Who it suits

The FAST Pack EDC is an 1800 cu in / 31 liter backpack with a lot of configuration possibilities. When the pack came out of the box it was sent in, our first impression was “Whoa, that’s a lot of webbing…”.

This pack means business and it shows in all kinds of ways. Apart from durability, high-quality materials and that “gosh, I need to not get in the way of that cool dude with the bag right there ’cause I will seriously get my ass kicked” look, the FAST Pack EDC is very, very modular. The volume is sufficient enough for you to haul almost anything. The pack itself is much like other bags with one main compartment with one interior pouch, two front compartments and two side pockets, and a separate compartment for a laptop or hydration bag. But with the added webbing and the transporter tail you can attach climbing stuff, helmets, extra pouches or any gear that will not fit into a normal compartment. The straps are highly configurable and can be detached with a click of the buckles.

So if you’re looking for a high-quality (tactical) backpack with lots of configuration possibilities, you’ve found it.

Performance

Space

At 31 liters, the FAST Pack EDC is definitely not the biggest backpack out there. Within that context, the size is still right for a day trip where you need to carry some gear or a multiday trip packing light. The main compartment is roomy, although not bulky.

Pockets and organising

The pockets on the FAST Pack EDC are just right. We found ourselves having an item that needed to be stashed and it was drawn magically to the right pocket: front and side pockets for quick access, main compartment and inner pocket for regulars. The only drawback is the lower front pocket, which cannot easily be accessed if the “transporter tail” is in use.

The webbing makes for other pouches to be attached easily. The zippers are big and great, they open in a wink. There’s a back section for hydration (which also doubles as a laptop compartment if you want it to.

Then there’s the Transporter Tail, that can hold your not so average item. Heck, there’s even Fast Pack Friday on packconfig.tumblr.com which is dedicated to all kinds of configurations (including TAD’s Fast Pack Litespeed).

Comfort

One of our first tests was an hour long hike with some 15 kgs in the pack. I was almost surprised when I wore the pack at first. It fit like a glove! I’m about 6 feet 1 and 80 kilograms and the sizing was just right. The shoulder straps can be varied in lots of ways: the straps at the bottom can be tightened or loosened, the straps on the top can be tightened or loosened, the distance between the pack and the straps can be adjusted and, if necessary, the straps can be detached. Having said that, my girlfriend tried it and for her the waist belt was much too large (and yes… I’m happy about that ;-)).

The bag itself is rather heavy at 72 oz /2.1 kgs, but when wearing it, the weight is divided evenly, the waist belt does its job and the form of the pack enables the contents to be vertically divided instead of horizontally, which gives it more stability. The top handle is reinforced with Hypalon and is as sturdy as top handles get.

The straps and the back of the bag are padded. The straps at first give the impression of being rather thin, but once you feel them around your shoulders it becomes clear their form is adjusted to your body and less padding becomes necessary. What might get annoying is that the straps should be connected to straps on the front of the bag. This will improve carry comfort because the load can be closer to your back, but it means you have to disconnect the buckles every time you need to open the pack. Finally, the padding on the back has good ventilation.