5.11 Tactical Military Backpack - RUSH12 - Molle Bag Rucksack Pack, 24 Liter Small, Style 56892

First off let my start by expressing my love for 5.11 All of their gear that I have used is field ready and more then capable of standing up to any challenge you can throw at it from EDC to day/light hiking to extensive field use. During my time in the USMC I used some quality gear and I wish that 5.11 was included in some of my issued gear. It's engineered well, designed with usability in mind and all around bada**. Now onto this bag. This bag in my opinion, design wise, size, usability and price in mind, is the perfect EDC bag on the market. I did extensive research and read a ton of reviews before purchasing this specific bag and I can honestly say my time paid off well. This bag was everything I was looking for and then some. It has the space to fit all of my everyday needs without being over-sized. It rugged and durable without being too heavy ( I would say it's a midweight bag). As for the usability? Oh man this thing has pocket galore! It's perfect for organizing all of your gear. I also own the Rush 72 and MOAB 10 and this is the bag that I carry everyday. You will not be disappointed with this bag, trust me. I did the research, I saw other bags and I wouldn't change my purchase. A note about EDC bags: One thing I have noticed a lot of is people carrying "EDC" bags that seem to be more along the lines of bug out bags... an EDC bag should have everything you need to carry you through the day comfortable with a minimal amount of survival gear. The purpose of an EDC bag is not extreme survival... don't make the mistake of thinking an EDC is a Bug Out Bag. Carry what you need and maybe a little extra just incase.

For those of you out there searching for an alternative to the $300 backpack + $90 ruck plate from the "big brand" - this is your answer! The 5.11 RUSH12 backpack perfectly fits the Titan 20 lb. ruck plate (found here on Amazon) in the back hydration pocket - so no need to worry about it flopping around in a backpack's main/large compartment. I just wrapped it up in an old t-shirt to keep it as snug as possible, and to keep the rough-ish finish of the plate from abrading the inside of the pack. The Titan 30 lb. ruck plate should also fit in the hydration pocket, as the internal dimensions of the pocket are 17" tall x 11" wide, and the plate is 14.5" tall x 8.75" wide. The Titan 45 lb. ruck plate is 15" tall x 9.5" wide, so that should be fine too. The backpack itself seems plenty "tough" for this job - 1050D nylon, wide/sturdy/comfortable straps, heavy duty zippers, etc. Tons of MOLLE all over it for pouches, water bottle holders, etc. if you're into that. It's also very nice that is has the attachment points for a 1.5" waist belt (sold separately from the pack), as that will really help keep your ruck in place and comfortable. I bought the Fire Force waist belt here on Amazon, as they have all the military/tacti-cool colors to (mostly) match all the colors in which the RUSH12 is available. There was ZERO chance I was paying $175-295 for a rucking pack from the "big brand" - 5.11 RUSH packs are very well reviewed, made of similarly tough materials, fit the Titan ruck plates perfectly, and are well-suited for "fitness" rucking. 5.11 RUSH packs are not, however, made in the USA, which is probably part of the reason why the price points are so different from the "big brand". The Titan ruck plates are a great product too - my review for those are on that product page. The main message is - for $152, you can be "all in" to get started rucking for fitness, and that includes the $12 waist belt mentioned above. To recap - $100 for the 5.11 RUSH12, $40 for a Titan 20 lb. plate, and $12 for the Fire Force waist belt (buy a 1.5" for the RUSH packs). This is compared to $260 to $390 just to get started with the same setup from the "big brand"! My first ruck with the setup last night was great - 3 miles at a rather quick pace, pack felt very stable and secure. My wife rucked 3 miles with it this morning as well, and no complaints.

This is a phenomenal product - all the details and little touches on this pack indicate great construction quality and materials. I've used this for two years now - primarily for work and then school. It's mostly held a laptop + books, accessories, medicines, etc. I've also used this for travel, day hikes, etc. so in sum, basically everyday for a couple of years, and had to come back to write a review. Lots of pockets. The hydro sleeve is solid and integrates nicely with Camelbak bladders. The pockets in the main compartment and the side compartment make organizing documents, passports, accessories, etc really simple. The pack has held up well, the zippers remain as sturdy as ever. If you're reading this, you're probably already familiar with and interested in the MOLLE system but just in case, I'll add that I am thrilled with the ability to customize the pack further and have added water bottle sleeves to the side. I also love being able to quickly clip things on with a carabiner - for instance, when I'm on a redeye flight, I'll clip on a travel pillow to the molle straps - super quick and easy. The nylon used to make up this bag is extremely tough and durable - a byproduct of this is the pack is slightly heavier than other daypacks (eg a North Face, for instance), but I don't mind it and prefer that trade off for the durability - my old North Face would eventually start fraying or developing small tears, which I hated (this was after VF's TNF acquisition). The top handle of the bag is extremely sturdy and stitched on very well - never shoes signs of fraying or feels like you're pulling it handle off like other bags, even when the bag is filled up and weighted. I remember my North Face and Jansport bags always feeling like the handle was under lots of strain when I used the top handle, but never with this 5.11 pack. Shoulder straps are comfortable. I vaguely wish the chest buckle would adjust, but not a huge deal. Be conscious about which pockets you stash bulkier objects in. I try to keep bulkier objects low and in the main compartment, as stashing them in the side pocket makes it bulge a little bit and puts weight further away from your body. I'm the type that researches my purchases obsessively, especially for things that I use regularly like a backpack, and I love a good quality product, and this really fits the bill. All in all, I absolutely love this product and am now a sucker for 5.11 products on account of the quality I've observed with this pack. Best backpack I've owned hands down.

The Rush 12 is a excellent pack and represents an overall fantasic deal when you can find sale prices. It is still a good value even at the usual $99 price point on Amazon. This pack is well made and uses heavy duty nylon in all important construction points. The admin pocket is very good and the main compartment has a few mesh pouches and a nice draw string dump pouch area. There is plenty of MOLLE around the outside of the pack for accessories. For the compression straps, it would be good if 5.11 provided two straps on each side that were movable (similar to the First Tactical strap configuration). To make up for the factory compression strap configuration, I used a 5.11 tier system strap on each side of the pack to serve as adjustable lower compression straps and they work great. I do not worry too much about the tier system straps coming loose during use (I do not generally care for the C clamp setup that 5.11 like to use on removable/movable straps, as the sternum strap on my Rush 24 has come undone a few times during past travel). The fleece storage packet is very handy as is the top zippered stash pocket. The shoulder straps.for this pack have received some mixed reviews; however, I have not had any problems with the shoulder straps and find them to be generally comfortable. The grab handle seems sturdy and well made and is comfortable in my hand. If you feel as though you have to use a waist belt with this pack, you can do so by providing your own web belt (I use a black 5.11 web belt and feed it through the belt strap holders at the base of the bag. Works just fine when needed). If you want a bit more utility, you can add a bit of shock cord to the MOLLE areas on the sides and/or bottom of the pack. This way, you can easily and quickly get external lash ups for lightweight items that you might require quick access to. While the Rush family of packs is moving toward becoming a tenured platform, the Rush packs packs perform extremely well and will do whatever is asked.of them. I still like the very Spartan styling and utility. Make no mistake - This pack continues to be a winner and I look forward to seeing how 5.11 will build.upon this very capable and affordable pack. Always consider 5.11 packs before buying bargain packs that will wear and fail. Thank you.

Excellent bag for EDC. A little “tactical” looking, but I dig it. Not as noticeable in the black version. Downgraded from a RUSH24 (also amazing), since I got a smaller laptop. This hits the sweet spot for EDC and size. I use it as an EDC/school backpack, and it's great for that purpose. Pros: -Well organized storage areas: there are two zip pockets on the inside along with a pouch with and elastic cinch. Outside there is a sunglass pocket on top, a small pocket on the top front, and a big useful admin pocket on the bottom. -Not as bulky as other EDC packs like the RUSH24 (but your experience may differ depending on your needs). -Bomb-proof construction. -Comfortable padding on the shoulder straps (though it needs a little break-in). -Customizable: the storage areas and MOLLE straps on the outside let you adapt this to whatever purpose you're going for. In my case, it's a school/EDC bag, but it could be used for a day hike, bug-out bag, get home bag, or "tactical diaper bag" if need be. -Camelback/water bladder compartment if you want to use it (I never do). Cons -No integrated water bottle storage area. -Doesn't sit up straight typically, and tends to lead forward or fall down if you're setting it on the floor. -Cinch straps on the side don't really do much. What I carry: -Laptop in case -Trauma kit in a Maxpedition Beefy organizer -Stethoscope case -Electronics peripherals case -Folders/notebooks if necessary -Small first aid kit -Personal hygiene items -Admin stuff like pens, pencils, knife, flashlight, multitool, lighters, mini notebooks, mini towel, etc. It works pretty well to fit all the stuff that I need. If you're in the market for an EDC bag like this I suggest reading the reviews, looking at pictures of other people's set-ups and determining what you're going to carry before you make a decision. Just do some research. There are bags with little organization that are nothing more than a rucksack, and bags with a lot of partitions and specialized slots for stuff. This one falls somewhere in between. If you're looking to store a 15" laptop, while it will technically fit in here, it's going to be stretching the limits of capacity, and it won't be super easy to get in and out.

A bit smaller than I thought this would be (thats what happens when you buy online). It's almost exactly the same size and shape as my son's Body Glove backpack. I can see using this as a book bag for school or for mountain biking. I'm 5'8" 160 and the profile is narrow on the back, and sits several inches above the waist. It would be great for an extended day mountain bike ride in the backcountry (food, medical kit, bike stuff. jacket), especially with the water bladder insert. This would really stay out of your way if you were doing lots of moving. The straps are probably the most comfortable I have experienced on a pack. A little disappointed on the depth of the main compartment, but it does have LOTS of zippered pockets everywhere in and out. Does feel very solid and should last a long time. I will load it up as best I can and if I can't use it for what I wanted it for, I will keep it to use for commuting to work, laptop, etc. UPDATE: The pack actually holds a surprising amount of stuff. The outer pocket will ALMOST hold a size 9 pair of sneakers (you just can't quite zip it all the way). I find myself grabbing for it quite a bit. Very versatile, nice, small pack.

I had originally been trying to get my hands on a TAD Gear Fastpack Litespeed (same capacity as Rush 12), to replace my bigger TAD EDC pack, which is a great pack but just too big for everyday needs or my typical day hike. TAD packs sell out way too fast though, and after missing the last three restocks in a row (their stuff literally sells out within an hour of going live on their website these days) I decided it just wasn't worth it to keep waiting. A coworker had purchased a rush 12 a few months ago and I was impressed enough that it stayed on my mind while waiting for another TAD restock. After missing that one, I decided to "settle" for a rush 12. Received the pack today, and I have to say, I don't think I would want the Litespeed now even if it were available. This pack has better organization features, feels just as tough, and is more configuable with addon pouches, which I've already placed an order for. It's also very comfortable even after loading it up with all my EDC gear. I like that there's no waistbelt (though I can add one if I want), and I can remove the chest support strap from the shoulder straps - good for during the work week when I only need to sling the pack over my shoulder going to and from the car, etc. and don't want extra dangling straps. Thats another thing I like about the Rush 12 - no unnecessary extra belts or straps hanging everywhere. Theres only two compression straps (all you need on a pack this size), and the extra bits on the shoulder straps, all of which were quickly cleaned up with the elastic strap keepers, leaving a very clean looking pack. Tons of webbing on this thing, leaving me plenty of options for pouches. I'm going with a mix of 5.11 and maxpedition pouches to round it out for easy adaptation between EDC and hiking. One last little bonus I love about this pack is that my iPad with leather book cover fits perfectly in the zippered hydration pocket. The only small complaint I have is that I'd like to see a couple of small loops inside the main pocket at the top for attaching key chains or other tools like ziplights etc. - something I liked about my TAD pack. But I can just rig something with paracord on the webbing at the top and feed it through one of the hydration tube holes as a work around. Not a big deal. I'm pretty big on quality gear and prefer to spend more up front to get the best rather than spending more over time and having to replace inferior products. I was a bit concerned about the low price of this pack but it really does look like a good quality item, and for half the cost of a TAD pack, I feel like I got a deal. Time will tell I guess. Will update this review if I have any problems with it.

March 2014: Several folks have asked about the size and proportions of this backpack, I imagine because a handful of reviewers have stated the pack looks comically small on their frame. The dimensions are, very roughly, 12 inches in width and 18 inches in height. In terms of its scale, it is indistinguishable from any regular backpack you see on campus -- in fact, I have seen a number of these Rush 12's being worn by other students. December 2014: The backpack has survived three semesters and several road trips now with no visible wear or tear whatsoever. Zippers and stitching are still strong and intact, the bottom isn't stretching despite sometimes having to carry four or five thick textbooks and accompanying notebooks. April 2015: Over a year old, now, and the Rush 12 has survived day-to-day use without a single complaint. The backpack has endured everything from hauling textbooks and a change of clothes from one state to the next, to a weekend of rappelling. No tears, no zipper problems, it doesn't even get that dirty, somehow. June 2017: I've used this backpack practically every single day for the three years I've had it. No wear and tear to speak of. All of the original zippers are still in place and working perfectly fine, the mesh pockets are intact despite being regularly crammed with snaggy stuff like flashlights, car keys, etc. The top pocket is great for my wallet and flashlight. The lower pocket is perfect for a Kindle Paperwhite and a Cambridge Pitt Minion Bible. I think my favorite thing about the Rush 12 is the versatility that its size offers. I can carry a pack for a three day camp, I've carried everything from AR-15 lower and upper assemblies to Wide Margin Bibles in this thing. Well worth the purchase! July 2018: Well, I'm graduating next week which means this backpack has endured approximately four years of daily use. One of the zipper cords frayed off, which I replaced with a small loop of tygon tubing. The sun may have ever slightly bleached out the black in certain spots. Besides that, this backpack has endured a lot of abuse with very little wear and tear to show for. Next up: graduate school. July 2020: Nothing new to report. This backpack has continued to hold up, well into graduate school and even fatherhood. I recently puchased an MSI Laptop and sadly it will not fit inside my Rush 12. Since this product from 5.11 has served me so well, I'm going to be purchasing a Rush 24.