At first
sight this pack might look as a clone of the short lived and long discontinued*
Arc’Teryx Charlie pack. However, ACM manufacturers Phantom/Eaiming introduced
several improvements over the original design, namely a large velcro surface, a
better padded backpanel and other less evident details.
(* It is
even hard to find any reference photos of the original bag over the Internet,
it seems as if Arc’Teryx tried to erase it from existence. You can read a
thorough review at militarymorons.com)
The overall
minimalistic and streamlined design is basically the same as in rock-climbing
packs, that is just one big main compartment and a flat front pocket. A bit
spartan, but lightweight and with less interferences. Inside the main
compartment there are two thin dividers, one zippered for the hydration system,
and one elasticated for flat items. There is a pass-through slot for the
hydration tube on the top, and a bigbore grommetted drainhole at the bottom.
The hydration compartment has built-in loops to hang any size of bladder quite
properly.The capacity is that of a grown-up daypack, enough to carry the essentials plus a bit more, so if you are planning on hiking to the Himalayas and back you’ll probably need a larger bag. Doing some maths it should be somewhere in between 20 to
Anyway, if
you like pockets you can add as many as you like thanks to the MOLLE attachment
points on the front and the sides. With those, and also with the compression
straps on the sides, you can increment the load bearing capabilities of the
pack beyond imagination. As you can see in the pictures, you can securely strap
a rifle onto either side.
The carry
handle is as sturdy as those on the back of some tactical vests, and you could certainly
drag a person to safety with it. Another outstanding safety feature is that the
shoulder straps can be instantly released, as they are attached by means of
fastex buckles.
Speaking of
shoulder straps, they are wide and well padded and incorporate loops to hang
carabiners and such (but sadly no D-rings). They can be joined at the front by
a fully adjustable sternum-strap. There is a small problem –common to many
rucksacks- with the shoulder straps, which is that they are sewn in a straight
line rather than angled outwards. This produces a twist on the backpanel when
you tighten the shoulder straps against your wider-than-the-pack shoulders.
Actually it is just an aesthetic thing, because the pack remains comfortable
and stable.
In terms of
stabilitiy, in addition to the sternum-strap you can either choose to use the
waist belt, or stow it away into an ad hoc compartment behind the lumbar pad.
This is a nice feature when you are wearing any other type of load bearing
gear, or in case you carry a concealed pistol. The back panel has three padded
areas, one on each shoulder and a third on the kidneys area. The padding is
thick enough to form channels that should minimize perspiration. A potential
problem is that the mesh lining on the back catches pine needles like a magnet!
The body of
the pack is made of top-notch cordura, with seeming quality snap buckles and
zippers. I used to pry away metal zipper pulls for stealth, but in this case
they saved me the effort by using plain cord instead. The stitching seems quite
durable too. The MOLLE webbing is quite stiff and strongly stitched, but on the
negative side a full column of loops is too narrow to weave through (the one
beside the pocket zipper). The “Dark Earth” color (there is also black
available) goes with the majority of shades and patterns in use today. Did I
mention the velcro surface for morale and ID patches? You will appreciate it
when you have to fish for your pack in a sea of them ;-)
I can tell
by personal experience that this is a rugged piece of gear, as I once managed
to get lost in a thick brush area where I had to literally crawl my way out. Fearing
a rather embarrassing rescue –or even death, glups!- I pulled myself free
without caring much for the pack, just to find it clogged with pine needles but
completely unscathed.
In any
case, the most favorable argument is the price tag. This is a real
bang-for-the-buck that you can get from most Asian retailers under either
Phantom or Eaiming brands. I got mine from airsoftpark.com
Right: belt in use
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