storage space for essentials. A hiking day backpack normally has a litre size range of 21-35L.
The RUSH24 TM backpack is designed for missions lasting up to 24 hours, or day trips that demand extra gear. It offers a larger capacity than the RUSH12 TM, allowing for more gear and supplies to be carried comfortably. This backpack is ideal for day trips, overnight adventures, or situations requiring extended equipment. Overnight backpacks are usually between 35-50L.
The RUSH72 TM backpack is designed for weekend missions that span up to 72 hours. It provides significant storage space to accommodate additional gear, clothing, and supplies needed for longer periods in the field. 55-65L backpacks will easily keep you going for the weekend.
This is the largest of the RUSH backpacks, and it comes with a different design. It will keep you going for 100 hours and offers a great possibility to organize your load using external and internal pockets and pouches. The RUSH100 TM lets you pack extra gear for those special missions.
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Determining the right capacity for your backpack depends on the duration of your mission or hike and the amount of gear you typically carry. To guide you. here are some factors to consider when choosing the appropriate capacity:
Trip duration: Consider the length of your typical hiking trips. If you mainly go on day hikes, a smaller capacity backpack between 20-35 liters may suffice. For overnight trips or weekend outings, a backpack with a capacity of 35-50 liters could be suitable. Longer trips or multi-day backpacking adventures might require a larger capacity backpack, typically ranging from 50-70+ liters.
Gear volume: Evaluate the volume and bulk of the gear you typically carry. Consider your sleeping bag, tent, cooking equipment, clothing layers, and other essentials. Season and climate will affect how much gear you need to bring, and how bulky they are. Cold weather might mean that you need a backpack with more packing capacity. Pack your gear in stuff sacks or measure them to estimate their combined volume. Make sure you have enough space in your backpack to accommodate all your gear comfortably.