Review: Evolution Outdoors 1680D Tactical Backpack

Carrying supplies on your back is nothing new. Man has been fashioning crude backpacks from hides to carry food, supplies, and who knows what else since the dawn of time. Soldiers, students, Scouts, and pretty much everyone has carried a backpack of some sort at one time or another. From your schoolbooks to your hunting supplies, having a backpack you can trust to keep your stuff safe, organized and dry is a valuable asset.

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Personally, I carry a backpack daily instead of a fancy suitcase due to the number of things I pack around. My trusty Camelback UC backpack is well over 10 years old and has seen better days. It has been all over the country with me and honestly, I would buy another one just like it but they don’t make them anymore. Don’t you hate that? When you find something you just love and the manufacturer scraps it? UGH!

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After reluctantly diving into the world of current offerings, I was intrigued by the Evolution Outdoors 1680D backpack. Evolution Outdoors is an outdoor accessory company that deals primarily in different types of bags. They have a line of “tackle bags,” hunting and rifle bags, as well as a line of apparel. They advertised pride in their product and the 1680D had a lot of features I was looking for.

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• Laptop Pocket: I carry my laptop with me everywhere. It’s a staple in my EDC and I use it a ton. The 1680D has a huge laptop pocket that is padded on one side. It holds my 15” Macbook with room to spare. It’s incredibly deep too, so no poking out the top.
• Padded Straps: I have been known to overload a backpack. I am constantly stuffing them with camera gear, gun parts, and honestly a bunch of crap I don’t need. When I get it full, it can get super heavy. The 1680D has padded straps as well as a padded back. Even when it’s loaded, the bag is comfortable and provides a chest strap for extra stability.
• Plenty of Pockets: Organization is key for me. With multiple devices using chargers, mounts, etc., I must be able to locate what I need quickly to be ready for my next adventure. The 1680D has 7 outer pockets (4 on the sides and 2 larger on the front with one on top) with netted dividers in each. The top front pocket has pen slots and a zippered pocket. The bottom pocket has a divider as well and is a little larger. The side pockets are narrower, but a bit deeper.
  When you unzip the front of the bag, three more zipper pockets are revealed as well as a huge compartment in the middle.
• Durable: The 1680D absolutely meets their claims of sturdy construction. With thick zippers and clean stitching all around, I’m looking forward to a long life with this bag.
• Bonus Features: If you are into Velcro morale patches, Evolution provided a sizable portion on the front for you to display you favorites. It also has a reflective logo, making you more visible at night. It’s easy enough to cover if you are looking for more ninja-like approaches.

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-The top small pocket is lined with a soft, non-scratch material for your electronics.

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-There are smaller pieces of nylon running horizontally on the straps for adding accessories. I was able to strap in a nice little CRKT Sting fixed blade. I also used a carabiner to clip on a water bottle. The options are limited only by your imagination.

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PROS:

-Plenty of pockets

-Inner netting is sturdy and not that flimsy stuff that tears as soon as you put  something in it.

-Great price at just under $100 for this quality of pack.

-Has a large place for patches.

-With no patches, it doesn’t stand out as tactical. Just a black pack.

-The big front pocket will unzip on both sides all the way to the base of the pack. It’s perfect for an overnight trip.

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CONS:

-It’s a pretty big backpack, but if that’s what you need…

-A small pocket in the back of the pack for a pistol or extra mags would be cool.

-I don’t have two of them.

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Final Assessment: The Evolution 1680D is a solid backpack. In our short time together, I’ve fallen in love. She’s been carried now for a couple months and there is no sign of wear with daily abuse. It can be used for a range bag, camera gear on the road or an overnight pack for clothes. There’s so much room for stuff I am likely to overload it regularly, so it will see hard days. The good news is, after a full day stuffed with camera gear on my back at “The Gathering” last month, it was comfortable, easy to find my stuff, and ready for the next trip. Be sure to check out their site for their other offerings. The rolling coolers have me raising an eyebrow…

-Nick Collier

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BUY IT AT HERE

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