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First Tactical’s Specialist Half-Day Backpack (retail $89.99) may not be your first tactical backpack, but it might be your last. Here are the specs, from the First Tactical website, along with my commentary [in brackets]:
– Main compartment 11” L x 17” H x 6.5” D / 27.9cm L x 43.2cm W x 16.5cm D [Large, functional space opens all the way up. Safely stores a ton of stuff from clothes to gear to boots.]
– Top Front Catch Pocket 8.5” L x 4” H x 1” D / 30.5cm L x 25.4cm H x 11.4cm D [That handy front pocket in which you store your mobile phone and/or wallet or whatever else you want access to quickly.]
– Admin Pocket 9.75” L x 12.5” H x 2” D / 30.5cm L x 25.4cm H x 11.4cm D [Here, a bazillion internal organizational pockets for cards, knives, lights, electronics, keys and other stuff. Very durable and well laid out.]
– Approx. Capacity 1525 cubic inches / 25 liters [If you’re good at packing and traveling lightly or for a short time, this backpack could be your only carry on.]
– Weight 2.95 lbs / 1.3 kg [Lightweight but eminently durable]
– Pockets: 5 external, 3 internal [At first, a bit overwhelming. But within a few hours’ use, there was a place for everything and everything had a place.]
– 1000D water resistant nylon [Tough fabric that laughed at the abuse I tried to throw at it.]
– YKK® zippers [The best zippers around. They zipped open and shut and never failed.]
– Duraflex® hardware [Robust, easy to use, durable. Some were movable.]
And here are some of my favorite features:
Overall, a nice but tough and tidy pack. Plenty of MOLLE webbing and places for patches, too.
The main compartment offered a padded backing, pockets for two water bottles (or whatever else), and a zipped mesh compartment. The zippers allowed it to be opened up 190 degrees.
The admin pocket offers a place for everything: keys, pens, knives, lights, cards, and more. Write your name or ID# on the sewn-in yellow patch.
Tactical sunglasses in the fleece-lined eyewear pocket. Great location and design — exceptionally handy.
Lots going on here: removable chest strap, HD spacer mesh with dual density foam shoulder straps and back panel, secondary handle… But always cool and comfortable, even on hikes in 90 degrees and sun.
This one’s been in use and will continue to be. In fact, the next level of testing will involve 35 pounds of sand and weekly rucks on a backcountry trail. Stay tuned to hear more about how my First Tactical lasts…
— Mark Kakkuri
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