Police Product Test: First Tactical 1-Day Plus Backpack

It seems backpacks are a dime a dozen these days, and for good reason; everyone needs one. A good tactical pack has become as much a staple of the modern police officer's daily life as his gun and badge. Let's face it, we just carry a lot more stuff than we did years ago and there's nothing tactical about carrying a purse. First Tactical offers an impressive line of tactical packs for almost every mission. Everything from enormous 3-day packs to small, everyday satchels, First Tactical has you covered. Somewhere in the middle resides the 1-Day Plus pack and I was eager to put mine through the paces.

My first impressions of the pack were very positive. The material and stitching is top notch, the buckles and zippers are robust, and the pocket layout was well thought out. Moving from back to front, the 1-Day Plus offers what I would consider to be a week's worth of storage. The rear compartment is wide and deep to fit even a large laptop and is padded on both sides for extra protection. Between the back panel and the shoulder straps is a compartment to hold either the included rigid plastic panel or an armor plate.

The main compartment is enormous and includes several smaller pockets and pouches to keep everything organized, plus the rear panel is covered in loop material to accept a variety of hook-backed accessories. Up front there is a small pocket at the top and a large organized pouch below it for things like pens, knives, or small flashlights. On top of that are two slim, vertical pouches perfect for a water bottle, radio, or sunglasses case.

Covered in MOLLE webbing, the 1-Day Plus has the ability to accept an endless array of additional pouches and accessories. The webbing itself is what First Tactical calls its Lynx laser cut webbing. Instead of rows of fabric stitched to the pack, the Lynx webbing is a solid piece of reinforced fabric with laser-cut slots cut to a MOLLE standard. This not only reduces weight but is also stronger and cleaner in appearance than the traditional MOLLE construction.

I've used my 1-Day Plus as my everyday carry pack for over a month now and am more than happy with it. It is comfortable, well balanced, and is showing no signs of wear after weeks of daily use. If you have a need for a bullet-proof everyday pack with a ton of usable space the 1-Day Plus is a winner.

First Tactical Tactix 1-Day Plus Backpack

• Main Compartment: 12 x 19 x 8 inches

• Back Hook and Hang Pocket: 12 x 19 x 1 inches

• Top Front Catch Pocket: 9.5 x 4.75 x 1 inches

• Front Admin Pocket: 9.5 x 13 x 1.5 inches

• Front L Pockets (x2): 9.5 x 6.5 x 0.75 inches

• Approx. Capacity: 2,470 cubic inches

• Weight: 4.2 lbs / 1.9 kg

• Pockets: 7 external, 9 internal

• Construction: 500D/1000D water-resistant nylon, YKK zippers, duraflex hardware

• Colors: Black, coyote, OD green

• Price: $179.99

www.firsttactical.com

A.J. George is a sergeant with the Scottsdale (AZ) Police Department assigned to the Technical Operations Unit, Special Investigations Section. He has more than a decade of law enforcement experience in patrol, field training, and traffic enforcement.