AllOutdoor Review – G.P.S. Tactical Range Backpack
Travis Olander 05.04.23
Summer’s here! So, I put a new range backpack to the test. This review dives into why I like the GPS Tactical Range Backpack, and what it’s best for. Today’s review dives into the big features, the small details, and how it handled my load-out with some pistols, ammo, equipment, and magazines. I captured some pictures to show off the important stuff and give my personal take below.
GPS Tactical Range Backpack at a Glance
The Short n’ Sweet: This range backpack’s a sort of hybrid bag designed for the pistol shooter who has a slight case of OCD (or maybe you just like being very organized). It carries a lot of ammo and weight like a duffel, has removable compartments for your pistols and gear, it’s weatherproof, and it’s comfortable to carry like a proper backpack.
The Big Features
- (3) padded internal pistol storage cases w/ magazine pouches
- (4) outside zippered pockets for ammo and accessories
- Padded waist strap / cummerbund for stability
- Pull-out rain cover for wet-weather range days
- Visual I.D. Storage for organizing your gear
- MOLLE webbing for extra PALS attachments
- 1000-Denier Nylon with DuPont Teflon coating
- Self-tracking YKK zippers that are lockable
Test Gear
I loaded the bag for a typical 3-hour range day. I threw in a heavy old 1911 G.I. with four extra 8-round magazines of .45 ACP, and tucked away a Glock 43x inside one of the removable pistol totes with two extra magazines seated in the bottom front compartment, also loaded.
I used the second pistol tote bag for ammo: Three boxes of .40 S&W and two boxes of .45 ACP. I topped the bag off with your basic PPE, including some over-the-ear shooting muffs with plugs inside, and a tac-light for S’s and giggles. In all, I was carrying around 300 rounds of ammo.
Tucked Up: How Does it Carry?
All done up, the GPS Backpack handles a lot of weight quite well, and manages keep center of gravity close to your person. One unique little thing stuck out that I really liked:
The Y-Strap
I like the adjustable Y-strap. It comes with a buckle that folds over the main compartments and secures to the bottom front compartment. The fasteners feel pretty solid. I found this helps to keep the bag stable and prevents it from feeling sloppy and loose. Cinching it up keeps the weight closer to your backside, making it easier to carry with less strain on your shoulders and low back. If you’re carrying any awkward gear (like a roll-out shooting mat or metal targets) we wager the Y-strap could serve as a makeshift tie-down, too.
Shoulder Straps and Cummerbund
This is probably the thing I like most about the GPS Backpack: The shoulder straps are nice and padded, thick with great stitching. Adjustments are simple and they stay put. The center buckle that goes across the chest can be a tad annoying if you’re not using it, but it does come in handy if you’re fighting the shoulder straps with a lot of weight and want to keep the straps high up without sagging off your shoulders. The cummerbund does a great job distributing extra weight around your mid section. There isn’t much padding at the front where the buckle meets each strap, but this didn’t cause any discomfort for us. This isn’t a hiking pack, after all.
The Main Features
GPS incorporated what they call the “Visual I.D. System” into the backpack. The I.D. system uses specifically sized compartments labeled with small visual indicators for each piece of range gear. Shown above, left, is the pouch for your ballistic glasses. Shown above, right, are individual pouches for individual sets of ear plugs.
The GPS Backpack includes these I.D. Compartments:
- Target Stapler
- Shooting Glasses
- Ear Plugs (2)
- Ear Muffs
- Tools
- Targets
- Flashlight
- Tape
- Lockable Zipper
- Rain Cover
Removable Pistol Totes
The pistol totes are pretty slick, and three are included with the backpack. Each tote measures 11″ x 8″ x 3″, providing plenty of room for any full-size handgun. I was able to fit two 1911s side-by-side, shoebox-style in one tote. Each tote includes a padded separator to keep your guns and magazines from scratching each other. If you’re only bringing one or two pistols to the range, it’s easy to just shove a bunch of ammo in that extra pouch. Or, leave it out to save some weight.
External Target Straps
This is a small detail, but I came to appreciate it. Folding up your paper targets can ruin them, especially if you’re using reactive targets or splatter targets (the creases can cause colors to bleed-through). I was able to roll up some paper targets nice and tight and keep them in place with the two elastic loops on the left side of the bag. The Visual I.D. logo for the paper targets lets you know what they’re for. Simple, but effective.
Wet-Weather Rain Cover
Another “small” detail that can make a big difference when you’re spending time on those cloudy days putting rounds downrange. The backpack includes a waterproof rainfly that provides full coverage once unraveled. The material’s thing but not flimsy, so it stores nicely and doesn’t take up any space.
YKK Zippers
Obviously, a fabric bag doesn’t provide much security. But the GPS Backpack does include locking loops on its YKK zippers for each main compartment. This provides at least some peace of mind while you’re traveling in the car or walking downrange to change targets. It keeps prying eyes and curious little hands at bay.
Range Backpack Field Test
How well does the Range Backpack work at, well, the range? I put it to the test with its fancy cummerband and strap system and did a couple-miles hike out to a public shooting range in Utah. The desert heat is already hot enough. But the pack was airy, relatively lightweight when loaded up, and comfortable. The internal frame kept the bag composed on bumpy ground, prevented my gear and guns from slopping around, and it didn’t become a hot, sweaty mess on the backside.
The Verdict
G.P.S. Tactical’s Range Backpack gets a solid thumbs-up from me. and it’s easy to see why. It can comfortably carryfour or more handguns and all the magazines to match, it’ll store plenty of ammo for a long day of shooting, it’s incredibly organized (thanks to the Visual I.D. compartments), and it’s easy to carry. It’s durable thanks to its Cordura construction and reinforced stitching on all the straps, and you don’t have to worry about your gear getting soaked with the included rain fly.
No bag is perfect, of course. There is one nit-picky things to consider: The straps for the shoulders might feel small if you’re very tall.
Beyond that, though, there’s nothing else I can really find to complain about. The GPS Backpack is an excellent range bag that makes carrying lots of ammo and handguns very convenient.
