When it’s time to hit the range, you need a bag that offers convenience, durability, and ultimate organization of your pistols and gear. The 5.11 Tactical Range Ready Pro bag may very well be that bag. This compact carrier offers a slew of amenities. These allow you to focus on your shooting while all your necessities are neatly packed within the bag’s durable shell.
That’s the overall premise of this bag. But I’ll dig deep into it myself to give it either a thumbs-up to purchase or tell you if it’s a definite hard pass.
The Range Ready Pro from 5.11 Tactical
Materials & Construction
Toughness should be the top priority when choosing a bag for the range. This is due to your gear’s weight, which could put stress on the carrier. The Range Ready Pro Bag is constructed of 600D polyester, so durability can be easily checked off. It also offers a polyurethane coating and a durable water repellent finish for added protection from the outdoor elements.
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Its toughness continues with my personal favorite, YKK zippers, and they are fully lockable. I’ve suffered from good bags going bad in the past, with broken zippers early on during their use. Even without loading it to the brim, I determined its durability appeared to be spot-on.
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Everything Except the Kitchen Sink
They say good things come in small packages (small, in relation to larger rifle carry bags), and the Range Ready Pro is no exception, with obvious and not-so-obvious amenities. Examining it inside and out, I definitely noticed the padding throughout, which is critical to keep gear well protected.
I liked its clamshell front zippered pocket. This feature offered multiple elastic magazine holders and a secondary zippered compartment for slim items. Its padded main compartment was large enough to house two pistols. Additional features included a removable MOLLE paneled divider, rear zippered pockets, external MOLLE panels, and a large front slip pocket.
It was a delight to explore all the Range Ready Pro had to offer. Believe me, it was a lot more than I initially realized.
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Ease of Carry
Ease of carry is a category that usually doesn’t get top billing, but here it should be, since it travels back and forth with you regularly. The Range Ready Pro offers two options for hauling: its top grab handle and shoulder strap. I don’t like any handle or strap that is too thin, weak, or puts a strain on your body, and luckily, this pack doesn’t exhibit any of those things.
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Its top grab handle is beefy and solid to hold. It doesn’t cut into your palm or fingers like inferior bags often do. The shoulder strap was padded, which is an instant plus, and it felt comfortable over my shoulder, as well as a cross-body carry. The strap was fully adjustable, and once I found my sweet spot, the Range Ready Pro shifted minimally as I moved about.
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In-Use Observations
The Range Ready Pro, though loaded with features, wasn’t bogged down by any of them. They didn’t get in the way of me getting to my gear fast and easily. Sometimes ease-of-use is sacrificed with feature overload, but not here. Each pocket or zippered compartment served a purpose but didn’t detract from its primary function of holding and accessing your gear.
Its large, roomy main compartment and front clamshell pockets allowed instant retrieval of everything I needed. The large YKK zippers were easily accessible and offered rapid opening of all zippered compartments.
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Load It Up, or Leave It?
In my opinion, the Range Ready Pro 19L bag is a great investment (only $96.00) for long-term protection and carry of your pistols and gear. This bag offers the perfect balance between useful features, easy toting back and forth, and durability during regular urban carry.
Its compact design will allow it to store without issue, and its dual carry options offer versatility for your needs. So, it’s time to load it up and hit the range.
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