VertxTransit Tactical Bag Sling Backpack 17L Backpack for Conceal Carry (CCW), Travel, Work, Tactical Gear, Brick Red

This sling is much better than last generation, very comfortable to use. You get many options going with the Velcro accessories, but really wish some were included at this price point. Using the add on packs helps keep items organized. The way the bag can be opened up for quick access to your items is key to a bag like this. The ability to add an armor panel is also very nice without taking up main storage room because it had its own storage pocket. Really the only thing I don’t like is the price and no included packs.

The media could not be loaded.  I carry a sling bag with me every day and have many different ones that I use depending on the situation I’ll be in (motorcycling alone, a day out with the kids, etc.) and the one that I use the most is my Vertx Transit 2.0. While it has a few design issues, I've found ways to adjust the bag to work around them figuring they'd get sorted out in the next version and when the 3.0 became available, I jumped at the opportunity to give it a shot. Be forewarned, this is a picture heavy and long review comparing the old and new versions against each other.Summary Conclusion:If you want the tl;dr; right up front, like its predecessor the 3.0 is a great bag which has a few shortcomings that can be worked around. While it has some really great new features and resolves a few issues with the previous bag, it also needlessly introduced some new issues. In the end most of the issues are minimal, however, I don't see this as a replacement for the 2.0 version, it is more like a different bag, and whether the 2.0 or 3.0 is right for you really depends on your use case. One major change to keep in mind is that this bag‘s quick access area cannot be reached as quickly or reliably as the 2.0.DesignAs the next version of the existing Transit 2.0 sling bag, this bag carries over the same design concepts, while making several changes. Some of the changes are for the better and enhance the bag’s functionality, while there are some that actually don’t make much sense. Finally, there remain opportunities for improvement that were amazingly missed in the redesign. The slightly rectangular shape of the bag, along with the placement of the strap helps prevent the bag from unexpectedly swinging forward as can be the case with some bags. In addition, there is a stabilizing strap you can clip on which can help eliminate that entirely, which tucks neatly away when not in use. The two bags both still retain the back flap which can be unzipped and opened up allowing you to store a helmet on the outside of the bag, however the newer one dropped the small strip of velcro at the bottom which is something I miss. They both have a loop at the top of the panel for attaching things, though the 3.0 also includes two additional attachment points on the back handle.PaddingThe padded back on the 2.0 has an asymmetrical design that is more than twice as deep as this new bag which features a uniform raised pyramid pattern. In practice I’ve not found that it makes much difference between the two bags, and they are equally comfortable.Chest StrapThe main strap construction and padding are about the same between the two, though there are some differences. This bag has the buckle tucked halfway under a cover, and you clip and unclip it by squeezing on this. There is also less of a “tail” that sticks out there, which I’ve shown in the attached photos. Where the main strap attaches to the top of the bag is the biggest and most practical change. On the 2.0 there was a circular clip that creaked almost no matter what you did to quiet it down, note the paper I have trapped inside mine to act as a bushing, the only way to silence it. Thankfully, this new bag completely removed that buckle as it was entirely needless.Carrying HandlesThere are three carrying handles on the Transit, one at the top of the bag much like one found on a backpack consisting of a piece of doubled up nylon webbing and secured to the bag with a very strong stitching pattern. On the outside face of the bag is a more subtle handle, which allows you to tuck your hand under to lift the bag. This is improved on the 3.0 as it has a stiff material sewn inside the entire handle, whereas on the 2.0 there is only a small strip of stiffening material sewn inside. The third and final handle is on the side of the bag, and for some reason they downgraded this in the 3.0. The new handle has a lighter weight foam inside that is significantly less stiff than the 2.0. While the newer design hides the stitches inside the body of the bag, it is also hard to tell if it is attached as well as it is on the 2.0. This is definitely a case where the older design was better.OrganizationThere are two main compartments in the Transit, and the 3.0 incorporates some fantastic design changes. Rather than simply having two compartments with a fixed size, this bag has a “floating wall” design in which the panel that separates the two can move in either direction to accommodate storing more gear on one side or the other. It is a really great design that I hope shows up in more bags. I believe it is the change in the bag‘s structure to support this which is what also resolved an issue with the 2.0 in which when worn, the bag would slowly expand to full depth even if completely empty (see straps I added to mine for example). Inside the first main compartment is a tablet/laptop/paper storage area, as well as a transparent zippered pocket, and a generic organization attachment. Since the entire inside is lined with material compatible with velcro, it is easy to augment the bag’s storage options with Vertx or other brand accessories (see photos). A really nice feature add to this new version is that they’ve also incorporated a water bottle holder to the outside of the bag with a lightweight stretchy material.Armor compatibilityI had no problem inserting a Premier Body armor panel into the back. In the photo I show it inside the main storage, but you can insert it inside the hidden back pocket where the bag’s structural and comfort foam panel is located so that you can use this area for your quick access items.Quick Access StorageLike the 2.0, this bag has a quick pull zipper system which allows you to reach bag, grab a large hanging tag, and whip the bag forward while unzipping it at the same time. There are obvious tactical benefits for this functionality, but it is also extremely useful for many other things. For example, in my 2.0 I have a pocket there for my phone and wallet, so I can swing it forward and very quickly get to those items at any time.When it comes to the zipper pull, this is an area where the 2.0 fails. For whatever reason, they put effort into redesigning a super functional pull, so that they could make one that could be attached to any other zipper. The problem is that in doing so, they really diminished the functionality of it. The new plastic zipper pull is smaller, slippery at times, and not as easy to grab. It severely reduces functionality, with extremely little benefit, and it is honestly my biggest complaint about the new bag. The old zipper pull was wider, rubber coated rather than smooth plastic, easy to grab, and very fast to use.Materials and Opportunities for ImprovementI prefer the materials of the older 2.0 over the choice for the 3.0 by far. My 2.0 has tough, yet soft material which is also quiet when moving, whereas this new bag has a ballistic nylon which is less attractive and slightly louder, but it is the inclusion of the absurdly loud ripstop material that is completely baffling. See the attached video to see what I’m talking about.Both bags have a passthrough for a luggage handle, something which in a tactical situation they demonstrate someone sticking their arm through and wearing it like a shield. While I don’t think that’s wise (better off just slinging it forward over your center mass and tightening the straps) I do wish they had added Velcro to either side of the opening as that would have made the entire space usable as a hidden pocket.ConclusionThis is a nice bag in its own right, and though it is very similar, there are enough differences that I see this as a standalone offering and not an upgrade to the Transit 2.0. For example, I think for many people that 2.0 would be the better bag, whereas for others this new 3.0 would work best. I do like many of the changes they’ve made, and there are some really useful and innovative new features like the floating wall to manage in bag storage. That said, they’ve also taken some major steps backwards such as with material selection and the quick access pull which is arguably *the* major selling point behind the bag. I hope Vertx addresses the new problems they have introduced with this bag with the next version of it, but in the end, I still feel like this is a good bag despite its flaws, and I think it will work well for some people.

My son loved it for Christmas. He likes to pick things he wants from Amazon for me to choose to get for Birthdays or Christmas and it works out great for me. I tell him I may or may not get something and it is still a surprise. If I cannot visit him, I can also ship it right to his house and even have it gift wrapped!!!

I have owned the pack for a couple months now, and it has been very good. Very comfortable to wear, low profile, and very useful. It is very durable with great zippers. I dislike that the hooks in the front pocket refuse to stay secured, so they jingle when I walk/move. The pack also tends to sag away from my body when it gets heavy. No other issues.

Unlike my old Transit Sling 2.0, this one has lower quality zippers and fabric. Overall it’s just flimsy.BIG disappointment! So, I returned it.Hey, VERTX, you should bring the original Transit Sling 2.0 with mesh back panel back to production.

Super easy to draw from your back.I'm 6'1" and 280 pounds. It doesn't look too big nor too small. Incredibly comfortable.Can fit a suppressed pistol and a couple mags, or a lone apck9 with telescope brace/stock. can't fit the 33rd glock mag if seated though... so need to use a g17 or g19 mag. Glock 24 round mag could fit, but not if you have a high optic.Sling style is the way to go... can swing it around with the fast grab handle to access your water bottle or any of the pouches. Comfortable to carry on back, side under arm, or even in front of body.Money well spent.

UPDATED REVIEW:I changed my mind and am keeping it. This is an excellent bag. It is small but can carry stuff if you have some organization skills. The zippers are fluid which is a huge plus. I just wish it could be worn on right shoulder. If Vertx makes a newer version with ability to be worn on right shoulder I will buy it in a heartbeat.--------ORIGINAL REVIEW:First and foremost, it is not ambidextrous - it is only designed to rest on left shoulder which does not work for me.The main compartment only opens from side limiting accessibility in a very awkward way.Quality otherwise is pretty good.I am sorry I will have to send it back.

The transit 3.0 fixed every single issue I had with the 2.0, which had been my go-to for a couple years.1. The annoying squeaky plastic buckle on the shoulder strap is gone, replaced with a proper padded cloth strap. (The BIGGEST flaw with the 2.0 In my opinion)2. A dedicated external water bottle sleeve with drawstring was added.3. The molle field in the smaller compartment now takes up the entire area rather than a few rows right down the middle, and is all loop for adding velcro pouches/accessories.4. Proper laptop sleeve was added instead of just a strap like the 2.0, which is also a loop field for more velcro.5. CCW compartment seems deeper, and the inner panel now has a loop field for velcro, whereas the 2.0 only had the loop field on the back panel.While it's missing the smaller pockets in the main compartment for pens, lights, etc that the 2.0 has, it's easily remedied with a hook accessory panel of your choice.