Luke Cuenco 06.23.21
You may or may have not heard of the concept of “The Grey Man,” the concept of a prepared operator hiding in plain sight. Grey Man Tactical has made a name for themselves in the tactical world as being a provider of their Rigid MOLLE Panels (R.M.P.) which are a great way to organize tactical and everyday carry (EDC) gear. Grey Man Tactical has just released their new Stealth 20L Backpack and they also sent me over one for review so today we’ll be going over the features of this new Grey Man Backpack.
Grey Man Tactical sent along with a few accessories including two pieces of RMP, a First Aid Kit, two magazine pouches, and a G-Code RTI style holster mounting kit. I have used all of these items as part of the review to help demonstrate the usefulness of the Stealth 20L backpack when used in tandem with the RMP system.
REVIEW: The New Stealth 20L Backpack from Grey Man Tactical
Stealth 20L Specifications:
- 20 Liters of Internal Space (1225 cubic inches)
- 3.35 lbs
- Max Load: 90 lbs/40 kg
- Outside Dimensions: 11.75” W x 17.5” H x 7.75” D
- Interior Dimensions: 10.75” W x 17” H x 6.75” D
- Available in Black or Grey
- MSRP: $149.99 with RMP sold separately
Grey Man
The Stealth 20L has a lot of features packed into what is a truly discreet backpack. The Backpack doesn’t feature any large logos or markings to indicate that it is anything other than an everyday backpack. There is a single back-facing strip of loop material where you can mount patches so I added a single blacked-out American flag patch to help me orient the bag. I also opted to add a small “remove before flight” tag as well to help remind me of which side was up.
The Back features two handles and can be carried either vertically or horizontally which I found really useful when traveling through the airport transit system. I never found myself fumbling with the bag even though I had 3-days worth of clothing as well as my tablet, chargers, toiletries, and cables all stored inside the backpack.
Since I was flying I didn’t have any weapons on me at the time but I didn’t get any odd looks like I normally would have with a multi-cam bag or something with a bunch of MOLLE on the outside of it. This bag really does blend in and looks like a laptop bag – it also works perfectly as a laptop bag and can handle larger laptops with no problems.
Storage Space
In total there are only 5 pockets on the Stealth 20L. The front pocket goes nearly the full width and height of the backpack which is great for tablets, keyboards, or papers that aren’t very thick. The main compartment features a soft backing that can be used with hook material to secure just about anything to the interior of the pack. This is where I chose to mount the smaller of the two RMP panels I was sent. I was able to fit a SIG P320 Compact, a spare magazine, CAT Tourniquet, and First Aid Kit. Even after all of these attachments I still had room for more items but I saved some of my other MOLLE attachment items for the larger panel which I opted to place in the rearmost compartment.
Having the firearm and spare magazine stored and oriented in a repeatable direction was great for being able to have access to it at a moments notice and I didn’t have to worry about the gun tumbling around in the back of the bag and getting caught up in other items being stored there. The rear mounting pieces for the holster and mag pouches were made from aluminum and very sturdy. The only problem I had here was getting the pieces to fit within the RMP panel cells but with a bit of light hammering I was able to get them to pop in no problem – I’d rather have them snugly fit than loosely.
The Interior of the main compartment also features two smaller zipper closing pockets which were great for stowing loose cables or other small items that you don’t want to have to go digging for when opening the bag.
The Rearmost compartment has a soft divider in the lower half of it and also features a rigid backing that helps the Stealth 20L keep its shape. It was this compartment that I chose to store my larger RMP panel which housed my radio, full tang knife, backup power supply as well as my night vision observation device.
I found that the RMP panels were really handy to use with attaching just about anything and further along down the road I may purchase more hook and loop material in order to make my own straps as they work very well for mounting my EDC equipment to the panels making them easier to work with when outside of the bag.
Comfort and Use
Outside of air travel and everyday use, I also made an effort to take the bag with me on a short overnight backpacking trip on the Abandoned Pennsylvania Turnpike (look out for that review on Alloutdoor.com). The Stealth 20L really isn’t designed for this type of use but I thought I’d give it a try anyway since it did have a pocket in the rear and space for a hydration bladder tube to come through.
I didn’t get anywhere close to the 90lbs of gear that the bag claims it can support but I didn’t have a light load either. I carried a full 3L hydration bladder as well as a bump helmet, sleeping bag, canteens, MREs, and a few other odds and ends for camping and the bag handled it all just fine.
The shoulder straps were comfortable to wear for about the first 10 hours but after extended use, the padding proved to be a bit much for my shoulders and I don’t blame the bag at all for this – it is nowhere near as puffy and padded as a dedicated backpacking bag and is geared more towards EDC use where you’re not wearing the bag nonstop for two days.
Conclusions
Overall, the Grey Man Tactical Stealth 20L is a fine backpack for just about anything. It excels at everyday carry applications and keeps your gear organized and ready to go at a moment’s notice with the use of Grey Man’s RMP panels. The material is durable, the zippers are solid with great pre-installed pull tabs and the bag can be adapted to almost any situation (overnight bag for quick trips out of town or every day carry duty) in the blink of an eye.
If I could change anything about the Stealth 20L it would be to have maybe just a few more internal pockets for storing stuff like keys, loose change, and smaller items that don’t necessarily fit within the realm of the RMP attachment method. Other than that, this is a solid backpack that is not just adaptable, but tough as well.
Pros: Discrete, large, and adaptable, and suitable for everyday carry and office use without flagging yourself as a threat.
Cons: Limited pocket space for smaller items
Bottom Line: The Stealth 20L is at its best when used as a daily carry bag for keeping your life-saving gear and work gear all in one place, however, it can double as an overnight bag in a pinch and can store enough clothes for 3 days so you don’t need to waste time in the checked baggage line.
Grey Man Tactical Backpack F.A.Qs
What should be in a tactical backpack?
A tactical backpack or everyday carry pack should ideally keep everything you’ll need with you for one or two days of normal activity. It’s a good idea to keep things like spare batteries, water, snacks, laptops, chargers, and a pen with you and a firearm can also be a part of your everyday carry if you’re not a fan of on-body concealed carry.
What are Rigid MOLLE Panels?
The RMP Series provides a vertical organizational platform for quick and easy access in conquering your gear. With universal MOLLE compatibility, your RMP™ can be quickly redesigned to enable optimal customization for any task.
What material are the Rigid MOLLE Panels?
3/16″ Black HDPE
Are the Rigid MOLLE Panels weather resistant?
Yes, they are. Constant UV exposure may damage them over the course of several years.
Do the Rigid MOLLE Panels accept my brand of MOLLE pouches?
We have tested a wide range of the most popular MOLLE Pouch brands and all have worked. You may need to modify the weave because of the thickness of the panel, but you can still attach the pouch firmly to the panel. WTF straps work great for pouches that do not have an integral strap built-in.
What Diameter are the holes around the outside edge?
All panels have 0.25″ (1/4 inch) holes around the outside edge to facilitate the use of paracord, shock cord, Chicago bolts, or mounting screws. Some Panels have 0.125″ (1/8 inch) holes lined up for use with specific Pelican Case Lid Mounting points.
I’d like to extend a personal thank you to Grey Man Tactical for facilitating this review and providing the gear necessary for it.
