The first thing you notice about this bag is that its good looking to the point where people say “whoa” the first time they see it. The low-profile laser-cut molle slots jump out at you immediately, with the tan nylon material of the internal layer peeking out from behind the clean black external surface creating a “grill” effect, maybe hinting at the amount of “heat” inside the bag just waiting to be let out. Upon closer inspection the quality of the construction is apparent, with heavy duty seams, zippers and super durable nylon fabric that screams “I can take a beating”. The cardboard tag attached to the bag from the factory states that ESS products come with a lifetime unconditional warranty as well, however based on my use of this bag I wouldn’t expect to need to call that in under normal civilian use.

Taking a look under the hood, the quality manufacturing continues to stand out, and the cool factor increases as you realize the bags internal pockets are covered in hook and loop, and the various pockets can be moved around and configured however you choose for a particular load out, hence the name.

Here is a blurb about the company and the specs for the bag from the ESS website :

Elite Survival Systems is a US based company manufacturing premium quality tactical nylon equipment for military, law enforcement and the shooting enthusiast. Our products are sold primarily through our network of dealers and distributors, as well as military and law enforcement sales. We are a GSA contract holder, and products are available at gsaadvantage.gov. Products can also be purchased online through our website, and can be ordered over the phone via our print catalog.

• 1050 denier nylon construction for maximum durability
• YKK zippers and heavy-duty hardware
• Closed-cell foam padding provides superior protection for your gear
• Low-Profile Laser-cut MOLLE slots on front and end pockets allow for attachment of accessory pouches
• Wrap-around handles with Velcro handle-wrap closure
• Luggage rails on bottom of bag protect contents from harsh, uneven surfaces, keeps base of bag clean, and adds structure
• Removable dump pouch attaches to belt and MOLLE platform
• Exterior water bottle pocket
• Large, fully-padded front pocket includes the following removable Velcro pouches:
• Mag pouch holds a minimum of 8 magazines
• Eyewear pouch
• Mesh parts pouch with Velcro flap
• Side pocket contains removable AR mag pouch which holds 2-4 magazines
• Large main compartment holds at least four guns plus accessories, and has the following features:
• Fully-padded lid opens fully down the back of the bag for complete visibility and access to the main compartment. The lid doubles as a gun mat and has a mesh document pocket
• Lift-out insert has an adjustable divider and plenty of room for ammo and accessories
• Pull-out pistol pouch includes a padded divider, holds at least two handguns, and is held in place with hook and loop
• Interior handgun compartments on ends of bag are large enough to hold a full-sized handgun in each
• Available in black and coyote tan
• Dims: 17″ x 10″ x 11″

My first trip to the range with this bag was the 2017 NSSF World Championship Rimfire Challenge in Alabama, a three day match which didn’t require a typical range loadout since it was primarily rimfire and I wasn’t bringing my own guns. I experimented with the modular nature of the bag and moved some of the pouches around, while also added some admin pouches using the molle and hook/loop fasteners. The bag proved super versatile and useful for everything i needed for three days on a range, including extras like food and water.

The following weekend i spent an entire day on a private range in rural Virginia training with a few of the other Spotter Up guys. This was a more traditional range trip for me so i quickly and easily adjusted my loadout to suit the ocassion. In this case i wanted to bring multiple centerfire pistols and rifles, so the loadout would require multiple magazines, ammo and some of the guns themselves.

I loaded the removable “lunchbox” pouch with pistol and rifle ammo, sandwiched two pistols comfortably and safely between the cushioned sleeves and placed my ear pro, eye pro, timer and additional admin pouch inside the main compartment comfortably and in an easily accessible and organized manner. I brought 8 extra pistol magazines and 4 rifle magazines using the supplied mag pouches, and filled the other pouches with cleaning supplies, lubricant, batteries, tools and any other small range bag essentials i have learned to keep handy. I also clipped my yeti and keys to the D rings on the exterior of the bag for easy access.

Once i got to the range, i set the bag down on the ground and went to work unpacking. The first thing i realized about the bag in this setting is how awesome the full-open zippered panels are. Being able to unzip the panels on three sides of the bag, to fully access the pouches on the interior and to use the flaps as mats for all your supplies is really an excellent design and i enjoyed not having to put my stuff directly on the ground. Using the open flaps as mats kept my guns, magazines and ammo clean, and also easier to keep track of.

Getting out to the range this weekend for some pistol and rifle work was a great opportunity to test this bag. I loaded it up almost to capacity with respect to volume and I brought about 500 rounds of 9mm and about 300 rounds of 5.56. The bag was about as heavy as i was willing to carry for any average range trip, and seemed constructed appropriately to handle this amount of weight. The shoulder strap is nicely cushioned, there was absolutely no doubt that the bag was strong enough to handle the weight of this loadout and I never worried about the integrity of the straps, handles or seams. This bag is built like a tank, and i wouldn’t be afraid to let it get wet either. It doesn’t make any claims to be waterproof, but the nylon material and the sealed zippers look like they can handle a shower without compromising the interior of the bag.

As a final bonus, the bag comes with a removable drop pouch with molle straps that you can take off the bag and add to your belt. I used this drop pouch all day at the range, and it worked great. The pouch folds up into a small low profile package and secures with velcro when you don’t need it, and it functioned great to hold all my empty mags during the range session.

If you are looking for a high quality range bag in the $100-150 range, i can strongly recommend the Loadout from Elite Survival Systems.

You can buy the bag direct from the website but i found them easily below MSRP with a quick google search online. https://www.elitesurvival.com/range-bags/loadout-range-bag/baf

Material Disclosure

I received this product as a courtesy from the manufacturer via Spotter Up so I could test it and give my honest feedback. I am not bound by any written, verbal, or implied contract to give this product a good review. All opinions are my own and are based off my personal experience with the product.

*The views and opinions expressed on this website are solely those of the original authors and contributors. These views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of Spotter Up Magazine, the administrative staff, and/or any/all contributors to this site.