Assessment: 5.11 Tactical Skyweight 36L Pack

I’ve been looking for a new backpack to reinvent my bug out bag.

I’ve been prepping for over a decade and I change my bag at least every few years. I’m always on the lookout for something that can accommodate enough pockets and storage space. I don’t carry a lot, but it would be nice to have enough space to carry what I need, in addition to anything my kids or pets might need.

I’ve gone through a lot of packs over the years and, spoiler alert: the Skyweight 36L Pack by 5.11 Tactical is my favorite pack as a bug out bag.

Of course, the Skyweight can be used for various purposes such as backpack or camping, but as a bug out bag, it’s pure genius.

For a tactical backpack, it’s inconspicuous. It doesn’t look ‘tactical’, but has a lot of ‘tactical’ features.

Here are some features of the Skyweight:

• Internal frame with a padded backpack, super comfortable!
• Open front compartment to easily take things in and out, but they also stay secure
• Gear straps on the bottom for something like a tarp, tent, sleeping bag, etc.
• Large clamshell opening to the main compartment; you can access everything with ease!
• Two stretchy water bottle holders, these are secure as well as can hold a variety of different-sized water bottles.
• Padded straps along with chest and waist straps which both have MOLLE on them for additional gear if needed. I like to add some pouches to the waist pack for easy access items like snacks.

The straps and belt are very easy to adjust as needed with simple pulls here and there. I’ve honestly never adjusted a backpack as easily and effortlessly as I did with the Skyweight. Sometimes it’s a huge struggle but there was no struggling.

There’s a pouch on the very bottom of the pack that includes a safety orange rain cover that can cover the entire pack. I’m not thrilled with the bright orange color, but it’s not attached to the backpack, so it can be changed or taken out completely. I do like the idea of the ran cover, though. This being a bug out bag, I would use a darker color probably, but that’s just for my particular instance. If you’re hiking or backpacking, the bright orange rain cover would be ideal so others could see you.

I don’t think it matters how much you weigh this pack down, because of the internal frame and padded back, waist strap and chest strap (which can be adjusted up or down, by the way), it feels like you’re carrying nothing! I won’t carry packs anymore unless they have a chest and waist strap, but I’ve come to realize that I shouldn’t be using any packs that don’t have internal frames, either. They are a complete game-changer.

There was a little confusion with the lack of organization. 5.11 Tactical is kind of known for its organizational pouches and such. But on the other hand, I kind of dig that it is more simplistic. It allows me to pack it how I want with my own organizational methods. I use a lot of pencil holders to organize things.

No matter what you plan to use this pack for, the 5.11 Skyweight 36L Pack is up for the task. You can expect the same quality and attention to detail as you would with anything else that 5.11 Tactical produces.

Check out the 5.11 Tactucal Skyweight 36L Pack for $200 at their website. It’ll last a life-time of adventures and you won’t regret it!

Morgan Rogue

Morgan writes for OutdoorHub while also being the founder of Rogue Preparedness where she helps people get prepared for emergencies and disasters, as well as thrive any circumstances.