Mystery Ranch Unisex Urban Assault 21 Backpack

Product Information

It’s more comfortable than some of the other cheaper Mystery Ranch bags I have tried, and more comfortable than the Fixed 1 Day Assault I reviewed. It works well. This bag is more of a hybrid between urban and outdoor use and style, but different colorways bring out different vibes. The more muted shades fit the citified aesthetic, while a colorway like Wood Waxed or Coyote feels more outdoorsy. Of course, what you choose all depends on your preferences! Mystery Ranch Urban Assault 21 Material and Logo I am not 100% sure if this is an intentional design feature (Mystery Ranch does not mention it anywhere), but it certainly is a useful one. The ability to attach a water bottle to the shoulder strap and always have easy access to it suddenly makes this a great option for hiking. The 5.11 Wingman Patrol Bag is the perfect companion for any highway patrol officer, sheriff or frequent traveller. It is designed to keep your gear safe and secure while you’re on the go, with a specialised strap that fastens around your car seat so it won’t shift or move as you drive.

Mystery Ranch Urban Assault 21L review (3 zips, unique look Mystery Ranch Urban Assault 21L review (3 zips, unique look

We’ve taken this bag all around Michigan and Minnesota throughout our testing cycle. Head down below to read about our experience! Materials & Aesthetic The Urban Assault 24 is an upgraded version of the popular Urban Assault 21. Along with the signature 3-Zip design, it adds more capacity, a direct-access laptop sleave, oodles more organization and external water bottle holsters. The bag’s sternum strap is secured to nylon straps on each shoulder strap and can easily be moved up and down to wherever it offers the most support. The sternum strap’s hardware is also equipped with a bungee cord you can use to secure the hose of a water bladder so it’s not flailing around as you walk. I can’t even begin to count the amount of bags I have tested since 2017 — but it’s been a lot. In testing this bag again it’s only become more clear to me how well thought out the Urban Assault 21 is. It won’t work for everyone, but it will work for more people than the GR1.I undervalued it before, but never again. This is an excellent bag, and if you are left wanting in other bags like the GR1, take a look at this one — it will likely fill the void for you. It’s finding its way to my office more and more these days. Does anyone have experience with these bags? Did you consider the same alternatives? If so, why did you choose the one you did? Have you been happy with that choice and/or would you choose one of the other models? Looking at the shoulder straps first, they’re densely padded with spongey mesh that helps cushion your shoulders—it’s comfortable enough for more extended wear. We’re also thankful for the air mesh lining that helps keep us well-ventilated. Our only wish is for some elastic keepers to manage the excess strap, but it’s not a deal-breaker by any means. This is an easy aftermarket addition by using something like the Tom Bihn Strap Keepers or MacGyvering something up with VELCRO Brand Cable Ties. Mystery Ranch Urban Assault 21 Harness System Plenty of thought has gone into the Urban Assault 24’s design. For instance, to remain stealthy, the Urban Assault uses paracord zipper pulls instead of noisy metal tags. Also, every zipper has a webbing loop sowed to the ends to serve as counter-grips to grab onto while zipping and unzipping. Benefits of the 3-Zip Design Mystery Ranch’s Signature 3-Zip design

Mystery Ranch Unisex Urban Assault 21 Backpack (pack of 1)

This is the unique part of the Urban Assault. The 3-ZIP design means you can open just the top or zip down the whole bag like a duffel. One addition that you don’t see on the UA24 is the line of PALS webbing located on the bottom of the UA21. You can clip carabiners here or attach other MOLLE accessories if desired. And like we mentioned earlier, those nylon loop zipper tabs do have an opening in the middle if you want to clip anything through those. Unlike the smaller Urban Assault 21, the 24 has a compartment with direct exterior access. That saves a whole lot of digging around when you’re on the move.There are also small nylon tabs located at the end of each zipper that you can hold onto with one hand to keep the bag sturdy, while you use the other to glide the zippers open and closed. We like this thoughtful addition and have found that it helps make for an effortless zip every time. Plus, you can use those nylon tabs to fasten additional gear with a carabiner in a pinch.

Mystery Ranch UA 21, UA 24, or 2DAP for Travel and Trail Mystery Ranch UA 21, UA 24, or 2DAP for Travel and Trail

Although it is slim it reaches the full depth of the bag. I’d suggest using a document folder to prevent bent document edges when you put the bag down. Bonus: Hydration Bladder Compatible And it is also removable– a good option to have if you don’t actually like sternum straps. You’re okay without it if you’re going to school or work. Mystery Ranch uses extremley high-quality, heavyweight fabrics for the Urban Assault (and a lot of their products). These will take a beating and shed water easily. I found the Urban Assault 24 exceptionally comfortable for day hiking. The water beaded off the fabric in light rain and my camera always stayed bone dry. Cordura” is a nylon fabric brand originally developed by Dupont and widely respected as an industry-standard in ultra-durable nylon fabrics ( source).Consider its size. It’s small enough to be accepted as a carry-on in any airplane, and it’s much more convenient for short trips than a suitcase. You can fit enough clothes for a couple of days in the main compartment, in addition to all your tech. The “ D” in “500D stands for”Denier.” It’s a standard unit of measurement in the textile industry for measuring the weight of certain fabrics. The design itself is very serviceable too. Even the internal frame sheet can be removed for deep-cleaning or replacement. Features of the Urban Assault 24 500D Cordura Fabric 500D Cordura This versatile bag is designed to fit in your passenger seat and functions as an essential tool kit, organiser, and tactical bag all in one so you can easily reach everything you need. The top pouch of the Urban Assault holds small, easy-to-access items. It’s protected by a watertight zipper, as you can see here. That’s coupled with the crazy durable 500D Cordura fabric. The size makes it easy to store lots of items, but then it’s hard to sort through those items well. The zipper is also quite hard to open with a single hand.

Mystery Ranch Urban Assault 21 Backpack (Review) 2021 - Task

I would love for the laptop area to be accessible externally as it is on the 2 Day Assault. Not a huge deal, but would be nice, I am sure this would add to the cost.

One Modification

This is still true, but I could have taken it further. Because that undersells this bag. What I Liked Second Time Around Another interesting thing about the shoulder straps is the daisy chain. I’m not completely sure if it was intended as an attachment point for additional gear, but you can always improvise with a carabiner. Perfect if you need to carry something bulky around, and don’t want to carry it in your hands. Sternum Strap Useless fact of the day: 1 Denier is based on the weight of a 9km(5.59 mi) long strand of natural silk.