When I upgraded to a 16″ Lenovo ThinkPad P1 Gen 4 workstation-class laptop earlier this year, I soon learned that it was too large to fit safely in my 24-liter 5.11 Rush 12 2.0 backpack. While my old 12″ ThinkPad X230 easily fit into the up-to-15″ laptop capable compartment of the 5.11 Rush 12 2.0, the newer ThinkPad P1 Gen 4 dangerously pressed against its corners. Also, I trouble wearing the 5.11 Rush 12 2.0 with a a padded waist belt while carrying a heavy load–I couldn’t get the bag to ride securely against my back when doing that. Nevertheless, the 5.11 Rush 12 2.0 is virtually bulletproof and a very well made backpack. Unfortunately, it just didn’t meet my changing needs.
Looking for a larger backpack with MOLLE, waist belt attachment points, and a tough build like the 5.11 Rush 12 2.0 was easy–there’s a number of great alternate bags that fit those needs. However, finding one that also has a laptop sleeve capable of safely holding a 16″ laptop more challenging, because most manufacturers only support up to 15″ laptops. Thankfully, the Mystery Ranch 2 Day Assault L/XL backpack fit my needs quite well.
Like the 5.11 Rush 12 2.0, the Mystery Ranch 2 Day Assault L/XL backpack is built tough.
Meeting my new requirements in a backpack, it has a larger volume (24 liters vs. 29.7 liters), and its built-in laptop sleeve can accommodate a 16″ laptop (my ThinkPad P1 Gen 4 measures 10″ deep x 14 1/8″ wide x 15/16″ tall). However, I have to load and unload the ThinkPad through the main pocket as it is too wide and deep to easily maneuver through the zippered laptop side-loading pocket).
To help with load carrying, it has an innovative lengthening system that helps the pack ride close against your body. To adjust this system, remove the plastic frame shown in the gallery above, shove it into the velcro area behind the straps to release the hook and loop material holding the straps and pack together, pull up to lengthen, put the frame back in its place, press the pack flat to ensure the hook and loop are reattached, and adjust the straps as needed to have the straps rest tightly against your torso and shoulders and the bottom of the pack against your waist.
This adjustment system works well with the aftermarket padded waist belt that I originally used with the 5.11 Rush, but moved over to the Mystery Ranch 2 Day Assault pack. The Mystery Ranch bag included a two-piece simple nylon belt with plastic buckle. Its intention is to help hold the back against your body but not help with load carrying. I removed it and modified a Condor Battle Belt (it has a padded outer belt with MOLLE and an inner 1 1/2″ nylon belt with aluminum quick-release buckle). I cut off the D-ring equipment carriers and cut expanded holes in the outer padded belt to allow the inner 1 1/2″ belt to thread through the belt attachments on the Mystery Ranch pack. I added extra stitching to the outer padded belt and melted the nylon to prevent unraveling from these modifications.
The strangest thing about Mystery Ranch bags is the three-zipper main pocket opening. It is difficult to open and close these one-handed. However, the zippers are top-quality and waterproof. And, with the main pocket fully open, it can ingest a tremendous amount of gear, but it will likely require the bag to be fully opened to extract that gear if it is larger (e.g., a boxed 12 pack of aluminum cans).
Another modification that I made to the bag was to plug its main pocket drain holes with closed hole rubber grommets (I don’t want anything crawling in and setting up shop) and added some strap clips to keep the shoulder adjustment straps from flying all over the place while putting on the pack or walking with it.
Its two side mounted stuff pouches easily hold water bottles, thermoses, and short collapsible umbrellas. During the summer, I keep a pack of menthol cooling sheets and an electric fan in one so that I can reach back to grab them without having to take off the pack.
When I traveled to see my parents a few months ago, I added some MOLLE pouches to the exterior mounts (first aid, toiletries, cables, chargers, multitool, and snacks), but I took them off to reduce the pack’s weight when I am in the city where I walk further distances with it and would prefer the weight go towards what I am carrying instead of how I’m carrying those things.
The Mystery Ranch 2 Day Assault pack is holding up and meeting my expectations. With the new academic year about to begin, I’ll see how it holds up trekking to and from campus.
