Propper International: Tactical Duffle
Propper International shouldn’t be a new name to anyone who has served in any of the branches of the United States Armed Services. The company has been in business since 1967 and has produced just over 120 million garments for our servicemen and women. When a company has that sort of longevity and track record you know they are doing something right, so when they approached us about testing out some of their bags and clothing we were happy to help them. Among the gear they sent to us was the Propper Tactical Duffle Range Bag, a twenty-three inch long bag that isn’t just a range bag.
The bag has been well received by other evaluators and has even been approved and recommended by the National Tactical Officers Association. The association has more than 40,000 members and has members who cover all aspects of law enforcement, corrections, and behavioral sciences. That’s a wide range of clientage and when the NTOA puts their stamp of approval on a piece of gear that carries a lot of weight with it, BUT does that mean that we here at web site will recommend it as well?
When we look at gear, especially range bags we are often times looking for a bag that can be used in dual roles. We love our range bags but often times we end up removing the range gear and need to be able to use that bag for trips to the gym or overnight trips. We kept that in mind when we began our evaluation of the Propper Tactical Duffle, will it fit into multiple roles when needed ? Well lets take a look at the specifications and the breakdown of the Propper International Tactical Duffle.
On the black bags the contrasting interior is gray. On other colors the interior is orange
Specifications
Manufacturer: Propper International
Model Name: Tactical Duffle
Model Number: F5623
Colors Avaialble: Black, Multicam, Coyote, Olive
Length: 23”
Height: 12.5”
Depth: 11”
Weight:
Material: 1000 D Cordura Nylon
Number of Compartments: 4
Other Features:
- Dual Drag Handles
- Hook in loop panels inside pockets for adding accessories
- Contains inclosed shoe tunnel pouch.
- Contrast lining inside main compartment to aid in finding gear stored inside
At first glance it’s hard to look at a duffle bag and try to figure out if it will pass any sort of field trials or if it will fit your lifestyle. It’s only when you look at the details and how they all come together that you can begin to see the pros and cons of a particular design. I decided to look at this duffle bag from the top down, so I started my evaluation of the Propper International Tactical Duffle with it’s simplest part, the strap.
The Strap
The strap is simple and wide with plenty of adjustment for people with longer torsos or just want their bag to hang low. The stitching and nylon on the strap was free from snags or discoloration, as to be expected. The hardware on the strap is some form of plastic which was a slight let down. Although they are plastic the clips that connect the strap to the Propper Tactical Duffle each feature two spring clips instead of one. I have no idea why the company did this but it’s a small detail I noticed.
Compartments
The meat and potatoes of any pack or bag is the storage compartments, everything else is just wind dressing. The Tactical Duffle has one large main compartment and several smaller compartments accessible from the outside of the bag. The one that draw the most attention is what Propper International refers to as the “Shoe Tunnel”. This pouch accessible from one end of the bag stretches into the inside of the duffle when being used, which ultimately reduces your storage ability in one way. The nice feature about the shoe bag is that it lets you divide your duffle into a clean and dirty section, or dry and wet. You can also use it to store noise canceling headphones, or any other type of gear you desire. The pouch is high and deep, and from the picture below you can see my size nine Lows Renegades fit perfectly well, for reference I have size nine feet.
Shoe tunnel with my size 9 Lowa Renegades for size reference
Aside from the main compartment and the shoe tunnel the Proper Tactical Duffle also has two other storage compartments. The end opposite the shoe tunnel features a small arched compartment that would be perfect for storing a small medical kit, your glasses, wallet or other small items. It features a small rectangular section of hook and loop backing. This should give users endless options for items they wish to affix to the inside of the compartment.
The final compartment is located on the long side of the duffle and is a little different from the other pouches. The other pouches all open completely allowing full access to their compartments. The side pouch unzips in a long arching pattern and does not completely open. This is by design so that presumably you could keep your conceal carry weapon in this pouch and access it quickly without fear of spilling all of the contents of your bag onto the ground. The entire inside compartment is covered in hook and loop backing, again allowing an owner to utilize a holster system similar to the Vertx MPH.
In a final note on the side pouch, it features Molle webbing and a small strip of hook and loop backing on the outside of the compartment. This again allows end users the ability to attach tear away first aid kits or any number of accessories to the bag. Your wallet and imagination are really the only things limiting you from making this tactical duffle the range bag of your dreams.
Side compartment
Overall Impressions
Overall I think the Proper Tactical Duffle is a solid design that will provide end users with all the ability to customize this bag to their exact needs. The built quality looks very solid and clean, Propper International has been at this for over 50 years and they know what they are doing. The Tactical Duffle has won a lot of people over who use it on a daily basis in the law enforcement community.
The duffle offers plenty of storage room yet it’s not obnoxiously large, which is a nice thing. It’s out opion so far that the Propper International Tactical Duffle would be a solid choice for anyone who wants a duffle bag that can be used in your patrol vehicle, at the gym or on the range. It’s built for years of use, and can be purchased directly from the company at their web site www.propper.com
