Customer Reviews Mystery Ranch Urban Assault 21

I wanted to wait a year or so to review this pack so I had plenty of time to field it. I have to give it 5 stars, it's the entire package if you're shopping in this category. How I use it -Started life as my "get home bag" with boots, technical clothing, water and gear to travel 30mi on foot. Not taking up much space in my truck -started to use when visiting construction job sites nationwide with a laptop, iPad, change of clothes , rain jacket and a night or 2 of hygiene/gear/chargers -Used as daypack for deer hunting packing warming/rain layers, optics, food/water and gear -Use all the time as a dump pouch" style bag when moving family and kids gear as well. Tuck the top into the main compartment and shove it all in! Why it gets 5: -Small enough as a personal item on airlines and tucks perfectly under seat in front of you with access to bag -Main compartment with the tri-zip only has 2 rectangular mesh pockets up high. This makes you pack light and simple and is easy to see or modify your load. -Top compartment is easy access for phones/optics/mags and can be reached overhead while wearing -this price point is dead on for this quality and a great entry into mystery ranch packs. -Small size again makes you pack light and simple and not load yourself down with unneeded items. -the toughness, technical features and design of a military pack with options to blend in and not stand out. My favorite size pack for my lifestyle day to day. MR hit it out of the park on this one!

Great bag for blending in to other countries. Especially the color. It is compact but still able to fit a computer. Also makes a great "go bag"

This bag is awesome. Built like a tank I cannot see myself breaking any piece of it anytime soon. The only thing I dont like is the lack of water bottle carrier. I know the urban assult 24 had water bottle pockets but the extra laptop sleeve on the 24 looks lame. All in all a great EDC bag.

Great functional backpack

I've had this for a couple weeks now. I scored and was able to get the last Shadow 1000d version from MR. It has replaced my GR 15L Bullet for daily carry, as it is larger and I'm really liking the 3 zip system. The quick access ouch on top is a big improvement over the GR as well. Overall, I highly recommend this pack and because this one is so awesome, I'm looking at other MR packs to add to my collection.

I purchased this bag for a everyday runaround type bag. Perfect size for a MacBook, a writing pad, and a water bottle in the main pouch. Top pocket is perfect for some pens, charging cables, batteries, etc. would definitely recommend as a small day pack.

I bought this bag to replace my department issue bad. I wanted something more streamlined with less picks but carried well and had some compartmentalism but allowed for easy inspection at security checkpoints. The small mesh pockets allow for this. The tri-zip also allows for easy inspiration. Carries extremely well. Big enough for my work stuff, lunch, and water bottles yet not to big.

I bought it about a month ago and it's great for day to day use

I work in a large outdoor gear chain and see a lot of packs every day. This one stands out first for its simple style. There are times you need to carry things without looking like you just went hiking. The more I use it the more I appreciate its rugged construction like beefy zippers and pull tabs. The zipper design make it super simple to load and fast to covert to a stuff sack on the go. Straps are comfortable and the top exterior compartment holds surprisingly good size objects . If you are looking for a well made pack with decent capacity and looks good pick this one up.

I took this back into the Guyana rain forest for a fishing trip. I liked the way the bag opened though pulling the center zipper had a small "hitch" where the three zippers cross. Very functional without any useless gizmos

Have been using this mostly for airline travel and it packs everything I need pretty well. Interior sleeves easily pack a laptop and iPad, rest of my electronic gear, snacks, and spare clothing. I am not a huge fan of extra interior/exterior pockets on other bags, so the Urban Assault 21 has exactly what I need. I find other packs with huge amounts of pockets a waste of space and weight that seldom get used for their purpose, and only add unnecessary bulk. About the only thing I'd want extra on this pack is a pen sleeve on the inside, but not a deal breaker. 3-zip is convenient and easy to use. If I need access to the bottom of the bag, I have it easily with the vertical zipper without having to dig down into the bag. I initially bought this bag to commute on the motorcycle and carry my laptop and other gear and wanted the 18L version of the bag, but color options available were not great. The shorter bag is more convenient on a bike to allow clearance to the seat on the back of the bike, but the 21L version still works. Just hoping more color options are offered in the 18L version in the future. Overall, very happy with this bag and would recommend it. For reference, I have the 1000D version in gray which is very durable but haven't tested it in the wet. Blends in well and not overly tacti-cool.

Purchased to use for college, fits my laptop, notebooks, water bottle and a sweatshirt pretty snugly. If you need a sturdy day bag, this is it.

I've had it for about a month or so now and it has been the best backpack I've owned. But if I could add one thing to it. It would be an bottle holder on the side. Over all 10/10

Purchased for international travel. Needed a pack that didn't look too militaristic. Small enough as a good carry-on bag but big enough to carry essentials like my tablet, some food and water and a jacket. Plan to use as a carry on and EDC pack while working/traveling abroad. Pack is a lot greener than how its pictured but is still a reasonable color. I think only their military packs are made in America as this one said made in Vietnam. Price point is good for the quality and size of the pack.

I bought the UA21 to replace a tactical-looking SOG bag I've had for years. I wanted something more subtle for an office/professional environment, and I became accustomed to the "tall and narrow" shape of the SOG bag. The vertically-centered mass of the loaded bag feels more balanced when moving around. I typically have two laptops with me and there are two places in the UA21 for them. My MacBook Pro 14" easily slides into the UA21 pockets, but the slightly larger (and thicker) 15" Windows laptop is a tad tighter to fit into the rear pocket. There is an externally-accessible pocket on the top of the UA21. There are two additional zippered pockets inside the UA21 - one on each side toward the top of the bag. I don't need a lot of pockets inside the bag so this works for me. I have a couple of pocket-organizer bags that I keep in the main area of the UA21.

This is my first tri-zip bag and I've become a huge fan of the design. Being able to blow the whole thing wide open makes loading and unloading a breeze. The stiff back panel also assists in loading the bag from the top. The two inner pockets and lid pocket provide just enough organization, along with the perfectly sized laptop sleeve. The slick exterior looks simple but there's some sophisticated shaping going on with the pack body. It's tall and slim and carries innocuously. The stated 21l capacity is probably an underestimation. I like the lack of molle on this pack as well, very low-vis. I carry it to work at a school every day so I'm glad to avoid a tactical look. The suspension is very comfortable, with well padded straps and load lifters that help the load carry close to your back. The back panel is quite narrow and rides between the shoulder blades, well out of the way. Works fine cycling to work or carrying a sixer home from the store. What does it need? A hydration hose port would increase the versatility from town to trail. There's no provision for external water carry so a bladder is mandatory, but there's no good way to run a hose. The slick exterior has its pros but a couple daisies or compressions straps would add utility. I like this pack enough I'm buying another and making these mods to create an excellent trail pack. Otherwise, construction and materials are top notch and I have no complaints.

All of my big packs are Mystery Ranch, this is the first smaller backpack I've bought from them and it doesn't disappoint! I like how accessible everything is with the full length zipper. Highly recommend!

I bought this for my husband and he loves it so much! He works outside so he needed something tough to hold all of his stuff during the day! I highly recommend this bag and this company!

Love this pack. Great size for a brief case replacement with just the right number of places to stash the essentials. Only problem was that it was so perfect, my wife claimed it and now I'll have to get another one.

Great bag, glad I got it. Very slim profile, could use a pen sleeve on the inside top of the interior pockets for a quick-grab location. Easily fits what I need to tote for work plus a thermos of coffee. Will likely fit a bento box as well but haven't tested yet. The big test is coming up in a week - will it be expansive enough to pack as a dad EDC on planes across the country for Thanksgiving? ...

Solid upgrade from the Kletterwerks I used for many years. Love the bag and the waxed canvas is going to "patina" nicely. Only new addition to this bag vs. the Kletterwerks is the interior pockets on this bag are pretty much useless and frustrating to access.

I've had this pack for about a month, absolutely love it! I use it for school, hiking. City photography, you name it and it won't disappoint

This backpack allows you to carry an abundance of equipment while remaining a convenient travel size. The way it hugs your body when worn is also indicative of a design team that knows how these packs should feel for trips of all durations

Beautiful materials. Love the thick cushion of the shoulder straps. The three way zipper takes getting used to, but actually lets you access more in the pack.

Only wish it had a spot for a water bottle or at least pals webbing on the side to add a water bottle holder. Also needs a bigger loop field for larger patches.