The Allhaula line is a new focus for 5.11 Tactical. It’s a more subdued approach to packs and bags. Sort of a gray man look, one might say. They sent over a couple of their offerings for me to check out. Gotta say, I’m impressed.
I’ve lost count of how many backpacks I’ve owned through the years. Most of them were at least somewhat tactical in appearance if not actual function. They were loaded with exterior pockets, MOLLE attachment points, all that fun stuff.
There’s not much of that here with the Allhaula 30L. On the surface, it’s actually quite plain. And y’know what? It works.
Allhaula 30L Size and Materials
The Allhaula 30L Backpack measures 20 inches by 14 inches by 8 inches. This puts it solidly in the airline carry-on column. I didn’t have any big trips on the agenda during my review period for the Allhaula 30L, but rest assured, it’ll be with me the next time I board a plane.
The exterior is TPU-coated 840D nylon. This material consists of a thermoplastic polyurethane membrane that’s been bonded to nylon. The end result is a tough fabric material that’s both waterproof and flexible. My fear upon first seeing the pack was that it would feel cheap, like pleather. That’s not the case at all. It’s smooth to the touch, sure, but not in a flimsy way.
One benefit of this TPU-coated nylon material is that it’s very lightweight. All told, the Allhaula 30L comes in at a bit more than two pounds. That’s fairly light for a 30L backpack, especially one with quality construction.
How Big Is That?
Now, as a practical matter, how big is a 30L pack? Meaning, how much stuff can you realistically carry in it? While it obviously depends on what you’re doing and where you’re going, your mission, for lack of a better term, think about it like this. If you aren’t the type to pack seven pairs of underwear for each day of your trip, you can fit enough clothes to last several days in this backpack. I’ve lived out of a 30L backpack for 4-5 days at a time, though it did require me to wear the same pants more than once. I recommend packing cubes.
Allhaula 30L Features
The Allhaula 30L Backpack is loaded with great details. Let’s start at the front and work our way to the back. Around the perimeter of the pack’s front, there are four small loops for attaching carabiners. They’re subdued, and if you aren’t specifically looking for them, you’ll probably miss seeing them.
Front and center, there’s a section of loop fabric that’s just waiting for your favorite patch. I don’t do much with patches, but don’t let that stop you from adorning this pack with whatever you’d like. Just behind this loop section is a fleece-lined zippered pocket that’s perfect for sunglasses or your phone.
Next is an admin section that runs the entire pack from top to bottom. It has the usual assortment of sleeves and a zippered pocket near the top. But again, you can reach all the way to the bottom of the pack. This is a great place to stuff a lightweight jacket you can pull out if the weather turns when you’re out and about.
The main section opens to about 75% clamshell. This is obviously where you’d pack the bulk of your clothes or gear.
At the rear of the pack is another compartment that houses a laptop sleeve as well as a separate sleeve for either a hydration pouch or a ballistic panel.
A vertical zipper along the right side hides a pocket for a water bottle. This keeps the bottle out of the way as you travel. It will hold up to a 32-ounce Nalgene bottle.
Flipping the pack over, there is a luggage pass-through snuggled between the padding on the back. This is great for when you’re traveling and you want to secure it to your rolling carry-on. The shoulder straps are well-padded and feature a few MOLLE cutouts. A sternum strap helps keep the pack in place as you jog to your next gate at the airport. All of the straps are adjustable.
Backpack Performance
As I mentioned earlier, I didn’t have any flights or other big trips come up while I was evaluating the pack. That said, I loaded it up for several walks and generally played around with it a fair amount over the last few weeks.
I think the Allhaula 30L is a solid contender for anyone looking for a subdued, low-key pack for EDC or traveling. I love that it’s pretty discreet as far as packs go. It has a grab handle at the top and another on the side, making it easy to carry if you don’t have time to strap it on your back or if doing so would hinder your movement. I’m thinking specifically of those high-speed trams used at many airports, where they cram you in like sardines.
The Allhaula 30L is available in three colors – Volcanic (shown), Ensign Blue, and Sage Green.
MSRP: $165
Allhaula Waist Pack
I’m old enough to remember the first time fanny packs were all the rage. Get a couple of drinks into me and I might even confess to having owned and used one or another of them back in the day. Looking back, they were kind of silly, but they served a purpose.
I tell you that to tell you this. The Allhaula Waist Pack isn’t like the fanny packs you might remember. For starters, you don’t need to wear it around your waist. But that’s getting ahead of ourselves.
Waist Pack Size and Construction
This is a 2L pack. It measures about 9 inches by 6 inches by 1 inch. The exterior is the same TPU-coated nylon as the backpack. The belt extends to 50 inches. The heavy-duty plastic buckle is on the side of the pack. The belt has a keeper loop to secure any slack. On each side of the belt, where it attaches to the pack, are MOLLE loops.
2L Waist Pack Features
As we did with the backpack, we’ll go front to back. There is a padded grab handle on the front of the pouch. Honestly, this kind of baffled me. I can’t imagine a situation where this would be truly handy to have. By the very nature of the pack, you’re not likely to be carrying anything heavy or bulky in it that would necessitate such a heavy-duty handle. But, it doesn’t detract from the bag’s use, so no harm, no foul, I suppose.
Just behind that grab handle is a zippered pocket. It’s just big enough for a cell phone, which is what I used it for.
The main compartment opens very wide. Inside, there are several sleeves and interior pockets. One of the hallmarks of 5.11 Tactical’s packs is their organization capabilities, and even this little waist pack doesn’t disappoint in that regard. There’s even a strap with a snap for your keys.
At the back, there is one more zippered pocket that’s slightly larger than the one on the front. It’s a good size for a small map or a notebook and pencil to take notes as you travel.
Allhaula Waist Pack Performance
Here’s the thing. I’m not a big fan of waist packs. Just a personal preference. However, I’ve grown to like sling packs for short hikes and similar adventures. For about a year now, I’ve been using a Carry Commission Bum Bag for that purpose. My wife ended up snagging one of those from me, and she’s been using it for herself.
The Allhaula Waist Pack works in a very similar manner to a crossbody bag, and it’s outstanding. The 2L capacity, coupled with the admin-style organization, allows me to bring along everything I might need on a hike without feeling bogged down.
A typical load out for the waist pack includes a cell phone, spare battery pack, granola bar or other snack, lighter, bandana or other sweat rag, printed trail map, and a few other odds and ends. I love that the main compartment opens wide enough that I can easily see and find anything inside without taking the bag off.
My only real gripe about the Allhaula Waist Pack is with the grab handle. It just seems weird and out of place for a pack this small. But again, it doesn’t really hurt anything with regard to performance. It’s just odd.
The Allhaula Waist Pack is available in Volcanic (shown) or Ensign Blue.
MSRP: $50
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