KIT & GEAR SITE TO STREET
THE FINAL TWOFER!
ALL GOOD THINGS COME TO AN END AND SO IT IS WITH THE BAGS FRENCHIE RECEIVED FROM VIPER FOR REVIEW. IN THIS, THE LAST PART OF HIS SERIES, HE LOOKS AT TWO FINAL ITEMS THAT HAVE MADE THE TRANSITION FROM “SITE TO STREET”.
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his month I’m going to do a “two in the one” review, mainly because one of them, the Modular Carry Pouch, defies even my abilities to write a full article about it! It’s not that there’s anything wrong with it, quite the opposite, but it simply doesn’t justify several thousand words on its own. I’ll start with the larger of the two, the Viper Tactical Covert Pack. Once again there is some confusion in the nomenclature - I’m not sure what about this bag is “covert” but we’ll just have to let that slide. The Covert Pack is a relatively low-profile backpack, my example arrived in Coyote with black accents, although it is also available in all the various colours that Viper offers. In addition to the padding on the back, there is a large “covert” sleeve, accessed at the top. Be aware that this sleeve is open at both lower corners, so don’t put anything small in there or it will likely escape, never to be seen again. They shouldn’t escape as there is a pocket at the bottom of the sleeve that is clearly intended to catch and protect them, but I wouldn’t bet that anything will actually end up in the pocket as it tends to lie very flat to the back of the bag. An odd bit of design if I’m being honest, I can’t help but feel it would have been easier to close the bottom and be done with it... For use off site, this sleeve will just accommodate a 14” laptop but getting it in is a fiddle as it tends to catch on the edges of the aforementioned pocket. It’s also not terribly comfortable when the pack is on your back as it is very rigid. Fortunately, if lugging laptops is your thing, the bladder pouch in the main compartment also accommodates the same 14” device much more 84
JULY 2021
easily, and although the broad elastic retention strap is tight, it certainly holds everything securely. Since I received this for review, this is the principal role it has been performing and I rate it highly, I’ll go into more detail why later in the article. The padding on the back is adequate given its intended use, likewise the straps; although they are fairly lightly padded. There is plenty of length adjustment available and there is the inevitable sternum strap. If you like these, great; personally, I’m not a fan so I tend to dispose of them. In addition to the previously discussed sleeve on the back, there are two further compartments; the large main compartment and a smaller one on the front. The main compartment is of a decent size - in addition to the bladder/laptop pouch in there, there is a zipped mesh pocket which is ideal for keeping smaller items separate or safe. Above the bladder pouch are two velcro routing ties, along with the opening at the top of the pack for the drinking tube. Two further elasticated loops on either strap will keep the tube under control when not in use. The front pocket is accessed via two vertical zips, one on each side. It has a soft lining and so could be used to carry a tablet or similar but there is no other internal organisation whatsoever. As a result, I have tossed all the cables and miscellaneous items associated with my work laptop in there. They can be easily accessed and don’t require to be neatly, or separately, stored. The grab handle is reassuringly solid, as are the three rows of MOLLE webbing on the front should you wish to attach further storage. As with all the Viper bags I have been looking at, the zips and pullers
