This is an updated review guide on the best gray man backpacks. Our first review was five years ago and we will continue to update as new products are released.

A good gray man backpack is a huge upgrade for a variety of survival kits. The “gray man concept”, simply put, is the ability to blend into a crowd and not draw attention to yourself.  Many tactical backpacks do the opposite of this, which can work against you in a wide range of situations: from survival to everyday encounters.

The best gray man backpack is versatile and functional enough to withstand all sorts of punishment, yet it still blends in.

We have conducted hundreds of hours of research and testing on gray man backpacks, searching to find the best ones for value, functionality, your budget, and portability. If you want to blend in and stay prepared in any situation, one of our gray man backpack recommendations will do the job.

Contents (Jump to a Section)

The Best Gray Man Backpack

5.11 COVRT18 2.0 Backpack

Discrete, Durable, and Proven

Withstands punishment, holds and organizes any kit with ease, and blends in with the masses.

$135* from 5.11

*Price at time of publishing; check for price changes or sales.

The second iteration of their extremely popular (and former top pick) original COVRT18 bag is still a clear winner. Despite the barren exterior, the interior of this backpack is full of MOLLE, QuickTact, and even a side-entry R.A.C. The storage areas are extra roomy and it has a 1953 cubic inch (32L) total capacity – 2L larger than before.

The hydration pocket, laptop sleeve, adjustable straps, quality padding, and 500D water-resistant nylon build go the extra mile to make this bag the best for the job. All of these features make it an excellent choice for Bug Out Bags, Get Home Bags, and even EDC. This version is more discrete than the original, leaving off the exterior loops and now featuring tuckable logo tags.

Pick up a 5.11 COVRT18 2 Tactical Backpack as your go-to bag and you will not regret it.

EDC Gray Man Backpack

Vertx Ready Pack 2.0

Low-Profile, Trusted, and Durable

Blend in every day with this small powerhouse of a pack that is ready for any situation anywhere.

$185* from Amazon

*Price at time of publishing; check for price changes or sales.

The Vertx EDC Ready Pack 2.0 is no joke. Many years ago, Vertx was commissioned by a top agency to develop tactical pants that combined functionality and discretion. They were incredibly successful and branched out into low-profile concealed carry bags and packs. This is now the second iteration of that trusted Ready Pack, and comes in with even higher ratings.

The Vertx EDC Ready Pack 2.0 is the smallest pack in the catalog, but it packs in the same durability, functionality, and good design. This EDC backpack will keep up with you every single day no matter what you throw at it.

Gray Man Messenger Bag

Blackhawk Covert Messenger Bag

Rugged, Comfortable, and Functional

Only one strap, but unlimited uses for the best messenger bag to keep up in any conditions.

$99* from Amazon

*Price at time of publishing; check for price changes or sales.

Messenger bags are a favorite for the Get Home Bag enthusiasts since they are generally less noticed in the workplace. Messenger bags are the go-to for laptop carrying, so the profile of this bag is very unassuming. This is a key consideration for the gray man concept.

The Blackhawk Covert Messenger Bag is one of the best gray man bags a commuter can get. As an added bonus, this gray man messenger bag comes in 1000D Nylon for ridiculous durability. It also has a lower price tag than most gray man backpacks since there is less material (straps) and it uses a no-frills design.

Budget Gray Man Backpack

Venture Pal Ultralight Backpack

Cheap, Lightweight, and Functional

Extremely light with a smaller backpack profile, this bag is an excellent unassuming budget option.

$27* from Amazon

*Price at time of publishing; check for price changes or sales.

The Venture Pal Ultralight Backpack is about as cheap as you want to go. The great thing about this bag is that you really can’t find a better one until you are spending the better part of a Benjamin Franklin.

They kept the design simple and within your budget by using lightweight but tear-resistant and water-resistant nylon. The stress points are all reinforced with bar tacks and it uses metal zippers- both are rarely found at this price. It has a 35-liter capacity, so it is slightly larger than our tested favorite but at a lower weight.

Everything We Recommend

5.11 COVRT18 2.0 Backpack

Withstands punishment, holds and organizes any kit with ease, and blends in with the masses.

Where to Buy

$135* at 5.11

$135* at Amazon

*at time of reviewing

Vertx Ready Pack 2.0

Blend in every day with this small powerhouse of a pack that is ready for any situation anywhere.

Where to Buy

$185* at Amazon

*at time of reviewing

Blackhawk Covert Messenger Bag

Only one strap, but unlimited uses for the best messenger bag to keep up in any conditions.

Where to Buy

$99* at Amazon

*at time of reviewing

Venture Pal Ultralight Backpack

Extremely light with a smaller backpack profile, this bag is an excellent unassuming budget option.

Where to Buy

$27* at Amazon

*at time of reviewing

The Bags We Compared

Our research narrowed the field down to the several bag brands and types that we tested: 5.11, Blackhawk, Venture Pal, Vertx, SOG, ‎LA Police Gear, Fieldline, Carhartt, Maxpedition, and more.

There are a lot of brands that make bags these days with a wide range of prices and intended uses. When you are checking out tactical bag brands, you’ll find many brands that are shipped in from China that are essentially the same. None of those made the cut in our tests, so you won’t find them in our recommendations.

We’re always looking for new and better equipment, so if you have a bag that you swear by let us know down in the comments. We review most of our tested gear annually, so we can always get it in the next roundup round and see if it makes the cut and can beat out our top picks.

What is a Gray Man Backpack?

First off, the ‘gray man concept’ is a concept that has been around for as long as psychological deception. It is often used in military circles to describe actions off duty; including not wearing a uniform and acting in a way that does not disclose your military affiliation. A few other terms that loosely describe the gray man concept include:

• Hiding in plain sight
• Wolf in sheep’s clothing
• Middle of the pack

The gray man backpack is the wearable embodiment of this strategy. It should pack great functionality into a covert design. Unassuming on the outside, but ready for any situation on the inside.

The concept of being a gray man is simple: blend in and do not draw attention to yourself. We’ll get into more gray man detail in a section below, and share some resources to point you to where you can learn more about it.

Unfortunately, for many military members, first responders, preppers, and survivalists: tactical gear does not achieve this goal. There are plenty of signs that can instantly give away your job, affiliation, and intentions. A few of those include:

• Your gait, or how you move
• Your posture
• How you are dressed
• Your appearance and hygiene
• What you are carrying

The last bullet point is where the gray man backpack comes into play. It may take some self-awareness and training to adjust your other tell-tale signs, but a solid gray man backpack can conceal tactical gear, firearms, survival tools; the list goes on. And none would be the wiser if the bag itself is not tactical or suspicious in appearance.

Just a few details of a bag that could torpedo your attempt to blend in:

1. MOLLE – Modular Lightweight Load-carrying Equipment straps and gear is a sure-fire giveaway that you are carrying useful equipment for survival.
2. ALICE Clips – Less noticeable than MOLLE, but a telltale sign of someone with military gear.
3. Paracord – Yeah, we know it is useful: but do not hang it off your bag. It screams ‘military’ and adds a motion component to your bag. Take off the paracord bracelet while you are at it.
4. Attached Gear – Rapid access gear is awesome in deployment zones. If you are trying to blend in, that folding shovel and firearm maybe should be concealed either within the bag or on your person.
5. Military Colors – MARPAT, ACU, or really any camouflage will, ironically, not do you any favors blending in. Even olive drab green is heavily associated with the military. Bright colors are also good to avoid, but as the name may suggest: gray is always a solid choice.
6. Size and Profile – A bag shaped like an AR will draw attention. A stuffed 60L backpacking bag will draw attention. A middle-of-the-road size with a standard profile is best here.

The list could go on and on, but those are the major features that you want to consider when looking for a gray man backpack. Now that we have gone over what a gray man backpack is not, we will look at what it is.

Gray Man Backpack (noun): an unassuming pack used to hold tactical or survival gear.

Pretty simple, right?

Tactical bags are the rage right now. You can find thousands of types of tactical bags online, and they all have one thing in common: they look really tactical.

Plenty of people think that ‘tactical’ looks cool. Who are we to say what is cool or not? It is irrelevant. Tactical bags draw attention to themselves with all of the details we went over before. Strapping your gear to your bag with MOLLE attachments may look awesome, but it is also very noticeable.

Noticeable is not necessarily what you want in a disaster or SHTF situation. Sure, you also do not want to misplace or lose your bag- but you also do not want others wondering what is in it. That is where a gray man backpack excels.

How to Use a Gray Man Backpack

A gray man backpack is versatile, and you should pick one similar to how you pick out a backpacking backpack. Size is always a consideration since you must balance comfort and capacity. Backpacks are typically measured in cubic inches or liters, which makes them pretty easy to compare against each other.

Here you can see how the backpack capacity compares to the average male’s profile:

Finding the ‘sweet spot’ between capacity and portability is the key to getting the right bag. This usually depends on what you are using the bag for. Your own size and capability can influence how large of a pack you can handle as well.

Some examples of kits matched up with appropriate sizes include:

• EDC (Everyday Carry) – 10L – 30L
• BOB (Bug Out Bag) – 30L – 60L
• INCH (I’m Never Coming Home) Bag – 40L – 75L +
• GHB (Get Home Bag) – 20L – 30L
• SCARE (Social Chaos and Response Emergency) Bag – 10L – 20L

You may notice that many of these kits’ ranges overlap with the 30L capacity, which is one reason why this size is so popular. You may be restricted on size, but you will be comfortable without overloading yourself with unnecessary weight.

It is also important to note that how you pack can make a big difference. Load your backpack to be balanced and consider the accessibility of the tools you may need immediately. We go into detail on how to pack a backpack: How to Pack a Bug Out Bag Efficiently.

Who Needs a Gray Man Backpack?

We talked about how you pack in the section above and provided a great reference: but what you pack is what makes a survival kit great. The gear you carry is one of the most important factors in your preparedness. The kits and gear that can be stored in a gray man backpack include:

• EDC (Everyday Carry)
• BOB (Bug Out Bag)
  • INCH (I’m Never Coming Home)
  • SCARE (Social Chaos and Response Emergency)
• GHB (Get Home Bag)
• Specialized Kits

Anyone can and should use at least one of these kits if not all of them. Ranging from kids old enough to understand the concept of the kits to the elderly that have been prepared and weathered disasters and emergencies, there are examples of every type of person that has used the gray man concept to their advantage.

Why Gray Man?

Have you ever heard of a sleeper car? A sleeper car is a high-performance car with an unassuming exterior. They are often used at the local drag strips or street races to clean up on bets. People will place bets on the big name ‘flashy’ car, and pass the car with the dull exterior off as a big underdog. Pop the hood of the ‘sleeper car’, however, and you may see that it is just as fast, if not faster, than the flashy car. Don’t underestimate its performance on the track. A simply psychological loophole gives sleeper cars an advantage because they are consistently underestimated.

The gray man concept uses this same underestimation to pass under the radar.

People judge a book by its cover. It’s just embedded in our psychology… and it’s also something that people can exploit. This is one reason why the military embraces the gray man concept. If a well-trained soldier walks in dressed as a soldier, you know what to expect. If they walk in dressed as a civilian, their skill set is much less likely to be anticipated.

Luckily, for anyone interested in preparing for emergencies, gray man isn’t just for the military.

Store all the tactical gear and survival equipment you want inside your gray man backpack, and most people will be none the wiser that you are prepped for bear and ready to handle any survival situation. This will make you much less of a target for a variety of people you may want to avoid, including:

• Tagalongs – In emergencies, people may look for those that are prepared to lean on them for their own survival. This could potentially slow you down or cause other issues with your planning.
• Opportunists – If a survival bag is laying around in a survival situation, plenty of fingers suddenly become sticky. Even good people lose some morality when survival is at stake. A tactical backpack is much more likely to be pilfered over a gray man backpack.
• Marauders – History has shown that some people just don’t play nice during emergencies. They view them as an opportunity to improve their station in life, with little regard for others. They could resort to physicality or threaten you to take your resources. They also can prey on those that look weak, so these groups and individuals are the most difficult to avoid.

Blending in during an active shooter, emergency, disaster, or SHTF can save your life and help you avoid hardship. The gray man concept is one way that you can accomplish this. Do not stand out and elevate your risk during risky situations.

How to Be a Gray Man

The gray man concept is easy to try but hard to master. Blending in, especially after training and learning skills, is hard to do effectively. 99% of people will be easily fooled by simple changes to your external appearance. That other small 1% will be tougher and maybe the more important group to fool.

We lay out the easiest ways to start your gray man journey in one of our first posts: How to Be a Gray Man

Elevating past the exterior is hard. Being able to change your posture, your gait, and your mannerisms requires a type of mental programming that few can master. The important thing to know is your limitations. Know that your gray man appearance may not fool everyone. Once you accept this, you can stay situationally prepared for an incident where you are recognized as a prepper or survivalist.

Sources and References

All of our experience and the testing we do to determine the best gray man backpack is useless without listing our research sources and references. We leaned on these for the book knowledge that we paired with our hands-on testing and practical military and prepping experience:

Dermody, M. (2017). Gray Man: Camouflage for Crowds, Cities, and Civil Crisis. CreateSpace. (Source)

Smith, S. (2018). How Special Ops Instructors View Candidates. Military.com. (Source)

Wee Jake. (2008). Grey Man. Urban Dictionary. (Source)

The Final Word

We are lucky that manufacturers of tactical equipment recognize the importance of the gray man concept and offer less noticeable gear. If you are looking to use gray man to your advantage, remember that your clothes and equipment are not the entire equation. Changing your habits, posture, gait, and other characteristics takes practice, so be sure to give it a try before you actually need it. If you are looking to get up to speed, check out our full gray man guide.

Everyone has a different situation, so the best backpack for you may be slightly different than what we have reviewed and tested. Be sure to get familiar with the pack and use it to get used to the feel and function. Take care of your gear and it will take care of you. Don’t stash it away, but get it out to get familiar with it if you are not using it every day. If you are looking for other gray man gear, consider:

• The Best Hats for Prepping and Survival
• The Best Gray Man Pants for Prepping and Survival
• Bug Out Bag Guide, Gear, and Checklist

With all of the selections of backpacks out there, we hope that we have helped you narrow down gray man backpacks to your specific need. We presented quite a lot of information, but as always: if you have any questions let us know and we would be happy to help. Our research and testing found that the 5.11 COVRT18 2.0 Backpack is the best option.

Keep exploring, stay prepared, and be safe.

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The post Best Gray Man Backpack for Survival and Prepping appeared first on TruePrepper.

By: Rusty Collins
Title: Best Gray Man Backpack for Survival and Prepping
Sourced From: www.trueprepper.com/best-gray-man-backpack/
Published Date: Mon, 29 May 2023 12:12:00 +0000

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