• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
The Loadout Room

The Loadout Room

Professional Gear Reviews

Hardcore Gear and Adventure

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
        • H&K MP-5 Sub-Machinegun: Famous but not FriendlyH&K MP-5 Sub-Machinegun: Famous but not Friendly
        • Glock-17_1A Former Delta Force Operator’s Glock 17 Setup
        • 300-blackout-used-for-home-defense-ar-15-pistol-fThe Home Defense AR-15 – Setting Up for Success
        • lossy-page1-1280px-Da_Nang_Vietnam…._Sergeant_Robert_E._Fears_clears_an_area_using_his_flamethrower._-_NARA_-_532491.tifThe Brutal Reality of the Flamethrower and the Men Who Carried It
    • Close
  • Gear Reviews
      • Mission Gear
      • Camping Gear
      • Survival Gear
      • Medical Gear
      • Adventure & Travel
      • Knives & Tools
      • Overland
      • Disaster Preparedness
      • Footwear
      • Womens Gear & Clothing
        • Winter-AdventureGet Ready for Winter Fun: The Ski Gear Guide
        • 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
    • Close
  • Men’s Lifestyle
      • Fitness
      • EDC
      • Eyewear
      • Watches
      • Electronics & Technology
      • Downtime
      • Mens Clothing & Accessories
      • Manly Skills
      • Style & Grooming
      • Gentleman Drinks
      • Crate Club
        • Georgia-Army-National-GuardHow to Use Military Mindset While Preparing for a Race
        • jelmer-assink-gzeTjGu3b_k-unsplashFitness Gear Standard Weight Bench: A Budget Gym Equipment Review
        • alexander-andrews-BX4Q0gojWAs-unsplashEDC 101: What EDC Means and 4 EDC Gear to Have
        • 275067423_3229648577268120_1392851511843662528_nFit or Flop?: A Review of the WOOBIES Men’s Mod-1 Canvas Shoe
    • Close
  • News
  • Video Demo
  • Buying Guides
  • Shop
Adventure & Travel

Gossamer Gear Vagabond backpack: Durable, attractive and functional

February 5, 2018 by Scott Witner Leave a Comment

Gossamer Gear Vagabond backpack

There seems to be some misunderstanding of the term “low-vis,” within the tactical community. Plenty of packs advertise themselves as low-vis, yet are camo’ed out or covered in Velcro. A guy walking around with tactical pants, a Suunto watch and a Velcro-covered backpack stick out like a sore thumb anywhere in the world. You literally might as well wear a sign that says, “I’m probably carrying some kind of weapon.” True low-vis in a civilian urban environment requires civilian equipment. Civilian clothes, not wearing military-looking watches, and not humping an assault pack around town.

Gossamer Gear is a lesser-known small backpack brand that was formed to fill a void that existed in the technical backpack world. On their website, it states, “Back in 1997 Glen Van Peski went on a backpacking trip with his son and decided their packs were way too heavy. So he decided to invent a lighter one. None of the fabrics on the market were light enough so he had one custom made. He sought out the lightest fasteners and zippers.” This mindset shows in the Vagabond pack, as it is made from a 210 denier Robic/Extrema Grid material. This material is a custom-made material that is extremely lightweight, durable, and seems relatively water resistant from my usage of the bag.

The Gossamer Gear Vagabond has a 23L main compartment, as well as a stretch laptop/hydration sleeve, a small zippered inner compartment, and a stretch external pouch as well. On the sides, there are water bottle sleeves made from the same stretch material, that sit flush with the pack. The main compartment is accessed via a zipper that only runs across the top of the pack. I enjoyed this feature as you don’t have to worry about things falling out of the pack if you need to open it while mobile. On a recent trip to an indoor climbing facility, I loaded my climbing kit into the Vagabond. While I was belaying, I asked someone if they could grab my bag, and they immediately grabbed it by the tote handles on the top of the pack. They commented on it and seemed to enjoy that feature, as did a few others. I never thought much of the tote handles, but apparently, it is a feature that people like, so that is definitely a sustain for this pack. The Gossamer Gear Vagabond has lashing and tie-down points external and internal to the pack. It features cinch down straps on each side, as well as a removable chest strap.

IMG_0027
IMG_0029
IMG_0030
IMG_0031

Overall, I enjoyed the opportunity to test out the Vagabond. Gossamer Gear definitely puts some thought into this bag but did not over-engineer the pack. It has exactly the amount of space a day-pack needs and doesn’t have anything you that you don’t. It is extremely lightweight and sits well under medium weight loads. The pack isn’t overly padded and would be a great bag for an outdoorsman or someone who just needs a bag that doesn’t scream tactical. Its priced right at $119 which is fair, given that the material used in building this bag is custom to the brand. Gossamer Gear has many other items in the inventory, so give these guys a look as they seem pretty innovative in their development of quality gear.

For more information and to purchase

Share This

About the Author

Scott Witner is the Editor of The Loadout Room and handles product sourcing for both Crate Club and Cuna Dog. He is a former Marine Corps Infantryman with 2ndBn/8th Marines and was attached to the 24th MEU(SOC) for a 6 month deployment to the Mediterranean. He has completed training in desert warfare at the Marine Air Ground Combat Center, mountain warfare and survival at the Mountain Warfare Training Center and attended the South Korean Mountain Warfare school in Pohang.

See All Scott Witner Articles

More From The Loadout Room

Comments

Primary Sidebar

Email Newsletter

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

Find Us on Facebook

The Loadout Room

Recent Comments

  • DBS5347 on You Can Get These Flashbang Grenades (100% Legally!)
  • AlwaysCorrect&EveryoneKnowsIt on You Can Get These Flashbang Grenades (100% Legally!)
  • Kogashuko on You Can Get These Flashbang Grenades (100% Legally!)

Latest From SOFREP

Gear

Video Gear Review: An In-Depth Look at the Bremont Broadsword ‘Dirty Dozen’ Watch

Videos

SOFREP Video Interview with SEAL Team Six Founder Dick Marcinko – Episode 2: ‘Sleep, Eat and Live it Up’

The Pic of the Day

SOF Pic of the Day: 24th Special Tactics Squadron Operators

Ukraine

Ukraine’s Vampire Bomber Drones: A Menacing Nightmare for Russian Forces

© Copyright 2023 SOFREP Media Group · All Rights Reserved.

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Advertisers
 

Loading Comments...