Recycled Firefighter Lightweight Tactical Backpack Small Multicam Backpack “The Battalion 12L”

Got this bag delivered within 48 hours to munich, germany, awsome service by amazon and recycled firefighter.i am a bag addict. i own more than 20 backpags and even more slingbags. there is a vertx edc ready, 5.11 rush 12 and 24, maxped lithvore,blackhawk 3dap, mystery ranch 1dap, kifaru uz, hpg taras (yyes, two of these), tasmanian tiger combat and mission packs, tad fp edc to name just a view. so i know and love good quality packs.but lets move to the 12 hour battalion by recycled firefighter: the first time is saw that bag i knew it would check a lot of the boxes i need in my edc pack. i am an office kind of guy, no tactical backround here. so i take my bags on my daily commute to the office, trips to the city and this kind of boring stuff. i carry light. just the essentials. some lights by surefire, a fixed blade and a sak (i carry a spyderco pits in my front pocket). than i carry a buff, couple of medicine i need, some very basic first aid kit. backup ecig and liquid, couple of 18650 batteries, handsanitizer, pepperspray, and a couple of other small items. i organize this in some of the eagle creek zip pouches and stuff them in the two mesh pockets of the battalion. fits nice and low profile. i carry my wallet in the upper one as well. in the front pocket i have my keys, handsanitizer, tissues and pepperspray. the sak and a surefire sidekick hang from the loop on top of the main compartement, which comes pretty handy. so i leave the whole main compartement empty for all the unexpected things i collect during the day. somtimes its my office laptop, that i need to carry home, sometimes groceries i purchase on my way home, or a an extra jacket and what not.the bag performs absolutely perfect in this scenario. its so lightweight and low profile, i do not even notice, that i am wearing it. part of that experience is supported by the genius shoulder straps. heavily padded and well shaped, they handle every weight i throw in that bag. believe me, even a tarahumara with its awesome yoke (absolutely the best and most comofrtable straps ever made on the tara, i wonder, why there are still normal straps on most backpacks) is not that far away when it comes to comfort.with its minimalistic and clean look the battalion blends in in an urban office environment. even though i purchased thyphoon (please make more colours available for shipment to germany!!).the orange interior is the next plus in my book. you find everything even in darkness. this is another big question in my life, why do other manufacturers keep on building black holes?coming to build. i make it short: bast of the best. you can definetly tell, it is hand sewn which is crazy, regarding it is build in the usa and still not expensive at all. this bag has a charcter. it is a personal item given to me by someone who loved to develop and build this bag. this is the only way i can explain it. it became a part of my life. it is the simple, yet efficent design, the build and the materials (man i do love that chunky zippers). its somehow uniquenes what makes it my number one bag of all time.there a comments on the web, that say it is a copycat of a bullet ruck. but i ccan tell you it is NOT. goruck still do build black holes. compare the sizes. there is nothing comparable in the goruck line up. and the swing it to the front access is something, what i really dig in my application.BUT i still do have some ideas, to make the bag even better. one is, that they should offer the front zipper on the other side, so you can access the pocket when you swing it forward using your right hand (i am right handed). and some more. and now it comes to the only downside: i wrote the manufacturer an email some weeks ago and did not recieve an answer yet. i like responsive customer service. but no big deal for me and i guess it is still a young and small brand. i am sure they will get better, when they will be able to gain their business. i hope they do, so they will bring us more awesome products and who knows, maybe the v2 of the battalion will have a tarahumaraish yoke....just dreamin...:-) oh and please: never add a ridget frame to a pack like this. (as a former reviewer mentioned) it would absolutely kill the usability in an urban environment.

I’ve been using this pack for a few weeks now and it has quickly become my favorite bag.Pro:Very well made - Feels like I can fill it with lead weights and it would hold up without problems. The straps are very thick and the stitching on the bag is top notch.Main compartment - The compartment opens fully like a clamshell. Meaning you can access the entire bag and not dig for the stuff in the bottom. This has become a requirement for my backpacks.Size and proportion - This thing can carry more than you think. I was able to replace a 24 liter pack with this. The clamshell opening makes it so you can really use all of the space inside. I recently took this pack on an overnight trip and was able to fit my MacBook Pro, extra set of clothes (jeans, socks, underwear, shirt), light jacket, toiletries and a water bottle.Con:No Warranty - This bag seems bulletproof and I have no doubts that it will last a long time but I own a few other Made in USA bags in the same price range that offer lifetime or multi year warranties. I know Recycled Firefighter is a small operation so hopefully they will grow and be in a place where a warranty is possible in the future.Neutral:Rigid MOLLE Panel sold separately - I highly recommend pick up this panel to get the most out of this pack. The custom made one from RF is a perfect fit. Even if you don’t use MOLLE attachments the panel helps the bag keep its shape and can also help protect items inside.No MOLLE on the outside - The overall look of this bag is smooth and not “tactical” at all due to the lack of MOLLE webbing but maybe minimal webbing on the sides would have been nice. Maybe not webbing but some loops to hang stuff off would help add some utility. I sometime clip things to the top handle but it will hit my head when it swings around.Improvements:Front zippered compartment - This pocket is so useful but I think there are a couple ways to improve this.First is either offering an option for the zipper to be on the other side of the pack or adding a second zipper to the other side. I have the habit of taking off the right strap and swinging the pack to the front to access outside pockets but this makes the zipper side face down. I’ve been trying to get used to taking off the left strap so that the zipper is “right side up” but it’s a hard habit to break. I know this issue is specific to me and those who have the same habit so it would be nice to have an option here.Second is adding something inside the front pocket to help with organization. I think a simple loop at the top and middle to tether/hang things would help a lot. I often lose my keys in the pocket since everything sinks to the bottom.