A few months ago I was walking into the local stop & rob (AKA convenience store). As I entered I walked past a guy sporting a beard and full sleeve tattoos, something struck me as familiar and as I turned around to see what it was and so did he. We looked at each other and said our names aloud to confirm our suspicions. It turned out that he was a fellow retired guy from the police department. We hadn’t seen each other in the better part of ten years and quickly exchanged a brief overview of what we had been doing and set up a time and date to meet and catch up.

A couple of days later we met up at a bar to catch up and grab a bite to eat. My friend had been a Recon Marine and Scout Sniper during his military service and had been a member of our departments Tactical Team. He had gotten medically retired a couple years after me and spent the past few years contracting overseas.

As I had approached the bar I saw that he was reading from a table which he stuffed into a black shoulder bag. As we were talking and eating I asked him about the bag and he told me it was a 5.11 bag that he always kept with him, a habit he had developed overseas. He said it had his carry pistol, tablet, phone/charger, some med gear, wallet, and miscellaneous stuff. We got together a couple more times and then he went off the grid again.

The shoulder bag he was carrying is a 5.11 Push Pack. I liked the size so I ordered one for myself. I’ve been using mine for a few months and like it. It’s small enough to carry the basics without turning into and expedition weight EDC bag.

Features:

  • Dual expanding side pockets
  • Covert TacTec System™ compatible pocket
  • 1050D weather resistant nylon
  • MOLLE/5.11 SlickStick® web platform exterior
  • Fully adjustable padded strap
  • Removable strap padding
  • Hook and loop nametape and flag patches
  • Aero foam back padding for comfort
  • Imported

Dimensions:

  • Main Compartment – 8.75” H x 7.75” L x 4” D
  • Top pocket – 1.31” x 7.75” x 3”
  • Left and Right pocket -7.75” x 4” x 1.5”
  • Total Capacity – 395 cubic inch / 6 liter total capacity

The Push Pack features a shoulder strap that works best carried on the left side of your body. There’s a touch of molle on it and a Velcro patch. On the top of the flap is a zipper pocket that will hold a pistol magazine, CAT Tourniquet, or something of a similar size or shape. Also on the flap is a Velcro strip for a name tag as well as a zipper pocket which I like for storing a charger/cable for my phone or for stashing my phone and wallet if I’m going through security at the airport.

The main compartment can hold med gear, books, a small table, or any other daily items you might want to carry. On the exterior sides are hidden pockets that can hold water bottles or a CAT Tourniquet. On the back is a low profile zipper pocket with a Velcro wall that can be used for carrying a pistol. I like to use the 215 Gear hook and look compatible holster as it has a flap that keeps the pistol from shifting when the bag is in any position. It’s not fast but it keeps it in the same place you put it in. I can fit anything from my Glock 17 to my Glock 43 in it along with an extra magazine or two.

I like this bag for EDC or light travel use as long as I don’t pack it to the point that it weighs a ton.  The price is $59.99 unless you catch one of 5.11’s sales. The Push Pack is available in black or Flat Dark Earth.

Author – Art Dorst is the owner of A. Dorst Consulting & Training Services and is a Senior Consultant for LaSorsa & Associates.  He served in the U.S. Navy and Army National Guard, and is a retired municipal Police Officer, NRA Instructor, and is currently a security provider/trainer.