Practically every law enforcement officer relies on a bag to lug around necessary gear. Unfortunately, many of these satchels scream "cop" and are therefore only useful for carrying while on duty. But 5.11 Tactical's RUSH MOAB 10 is a bag designed, both in looks and function, for use on duty or off.
What makes this bag different from most "duty" bags is its sling (one shoulder strap) design. This gives it the look of many of the messenger, book, and computer bags on the market today, allowing you to better blend in when off duty. However, it's infinitely more useful to a police officer than its civilian counterparts.
The MOAB (Mobile Operation Attachment Bag) 10 is made from heavy-duty 50-denier water-resistant nylon and all of the zippers are double stitched, as are all the seams. The ends of the nylon are tape sealed so the edges will not fray. If you can pull the tabs off the heavy-duty YKK zippers or for that matter damage the zippers you are doing something to this pack that you shouldn't. The MOAB is built to withstand hard use and, dare I say, abuse.
The padded area of the MOAB will easily carry most tablet sized computers. This section also has a separate pouch for holding a hydration bladder and a port to route the drink tube through the top of the bag. If your computer is larger than 15 inches, you can carry it snugly in the bag's main pocket instead
Within the main pocket is a cinch pouch to secure a lightweight jacket or sweatshirt. At the top of the bag you will find a soft pocket for items such as sunglasses or an electronic game system. Inside the front pocket is a mesh zipper pocket to secure small items and keep them from rolling around.
On front of the main pocket is an outer pocket, which contains pouches and secure zippered pockets for pens and keys; it's essentially a filing cabinet in your bag. If this pocket and main pocket are not enough storage you can attach any MOLLE pouch to the outside of the bag, thanks to all the MOLLE straps.
The 5.11 Tactical RUSH MOAB 10 is a departure from the normal "backpack." It is just as tough as any of the company's RUSH series packs, but it doesn't have that look. It will give you a lower profile look and, thanks to the sling strap, is easy on/off. If you need an all-purpose pack, the MOAB 10 is it.—Scott Smith
Tactical Tailor: Hybrid Enhanced Vest
I have had a long association with Tactical Tailor, going back to the early 1990s when the tactical gear we wore in the Army was state of the art for about 1965. I appreciate the company's quality and attention to detailed craftsmanship.
I am currently getting ready to head over to some of the sunnier parts of the globe for another tour with the Army Reserve. And Tactical Tailor outfitted me with a Hybrid Enhanced Vest (H.E.V.) and accessory pouches to meet the needs of that job as well as that of my normal duties as a SWAT and training officer for a local police department in Arizona. I wore this vest with armor and plates for range and tactical training as well as for physical fitness training to give it the widest exposure to combat conditions that I could find.
[PAGEBREAK]After wearing the H.E.V. for a few months, I can say that it is a very functional piece of equipment. It is made from 1,000-denier Cordura Nylon with an air mesh lining. It has webbing on all of the useable areas to attach MOLLE/PALS-style equipment, and its internal pockets accommodate standard size plates as well as soft armor from most ballistic vests.
Features include a dual cummerbund system for proper vest fit and positioning on the body and a pull-over front flap for quick wear and removal. The pull-over front flap was new to me, and I initially did not like it. However, after I shifted my pouches around a bit from where I normally wear them, I found the pull-over front flap to be an excellent system for keeping the attached pouches from sagging or flapping around.
The H.E.V. also features removable side closures with elastic to help you fine-tune the fit and nicely padded shoulder straps that are not too large or bulky with integrated microphone epaulets to route those pesky radio wires. There is also a heavy-duty drag handle that I tested with a weighted dummy; it actually held the weight of the dummy while it was dragged without tearing or popping stitches.
I was also able to use and evaluate several modular pouches with the H.E.V. All of them attach to any MOLLE/PALS-style webbing using one of the best inventions ever, the Malice Clip. This self-locking piece of plastic webbing replaces the snap fastening nylon strap found on most MOLLE/PALS gear. The Malice Clip is much easier to use and provides a rock-solid attachment between pieces of gear.
I really like the H.E.V. and its modular pouch accessories. I strongly recommend the H.E.V. to anyone in need of a robust, functional, comfortable armor carrier.—Thad Benton
Tru-Spec: TRU Xtreme Apparel
Tru-Spec's latest apparel offering is the TRU Xtreme. This system of clothing consists of the Xtreme Shirt, Pants, Combat Shirt, and Vest.
At first glance, the Xtreme Shirt and Pants appear to be very much like ACUs. Yet while they have many of the same features, such as 50/50 NYCO ripstop construction and hook-and-loop patch areas on the sleeves, the Xtreme line's improvements make it an entirely new creature.
Most noticeably, Super Fabric covers the elbows on the shirt and the knees on the pants. This material injected with polymer nubs increases the durability of these stress areas. Each elbow and knee area is also closed with hook-and-loop so you can insert and secure a knee/elbow pad inside. Another notable addition is the handily removable pen/ID pocket on the left sleeve of the shirt.
Xtreme pants are vast improvements over ACU pants for several reasons. First, an elasticized and expandable waist means these pants are more comfortable. They're also much more functional. Each cargo pocket is actually two pockets in one: the main hook-and-loop-closed front, and the zipper-accessed rear pocket. And the small leg pockets are moved to just behind the knee where you can access them. You will also find built-in leg blousers.
Similarly styled for function, the Combat Shirt and Vest are designed to give you a uniform look when worn together, but the Combat Shirt wears more comfortably alone under tactical body armor. There are no zippers to rub your centerline or pockets to hang up on the back of your gear.
With the Tru Xtreme clothing system Tru-Spec has done a good job building a uniform for tactical or duty use.—Scott Smith
Scott Smith is a former federal police officer for the Department of Veteran's Affairs who currently serves as a reserve officer and is a contributing editor to POLICE.
Thad Benton worked full time in law enforcement for 11 years and has served in the Army for 18 years. He is currently deployed to the Middle East as a first sergeant.
