Editor’s note: This article was originally published on The Gear Bunker and has been adapted for The Truth About Guns.
By Tristan Russell
If you’ve trained, deployed, or traveled alongside me, chances are you’ve seen my constant companion—a beat-up but unbreakable 5.11 Rush 12 backpack. I picked it up back in 2008 while stationed at Fort Bliss, and for the past 16 years it’s been on my back, in my truck, and at my feet through just about every environment you can imagine.
The Rush 12 was born from gear designed for the FBI in the early ’90s, and 5.11 Tactical has carried that DNA of durability and utility into everything they make. This pack has proven it.
It’s hauled 12-gauge shells through the streets of Istanbul. Carried dripping wetsuits after diving in the Indian Ocean. Been dragged across docks, wedged under airline seats, and tossed into boat lockers. It’s traveled through airports, jungles, deserts, and frozen ports in 50 countries without a single tear in its fabric.
The only failure after nearly two decades? One zipper finally gave up. That’s it. Every seam, every strap, every stitch is still holding strong.
That kind of service life is rare in any gear, which is why 5.11 still gets my loyalty. Military, law enforcement, and outdoor professionals worldwide run their products for the same reason—they hold up when it matters. Buy one and you’re not just getting a bag; you’re making a long-term investment in gear that’s going to outlast most of what’s in your closet.
And it’s not just the pack. I’ve got a pair of 5.11 Tactical pants from 2010—back from my early contracting days—that are still intact and serviceable. They don’t fit like they used to, but they’re ready if I ever get back down to a 34-inch waist.
If you need a pack that can survive daily abuse, international travel, and everything in between, the Rush 12 has already proven itself. In my book, it’s the definition of buy once, cry once.
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