Most people who are into firearms and gear appreciate a good backpack. I’m a little embarrassed to say how many different bags and packs I have. But for some reason, I always want more. This strange obsession with backpacks is what led me to the Safariland Shooters Range Backpack.
When I saw it, my first thought was “I don’t have that yet.” It has a unique square-ish shape to it that makes it stand out. So of course, I had to add it to my growing arsenal of bags.
Here is a quick look at the Shooters Range Backpack. I found it to be much more than just a great range tool.
Safariland’s Shooters Range Backpack
The Shooters Range Backpack is on the larger side of what I would call “normal” sizes. It’s definitely made to hold a lot of gear. Currently, it is offered in three colors: black, gray, and tan. I opted for the tan bag when ordering mine.
My first observations when pulling it out of the box were the large, heavy-duty zippers. I don’t really care for some of the zippers used on many packs because they are small and break too easily. Small, dainty zippers are fine for sewing kits. But if you plan to take your pack out in the field, larger, heavy-duty zippers are important to have.
In the description, Safariland lists the material as “ballistic pack cloth construction.” Basically, this is a heavy-duty ballistic nylon material used on the exterior because of its durability.
To me, this is a large backpack when compared to the “average” size backpacks out there. It’s not a monster size, but big enough to fit a lot of gear in. The overall dimensions are approximately 21 inches high, 13 inches wide, and 11 inches deep.
It has padded shoulder straps and a back panel to help make it comfortable to carry. There is a reinforced, lower compartment made for carrying ammunition, which is a cool feature. I don’t have any other bags with places made just for ammo, but I’ll get more into the compartments shortly.
Besides the heavy-duty zippers, there are two on each compartment so you can lock them if needed. The double zippers also make it faster to open.
Compartments
Ok, if you like to have a lot of compartments in your bag, this one will get you excited. If you don’t like lots of compartments in your backpacks, then I don’t know… maybe you need a handbag instead.
Left side compartment
The left side of the Shooters Range Backpack has three compartments on the outside. The largest compartment is at the bottom, and they get a little smaller as they go up. Each compartment “door” has padding inside the material to help protect your gear. The two smallest compartments have elastic straps for anything you may want to strap down.
On the left side of the bag is a large compartment that runs the height of the bag. There is a smaller compartment inside this one with its own zipper, as well. This compartment would be perfect for carrying binoculars, medical gear, rifle mags, or any other larger items you wanted to access quickly.
Top compartment
A large pocket on top is perfect for smaller, quick-access items. This is where I like to keep my phone, wallet, keys, and other small items I want to access quickly. If you’re using it for a range bag, it will hold hearing protection and glasses. Because this pocket is located directly on top of the pack, the center compartment must open from the front, which I kind of like.
Most backpacks open from the top, so you load and unload them like a traditional bag. With access from the front, you can pull items directly from the bottom if you need to.
Ammo storage
As I mentioned above, the very bottom compartment is made for ammo storage. It has internal plastic walls to keep it from collapsing, so you can just reach in and grab what you need.
This compartment is large enough that you can even keep a handgun and extra ammo in there if you want. For those who don’t need to use it for ammo, it’s perfect for keeping food or other items you don’t want smashed by all your other gear.
The bottom of the compartment is covered in felt for any Velcro items you want to attach to it. This will keep things from moving around inside the compartment. Overall, the ammo compartment is about 10 inches wide by four inches high and eight inches deep.
Center compartment
The center compartment is the main compartment of the bag. It opens from the front instead of the top like other backpacks. Because the ammo compartment is underneath this area, it’s not as tall as the bag itself, but still has a lot of room. It measures 10 inches wide, 11 inches tall, and 8 inches deep.
There are three pistol mag pouches inside the walls of the compartment. This is a great feature not just for a range bag, but a multi-purpose bag as well. I can’t think of any type of bag that shouldn’t have some extra ammo and mags.
You can keep a variety of stuff in the center compartment. If you’re going to the range, several pistol cases will fit in this area. But you can also fit clothing or tactical gear in there. My helmet with attached ear pro fits in it perfectly.
There is a small compartment on the inside wall of the “door” to the center compartment that I like to keep extra batteries in.
Back compartment
Like many backpacks, the Shooters Range Backpack has a compartment that covers the entire back of the bag. A zipper opens it from the side, and a handgun can slide into this area.
Of course, you can use it for more than carrying a handgun, but that’s a good spot for one. On one trip, I used it to keep a map, emergency blankets, and other items that are somewhat thin.
What’s cool about this one, however, is that Safariland provides a nice zip-up soft pistol case that comes out of the bag. If you are transporting it and do not want to use it for a quick access gun, the pistol case will hold two handguns. Just zip it up and slide it into the back compartment for secure storage.
Shoulder straps
No matter how good the backpack is, you will end up throwing it in the basement if it’s not comfortable to wear. Especially when it’s loaded down with gear and getting heavy.
The straps on the Shooters Range Backpack are wide and padded, making them comfortable on your shoulders. It has a chest strap that keeps the shoulder straps together while you’re moving around. All the straps are adjustable with quick (sliding) adjustments. There are even some straps sewn onto the shoulder straps for attaching other items if needed.
A range bag that serves another purpose
Don’t get me wrong, this is a great range bag. In fact, it’s about the best range backpack I’ve seen. Most range bags are more of a duffel bag style and get awkward to carry if they have very much gear in them. This backpack makes it easy to carry everything you need for the range on your back, so you still have two hands for you rifle or other gear.
But when you need a bag for other purposes, this thing works just as well. I could easily take this bag on a camping trip and fit everything I need. Having one bag that works for multiple purposes is convenient and saves money.
You can buy the Shooters Range Backpack directly from Safariland for about $229, which isn’t bad for a well-made pack with this much storage.
