Review: LA Police Gear 3 Day Backpack

Thanks to Mike Hastie for this awesome review!!

Looking for a quality pack but don’t want to break the bank?  Look no further than the LA Police Gear 3 Day Backpack.

I’ve waited over a year to submit this review as to put this pack through its paces.  I’ve used this pack for everything – from my race day pack and weekend trips to training hikes and rucks.  Most recently I put the pack through the ultimate test – a GORUCK Challenge – and I was not disappointed.  I truly believe this pack to be the exception to the “you get what you pay for” rule.

Made from 600 Denier Nylon, this pack is as strong as it is versatile.  It comes equipped with dual compression straps that are great for cinching down your load, as well as plenty of MOLLE for any attachable gear you may have.  Personally, I don’t require the amount of MOLLE provided, so I removed a couple strips on the upper pocket and sewed in some Velcro to accommodate my ever-growing collection of patches (see pic).

The padded shoulder straps are extremely comfortable, even under heavy weight.  The main compartment is plenty big (2590 cubic inches) and the 2 outer compartments are also sizable and perfect for keeping your stuff readily accessible.  There’s also a mesh inner pocket.  Additionally, this pack has a removable 2” waist strap, and is also hydration compatible with an inner compartment for your bladder and slot in both shoulder straps for your tubing (very handy if you’re using a Geiggerig pressurized bladder).

The list of cons for this pack is short, and given the price tag, is easily overlooked.

• A Team Mike McNeil teammate of mine had this pack, and developed a slight tear in it after a particularly heavy ruck with unwrapped bricks.  One quick call to Customer Service and a new pack was shipped immediately.  This isn’t exactly a con, but worth noting.
• The zippers – The zippers on this pack are heavy duty, and with that comes a little difficulty of use.  I have found that they do tend to move more freely with use.
• The waist strap – I (along with several other teammates) have noticed that the waist strap tends to loosen with extended wear.  We found a little duct tape on the clasps before heading out works as a quick fix.

All in all, this is a great pack, and in my estimation, can easily stand up there with the name brand packs.  And at 1/10th the price of a GR1, even if you only get 6-12 months out of it, I’d say you got your money’s worth.

http://www.lapolicegear.com/diplomat-3-day-backpack1.html – $30!