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. Going hiking? Just use the laptop sleeve for a hydration bladder(without the laptop of course). Just feed the hose out through the zippered opening on the top of the bag. Bonus: The Hidden Stash More questions? Here’s Task & Purpose’s additional brief. Q. How much does the Mystery Ranch Urban Assault cost? 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.

Mystery Ranch Urban Assault 21 | Valhalla Tactical and Outdoor Mystery Ranch Urban Assault 21 | Valhalla Tactical and Outdoor

The laptop sleeve is large enough to fit any 15” laptop, which is great.And, there is a webbing strap with a Velcro strip that ensures that the laptop stays safely in its sleeve, even if you decide to do a handstand with the Urban Assault on your shoulders. 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 LogoIt carries weight great up to 7,5kg or more if you go shopping after work with a loptop and accessories. While researching thousands of durable products here at WellRigged.com one thing has become abundantly clear. Let me put it this way… 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. We’ve still been comfortable enough keeping our laptop inside as is, given the support from the frame sheet and the significant suspension of the sleeve from the bottom of the bag. The laptop compartment has a nice false bottom. Both of these features keep our tech protected when it’s getting shuffled around on our commute or if (when) we accidentally drop it.

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

This is still true, but I could have taken it further. Because that undersells this bag. What I Liked Second Time Around There is enough organization on this bag to be very useful, but not enough to make the bag overly structured or less versatile. Just right. 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 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.

You can use the laptop sleeve for a hydration bladder, but there’s not a dedicated hole for the tube to go through. 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 Urban Assault 21L Review | Tested by GearLab

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. Useless fact of the day: 1 Denier is based on the weight of a 9km(5.59 mi) long strand of natural silk. You also have a sleeve in front of this one for your tablet or e-reader if you carry one with you, although we’ve been using it as a spot for a keyboard. We’ll give the same explanation as we did for the laptop: you can be confident that when your tech is in this sleeve, it’s safe and secure from unexpected drops. 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. Pulling on the top cinch straps allows you to adjust the height and fit of the harness system. Sternum strap

Materials & Aesthetic

The Urban Assault 24 makes a light and nimble “go bag.” It sits high and snug and there is no need for a hip belt.

Mystery Ranch Urban Assault 21 Review: Is It Worth It? Mystery Ranch Urban Assault 21 Review: Is It Worth It?

Generally: this bag does enough right to make it good, without going so far overboard that the bag forces itself to a niche user base. What I Don’t Love 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 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. If you want a bit more access, there’s the third, vertical zipper. It opens up the main compartment fully and helps you get to the things at the bottom of the main compartment in a matter of seconds.

Toyota does this, and the Urban Assault 24 is an example of this process at work as well. It’s roots are in the 2 Day Assault BVS and a further refinement to Mystery Ranch’s bestselling Urban Assault 21. I think the Urban Assault 24 is a significant improvement over the 21. Durable, well-design products are painstakingly developed over time and multiple production cycles. They are refined through systematic testing and careful incremental improvements. And the reason I did this is because I might have underrated the Urban Assault 21 initially — this bag is stealthy good. Each of those are minor gripes about the bag, and I could see many people arguing that the bag is better because of how it is right now, I am sure adding any of these would increase costs. They would make for a nicer setup though. 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?