K Rounds is a company that’s not afraid to experiment. In fact, they have a solid reputation of making products like the Pancake-Thigh Rig come to life in their custom shop by tapping into their extensive manufacturing resources. Of course, not all products in their catalog are customer-initiated – most are internal creations.
Case in point: the K Rounds Range Back Pack. The bag was developed because a staff member wanted a durable range bag solution that fit long barreled-revolvers and long-slide pistols, each contained within its own padded sleeve.
The initial concept of a modular pistol transport bag gradually took shape and in the end, the Range Back Pack came to be an advanced solution that individually protects and secures your pistols as well as most everything else you’d normally take to the range. And because it’s a backpack it frees up both hands for other items like rifle bags, target stands, binos…whatever else you may need to carry with you for a day of shooting.
The integrated solution is comprised of essentially three sections; the pistol pouch compartment (including pouches), the top pockets, and the bottom outside pockets. Each area has its intended use(s), but remains flexible to meet other needs. Altogether, the pack is chock-full of features that most shooters will find very useful.
Pistol Pouches
The K Rounds pistol pouch is by far the nicest padded pistol pouch I’ve used. Just like the pack, they’re made of durable 600 denier nylon, yet are relatively lightweight and full of features including:
• Carry handle
• Large YKK zippers with pull tabs
• Thick outside layer of padding
• Padded, felt-lined internal pistol pocket with hook-and-loop closure
• Full-length padded internal divider with hook-and-loop closure tab
• Four elastic mag holders
Internally it provides 11″ x 6 3/4″ x 1 3/4″ of room, allowing you to adequately store one revolver with scope, two revolvers, two semi-automatic pistols plus four to eight magazines or several pocket pistols plus mags. The pouch is roomy, but not floppy.
I don’t always take three pistols to the range in pouches so I’ve been using the un-used pouches for other gear like medical, communications, and tablets. I’m using a piece of colored cordage to help with quick identification of contents but it would be great to see a swatch of loop fabric on each handle to facilitate an identification patch.
The pistol pouch compartment is a well-reinforced, felt-lined plastic honeycomb-board box which allows the pouches (or any other items) to slide in and out with ease while adding support and rigidity to the pack.
It’s my suspicion that many owners of this pack will store their pistols semi-permanently in the pistol pouches (inside a safe). Then they simply move the pouched pistols from storage into the pack and head out.
Top Section
The top half of the 16-inch tall pack consists of three full-zip pockets with the middle and rear pockets sitting squarely on top of the pistol pouch frame. This design is one of my favorite features because it supports and evenly distributes the weight of your ammunition and resolves the “saggy bag” syndrome experienced with non-reinforced bags.
I found the back pocket perfect for as much ammo as I could stuff into it and the middle pocket has consistently houses my PPE (personal protective equipment) with room to spare.
The top front pocket sits just forward of the frame and is meant to hold your small everyday items like a mobile phone, writing utensils, car keys, etc. The outside of the pocket sports PALS webbing and a three-inch by 1.5-inch loop swatch for a patch.
I attached a MOLLE-mounted zippered pouch to the PALS webbing for easy storage and access to my range cards and passes. A few GrimLoc locking D-rings were also in order for easy hanging of PPE.
Inside the top front pocket you’ll find three inner pockets – two with hook and loop closure flaps and one with full-zipper. There is also a handy keyring clip.
Bottom Front Pocket
The bottom front pocket is the second-best feature of the pack because it provides a solid, usable platform for on-the-range firearms maintenance, as well as a place to store all the basics for cleaning.
Inside the main pocket you’ll find a nice zippered, mesh-backed pocket for your cleaners, lubricants and greases. Behind the pocket is an open-top pocket which perfectly fits standard brushes. There are two slender mesh pouches, which I didn’t find particularly well-placed or helpful. I ended up putting disposable gloves in one and extra bags in the other but a larger pouch for rags or the like may be more useful.
The pocket flap un-zips all the way, allowing it to lay flat. A lightweight tri-fold maintenance mat held in place by hook-and-loop closure can be deployed away from the bag to give you a convenient one-foot by two-foot working area.
Side Pocket
The side pocket is a two-fer. One flat pocket with PALS webbing sits on top of a larger 8 1/2″ x 8″ x 1 1/2″ pocket; both zippered.
This set of pockets works well for housing small tools, tape, target stickers, snap-caps, chamber flags, and other needed items that don’t warrant their own pockets. The PALS webbing was perfect for mounting my Fit It Sticks Ultimate Kit.
Shoulder Straps & Hip Belt
All those pockets, pouches, and features sit comfortably on your back by way of the well-designed shoulder straps and hip belt. Both have adequate, firm foam and generous adjustment ability, making the pack comfortable enough to lug a good amount of ammo along with other gear. Some nice extra features on the straps include D-rings, several section of webbing, and a sternum strap.
Other Notable Features
The Range Back Pack is equipped with two elastic straps that sit along the side of the back. The straps are designed to hold a tube to carry paper targets. This is an awesome idea, but could use a little refinement to keep the tube from flopping around.
I made a lightweight target tube, which works well to keep targets dry and accessible. The straps can also be used to attach and carry a shooting mat.
Regardless of how full your bag may be, the cinch strap that runs over the top and around the pack allow the user to tighten-up everything close to the back of the bag. Additionally, the design of the strap makes quickly attaching a garment, gloves, helmet, or other medium-sized items.
Aesthetically, the pack fits in at any range. It’s a little on the boxy side, but for good reason. And overall, the profile is narrow (one foot wide at the bottom) and slightly stubby. The Range Back Pack is available in Black, Navy Blue, ACU, and “Camo.”
After five months of use the bag is holding up extremely well. There’s some sign of wear, but no deterioration, and I have had no issues with any of the zippers. The pistol pouches have seen use in a variety of ways and remain in excellent shape. The padding in the shoulder straps and waist strap remains comfortable and intact. Not a single part of the bag has failed in any way.
I did reach out to K Rounds regarding the three small gripes I had with the bag:
• Positioning of webbing on front bottom pocket (attached items impede ability of mat to deploy flat)
• Need for more padding in the lumbar area at base of pistol pouch container
• The short distance between the shoulder straps and hip belt
I was happy to hear that Gen2 of the backpack is already in production and set to be available any day now. Included in the list of improvements are:
• No more PALS webbing
• Better lumbar support / padding
• Taller design with increased capacity
Additionally, an optional Pistol Pouch Med Kit is said to be forthcoming.
While I’m looking forward to seeing (and hopefully trying) the new version as well as the med kit, the original pack is still a great range bag and pistol storage/transportation solution. Mine will remain my go-to pack. The large pistol pouches are outstanding and very useful all on their own. If you’re in the market for a new type of range bag solution, the K Rounds Range Back Pack, Gen1 and Gen2, are both absolutely worth a look.
Specifications: K Rounds Range Back Pack
Price as reviewed (Gen1): $134.99 MSRP
Ratings (out of five stars):
Design: * * * *
The Range Pack was designed to effectively address common storage and transportation issues and it does this well. Beginning with three-dozen pockets/pouches, all of which serve specific and valuable, yet flexible, purposes, the pack is much more than meets the eye. The shining star of this pack is the pistol storage and transportation system. There are a few small improvements to be made and we expect to see them in Gen2.
Usability: * * * * 1/2
Nearly every feature of this bag is highly usable – meaning you don’t pay for any fluffy stuff. The pack’s well-padded shoulder straps and hip belt make the pack comfortable to wear. However, given the stubby stature of the pack, when wearing the hip belt the top of the bag rests at a sub-optimal position.
Durability: * * * * *
The pack is made of 600 Deiner Nylon and reliable and smooth YKK zippers. Stitching is high-quality; thick and tight. The shoulder strap and hip belt padding holds up well to wear. This pack is a well-made and made to last.
Overall: * * * * 1/2
Gen1 of the K Rounds Range Back Pack is a solid offering. The integrated pistol pouch storage system and maintenance pocket/mat make life a lot easier at the range, as well as storage at home. The bag is built to last and hosts an extensive useful feature set. Given that the pistol pouches alone could retail for $15-$20 apiece and there are three of them included, the K Rounds Range Pack is a heck of a deal, too.
This looks pretty nice. I’m liking all the features. Looks like it might fit the bill for a travel/carry on bag.
I hadn’t thought about the pack as a carry-on, Tom in Oregon – good idea. Looking at standard carry-on dimensions (9″ x 14″ x 22″), this pack might be 3″ to 4″ too deep (12″+ vs. 9″ limit). However, out of the three dimensions, that one seems to be the one with the most flexibility at the gate.
Looks like a knock off of the GPS Tactical Range Backpack – http://www.goutdoorsproducts.com/products/tactical-range-backpack/
Of course these days it’s hard to tell who’s knocking off who. Though the GPS Tactical backpack is 1000 Denier – mine is built like a tank and looks brand new after owning it nearly 2 years.
No doubt, Totemic Monkey. Thanks for the link. I’ll have to ask K Rounds how the two products are related…
After looking at my notes it seems that the GPS bag came first, but the inserts don’t fit long-slide pistols/revolvers. K Rounds developed their version of the bag to initially address this deficiency.
I’ve not seen the G Outdoors bag but saw comments that people have fit their Colt 6″ Python and a 6″ Dan Wesson in the sleeves.
And numerous people saying full sized 1911’s fit. Now, I don’t know about scopes and such. The 6″ revolvers probably not, they seem like tight fits.
The feature set of this bag is *very* similar.
Huh, G Outdoors has a tall version of their bag, too. OEM’d from the same offshore manufacturer?
I am looking for a bag right now. Your review is timely and thorough. This price seems reasonable for all of the features – plus a spot for an HT. Nice job, Conner. 73
Glad you found the review helpful, Carrucan. Hopefully I’ll be able to bring everyone a first look at gen2 when it becomes available. 73!
Ive seen several companies with a similar looking product. This one does look far the nicest. I wish someone would make an everyman range bag, one that can hold a few pistols, ammo boxes, and a bunch of ar15/10 ak47 mags. And not overdue it with 18 esoteric pockets for shit like cleaning supplies and other random crap most people dont ever use at the range. It seems these range bags are geared to guys who take 4 nice pistols, are afraid of getting them scratched up, so its case within a case within a bag. Which means that bag is probably 6lbs empty. Its like range bags are for serious pistol shooters, not for your average chump thst shoots a few long guns and pistols at da range.
I use a simple range bag from Midway, and my wife uses a GPS Medium Range Bag. Both are basically “duffel” types with a large central compartment with side pockets, carry handles and a shoulder strap.
We have several backpacks but keep coming back to these for the versatility.
I’m not sure what you’re looking for? There are plenty of duffel-style/jock bag style range bags with center compartments with movable/removable dividers with side pouches for pistols.
Or “tactical” backpacks with a large center compartment and lots of molle webbing, like the 5.11 stuff.
Or for something simpler and cheaper (about $50) but very sturdy, go to a Lowe’s or Home Depot and look for a tool bag. They have backpack style ones and duffel bag style bags.