Meet the 5.11 Rush 24
5.11 Tactical makes some of the finest quality military backpacks available on the consumer market. This company has never spared a penny in the material they use to construct their military quality gear. The RUSH 24 backpack is no exception.
By far, 5.11’s most popular all purpose assault pack, the RUSH 24 has everything you would need for a 24 hour mission or day hike. The overall dimensions are 20 H x 12 W x 7 D which provides plenty of storage for you gear. It’s main internal compartment is flexible and has dividers, while MOLLE webbing is present throughout. The 5.11 Rush 24 is actually amongst 
one of the most popular laptop/tablet bags. The bag comes in (4) flavors – Sandstone (a medium brown/beige), Black, Flat Dark Earth(a much brighter, more tan beige) and TAC OD(straight forward olive drab).
A 5.11 pack perfectly constructed
All of 5.11’s RUSH bags are completely MOLLE compatible and designed for tactical use in the field. The RUSH 24’s main compartment is constructed using 1050D nylon with water-repellent PUx2 coating while the pocket flaps and inside bags are made with 420D nylon and PUx2 water-repellent coating. The shoulder straps are made with Duraflex(TM) hardware, dual density closed-cell foam and are fully adjustable. Two back to back zippered pull tabs make easy access to the closed-cell foam padded hydration pocket. In true military form, there are even name tape and flag holders. Three sides have a web-platform for easy gear attachment and there is a convenient, ergonomic top grab handle. One of the features we noticed right away was the extremely large main compartment. Inside the main compartment 
are three organizing pockets made from a mesh material. There is a fabric pocket with zippered pull cords for things like identification or money.
The interior also has a large stuff pocket with a pull cord; this is convenient for misc small items such as keys or batteries. The bottom of this pack has two large drainage holes which are actually metal grommets. That is a feature you will only find on high-end packs. On the exterior of the RUSH 24, there are two side, flat, zipper pockets perfect for maps and any other documents you made need to bring along with you. The top of this pack has exterior book end, fleece-lined pockets for anything delicate you may have to take with you such as a smart phone, small tablet computer or otherwise. There’s even a separate fleece-lined pocket in the top for sunglasses! The entire pack can be made more compact once loaded via the two compression straps made in. The last pocket we found use of was an administrative pocket on the outside. This pocket would be good for any sort of papers that need to travel with you.
Wrap it up
This pack has an approximate internal capacity of 2000 cubic inches which puts it on the “pretty compact” menu. If it were a steak and it’s size were equivalent to how well it was 
cooked, I’d say it’s medium-rare. That’s actually EXACTLY how I like my steaks! All in all, this is a really solid pack. It’s got double-back edge stitching, single needle stitching all over and doubled-back single needle stitching at the top. Add in the self-repairing YKK nylon coil #8 and #10 zippers and, 1″ velcro strips, I’d give the 5.11 RUSH 24 a durability rating of 9 out of 10 and a usefulness rating of 10 out of 10.
If you’re in the market for a pack you can take on countless adventures and not have to worry about your gear, the 5.11 RUSH 24 is a solid choice; one which you won’t regret once you hit the trails!
This pack looks very structurally sound and practical, but my only issue is that it doesn’t have a waist strap. I planned on purchasing a backpack for dual usage as a day pack for school, and my week-long training excursions for first-responder organization. We need 24 hour packs that can load our gear and medical equipment – and we walk, run, and hike long distances with our packs. Without a stable waist strap I can imagine it would become unbearable on my shoulders, so I’m opting for the Rush 72 hour pack. It might be excessively large and I don’t necessarily have use for it as a 72 hour pack (because I already own a very high quality rucksack) but it can serve as an excellent backup.
You can’t go wrong with the Rush 72. Waist straps are key to comfort. I think the idea is that your load in a 24 hour bag wouldn’t be that heavy in theory, so you don’t need the strap, but I personally think all bags should have at least some sort of hip/load transfer implement.
Hey Molly! I know this was an old post, but, I’m intrigued: what high quality rucksack do you use? Thanks! 🙂
Allen, as you might imagine, I’ve got more than one pack 🙂 Many of the packs I have on here are at the higher end of the quality spectrum. Some offer good warranties too. The GORUCK has a lifetime warranty!
I just bought the 24 pack a week ago and used it for a day out in the hills and with the just the shoulder straps and sternum strap it proved very comfy and effective even with a fair bit of weight that would have been aided with the waist straps. The great thing is, if you were to use this as an EDC as well as using it for specific tasks the lack of the waist strap proves effective as it doesn’t get in the way or just dangle when you don’t need it
Probably worth noting here that although a waist is not included, the pack does have the connection points to use a 1.5″ web belt as a waist strap if desired.
That’s a wonderful point to add – thank you! I’m going to make myself a reminder to add that to the main article so folks know, even if they don’t come down here to the comments.
This may be a redundant question but how much does the bag itself weigh roughly?
I’m actually not quite sure on the pack weight. I don’t have mine anymore or I would weigh it.
Hey Mike, great post! I’m a tall guy (187cm) from Sweden and i need a good durable, comfortable backpack for airsoft games, travel and EDC. I really like the look of both the Rush 12 and 24. Which one would you pick if you we’re me? Thanks!
Hey Oscar – Definitely the 24.
I actually got the Rush 24 and sent it back thinking it was too big for my day excursions. Instead, I got the Rush 12. As it turned out, it is too small if I need to store a jacket in the afternoons. As it turned out, I got the Rush 24 and find it to be the ideal size. I did try the waist strap off another pack but usually don’t use one, the yoke style straps on the Rush 24 simply works. Lets face it, unless you are “runnin’ and gunnin’ “, you probably don’t need to worry about your pack flopping around. In my opinion that is what a waist strap is meant to do, it is not designed to take the weight of a pack, that would be the purpose of a hip belt. I think a lot of people get the two confused. Yee gads, if you tighten a waist strap, (that fits most people around the belly button or above), sufficient to take the load off your shoulders it might fit like a girdle. Certainly not how I want to hike.
Glad you like the 24! Actually, I’m going to be reviewing another bag of 511’s – the Box Pack. Stay tuned!
Hey Mike. Amazing review. I am planning on getting the Rush 24, but, I’m worried whether the size will be too big for me. I’ve got broad shoulders and I’m not really tall (170cm). Will it end up looking like I’ve got a huge jetpack on my back? I’m gonna use it for daily use. Also, does the bag soften up comfortably with use or it retains its rigid square shape?
Hey Nick, the 24 is a pretty perfect bag for most situations. It, like any pack, will soften over time as it gets “salty”. It’s not really that square, but the pockets are, and that’s how they’re sewn and made. Just get it. You’ll love it!