I can’t even begin to count the amount of bags I have tested since 2017 — but it’s been a lot. In testing this bag again it’s only become more clear to me how well thought out the Urban Assault 21 is. It won’t work for everyone, but it will work for more people than the GR1. The top pouch of the Urban Assault holds small, easy-to-access items. It’s protected by a watertight zipper, as you can see here. That’s coupled with the crazy durable 500D Cordura fabric. The size makes it easy to store lots of items, but then it’s hard to sort through those items well. The zipper is also quite hard to open with a single hand. And then there’s the capacity – something that is very individual. Is 21 liters enough for your everyday activities?Will everything you carry around on a daily basis fit into the Urban Assault? Or maybe is it too much.

MYSTERY RANCH Backpacks Catalyst 26 | MYSTERY RANCH Backpacks

It carries weight great up to 7,5kg or more if you go shopping after work with a loptop and accessories. Pro Tip: Get a carabiner to keep your water bottle easily accessible! Fit and Adjustability – 4 Stars The laptop area is improved on the latest models with a velcro strap to help keep the laptop in place when moving fast, or if the bag were to be tipped upside down. But overall the laptop area offers solid protection without being too bulky.Mystery Ranch uses extremley high-quality, heavyweight fabrics for the Urban Assault (and a lot of their products). These will take a beating and shed water easily. It would also be great to have a hydration hose pass through on this bag, making it even more versatile. The external laptop access, if done correctly, could double as this as well. But this wold then make the bag a gimme for EDC and Day Hikes. If you want a bit more access, there’s the third, vertical zipper. It opens up the main compartment fully and helps you get to the things at the bottom of the main compartment in a matter of seconds.

Review: Mystery Ranch Urban Assault 21 (in comments) Review: Mystery Ranch Urban Assault 21 (in comments)

The 3-ZIP design means you can open just the top lid, which is shown here, or the full duffel-esque long zip for full access.

The Urban Assault is impenetrable. The zippers are watertight and burly, and the fabric is a durable 500D Cordura that would potentially survive apocalyptic scenarios.

Mystery Ranch’s Urban Assault 24 Perfect EDC Backpack? Mystery Ranch’s Urban Assault 24

The Mystery Ranch Urban Assault is 100% capable of not only fitting all the things, but it carries them with support, and is water-tight — how’s that for a cherry on top! Revelation: The Moment I Knew There is enough organization on this bag to be very useful, but not enough to make the bag overly structured or less versatile. Just right. I am pretty set on getting something from this brand, so not really looking for other recommendations at this time.More questions? Here’s Task & Purpose’s additional brief. Q. How much does the Mystery Ranch Urban Assault cost? I am not 100% sure if this is an intentional design feature (Mystery Ranch does not mention it anywhere), but it certainly is a useful one. The ability to attach a water bottle to the shoulder strap and always have easy access to it suddenly makes this a great option for hiking. These bags feature the same design principles and durability that MYSTERY RANCH is known for and are built to survive the harshest commute, wherever that may be.