The Tango Arc’teryx main Backpack
I’ve been reading up on various military packs with the intention to buy one for winter camping purposes. My criteria: it had to be large and it had to be durable. The civilian packs I’ve had in the past just couldn’t stand up to the use and abuse I put them through and I’d wind up replacing them about every three or four years.
The Arc’Teryx ILBE Tango pack may have solved that problem. (ILBE stands for Individual or Improved Load Bearing Equipment. The military has to have acronyms for everything.) This pack is durable, rugged and heavy, so if you’re an ultra light hiker this pack is definitely not for you. If you’re interested in a pack that can stand up to some heavy duty use and is designed to carry a lot of weight you might want to listen up.
If you follow this link you’ll get a good idea of the physical characteristics of the pack, so what I’m going to talk about is my general impression of it and what stands out in my mind.
First, the pack is 450 cubic inches and weighs about 7.5 to 8 lbs empty. Like I said, not for the ultra light hiker. When you pick it up you can tell right away that it’s well made – think Cadillac of packs here.
Another thing I noted when I put it in on is that it’s comfortable. It molded to my back nicely and the waist belt is thick and felt good when I clipped it on. Lighter weight packs sometimes go with just a strap, which is fine when you’re only carrying 20 pounds, but when you get to carrying 50 and 60 pound loads you’ll appreciate the thicker and more comfortable waist belt.
Below are a few pictures I took hiking it in the hills the other day. I only carried about 30 lbs, but it handled beautifully and Mrs Jarhead put it on and carried it back down the mountain to get a feel for it.
Her opinion? She liked it.
I’ve written an observation under each picture below.
This would make a good hunting pack. Notice how it blends nicely into the background while the Missus is wearing it.
There’s an extendable portion for when you pack a lot of gear. In most packs this is a very flimsy piece of the pack, but on this rucksack it’s very durable.
This pack has a top pouch, which to me is a very important feature of any pack. This is where maps, compass, lighter, headlamp, and other small, but essential items go for quick retrieval. The zippers are heavy duty and there’s a piece of rubber attached to the zipper handle that makes opening and closing it very easy.
The canteen/water bottle holder is deep and wide enough for just about anything you want to set in there and I really like this feature of the pack a lot. Most other packs are designed to carry a Nalgene bottle, so it’s refreshing to see this one able to handle more than just civilian water bottles.
If you like the big Camelbaks this pack comes equipped to carry it on the outside so you don’t lose space internally. Personally I don’t care for them, but I know a lot of people really like them and if it’s a selling point for you this pack has it.
Here you can see the part that molds itself to your back, which makes it very comfortable to wear. You can also see the thick hip belt in this picture.
There are also carrying/handling straps on the back and top of the pack. When I was in the service these would have come in handy when we were loading up a truck with packs that needed to be shipped out. You can use two hands to grab the pack and set it place with minimal fuss. I like this feature a lot too.
Now lets discuss price. If you followed the link above you probably saw that new it goes for around $445 at that site. I found the Arc’Teryx Main Pack on Amazon under used goods for about $100. The total price I paid for the pack and shipping was $103.
Another cool thing about this pack is that there’s a smaller combat pack that piggy backs onto it. You read that right, the smaller combat pack attaches and can then be removed for shorter duration usage. I haven’t done it yet, but I did order the smaller “go to Hell” pack and when it arrives I’ll do another post about it.
Summary
This pack is definitely going to be my new winter pack, whether I carry it on my back snowshoeing or pull it along on a sled it’s got the capacity to hold my winter equipment – including ice climbing gear. It’s also durable enough that I hope to have it five or ten years before needing to replace it. That’s a big goal for me, but just holding this pack in my hands has given me hope.
One area this pack would be good is as a bug-out bag. It’s got huge capacity and you could pack enough gear and food for a week or two. Just remember that it’s going to be heavy fully loaded, so if you have to walk out with it make sure you’ve been exercising regularly or it’ll probably kill you.
I’ll write more about this pack as I become more familiar with it. Stay tuned!
Jarhead Survivor
BTW: Awhile back I wrote about getting some MILSURP gear and putting it up for sale here. I might have some sleeping bags for sale soon if you’re interested. They are scheduled to arrive this week and before I sell them I need to check them over to make sure they’re worthy of being sold. I won’t sell you guys junk – that’s a promise. Let’s put it this way, if I’m not comfortable sleeping in these bags in cold weather I won’t put them up for sale.
Also, if I like this pack well enough after using it some more I might buy a few and put them up for sale as well. I’ve got to say though that it’s a pretty big pain in the butt bidding, buying, and getting everything shipped out, so if you’re not interested I won’t bother.
Let me know what you think below would ya?
Questions? Comments? Sound off below!
37 comments
How much are the back packs? I have one right now and love it but would like another for my son.
The one I bought was about $100 used.
Very cool review – thanks for the write-up and the pictures really help us with the description.
For civilain purposes and if you aren’t 18-28 years old in excellent condition the primary thing to look for in a pack is it’s weight. If the fricking pack weighs 5 lbs then that is 5 lbs of stuff you won’t be able to carry with you. Without exception every time I review/read about someones bugout bag or get home bag or get out of dodge bag the damn thing is too heavy. The pack is too heavy and the contents are too heavy. If you haven’t hiked multiple day hikes or hiked 20 miles at a time then you are fooling yourself thinking you can carry 70 lbs or even 45 lbs. My advice is to shoot for 20 lbs, accept 25 lbs including water and food. Get a pack that weighs about a pound and cut off anything not needed.
Another point. I love a good boot. I intentionally have purchased 3 pair of good boots and taken the time to break them in so that I could walk 20 miles in them. If tomorrow I had to hike 20 mile over hilly terrain I would wear my light sneakers that weigh about 8 oz. Experience has shown me those damned heavy boots will weigh a ton after 5-10 miles.
100% correct about footwear. I have always purchased quality shoes & boots because that makes or breaks you. Many times I see people trying to cheap out on footwear & try to compensate or justify the cost differential BUT it is the long haul that tells the tale with a sore back, feet legs or all three. Then follows up with the major pain in the ass … :-)
GoneWithTheWind – I agree with your assessment on some points. First – the pack weight. I’ve used ultra light packs in the past and where they cut weight is in padding, straps, and thickness of the pack material itself. I hiked one on the App. Trail for awhile and it had it’s good and bad points.
Good – it was light. That’s about it.
Bad – it was woefully “underpowered” I guess is a good word. You could literally see through it and tell what was inside of it. If it caught on the slightest rock or twig it would tear the material and you had to be very careful when setting it down. It didn’t have a top flap so when it rained water would flow right inside the pack if you didn’t put a poncho over it. Etc Etc.
This pack – The Tango – is admittedly 180 degrees of that mark. It’s almost *too* rugged. That’s what makes it a good combat pack.
For the use and abuse I put a winter pack through this is exactly the kind of gear I need. Others may or may not find it useful to them. And I agree also that you need to be in good shape to carry this bad boy around, which is what I state in the post. I’m 49 years old, but I’ve managed to keep myself in excellent physical condition over the years and am willing to trade off the heavy weight of the pack for the utility it provides me in the winter.
Is it for everybody? Definitely not, but if you’re looking for a durable bug-out bag that will carry a lot of gear then this is a good pack to look at.
Footwear – I like good lightweight hiking boots for the summer and heavier plastic boots for the winter. Like Jason says, this is not an area you want to skimp on when you’re shopping for footwear. You WILL pay the price eventually.
I’m 49 , and can load up my Molle II with about 70 lbs of stuff and deal with it . No its not a barrel of laughs but I’m not struggling either . Another thing , thats what my truck is for . Getting me as far as I can go without hitting dirt . When I do hit dirt , I sure as hell am not going to be marching 20 miles a day , seriously , whats the hurry ? If you think you need to march 20 miles a day to just to get away from the bad guys ……then something is not right with your planning , not to mention your problems are bigger than your packs weight , people will walk right past you not knowing your there 50 yards away if your concealed and quiet . I dont like to do without , and if something is going to be bad enough to force me out of my own home …..then I damn well know I wont be going back any time soon , So yeah , my pack is 70 – 75 lbs . You cant be a fat ass and do that your right , too much weight ? not for me , when I was in my 30’s I used to do reenacting and would spend all day in full plate armor made of 14g steel from head to toe , 70 lbs of plate outside with 35 lbs of chainmail inside . ……then beat the crap out of each other all day long . The weight wasnt the problem ….its the heat . it can be done . Just sayin
footwear that is good ………yes that is a must .
That must have been really cool to clank around & whale on each other but must have been a bitch if you fell over!
My son does a thing called belegarth but they wear no armor & use foam padded spears, swords, axes & other medieval weaponry that are weighted. They spend all day attacking & beating the crap out of each other – he loves it & he is quite the aggressor.
Haha , that is a myth ! you have full movement , and because the weight is distributed all over your body , getting up after a knock down is no problem , getting up using your hands isnt practical because the other person is still beating on you , so you use your legs in a modified squat in combination with rolling . We used the real weapons , stabs were not permitted for that reason . Cut up sleeping bag mats make great padding and between the chain and plate , you dont get hurt . you just sweat like a pig . Then the rest of the week is spent pounding out dents and fixing broken or cut straps . The myth of not being able to get up was for tournament armor , sports equipment of the day , tilt armor was front heavy because that was the only direction they needed to protect from and yes they needed help getting up , combat armor is a different animal , a warrior could easily move and fight in it ………..or they wouldn’t have used it . Just sayin
I should mention tho , and its a bit interesting …….when you ware wearing full plate armor , you have complete sensory deprivation . You have to seriously keep an eye on what is around you so you dont slam into it .
Can’t wait to see the sleeping bags Jarhead…if its good enough for you, then its good enough for me
Hey Doc – they came in yesterday and I’m very happy to report that they all seemed to be in really good shape. I’ll write a post over the weekend and let you know how they look and all that. I’d like to try one out and see how well it sleeps. More to follow…
-JS
Very cool !!!!!!! I wondered how long before you got one . I have the current issue Molle II , Im happy with it , holds a lot of stuff .
Have you heard anything about these?
http://eberlestock.com/V69%20Destroyer%20and%20V90%20Battleship.htm
Also, interested in the sleeping bags. What kind are they?
Holy cow! Those packs are monsters!!!
Adam, I’m going to write a post over the weekend about the sleeping bags. Stay tuned.
I was looking at the Eberlestock blue widow , I would have picken one up in mossy oak brush but didnt want to plunk down almost $400 . Eberlestock does make packs for the military , check out the blue widow , it looks like one of the most customizable packs they make .
Adam,
That pack is appropriately named – Battleship! You could pack a couple of small children in it & still have room for a couple dozen watermelons. Jeez – that thing is huge!
Yes it is. I was looking more at the Destroyer one, which is 60L as opposed to 99L. Obviously it’s fairly expensive, but it’s made for the European military market, so it’ll be sturdy. The Destroyer (7.25 pounds) is only 1-2 pounds more than a good backpacking pack (which are between 5-6.5 pounds). Didn’t know if anyone had done a review to see about the quality compared to one of those.
Thanks much Calamity.
Great comments too!. Seasoned woodsman friends of mine carried a three layer survival system. 1,) A small metal can in their pocket stuffed with essentials. 2.) a day pack suspended from a load bearing belt –and -3.) A high tech full size backpack. It’s amazing how easy it is to get separate from the pack.
Right on Calamity – WRITE ON!
“Yoda’s Little Known Tactics To Avoid Being A Target.”
http://www.magnifiedview.com
Yoda are you just baiting us here. For IDUncle I say “it’s Jarhead Survivor this time.
And for Jason ” Did you even read this?”.
BTW Jarhead, like this review. Also like the used price. I’m almost tempted to do some winter camping. The skies are so crisp and clear. You don’t have to worry about rain:-). Have you thought about hammocks. They sound interesting. Of course I bought a one man backpack tent that I like right now. But the whole hammock thing sounds intriguing. The durability if this pack is a good selling point. When I stuff my coleman Max (yeah it’s cheesy) I’m afraid it will burst it’s seams.
Thanks D’ja’c.
I couldn’t have said it, even as well myself.
Yoda, Yoda, Yoda ….
Stop being a complete idiot will ya? If you are trying to impress people with your vast knowledge of …. whatever, listening & comprehension is a pretty crucial factor – unless of course, you thought Calamity & Jarhead were one in the same.
Also, an elementary “Whois” search of your website shows your lack of target avoidance. If you are trying to come off as an expert in ‘counterterrorism’ which by the way, is the correct word & spelling, try mastering some of the basics.
It is really embarrassing to read your lofty claims then seeing such foolish mistakes that even the real Yoda would have melted your brain for the name association.
Right on? Yes Yoda, RIDE ON!
Yeh I got one of these ’bout 1 year back , I’v torn up 4 seams- the hard point for both lower pack straps and one zipper. My pack had a fail point around 65lb. Above that it just came un-glued. I hope your ruck is better than mine was. PS Mine is USMC issue(tagged).
Thanks for the insight, Ray. I’ll keep a close eye on mine.
Jarhead, first of all happy 237th birthday my brother and Semper Fi, after work I will have a piece of cake and a glass of Makers Mark in your honor along with all our brothers and sisters past and present serving.
I picked up an issued pack through a friend that’s a Sgt. Major and love it, although with a bum knee it doesn’t get fully humped. It’s apart of my BOB with all my Tac/Hunt gear and equipment that gets tossed in the vehicle or the bikes trailer.
Semper Fi PRK Prepper! Happy birthday USMC!
Some years back while making a rim to rim hike in the Grand canyon I met two other hikers in trouble. One of them was so bad I considered sending for help. He was a Marine PT instructor who was carrying too much weight. Part of this was intentional, to prove he could do it and part of it was ignorance in that he didn’t understand the debilitating effect of the weight over time and miles. I left them a quart of water I could spare and never saw them again. I assume they finally made it out OK. I wasn’t in to ultralight way back then (1973), I’m not even sure ultralight and hiking had ever been used in the same sentence back then. But my pack was intentionally “light”. If you are going to go any distance your heavy pack will inhibit your speed, distance and stamina. Are the light packs “bullet proof”? Obvously not but I have never ripped on or had one fail. Does that mean I took some “extra” care with my gear? You bet your sweet ass I do and I do that even if it is the best quality stuff on earth. Now, I can buy my 26 year old son Carhart bibs for working and within a month he will have ripped them, worn out the knees or done some other damage to them. That’s how he treats everything he owns or uses. Would I let him drive my care or borrow my tools? Not a chance. Treat your equipement good and it will treat you good.
One question about the ILBE .
I was told that the side pockets were designed to hold the weight of a mortar tube , is that correct ?
Man, I don’t know. I was in a 60 MM mortar platoon for awhile and we had straps to carry the tubes. But that was back in the day of dear sweet ALICE as well. Anybody out there have an answer?
Does anyone make a pack that is fabric with a rubber liner that has a drain valve on the bottom so you can empty the water from a sack without removing the contents and turning it upside down? I didn’t see that feature in the previous link and I do not have it in my cheap one.
Great review! I picked two up last night on Amazon for my wife and I. I am now shopping for sleeping bags and was wondering if the 4 piece modular is the one you were alluding to above? I took a look at the Wiggy’s FTRSS but the price is easily double that of the GI 4 piece modular system. Any recs for a 3+/4 season tent that can accommodate 2 adults, an infant, and a small dog?
Thanks R.V. I hope your experience is as good with these packs as mine.
Friday’s post has to do with the military bags you talk about here. Hang in til then and see what you think.
-JS
Also – there’s a pretty big difference in 3 and 4 season tents both in price and in construction. The four seasons are very sturdy and meant to stand up to high winds and snow. They are also much more expensive than three season tents. What state do you live in?
I had been thinking about upgrading our bug out bags for a couple months now and your review gave me enough concrete data to pull the trigger on the ILBE Tango Arc-Teryx Main Backpack. I got them for $90 each in like new condition now I am just hoping that they arrive with the all the parts. I then went on eBay and picked up 2 new WXP 3L hydration systems to add to the packs ($25/each). I can’t wait to see your review of the 4 piece modular as I ordered 2 new ones today from eBay and keeping with the USMC theme was also able to snag a like new Diamond USMC Combat 2 man 3 season tent. I am finishing up medical school at Stanford in the Bay Area, CA so I figured that I would go with this 3 tent as a lot of reviewers describe it as more of a 3+ season tent with a 0-120 F range plus it has 3 poles giving it solid wind/rain/snow resistance. At $120 shipped in like new condition w/ all the parts/repair kit I couldn’t justify spending another 3-4 hundred given our geographic location. Our bug out situation is made more challenging with a 2 month old and a small dog so I am also looking at picking up the assault packs to add more bug out carrying capacity…can’t wait to see your review on the assault packs. I’ll be poring through your blog to look for recs in the others areas that I still need to prep (wood/alcohol stoves, ceramic water filters, bug out clothing, optics/bipods/slings for my current battery of arms AR15/Rem700/Moss930/10-22/G34 as I have stepped up my prep into high gear the last couple months given geopolitical events coupled with the new and growing fear of a financial collapse that I am personally hearing and seeing in the movers and shakers of Silicon Valley/Biotech Bay.
Sounds like you’ve made some solid purchases, R.V. I’d be very interested to see what you think of the tent you bought.
As far as stoves there are some posts here on how to make your own alcohol stove if you’re interested in saving money – there’s a search bar in the right part of the screen just above the picture of the mother and daughter canning. Just type in alcohol stove in the search bar.
Thanks for reading and good luck, man!
Very good.Thank you very much
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