I was recently in the market for a small PALS-covered pack to use as an extra Grab-no-Go/Do-Whatever pack, and so I ended up snagging an ATS Tactical Cobra pack (in ACU) off their website today.
I kept finding various posts on the interwebs about how ATS was blowing out their remaining stock of Cobra packs in ACU, so I caved and bought one. They had me at “Hello!”, errrrrr I mean “$50”!
And while ACU is not really muh thang, I figured that I could just Rit Dye this sucker dark green or brown. You know, if and/or when I get tired of looking at the ACU…
While I was placing my order, I caved to temptation and also added a large ATS Utility pouch (in MC) to my order to cling to the back of this sucker (or maybe tuck inside?) It was inevitable, I was bound to buy one some day, so why not just add it to my cart while I was there?
This will be my 4th piece of ATS gear purchased in just the past week. It started with an innocent purchase of their small upright GP pouch (in MC). Then came their ATS Medical Insert to stuff inside the GP pouch. I swear, their gear is worse than crack! :o
Anyhoo, while I wait for the Big Brown Truck of Joy to drop off my new Cordura goodness, I was wondering if any of you that own this pack wouldn’t mind sharing some pics of your own Cobra? I would also love to see how you have it outfitted with pouches, patches, and other stuff…
If you want to just chime in about how you love, or just sorta like, or even how you really don’t care for this pack at all. Feel free to chime in. Thanks!
I’ve got three boxes of black RIT dye, and a big tub of water to boil.
I was thinking of putting a flashlight pouch on the side, and having my cobbler sew a few rows of Velcro loops on the inside of the pack. My thinking was to use some of the Blue Force Gear DAP pouches that way.
It’s amazing what you can put in a laptop sleeve, and pass a cursory visual inspection at work.
The vast majority of the laptop messenger style bags, and backpacks where I work are black ballistic nylon. So this should blend in, after the dye job.
And I am looking at one of these three as an outside pouch:
It looks like you have a nice assortment of pouches picked out for your pack. Black should blend in well in an office environment…
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I’m thinking a dark brown color would look good on this pack. Sort of a Hershey Bar color. But, if that fails, a package of dark green will be on standby. Rit Dye has different color samples on their website, and they even tell you what color to mix in order to achieve that particular color. So I might do a little bit of experimenting… :o
As far as what pouches that I will end up attaching to this pack, I still haven’t fully decided yet. Since I’ll mainly be using this in a rural setting, I have a ton of freedom to attach whatever I want. I do know this, the large GP pouch that I ordered with this pack will probably go on the outside, near on the bottom. And maybe I’ll pick up an Admin pouch of some sort to mount above it. My small upright GP pouch will go on either side, with either a Nalgene or a medical insert tucked inside.
Then there is what to mount on the inside? I still haven’t figured out what to do in there yet. Maybe I’ll look at some of those mesh pockets by Kifaru. Who knows? shrug
I picked up[ one of the clearance ones also. Why you ask? $50.00 is the answer. I have 2 RAIDs, a Kifaru, BFG DAP and a shitton of other bags but I couldnt pass up on the Cobra, even if it is in the worst pattern in the world. I hope you guys post some pics when you dye your, Id like to see how they turn out.
I will post something. I still need to pick up some dye for it.
Thinking about trying some Jacquard Acid Dye, since it is made for dyeing nylon instead of cotton, like Rit Dye is. But we’ll see. I may just end up spray painting it! :eek: shrug
Interesting. I did not know about that brand. Something nylon-specific sounds like a great idea. I’ll be interested to know your results.
I got the pack this morning. It’s pretty well made, like the other pieces of ATS gear I have.
A friend has a lot more experience dying fabrics than me - since I have none. I’ll be at their place this weekend, and will post some notes on how it works.
Yeah, I had not heard of that type of acid dye either until someone posted about it awhile back over on TOS. I guess the key is to use some vinegar in the dyeing process as an acid…
They have a whole section on their website on how to use it, including how to dye on top of your stove. They even have their own forums too…
ATS Cobra Pack
On each side, an ATS Small Upright GP.
On the front, An ATS CLAP and an HSGI Modular Adnin.
On the PALS inside for some additional organization, a Tactical Tailor Accessory V1, and an HSGI Mini Modular Radio/Ult.
I take this to work with me and use it as a combination , portable office, lunch box,‘get home bag’.
Mostly the first two. Make no mistake. It is not a B.O.B.
I used to have an ATS large GP in place of the HSGI admin.
That thing is a huge pouch.
I found that I would unconsciously overload it and it threw the CG way out.
Just something to be aware of.
I like it enough that I own two. The one on the Cobra and one on my chest rig. Admittedly, the only other admin pouch I have experience with is the HSGI, which is a much bigger beast.
The top pocket has three elastic loops. One is big enough to hold my Brunton Eclipse. The other two can take a Surefire 6P/G2 size light. In addition to the compass and the light, I can fit a pair of Mechanix gloves, a RITR notebook and pen, a pair of Surefire EP3s and an inova microlight in a retractable badge reel .
Yeah, its full.
The zippered pocket is really pretty thin. I’ve got a signal mirror, some handi wipes and a broken case extractor in the one on the chest rig.
