5.11 Patrol Ready Bag

A brilliant kit bag for every day use. There are two side pockets with zips and two front pouches with elastic tops. In between the elasticated pouches is another pouch with velcro closure and a name badge holder. The top of the bag has a large patch of felt velcro and I've attached the "Maxpedition Hook and Loop Zipper Pocket" to it. When the two carry handles are closed with the velcro fastener, it creates an area to keep a waterproof high-vis jacket - the handles keep the jacket in place, yet it's easy to get to if needed in a hurry.Inside the bag is a purpose built divider that creates three areas. The divider can be removed either for cleaning or simply to create one large compartment - it's held in place with velcro. The largest compartment is the full width of the bag and half the depth, taking up 50% of the space. The remaining space is divided into 3/4 and 1/4, with the front left compartment being the smallest. The inner lid houses the "admin" pockets for holding pens, keys (thick plastic clip included) and notebooks, as well as two further zip pouches. The base is thick and strong and it has four rubber "feet", but they're very small, so you have to be careful where you set it down (i.e., on a dry surface).The outer part of the lid also has two strong velcro loops which 5.11 says is for holding a baton - you could also use it for other things, for example, I have a bottle of hand sanitiser held in place with one of the loops - all I did was tightly wrap it around the bottle to hold it in place. Finally there's a sturdy shoulder strap which is curved for easier use and greater comfort. It can be attached both ways, or removed and stored elsewhere as applicable.The material is tough and strong, 600d polyester, and it's water resistant for about 20 minutes, but not waterproof. There are some waterproof bag covers available from different manufacturers that will fit over this product, but attaching them will block the handles and shoulder strap; I found that waterproof inner bags are a better choice. Most 5.11 bags have one or two holes in the base for drainage, but this one doesn't - if it gets wet inside, the only way to dry it out is to leave it in a warm room with the lid fully open and let nature take its course.Having used it every day for three weeks, I have to say that it's a great purchase. It's very strong and sturdy and can carry a lot of equipment, but it's also relatively compact, which makes it easier to carry and store. The only minor criticism I have is the lack of velcro fastener on he name badge holder; the side of the holder is open, and a name badge can fall out. I added my own velcro closure to secure the badge in place. Apart from that, I can't really fault the product.

Great work bag. I use it as my daily flight bag so it gets a lot of abuse. Lunch boxes, headsets, iPads, flasks and all sorts gets thrown into it daily. It protects and stores all my bits and bobs without damaging them.Time will tell though if it can survive the notoriously flight-bag unfriendly atmosphere of a Boeing cockpit, as I seem to go through one a year these days. Saying that I am rough with my bags, however this is advertised as a tactical patrol bag, presumably for police force members to carry their gear and chuck around the joint, so hopefully it lives up to its promises.Loads of pockets and bigger than I was expecting, bit of a beast actually! I do like the two water bottle holders on the outside (one of the main reasons I was attracted to it in the first place) and also the simple partitioned interior.A lot of these “tactical” bags make a huge song and dance about how many pockets and slips and nets they have inside, however to me this is not massively useful. I need a large volume to store big bulky items, not a large volume split into teeny tiny sections. This bag fortunately allows you to take out any internal partition and use the space as, well, space! Hooray!So, final rambles:It’s a good quality bag and so far its almost a year into its tour of duty without falling apart.It’s larger than anticipated.It’s got bottle holders on the outside.Makes me look like a wannabe US Marshal.

I bought this to replace an Op Zulu bag that was worn out and, frankly a bit too large. I know 5.11 gear to be excellent and this is just right. I can get in two A4 file organisers for paperwork and a hard polymer writing case (Niteredi) and a trifold ticket book. There's space for a Hi Vis jacket, micro fleece and hat (ball cap rather than peaked and no chance of getting a custodian in there!).The end pouches are the right size for a woolly hat & gloves at one end and a first aid kit at the other.The inside of the lid has enough space for several pens and a pouch for an A6 notepad; either side the bigger expansion pouches hold charging cables or cards or 3 or 4 mars bars (we know how chocolate is a major food group for the Job).It's well made and looks 'resilient' (the 'in' word at the moment).With the advent of boot organisers in our cars, my old bag would never fit and ended up behind the driver's seat; it wasn't ideal. This bag now is the 'right' size and fits in the boot. There's space for a water bottle and small 'stuff'.There's two velcro tapes on the outside to hold 'something'. The image shows a night stick, but I think a couple of more choc bars would fit there nicely. There's a top velcro panel for something that announces you're Police, as if the uniform and glow in the dark panda hadn't given that away; plus a small panel to slide a business card in so you recognise your bag.I wouldn't have minded a thin pouch to slide some evidence bags in, but then the boot organiser has loads of them 'organised'.It's a good bag; bit more expensive than the Op Zulu or Tactical Jack ones and maybe not as large. I like 5.11 though and trust it will have my back for a while.

Used daily, is very study l, reliable and loads of space for all of my equipment with enough storage for all types of equipment! Looks good and feels good