Internal Compartments

Flap map pocket - Inside the flap is a full-sized 14" x 11" map pocket with clear marine-grade vinyl. The zipper entrance is on the side.

Main Compartment- The main compartment of the DMB measures approximately 15" x 12" x 5", seam to seam. The inside front and sides are lined completely with loop velcro for attaching and organizing velcro-compatible accessories. It's also a convenient location to store the front flap velcro cover.

Map pocket inside flap

Internal compartment

Velcro lined main compartment

Velcro cover stored inside

Laptop compartment - The main compartment has a padded laptop compartment against the back panel. It should fit most 15" screen laptops, and is contoured so it'll accommodate the thickness of the laptop. It's lined with black velcro-compatible material, so if you choose to put velcro accessories in the laptop compartment, you can do so.

Front Organizer 'Drawbridge' pockets - There are two 7.5" wide x 9.5" tall x 2.5" deep organizer pockets on the front of the bag, under the main flap. They're called 'drawbridge' pockets as they open up like the drawbridge across a castle moat. 550 paracord with a cord lock is used to adjust how much the pocket opens. The zippers open completely across the top and down the sides so that the pocket panel can lay flat. The 550 cord is routed through loops and channels on the pocket flap, and loops on the main body. The channel on the flap is reinforced with HDPE which adds stiffness across the top of the flap, so it doesn't fold in half when open. That's a nice detail touch.

Both pockets have a large rear slot pocket against the bag body, and two expandable magazine pouches with elastic retention. These will hold two M4 mags or one AK mag each. They'll also hold flash-bangs, notebooks or anything else that will fit. I like these pockets a lot. The elastic can be used to hold flash lights, chemlights etc,

The left pocket flap interior is set up as an admin pouch, and has one large slot pocket. Two smaller slot pockets are sewn to it, with large elastic loops on the outside and two small elastic loops inside. I think that this pocket layout is one of the most practical I've seen in a bag.

The right pocket flap has a loop velcro field for velcro-compatible accessories. There's also a keychain lanyard D-ring on a length of webbing sewn above the main slot pocket on the body. It's also possible to mount a full sized handgun in this pocket.

Hidden pocket - The DMB also has a hidden/secret pocket for holding documents or other items that the owner doesn't want readily discovered. The location of the hidden pocket is only disclosed to those purchasing the bag, so I won't disclose it here either. The pocket entrance is well concealed and is unlikely to be found. Depending on the items hidden inside, and the tenacity of the person performing the search, it's still possible to feel the items and try to discover how they're contained, so be aware of that.

General Impression and Notes - As a designer, it's sometimes difficult to remain unbiased when evaluating someone else's designs. I designed the EMDOM TNT Bag for a similar role to that the ITS Discreet Messenger Bag, and decided against a messenger bag design because of the flap. I felt that the flap limits speed of access to the bag, and wanted to enable each compartment to be accessed without having to unbuckle a flap, lift it out of the way (and keep it out of the way) while items were retrieved or inserted. Another reason was that a messenger bag flap doesn't 'seal in' the contents as well as a zipper, as there's always going to be a potential opening at both ends at the top. Knowing this, however, the user can pack accordingly, and ensure that small, loose items are stowed in the zippered pockets.

However, I do realize that not everyone has the same taste in style, and that some prefer the look of the messenger bag style. Having the flap also conceals whatever pocket layout is underneath, and offers a measure of security for the covered pockets at the expense of some convenience of access. Depending on the situation however, that might not be an issue. Also, the messenger bag style is very common as most laptop cases are similarly styled, so it blends in discreetly in all public venues. So, I thought about what I'd do if I adapted the TNT bag to a messenger bag style, and I came to conclusion that it would have many of the same features as the DMB.

The DMB is very well made - quality of the stitching and workmanship is excellent. Something with this level of detail and features is defintely not cheap to produce in limited quantities; something I can attest to with my struggles to get the EMDOM TNT bag made under a target price point. My main use of the DMB was as my EDC bag (I normally use my TNT bag or Arc'Teryx Blade 21 pack), in which I carry my basic work stuff (breakfast, a canned drink or bottle, planner, documents, etc), along with some 'emergency' items like flashlights, tools etc. I ride a motorcycle to work about half the time, so I need to be a little more equipped than when driving a car. It's also one of the reasons a waist belt is important to me, as it prevents the bag from swinging around to the front. It's essential for me to keep the bag stable and planted on my back. Easy access to the contents is also a key factor for me, as taking a bag on and off while wearing a bulky armoured motorcycle jacket isn't desirable, especially when I'm carrying my helmet in one hand. I found myself using the exterior flap pockets my most of my frequently needed items (keys, badge, phone, sunglasses), as I didn't have to unbuckle and lift up the flap to access them. The larger of the two flap pockets was also big enough to carry quite a bit in addition to the main bag compartment and I had to stop myself from being lazy and overloading it.

Being a fabric bag, the DMB can hold quite a lot of stuff as you can 'stuff it out' until it bulges out. On cold mornings, I wear my Arc'teryx Atom LT jacket under my motorcycle jacket, but it gets warmer in the afternoons and I usually stow it inside my bag. There was more than enough room to stuff it in there; even the bulkier Atom AF on occasion.

I did question ITS about having the pistol compartment against the body, as I found rear-located pistol compartments more difficult to access when wearing the bag as the weight of the bag presses against the body. Not impossible; just a bit more difficult. ITS replied that if the user didn't want to mount a pistol in that compartment, the velcro-lined front drawbridge pocket can carry a handgun which can be accessed by positioning the zippers so that one opens to the front. That way, the handgun can be accessed without lifting up the flap. A small frame weapon would be able to fit in there horizontally. The one thing I'd caution about doing that is to ensure that the drawbridge 550 cord is routed or tucked in so as not to snag or interfere with the draw of the gun.

The size and interrnal layout of the two drawbridge pockets are probably the most practical I've come across on this type of bag. The two elasticized magazine pockets are a great size for a variety of items (wish I'd have put them in the TNT bag front pockets). The admin layout in the left pocket is also very practical, with its small slot pockets and elastic loops. I didn't use the velcro field in the right-side pocket, as the sewn-in layout accommodated all that I carried. The drawbridge pockets are deeper than they look, and like the main bag, can be stuffed out with a ton of items. While I wouldn't recommend it, It's entirely possible to load the DMB up so it looks like you've got a duffle bag under your arm rather than a messenger bag. But, it's nice to know that you can do it if you need to.

The one small thing I'd like to see on the DMB is to somehow make the main shoulder strap ambidextrous for right or left shoulder carry, so that the emergency release buckle can always be positioned at the front, and some sort of pull tab be incorporated into the triglide so it's easier to adjust the length of the strap when the bag is being worn. This desire comes only from my use with it on the motorcycle. As I mentioned before, I wear a bulky motorcycle jacket that has armour in the shoulders, back, elbows etc. I have to lengthen the strap to don the bag, then shorten it so that the bag rides up on my back vs. hanging down at my side.

I found the ITS Tactical Discreet Messenger Bag a very well made and thought out tactically oriented messenger-style bag. I'm certain that its practical features will be appreciated by those who are looking for a bag like this. When partially loaded, it retains its slim profile for every day use, but still retains the ability to swell when needed. It doesn't hurt that it's a great-looking piece of nylon. For the story of how the ITS Discreet Messenger Bag was conceived, visit this page at ITS.

I've been using mine mainly for loaded rifle magazines in my range bag. It's just more convenient and organized than putting mags in my EMDOM Ammo SAC, so I'm using the SAC for loose ammo now.

Bottle Holster - This is HPG's Bottle Holster, sold separately. It's designed for the USGI 1-qt canteen. It will not fit the standard 1 qt Nalgene bottle. It mounts directly to PALS webbing with it's integrated mounting system. At the top of the holster are two tab loops with metal sliders. The sliders are inserted through the top of a row of PALS webbing, then the holster is flipped down and secured on each side with siamese slik clips. It's a surprisingly solid mounting scheme. While the HPG website states that it takes three channels of PALS, it can actually fit on three or four, as the tabs are spaced 3" apart. I've shown it below using four channels. The canteen can be removed and secured with one hand, as the thin padding helps give the holster shape. It can also be used as a wand pocket for mountaineering wands (not the Harry Potter kind) for packs that don't have one.

Bungy cord retainer

Rear view

With canteen

Attaching the top to PALS

Attached using slik clips

General Impression and Notes - This is the first product I've examined made by First Spear, and quality is very good. As mentioned above, this particular pack was a pre-production sample, and for some reason the oversized metal sliders on the top tabs and compression straps were used by mistake, so note that when you look at the photos.

The main compartment is roomy enough to carry food, snacks, a light jacket (if you don't want to strap it on the bottom), camera; but small enough that the smaller items don't get completely lost. Internal organization is less important than in a larger pack. I would, however, like to see a couple of common loops sewn inside the top of the main compartment like on Kifaru packs, for hanging a small chamber pocket for keys, phone etc. If an internal pocket is really needed, it's a simple matter to attach a pouch or pocket to the hydration hang loop inside and pull it out when needed. I've illustrated one of Kifaru's Pullouts for this purpose, attached with a slik clip.

The compression straps keep canteens in the side pockets quite secure, and as long as you're not going upside down, Nalgene bottles shouldn't slip out either. I was originally a bit concerned as there's no elastic tension to keep bottles there, but the compression straps, if snugged up, are fine. The shoulder harness (once I was told how to adjust the ride height), is probably the most comfortable setup I used on this size pack (and actually, larger ones as well). It follows the contours of my shoulders without any binding or pinching under the arms/armpits, with unimpeded mobility of the arms.

Mini-MM

I've only used the Tarahumara as a stand-alone pack, but I did rig it up on another pack to check it out. It'd make a great 'auxiliary pack' to attach to a larger pack. It's light enough to be used as an external pocket, yet is much more functional and comfortable than just an external add-on pocket. Since the Tarahumara pack evolved from a hydration bag, it's simple by design; with its single main compartment and lack of small organizer pockets. Depending on what you carry with you on a daily basis, this may or may not make it suitable for EDC (Every Day Carry); if you're expecting to use it like a computer or messenger bag with lots of different compartments for your electronic paraphernalia. But when used for its intended purpose, AWAY from the office, it performs very well.

• Total capacity: 1178 cu in.
• Front side entry compartment - the front compartment covers the entire front of the pack, and has a zipper on the left side. The commpartment has a tapered shape, and measures approximately 14" tall x 8" wide x 3" deep (at the bottom). It tapers to about 2" deep at the top.
• External webbing - on the front of the pack are 3 rows x 4 columns of PALS webbing for attaching additional pockets or accessories. On each side are 3 rows x 4 columns of PALS as well.
• Velcro patch - a 3" x 5" loop velcro patch is located at the top front of the pack.
• Carry/grab handle - this is a simple grab handle made out of 1.5" wide webbing.
• Stowable padded shoulder straps - the shoulder straps are contoured and lightly padded, with a removable sternum strap attached. The sternum strap can be adjusted up or down. Each shoulder pad has a D-ring, and an elastic loop for hydration tube of comm cable routing. The shoulder straps have quick release SR buckles. The straps can be disconnected and stowed inside the hydration pocket. There are openings on the sides at the bottom for the lower straps to be inserted.
• Covered top port for routing of comm gear - Under the grab handle is a velcro-closed flap which covers a slit through which a hydration tube or comm cables can be routed. This is for a second hydration bladder or antenna port for an ASIPS or PRC-117G radio.

General Impression and Notes - My first reaction when handling the packs right out of the package for the first time was 'Hmm...they're very light and pretty small'. This was deceiving as they were shipped flat, of course. Upon stuffing them, they expanded into larger packs than they first appeared to be.

The main compartment opening is angled towards the top front of the pack (looking from the side), so that when you open up the pack, it's easier to access the contents. The pleated divider between the main compartment and hydration pocket is great - as is the use of the blaze orange in the LAP. While the bladder in the hydration pocket does encroach on the space in the main compartment, it's more comfortable on the back as the pack conforms better than it would normally.

The front pocket is also surprisingly spacious, such that I'd love to see a couple of dividers or slot pockets inside for organization of smaller items. But, at the very reasonable price for these packs, it's a nitpick. When mounted to a armoured vest, it should be noted that the stability of the LRAP is only as good as the platform it's attached to. It's common sense, but adding load to the rear of a rig can of course pull it down at the back, so care should be taken to balance the load. Also note that when direct-attaching the LRAP to a rig, you'll need a buddy to detach and attach the pack for you or access the contents, unless you take your armour off. The direct-attach role is intended to be used in a team environment, much like rear plate-mounted vest pouches. If frequent access is not required, the LRAP can be configured as an E&E or sustainment pack, that can be quickly detached should the armoured vest be ditched. The stowed shoulder straps would then be unstowed for stand-alone use of the pack.

I've been using the LAP and LRAP for my daily commute to and from work on my motorcycle, as well as for general use on the weekends, and they're very handily-sized packs for that kind of use. They don't have a lot of bits and pieces sticking out or hanging from them, so they're relatively streamlined. They're really versatile, and make great day packs, assault packs, hydration packs, airplane carry-on packs or EDC packs.