I swear I could open up a second-hand store with how many backpacks I have, but I always have room for another. The latest is the 5.11 Tactical MVR 25L Backpack. While 5.11 has tactical in the name, tactical intentions weren’t my goal behind the bag. I wanted something compact with a big main pouch. I have plenty of bags with several different pockets, but I wanted something different.
The MVR – Different In a Good Way
The MVR offered exactly what I needed. The pack has three pockets. One small one up top that’s sunglass size. In the back, we have a slot for a hydration pack, and finally, in the middle of the pack, we have one massive pouch.
The zippers open 270 degrees, which gives you plenty of room for quick loading and easy access to whatever’s inside. I like this feature a lot. Being able to toss it on the ground, open it up, and remove exactly what I need without having to dig is convenient and simple.
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Beyond convenience, it’s perfect when the situation changes. Maybe it’s raining, and I need to break out the poncho. I can do it quickly and easily. Maybe I need my first aid kit; that’s rarely a situation with time to spare, so having easy access is nice.
My intent was a pack I could easily toss in all my gear I’d take hiking, fishing, hunting, or even to the range. Something I wouldn’t have to dig through to find gear when I need it. The MCR satisfied that need.
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Inside and Outside The Pack
The flap has a small mesh pocket, which is perfect for baby wipes. Inside the main pouch, you have two mesh pockets on each side. This makes it easy to organize the small things, like sunscreen, spare socks, or a rain cover.
The back of the main pouch is covered in loop material, allowing you to attach pouches to organize as you see fit. The internal volume is 25 liters, which is plenty for me. They also make a 35-liter model if you want to go a little bigger.
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I can stash multiple layers, a rain flap, a poncho, a flat tackle box, and more. For camping, you could fit a three-season sleeping bag, spare clothes, and hygiene gear. For range use, it can pack plenty of ammo, targets, staplers, spare magazines, tools, and more. I’ve yet to find a situation where I was short on room.
On the outside of the pack, we have two side pouches that fit water bottles nicely. My Nalgene drops in and stays in. At the top, we have some shock cord for quickly securing goods to the outside of the pack. It doesn’t come with a waist strap, but you can add one if you want. On the outside of the pack is a MOLLE wall for attaching accessories.
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The MVR doesn’t have anything revolutionary, but stacks features up to make for an excellent pack.
Trial By Trail
On day two of owning this thing, I had the opportunity to go on a three-mile hike in Wyoming. Had I adjusted to the altitude? No. Have I hiked up ridgelines in the last decade? Also no. I didn’t load up too heavily: a protein bar, a couple of bottles of water, a poncho, and a first aid kit.
I had a guide, but I still brought my cell phone and a battery pack with me just in case. Spring in Wyoming tends to be rather cold, so I started layered up. Pretty quickly, I dropped layers and came to another appreciation of the easy, wide-opening top. I could remove layers and shove them in the bag without slowing down.
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On a guided hike, I didn’t want to be that guy. As we hiked up the ridgeline, the pack’s wide straps were nice and comfy. The back of the pack is ventilated with airflow padding, which is comfy, doesn’t rub, and allows air to flow between the body and the pack to keep it a little cooler.
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The hike kicked my butt. Altitude is a real pain, a brutal one to be sure. Luckily, the side pouches make water easy to access and replace, again, not having to slow down too much to get my little sip in here or there.
After two ridges and three miles at over 7,000 feet above sea level, I was nuked. My feet hurt, my heart was racing, but my back and shoulders weren’t hurting. I didn’t even think about the pack as we finished up and my ass found its first seat.
The MVR
The MVR filled the role I needed. A size-efficient bag with a huge pouch and an easy opening design. Access was easy, and putting stuff back is easy on the move. It’s set up perfectly for day-to-day use and for those more adventurous trips.
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