The 5.11 Tactical Rush 72 is a versatile, rugged backpack that is designed to be a full-featured 72 hour tactical bag.
Among the Rush line, which is their flagship backpack line, the 72 ranks as one of our favorites in our Best Tactical Backpacks and Best Bug Out Bags articles.
Not only does it look pretty cool, it comes with some amazing features as well. With a large stuff-it pocket and excellent internal organizational pockets it makes stowing your great easy. It also has strategic pockets for your different gear and helps keep it all organized. We also liked the 5.11 Tactical Rush 24, which is a smaller version of the 72. They both are very popular and have created a lot of buzz with their fans.
The pack is available in 7 different colors depending of your preference. Although the primary usage of tactical backpacks comes from law enforcement, medical personnel & military personnel, they are becoming more popular among the civilian world. From preppers to hikers, the need for a quality tactical backpack is rising.
Overview
The 5.11 brand has been around since 2003 and has quickly made itself well known. The Irvine, California based company and blown up to a $300 million dollar company. 5.11 specializes in tactical gear and has a solid reputation of making solid gear. 5.11 makes all things tactical including; apparel, knives, footwear, bags and packs, and other accessories.
Founded by professional mountain climber Royal Robbins, the brand is hardcore. The name 5.11 was comes from the hardest level of rock climbing ever. 5.11 makes multiples tactical packs but the Rush 72 is one of the more popular. 5.11 focuses on quality products that are used frequently by first respondents, military personnel, and first responders. Their gear has become very popular among the civilian world as well.
The Rush 72, just like the name says is designed to be a full featured 72 hour tactical bag. You should be able to pack all of your gear needed for a 72 hour adventure or operation, this includes food, water, clothes, and any other essential gear you need. Specialized pockets make it easy to store all of your gear with easy access. The pack is rugged and durable but still has the capability of being a useful pack in tactical situations with ample amounts of storage and accessibility.
The MOLLE/ TacTec webbing system makes adding bags or accessories extremely convenient for longer trips. Although the intended operation length is 72 hours, adding accessories or bags can easily extend it to the duration you need it to be. Ideal for recreational use or as an operational bug out bag.
Specifications
This pack is loaded with cool features and advanced specifications. Capacity is 3342 cubic inch or 55 liter. 21″ by 13.5″ hydration pocket. Rugged, self-healing YKK zipper hardware. Generous Molle/ TacTec System Compatible web platform. Dual-zippered front and main compartments with molded grip pulls. Integrated drainage grommet. Clinching waist strap and dual compression straps.
Admin organization pocket to store maps, pens, and other documents. Closed cell back padding for extra comfort. Adjustable dual density closed-cell foam shoulder straps. Contour yoke system with grab and go handle. Highly resilient, water repellent 1000D nylon construction.
What we like
Some things that stood out was the overall usability. You really could take this pack out in any weather and any situation and be totally fine. It seems the folks at 5.11 thought of just about everything you would need in a tactical pack. We like the large pocket up front and feel the pack is ideal for a 72 hour excursion. The pack features many useful pockets with even a fleece lined pocked for your sunglasses. The pack is durable and is waterproof and looks pretty sweet as well.
When checking out other reviews, this are some of the key points people had to say:
“Customizable molle webbing. Versatile pack can be used in multiple situations. Built like a tank with plenty of storage. Even thought the pack is imported the general consensus is that is it extremely well made.”
“Favorite product I own, most useful, most versatile, it does everything I need a backpack to, and that’s a big deal since I’ve went through over a dozen in the last 2 years”.
Sounds like the overall consensus amount users is that this pack is awesome, does everything you need it to, and is very high quality.
What we don’t like
Our only complaint is that 5.11 doesn’t make accessories for every color of backpack.
Conclusion
We think pretty highly of this pack and so do many other customers. If you want a tactical backpack with multiples uses, durability, and ample storage, you can’t go wrong. The fact that so many military personnel and first responders rely heavily on this pack makes it a great choice. The price is a great value for what you get. If you are looking for the best “bug out” backpack in the world, you have found it the Rush 72.
