Product Review: Blackhawk Wax Canvas Rucksack

Paul Carlson here for the Personal Defense Network. Folks, as a professional defensive firearms instructor and a firearms writer, I have to carry around a lot of gear, not just when I'm here at a place like the NRA Annual Meetings in Nashville, Tennessee, but on a general basis when I head to the range and when I cruise around doing my daily things. Finding the right bag has always been a challenge. But this past summer I had a visit with Blackhawk out in Montana and I found a bag that I'm absolutely thrilled with. Blackhawk has an outstanding line of products called the Wax Canvas Line. These bags don't look like tactical bags but they are pretty tactical nonetheless. They've got a lot of outstanding features that really separate them from other bags. First of all, obviously is the looks. They look like a casual bag like anyone might carry. It lets me fit in with the general population not just with the firearms industry, and I certainly appreciate that. They've got that nostalgic look that looks like maybe it came from a Grandpa's Footlocker, from his old gear from World War II and I really like that. When we look at the features of the bag, first of all, we've got this nice wax canvas bag. It has a great hand to the fabric and it's really a durable fabric. This happens to be my bag right here, I've been carrying it around on a daily basis now for six months and I'm very pleased. When we look at the zippers that are here on the bag, we've got zippers that are water resistant. We've got a zipper on the top flap so I can access to my laptop inside very easily. We also have a zipper that's here on the side. So this opens up and I can get to those compartments inside the bag very easily, I appreciate that. On the front of the bag, we've got some pretty outstanding buckles that use rare earth magnets, they're from a company called Fidlock. They slide from one side to the other and are very easily undone with one hand that lifts up that flap and gives us access to the inside of the bag. A draw string compresses down the top of the main compartment and if you can see in this main compartment here, we've got a big open area and then we've got a padded laptop case. Back here in the back hook and loop, this is the loop side so you can affix other gear such as holsters, whatever it might be that works for you in this bag. On the front, again rare earth magnets and magnetic strip in a nice little pouch. This is where I keep my electronics, perfect size for my iPad mini or recharger, my cell phone and a charging cable, et cetera. Down here on the bottom, zipper opens up for your admin pouch with several zippered pouches in the front. Very pleased with how this is laid out, key lanyard, et cetera. All of that is pretty cool and then we get to the back of the bag. Remember that loop panel I talked about on the inside of the bag? Here, two zippers open up your lumbar pad and get you access into this area of the backpack. This has the potential to be an outstanding bag to carry when you need to take your gun off of your body. We've got my bag that's sitting here right now that's fully loaded, and if I'm wearing this backpack and I need to access that back panel, I am simply able to use either of the two pull tabs here on the buckles and I can break away the strap. That then gets me access to this pouch here, where I could access my firearm if I need to. Certainly isn't an optimal situation for concealed carry but when it comes to needing to carry in an environment where I can't have the gun on my body but I do want to have a firearm with me, it's an option. I'm not a super fan of off-body carry, I prefer to carry on-body whenever possible but there are times, like when I went to the beach last week, where I wanted to have my firearm with me but it doesn't really fit into that swimsuit. It goes into the bag and I have it accessible, should I need it. Folks, give Blackhawk a look. We know they've been a player for a long time in the soft goods industry, they're here as part of Vista group, they make an outstanding product, and if you're into this look of the Wax Canvas Bag, Blackhawk's got your number.