Lightning Review: 5.11 Range Ready Bag – Good to Go
There are range “bags” that are designed to hold gear and then there are “range bags” that beg to be hauled and mauled. The 5.11 Range Ready Bag is the latter, now having stood up to my grueling usage for over six months with nary an issue. So what makes it so good?
Note: The review is over a personally owned bag purchased by my wife as a Christmas gift. It has been used for any and all shooting trips since then. As a writer and 3-gun shooter, I go to the range often with an eclectic mix of tools and lots of ammunition.
Simply put, the bag is well made. Yes, its made overseas, but someone took the time to choose good materials and more importantly to sew the thing with enough of good thread to keep it together. While I have not weighed my typical load, it has easily carried over 50 lbs of guns and gear without snapping, ripping or tearing. My previous range bag (a repurposed Tumi bag), was utterly destroyed under similar conditions.
The bag itself is a system of three components:
- The main outer shell w/ 18″ x 10″ x 9″ main compartment
- Removable 16″ x 7″ x 6″ insert
- Mesh brass holder
The main compartment is accessed through a dual-zipper top flap revealing open space with two vertical storage spaces running parallel. On the end of the bag is a large GP pouch and on the mirror end is a skinnier pouch with a bottle holder (great for 4 oz. CLP). The sides of the bag are either two equal-sized GP pouches and a purpose-built magazine pouch running the entire length of the bag. The magazine pouch can hold 8 double-stack magazines or 20 single-stacks (some can fit three).
Between the pouches, I am able to keep my entire range kit nice and organized. Contained within is enough supplies for three people to shoot with glasses and electronic ears and ammunition for the hungry guns. Despite the constant usage, the bag has not worn, torn, or otherwise failed.
Fully Loaded, I have at least the following it:
- 50x 8 1/2″ x 11″ Targets
- 200 12 Gauge Shells
- 500 Pistol Rounds
- 200 Rifle Rounds
- 2 Sets of Electronic Hearing Muffs & Disposable “Softies”
- 4 Sets of Shooting Glasses
- LULA Loaders for Pistols & Rifles
- CLP
- Clearning Kit
- Unjamming Rod
- 8x Extra Pistol Magazines
- Staple-Gun w/ Staples
- Knee Pad
- Gloves
- Water
- etc.
The 5.11 Range Ready Bag is listed for a retail of $109.99 with samples available through major online retailers ranging from $100-145. The bag is also available in “Sandstone” Tan. My wife found mine on special with a 5.11 pistol bag for under $75 during the Holidays. You may be able to find similar layout bags black-labeled. Members of my 3-gun team have copies of the bag made by either Midway (which has ripped) and Brownell’s (which has survived so far).
The 5.11 Range Ready Bag is a good buy. It hauls everything you ask it to without issue and has a convenient layout designed for shooters. I love mine, but I really wish she found it in Tan. As a Marine, I dislike black!
OVERVIEW:
- Highly functional pistol range bag
- Segregated, padded storage for multiple pistols
- Drop-down front flap stores 8 magazines
- Removable ammo and brass totes
- Integrated hydration storage
- Accessory pockets sized for optics and ear protection
- Reinforced grab-and-go handles
SPECIFICATIONS:
- Durable, all-weather 600D polyester
- Range bag measures 10” H x 21” L x 14” D
- Removable padded shoulder strap
- YKK® zipper hardware
- hook and loop fastener grab handle unifier
Gallery: Note- The bag was not fully loaded during the photo session. The pictures were taken at the end of a range day.
One of TFB's resident Jarheads, Nathan now works within the firearms industry. A consecutive Marine rifle and pistol expert, he enjoys local 3-gun, NFA, gunsmithing, MSR's, & high-speed gear. Nathan has traveled to over 30 countries working with US DoD & foreign MoDs.The above post is my opinion and does not reflect the views of any company or organization.
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The 5.11 Range Ready Bag is NOT the same as the Midway bag. They look the same and the pattern is almost identical, but they are not the same bag re-branded. The materials in the 5.11 bag are more robust, the seams are better sewn, and the size is actually different. Both the 5.11 and Midway bags are direct copies of the Shooters Connection range bag. The difference there is the SC bag is made in the USA with better materials. SC bag costs more, but that's the price for buying domestic.
I own all three. They are not the same.
I couldn't agree more -- 5.11 Tactical is a premier brand and I use them exclusively for additional range bags. You did a nice job really outlining the bag and taking great pictures. It really shows off the bags storage and usability. http://www.bestrangebag.com...