The Loadout Room
Menu
  • Shooting
        • Pistol
        • Pistol Accessories
        • Rifle
        • Rifle Accessories
        • Shotgun
        • Machine Guns
        • Air Guns
        • Ammunition
        • Optics and Sights
        • Weapon Lights
        • Tips & How-To
        • Concealed Carry
        • Holsters
        • Suppressors
        • Precision Rifle Shooting
        • Firearms Training
        • 1A Gun to Ride the River With: The Smith & Wesson 686
        • The Tristar folding shotgun is ready for your wilderness adventuresThe Tristar folding shotgun is ready for your wilderness adventures
        • maxim defense cqb stock (8)The Maxim Defense CQB Stock: Short and Sweet
        • Perfecting your zero | A little help goes a LONG wayPerfecting your zero | A little help goes a LONG way
    • Close
  • Gear Reviews
      • Mission Gear
      • Camping Gear
      • Survival Gear
      • Medical Gear
      • Adventure & Travel
      • Knives & Tools
      • Overland
      • Disaster Preparedness
      • Footwear
      • Womens Gear & Clothing
        • RIP-MVehicle Preparedness: Fast access to essential items | Grey Man Tactical RIP-M
        • Midland radioOverland Essential | Midland Radio MXT275 | GXT1000
        • ppGrab your gear and go | Here’s everything you’d need to build an adventure go bag
        • Scrubba Washbag: Keep your clothes clean in the fieldScrubba Washbag: Keep your clothes clean in the field
    • Close
  • Men’s Lifestyle
      • Fitness
      • EDC
      • Eyewear
      • Watches
      • Electronics & Technology
      • Downtime
      • Mens Clothing & Accessories
      • Manly Skills
      • Style & Grooming
      • Gentleman Drinks
      • Crate Club
        • The Outdoor Edge ParaClaw: A concealed stingerThe Outdoor Edge ParaClaw: A concealed stinger
        • How to determine how long you have before the sun setsHow to determine how long you have before the sun sets
        • fireWilderness survival expert breaks down how to build a fire
        • 5.11 Tactical Expedition Long Sleeve Shirt5.11 Tactical Expedition Long Sleeve Shirt, SWAT Tested and Approved
    • Close
  • News
  • Video Demo
  • Shop

Crye Precision EXP 1500 | The day pack for mercenaries

Crye Precision EXP 1500 | The day pack for mercenaries

September 24, 2018 by Nick Betts Leave a Comment

For quite some time now I’ve had my eye on the packs from the infamous Crye Precision. Crye is known throughout the industry as the benchmark in tactical clothing and equipment. So when something as accessible as a backpack hits their shelves, people take notice. No longer do you have to find employment as a super high-speed airsofter or an actual operator to own Crye. But what caught my eye about the new packs are the incredibly neutral, yet aesthetically pleasing look of the bags. I’m so fed up with molle panels, Velcro and anything else that is meant to make your bag look like you’re ready for the impending apocalypse. If a pack company makes a bag with the option for you to carry more shit, then why didn’t they just add that function to the pack in the first place? I’ve spent enough time in textile design to know that shitty attempts to get a product to market usually just end up as shitty attempts. Believe it or not, you can make a bag that doesn’t need the ability to carry more shit you don’t need.

Crye Precision EXP 1500 | The day pack for mercenaries
When the bag first arrived at my doorstep, I fell in love. The construction, color, feel and look are out of the box impressive. I had a work trip to Kiev, Ukraine in two days so I decided that I would put this bag up against my travel favorite to see how it handled and what the pro’s and con’s would be. Long story short, this turned out to be a bad idea due to the minimal size of this model and the fact that the airline lost my luggage. So what I packed in this small bag was all that I had for two weeks. The saving grace of the Crye EXP 1500 is its ability to expand in order to carry an SBR rifle. While I didn’t need an SBR in Ukraine this time, I did need to fit all of my normal travel equipment, as well as a set of clothes.

 

Crye Precision EXP 1500 | The day pack for mercenaries

Travel Trip- Always pack one set of clothes and a travel toothbrush and toothpaste. I’ve lost enough luggage to know that sometimes, what you carry on is all you will have.

Arriving with my pack was their rigid molle panel insert (sold separate). Although it wasn’t something I thought was needed outside of carrying a rifle, I quickly realized that I could attach it and put on my molle admin pouches to make up for the lack of an admin pocket for the bag. Adding additional storage to the inside of the bag turns out to be something I’m a huge fan of, especially with such a minimalist pack. A few weeks later I did pack up the bag with my rifle for a range trip and found it incredibly comfortable and not too conspicuous. It’s far better than the GRS boy’s carrying around some MK18’s in a tennis bag from the Embassy to their cars. I think the ultimate pack out would be the MK18 with the LAW adapter, creating a smaller profile rifle and negating the need to unzip the bag to extend it. But my 14.5” Arsenal Democracy with the LAW adapter could still be packed securely, even with the magazine inserted. H: 18.75” (27.75” Extended) W: 12.5” D: 7.25” (11” Expanded)

Crye Precision EXP 1500 | The day pack for mercenaries
Arsenal Democracy SOPMOD .300BLK 14.5″ with LAW Adapter

Now let’s be honest, this bag is perfect for a mercenary, or those guys that work for three letter agencies doing good work to bad people on our behalf. But it begs the question; where does this bag find itself for the average Joe? I tried carrying the bag with both inserts for some time and just found the bag to be too rigid. But once I took out the 3D molded insert, I kept the molle panel and have been incredibly pleased ever since. It’s the perfect daypack, or even a three-day, to take to around the city or for a quick weekend trip. Sleek, slim and let’s just admit it, sexy. Crye remains the industry leader to continue to drool over, and they’re not going anywhere.

Crye Precision EXP 1500 | The day pack for mercenaries
Expanded into a full carry configuration.

Crye Precision EXP 1500 | The day pack for mercenaries


Share This

Filed Under: Gear Tagged With: backpacks, concealment, crye, Crye Precision, Day Bag, EDC, EXP1500, go bag, minimalist, Travel Backpack, Weapon Bag

About the Author

Avatar

Nick Betts Nick spent 8 years in the US Army as a Scout Sniper before moving on to close protection work for celebrities and DoS personell domestically and abroad in high threat environments. An Avid fan of fine tequila, finely crafted watches and international adventure, he now resides in Baja Norte Mexico where he surfs, eats tacos and does brand development for various companies.

See All Nick Betts Articles

More From The Loadout Room

Comments

What’s Hot

Top 8 upgrades every Kel-Tec Sub 2000 owner needs: MCARBO parts review
Featured

Top 8 upgrades every Kel-Tec Sub 2000 owner needs: MCARBO parts review

Why .45ACP is an outdated caliber
Ammunition

Why 45 ACP is an outdated caliber

Featured

Stories from Delta Force Selection: When not to dance

AR Build Kits under $300
Firearms Technology

Peak AR: Davidson Defense AR Build Kits under $300

A Navy SEALs EDC Gear Recommendations
EDC

A Navy SEALs EDC Gear Recommendations

Email Newsletter

Sign up to receive email updates daily and to hear what's going on with us!

In Case You Missed It

Gear Reviews

A Gun to Ride the River With: The Smith & Wesson 686

October 9, 2019 Leave a Comment

Camping Gear

The MSR Pocket Rocket | Your little camp dragon

October 8, 2019 Leave a Comment

The Outdoor Edge ParaClaw: A concealed stinger
EDC

The Outdoor Edge ParaClaw: A concealed stinger

October 7, 2019 Leave a Comment

Gear Reviews

A plate carrier for the big boys: AR500’s Testudo Gen 2 is a good pick for large frames

October 7, 2019 Leave a Comment

Get it on Google Play

© Copyright 2021 Crate Club Group · All Rights Reserved.

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Advertisers