Monster RAID Pack Review!!!
- Cost: ££££ (£160)
- Value for Money: 5
- Ease of use: 5
- Construction: 5
- Alliness: 5
Anyone that knows me knows that I am unhealthily fond of RAID packs. I actually have 3 of them (black, coyote and multicam) and I carry one every day. I first came across them when I was working in Afghanistan. The company I worked for owned ATS tactical for a brief time and I worked with the owner’s brother. I was in the market for a new daysack and had been eyeing up a motherlode when he thrust a RAID pack under my nose. I haven’t looked back.
One of the big reasons I like this pack is because I much prefer clamshell opening packs to top openers like the good old Munro. I always seem to need whatever is right at the bottom and have to muck up all my careful packing to get at it. With the clamshell lid on the RAID I can get at any bit of kit I need without dragging everything out of the pack.
The original RAID pack was designed by a serving US infantry soldier and manufactured by Eagle. Once he left the Army he set up his own Kit Company and now manufactures in house in Kentucky USA. I have both an Eagle and ATS RAID packs.
The basic design of a RAID pack is a large internal compartment with a clamshell opening. Inside is a compartment to take a water bladder or ATS’ excellent frame sheet (more on that below). There is PALS webbing and a Velcro patch on the opening lid and Further PALS on the sides and bottom. The sides also have top opening pockets which go the full length of the pack. There are compression straps around the outside of the pack to let you reduce its size 6 on the original RAID and 4 on the RAID II. There are 3 port openings in the top for antennae, cables or hydration hoses.
The original Eagle RAID has some other features. Inside the pack mounted to the flap are two rectangular mesh box pouches which zip open on 3 out of 4 sides. One is larger than the other. They are big enough to take a set of waterproofs or a softie/buffalo. The top mesh pouch has a small stash pocket behind it. Also inside the main compartment are 4 load stabilisation straps a bit like you get in a suitcase. 2 go top to bottom and 2 go left to right. I found they were really great for holding a radio in place.
The RAID II is an update of the original RAID pack. The face of the pack has a zippered utility pocket for fast stowing of items, while maintaining the PALS webbing of the original pack. The inside face of the pack flap is also supplied with PALS webbing. Instead of the load stabilisation straps, from the original RAID, the back panel of the RAID II has four one inch ITW/Nexus Tri Glides for tying into or tying down a wide variety of loads. Three flapped tube or wire routing ports at the 10, 12, and 1 o'clock are laser cut and larger than in the original RAID.
The greatest distinction between the RAID and RAID II packs is the shoulder straps. The 1/2 inch foam straps have been narrowed, and the attachment point strengthened and moved to the back panel rather than the top seam of the pack. Load lifters are provided to improve load carriage. Additionally, there is approximately three inches of vertical travel for the adjustable sternum strap.
ATS offer a lifetime warranty against manufacturer defects in materials and workmanship.
You can get them in black, coyote brown, multicam or ranger green which is more like a light grey colour than green!
I want to finish the review by talking about the ATS frame sheet for the RAID. You can very comfortably wear the RAID without a frame but adding one makes a world of difference. The load is massively stabilised and it is easier to balance your shoulder straps. The frame sheet is a shaped piece of HDPE with an aluminium bar in the middle to keep it rigid and bound edges to protect it. You could go to eBay and buy yourself a sheet of HDPE and make your own but you would be missing the binding and the stiffening bar, so I would recommend getting yours from ATS. It is also covered by their lifetime warranty.
The ATS RAID II is better made than the Eagle original, and the materials are better too. I love my RAID. It has a great kit swallowing capacity without becoming overly bulky. The Yanks will often refer to it as a 3 Day Assault Pack as it can carry enough kit to survive for 3 days in the field. Mine gets used for my daily carry, on the hills, when I am working overseas and I found it great when I was an Infantry Platoon Commander.
There are other RAID style packs available in the UK, sadly none by a decent manufacturer. If you want to get one you will have to get it from ATS in the US. However, unless you get obsessed by them like me, you will only ever need to buy one! If you want to get proper nerdy about them there is a cult following for them in the US Military. You can find a monster 51 page RAID pack thread over on Lightfighter.net, a tactical kit forum which is run by ATS.
If you are in the market for a daysack for whatever reason, do yourself a favour and get hold of a RAID! Find it Here.
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