5.11 Tactical’s MOAB 3 “Sling Pack”. Inside I’m carrying a Springfield Armory Echelon 4.0c, on the outside I have a Benchmade SOCP dagger, and a Crusader Weaponry Patch. That’s it. Not my wallet or keys, or folding knife. Being worn as the name implies… “Sling Pack” is what 5.11 calls it… You can carry it like this. Can. And it’s okay in doing so if you’re driving. But in walking, jogging, and actually living like a human… The MOAB 3 doesn’t quite work. The weight of the pack is going to strive to follow gravity. This means it and its sling are going to rotate, and this will twist things up on you. And that means you will be constantly adjusting this pack to put it back to where you want it to be. Telling it to “Stay” doesn’t work. The MOAB 3 doesn’t listen. Now, if you include in the cargo manifest 1 or 2 or 3 loaded spare magazines, then the fidgeting is magnified accordingly.
If you were thinking of one of these, now is the time to snag one. 5.11 has a 25% Off sale. Normally, 50 bucks, I paid $40.22. The pouch has 2 pockets. One main, with plenty of room for a Glock 19 sized pistol… And the smaller front pocket with some low effort organizing, but I’m not sure what for. Maybe some ear pods. You can keep a pen and wallet in there, a couple spare mags… And that it. It’s small. Remember when I said 3 spares? That was beyond optimistic. The MOAB 3 is very small. And with that, there are some limitations. If you want more room and capacity, I suggest the MOAB 6, which is designed as an actual Sling Bag. They retail for about 80. If you want a chesticle pack, I suggest the Skyweight Chest Pack. They come in two flavors. Utility for 45 dollars, and Survival for 33.75. The molle webs on the Survival might prove to be more useful, for less money. But the utility is a bit lower profile. If you want to wear the MOAB 3 as a Fanny Pack, you certainly can… But I suggest the COVRT Select Pistol Pouch. It’s a lower profile design that doesn’t scream “Tactical! I’ve got a pistol!”
The other downside to the MOAB 3 is the strap its self. The buckle is nice, but the strap is just a hot mess. I don’t see myself wearing this thing at all, for any reason. But is it a lost cause? Did I waste my money? No… Not really. Because it can attach nicely and securely to another pack. Like my RUSH 24. If you have a pack that has molly webbing, you can attach the MOAB3 to it for some added storage. That’s a nice touch that other 5.11 sling bags don’t have. Yes, it can be a Backpack for your Backpack. Backpack Inception. I don’t mean to be down on the MOAB 3, it’s a cool little Pack and it just might fit you bill perfectly. Best Use for this? Put your TQ and First Aid Kit in here and put a Red Cross patch on the Front. This is almost PERFECT for that. But for carrying a loaded pistol in it? Sub-Optimal due to the Slower Nature of trying to draw from this thing thanks to the recessed zipper and covering lip.
So yes, it’s a cool little unit, but not for what 5.11 wants you to think it’s for.
