Posts Tagged tactical

A company that makes tactical gear for cops should be able to build some pretty rugged bags, right?

That’s what I thought when I opened the Tactical Side Trip Briefcase from 5.11, a company that’s been making tactical gear for law-enforcement officers and fire/EMS personnel for more than three decades.  And I wasn’t disappointed.

This briefcase, made of textured nylon, is perfect for day trips and works extremely well as a carry-on when flying. There’s plenty of room for a laptop, power supply and cables, MP3 player cell phone, keys, books and papers, pens and more.

One of the first things I noticed—and liked—was the handle. The two pieces on top of the carrying straps push together and make the bag comfortable to carry.  There’s also an optional shoulder strap.

There are two front pockets with organizers, pen holders and a key hook.

Right behind that is a hidden pocket secured with Velcro. The folks at 5.11 say the design allows quick access to things like a handgun and holster—for those in law enforcement, of course. I’d use that pocket for carrying more mundane things like notes and travel documents for easy access.

Then there’s a roomy, zippered, padded center compartment that would handle a laptop and other gear nicely. A smaller zippered compartment is in the back, with a panel that should slip over the handles on most roller bags.

On each side of the bag is a zippered pocket that will hold a one-liter drink bottle—a very nice feature. And tucked away in a Velcro compartment at the bottom is a plastic cover to protect the entire bag from rain.

There’s a certain “look” about this bag—like it means business. And, like a lot of tactical gear, it comes in only one color, black.

The list price is $99.99.

It looks like 5.11 has a future not just supplying police officers and other public-safety personnel.  I think the company can also do well supplying the “tactical traveler.”

Get the Tactical Side Trip Briefcase at eBags.