The Best Tactical Backpacks of 2024

A tactical backpack is one of the most basic pieces of tactical gear because it allows you to carry your gear, clothing and essentials. Tactical backpacks differ from other backpacks (such as hiking backpacks) in materials and colors. They are made from robust materials engineered to withstand rigorous abrasion in the field. Moreover, their design features an array of compartments and pockets, facilitating meticulous organization of your gear. However, the durability and organizational superiority often come at the cost of weight, making them typically heavier than other pack like for example backpacks of hiking and travelling.

In our quest to simplify your purchasing journey, we’ve handpicked and meticulously reviewed the finest tactical backpacks available. Our selection focuses on durability and lightweight design, catering to a spectrum of needs. Within our review, you’ll find two tactical backpacks boasting capacities exceeding 40 liters, alongside three tactical daypacks designed for loads under 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

The 5.11 Rush 72 backpack is a popular choice among soldiers, hunters, and outdoor enthusiasts. Made from abrasion-resistant 1000-denier nylon, this backpack epitomizes durability, ensuring it can withstand the rigors of demanding environments. Complementing its rugged build are high-quality YKK zippers, further enhancing its longevity. With a 55-liter capacity, this 5.11 backpack proves ideal for missions lasting up to three days. Its design features a generously sized main compartment and a smaller front compartment, offering ample storage options. Nestled between these compartments lies a stash pocket, perfectly suited for housing larger items such as a helmet. Within the main compartment, two spacious mesh pockets provide additional organization possibilities, while the front compartment boasts an organization panel, allowing secure storage of maps, pens, and other essentials.

The 5.11 backpack doesn’t skimp on exterior storage either, featuring two large side pockets and two external pockets at the top. These side pockets are ideal for keeping water bottles and other essentials within easy reach, while the top external pockets offer convenient storage for smaller items like tactical flashlights, compasses, and sunglasses. Notably, one of these top pockets is lined with fleece, providing added protection against abrasion. For hydration needs, the backpack incorporates a water reservoir pocket situated between the back panel and the main compartment, accommodating reservoirs of up to three liters. The back panel has a single aluminum stay, providing support when you’re carrying heavy loads. If you want to trim down the backpack’s weight, the aluminum stay is easily removable. We also really like the wide, well-padded shoulder straps and a hip belt for even weight distribution. Additionally, the backpack comes equipped with a sternum strap for added stability. In summary, the 5.11 Rush 72 backpack emerges as a stellar choice for anyone who needs a durable backpack for field use.

 

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2. Kelty Raven 2500

The Kelty Raven 2500 tactical backpack is designed for radio operators offering seamless integration for carrying a military radio along with various antennas. Despite its radio-centric design, the backpack offers versatility, as the radio-specific holders are removable, allowing it to adapt to a broader range of tasks. While slightly smaller in size compared to the 5.11 Rush 72, the Kelty Raven 2500 shares a similar design philosophy. It has a spacious main compartment and a smaller front compartment, separated by a stash compartment ideal for storing a helmet or similar gear. The front compartment is thoughtfully equipped with numerous small pockets and holders allowing meticulous organization of your equipment.

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. What we like about this backpack is it’s functionality and durability. It’s an excellent choice for radio operators.

 

3. Blackhawk Stingray 2-day

The Blackhawk Stingray 2-day backpack has a capacity of 30 liters which makes it optimal for tasks spanning one to two days. Constructed from robust 500-denier nylon, this backpack offers durability for demanding environments. Its main compartment features a zipper closure extending to the bottom of the pack, enabling the backpack to lay flat and open completely for effortless gear access—a feature particularly useful 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 organization, the pack offers two side pockets, a padded pocket at the back, and a fleece-lined valuables pocket. The padded back pocket serves as an ideal storage space for a hydration bladder or laptop, catering to a diverse array of needs. Further bolstering protection for your gear are the Eva-molded side wings, designed to shield against bumps and drops. Additionally, the pack is equipped with YKK zippers, renowned for their durability and longevity. Available in black, gray, and coyote color options, the Blackhawk Stingray 2-day backpack offers versatility to suit various preferences and environments. For those seeking alternative sizes, Blackhawk also offers the Stingray EDC in a 23-liter version and the Stingray 3-day in a 36-liter version, catering to differing storage needs without compromising on quality or performance.

 

4. Maxpedition Falcon II

The Maxpedition Falcon II tactical backpack has a capacity of 23 liters and is thus a great backpack 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. Additionally, the fabric is treated with Dupont Teflon coating, enhancing water resistance for added peace of mind in unpredictable weather conditions.

We really liked the pocket configuration on this backpack. It 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. In summary, the Maxpedition Falcon II backpack is a good choice for individuals wanting a tactical backpack tailored to day tasks.

 

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5. Direct Action Dragon Egg MK IISuitable for:

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 backpack features wide and well-padded straps for a secure and comfortable fit. Despite its slightly lighter construction, the Direct Action backpack doesn’t compromise on storage options. Its layout includes a spacious main compartment, a front admin pocket, a zippered pocket at the top, two side pockets, and a zippered compartment positioned 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. We were a bit disappointed that the hip belt is 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