The Vertx Ready Pack is my favorite backpack. There, I said it. Now that the superlative declaration is out of the way, let’s delve deeper into why it’s my favorite.
I’ve been running the Ready Pack for about two months. That includes walking the 14 miles of SHOT Show aisles for four days in January, not to mention Monday’s Range Day. So, I think I have a good handle on this pack, and why I think you’ll like it too.
Vertx makes quality gear, accessories, clothing, and a complete line of packs. Their products are impressive, and their staff is fantastic. I think I dropped by the Vertx booth every day at SHOT Show just to look at different things and think about how to customize my Ready Pack.
And it is customizable. Vertx offers all kinds of accessories to make your Ready Pack, or any Vertx pack, your very own. Let’s look closer at the Ready Pack and how it can work for you.
Vertx Ready Pack Specs
We’ll hit the basic dimensions and capacity, then jump into the Ready Pack’s features.
- Outside Dimensions: 19” High x 11.5” Wide x 7.5” Deep
- Concealed Carry Compartment: 16.5” High x 11” Wide x 2” Deep
- Capacity: 20 Liters
Vertx Ready Pack Features
The Ready Pack’s features show how much thought the company puts into its products. This pack was clearly designed by people who run backpacks and understand what their customers want.
The design also shows that Vertx understands gear and firearm carry, accessibility, and deployment. You can set up your Ready Pack pretty much however you want based on your needs and priorities, not someone else’s. The Velcro loop-lined compartments discussed below are part of the Vertx Tactigami system, which allows the customization.
Dedicated Compartments
The Ready Pack is divided into five compartments. The large main compartment features a rear elastic pouch that can hold a 15-inch laptop, a ballistic plate, or anything else you might want. The pouch is held tight by a modular top retention strap.
But wait, there’s more! The Ready Pack includes pass-through channels for water lines or comms wires. You can stash your hydration gear or comms right in that pouch and you’re good to go.
The main compartment’s front wall has a smaller zippered pouch with an interior lanyard hook. Velcro lines the entire compartment, front and back, except inside the zippered pouch and the outside of the large elastic pouch.
The front flap’s main feature is a large, low-profile Velcro MOLLE panel for secure gear storage. This area isn’t as roomy as the main compartment, but there’s still plenty of space. Two smaller zippered pockets attach to the front flap, as on many other backpacks.
The larger pouch’s back wall is Velcro-lined, and the smaller pouch features a diagonal zipper for easier access. Each side boasts an elastic water bottle pouch capable of holding large and small bottles. They have drawstrings and attachment points for greater security.
The rear concealed carry compartment is large enough for most handguns, holsters, extra magazines, or pretty much whatever you might want. Large handguns like the Beretta 92 or 1911 will fit easily with room to spare. The Velcro-lined rear wall has some rigidity, facilitating an easier draw.
I was a little skeptical of how well the loop would secure my heavier guns, but the system’s performance removed any doubt. Small guns, large guns, retention holsters, you name it. My guns and holsters stay in place, and I can draw confidently.
Is it Durable?
Yes, it is. The Ready Pack is built to last, with bonded nylon thread throughout. The critical seams and attachment points are bar-tacked for extra strength and resilience. The wide, padded shoulder straps, combined with the waist and chest straps, distribute the load, reducing stress on any one area, effectively extending the pack’s life. Sometimes you can feel quality. I feel it in the Ready Pack.
Ready Pack Comfort
I don’t know how many miles I walked at SHOT Show. It was a lot. Six to eight hours per day, for four straight days. Plus, Range Day. I’m not built for that. But the Ready Pack is. My feet were killing me, but I sometimes forgot the pack was there until I turned and bumped something. I admit I didn’t have a heavy load, but I had supplies for the day, including a laptop, snacks, and extra water bottles. Not to mention the free loot and product catalogs I accumulated on my travels.
The shoulder straps are the most comfortable I’ve ever used. The textured material keeps them from slipping, supplemented by the connecting chest strap. The weight was well-distributed, and I never felt unbalanced or sore in any particular spot.
I didn’t use the waist straps at SHOT Show, but I do use them when I carry a handgun in the concealed carry compartment. Those straps lock the Ready Pack in place, adding to my positive drawstroke. And you can roll up the chest and waist straps when they’re not in use. I love that.
The foam back panel is 3D-molded with extra padding for your shoulder blades and lower back. I didn’t really need the padding, but you can tell it’s there. I added more weight in later testing and the back plate is very nice. The only very small downside is I noticed I sweated more under the extra padding since it doesn’t breathe as well. But if that’s all I can complain about…you get the picture.
Accessories
Vertx offers a wide range of Tactigami accessories. The Ready Pack comes with a Double Admin Pouch, with loop material and elastic cords. I have it in the main compartment. I’ve used it for flashlights, first aid items, and even my favorite throwing hawk. Actually, it’s my only throwing hawk, but whatever. I just wanted to see how that worked.
It worked great, but I don’t carry my tomahawk around because it’s not legal to conceal. But I would if I could. I added a pen and light holder in a front pouch, and mag carriers and a holster attachment in the concealed carry compartment.
Adjustable Accessibility and Security
The Ready Pack is very secure and very accessible. Those may sound strange together, but it’s true.
Security first. The pack has several outside attachment points to secure anything you might need. I’ve attached small carabiners to hold in water bottles and a small first aid kit. The main compartment, front flap, and concealed carry compartment can be locked, thanks to the Gatekeeper G-Hooks built into the zippers. They can accept a small lock if desired. My TSA luggage locks work perfectly. It’s a nice feature.
But the Ready Pack is easily accessible too. Again, much thought went into this pack, and you can set it up pretty much however you like. The main compartment has a Hot-Pull tab at the top. One yank and the whole thing opens for quick access. But you don’t have to enable that tab. Just leave it inside if you don’t want or need that capability.
The zippers aren’t just secure, they’re also designed for easy grasping, with extended tabs attached to lanyards. You won’t be fumbling for small zippers on this pack. There’s also one 5-inch Rapid Access Tab for maximum certainty. You’ll know what you’re grasping with this thing. You can attach it to whichever zipper you want. Mine is on the concealed carry compartment’s “down” zipper. It makes accessing my firearm much easier and more positive. It took just a little practice to reliably grasp it the first time, every time.
One More Thing
This may sound superfluous, but I promise it’s not. I love the Ready Pack’s interior shade. Bear with me on this. I’m the most disorganized guy I know. But the Ready Pack helps with that. One big way it helps is that the compartment interiors are colored light grey instead of black or whatever like my other packs. I can actually see everything in those compartments. I never would have thought such a small thing could make such a difference, but it does.
Various items are inevitably loose at the bottom. That’s just how I roll. But at least I can see them now. The coloring is a very big deal to me, and just one more indication of how much thought went into the Ready Pack.
My Favorite Backpack
I already said that the Vertx Ready Pack is my favorite backpack, like, ever. That’s no exaggeration. I’m not a professional backpacker, nor do I play one on TV. But most everyone needs a backpack sometimes. I’ve never run a pack this comfortable or well-organized. I wish I’d had it last year when I was tramping around the hills and jungles on Guadalcanal. No doubt it would have performed very well indeed. I had a good pack for that trip, but it wasn’t this good.
My other packs might share a feature or two with the Ready Pack, but none of them have all the features. You have to love how much thought and effort went into this pack. The Ready Pack is my first Vertx product, but it won’t be my last.
