5.11 Tactical COVRT 18 Backpack

Comments about 5.11 Tactical COVRT 18 Backpack:

I am not an LEO or a tactical operator. That said, I travel two hours by car, train, bus and foot through some of the more unsavory neighborhoods in Seattle to get to work every day. It's easy to spot the preppers, prior military, outright wackos, etc. by what they carry their gear in. I wanted a pack that was a) Comfortable, b) carried my 17" laptop, c) roomy enough for some gear if I have to overnight in the city, d) configurable for additional uses, e) weatherproof so I didn't have to bring an umbrella and f) nondescript so that it didn't scream GUN.

I got everything but the weatherproof. Hint 5.11 if you're listening – at least make the laptop space waterproof and this thing will get five stars.

I was at first a little put off by the way that I had to load my laptop. It requires pulling the compartment top over the laptop one corner at a time. It barely fits. But then I discovered that it keeps that laptop snugly in place, doesn't flop back and forth and snugs it right to my back. Everything else distributes against my back in such a comfortable way, you really don't feel the weight. I went from a Swiss Gear laptop back to the COVRT 18 literally overnight and could definitely feel the difference. No way I am going back. Jogging to make a light signal used to force me to reach back and hold my pack still while securing whatever was in the side pockets from falling out. On that subject; at first I wanted two more compression straps lower on the pack but then realized that it would get in the way of the CCW compartment.

The only other complaint that I have is that the sunglasses pocket is really a shared space with the laptop compartment. Since my laptop fills the space, the pocket is useless for anything that is not small or flat. Yes, you can get them in and move them out of the way of the laptop but you can't get them out without removing the laptop. That said, just pick a different pocket for your sunglasses and all is good.

Here's a tip: I was a little concerned about having easy sliding zippers for the CCW compartment. For peace of mind, I added a small, black keychain clip from an ultra-light flashlight to the zipper pulls and clip them to the bungee loops on the bottom of the tie-down loops. That way, standing on a bus a kid can't reach up and easily unzip that chamber but it's very easy to reach back and unsnap when you need to.