Best Danged EDC Sling Bag The 5.11 MOAB 6
An EDC (Everyday Carry) bag is exactly what it sounds like, a bag you carry around with you every day. This Gear review is going to be about the 5.11 Moab 6, the best danged EDC sling bag I have ever carried. In the days of yore, I used to EDC a backpack, but for EDC a backpack has some disadvantages, they are bulky, and to access them you need to take the bag off your back lay it down, and open it up.
6-Year Review Of The 5.11 MOAB 6
This is a review of a well-tested, daily-use, EDC bag, that has traveled, hiked, camped, and commuted to work for years.
Sling Bag Vs Backpack
A Backpack is great, it can carry a substantial amount of gear comfortably, but it can’t beat a sling bag for everyday carry.
A sling bag is a single-strap bag that can be slung to the front for easy access.
Sling bags make great EDC for anyone who wants access to their items on the fly. Eg: when I want to go out and snap some photos, the Moab 6 works great as a camera bag. If I am going on the subway I sling the Moab 6 to the front, so I can keep an eye on my stuff (pickpockets have a field day with backpacks).
First Impression Of The 5.11 MOAB 6 The Best EDC Sling Bag
Durable, that is the first thing that pops out at you, this bag is made to last. I did not know this was going to be the best EDC bag when I got it, it was only after years of use, that it won the title of best sling bag.
1050 Denier nylon, you can feel the quality, just by touching the material. Now lift up the bag and the heft of it just smacks durability. This is a solid bag and a little bit heavy for its size. As with everything, it’s a compromise, yes. The bag is quite hefty but that is the price you have to pay for durability.
Now just take a quick look at the outside and then a peek at the inside and, oooh whee, the organizational capabilities of this baby is ridiculous. I have never seen a bag to match it. It has PALS webbing on the front and sides of the bag making it modular as heck, it has pockets galore on the inside, small pockets, big pockets, mesh pockets, and zippered pockets. Danged if it doesn’t have pockets for everything from pens to extra ammo cartridges. It even has a concealed carry pocket that can be accessed in seconds.
PALS Webbing
There are four rows of PALS webbing on the front, and four on each side. With four full-sized columns on the front and two columns on each side. Making it fully Molle compatible.
Hook And Loop
There is a prominent location on the front of the bag for a hook-and-loop morale patch. As well as a hook and loop on the gadget pocket on the strap for a name tag or perhaps a smaller patch.
Strap
The strap is ambidextrous and can be fixed for right or left-hand carry, there is a sliding compression padding that is removable, and the strap also has an elastic ring to keep it from flapping about. it has two anti-slip patches sewn onto it. I found it very comfortable.
Breakaway Buckle
The strap has a quick-release breakaway buckle, it is a tough buckle that has never slipped out or failed on me, and I have packed this sling bag filled to the brim while traveling.
YKK Self-Healing Zippers
The gold standard of hard use and durable zippers, YKK glides along as smooth as silk, has never snagged or popped open on its own, and is recommended by top brands internationally. Around the zippers, there are little rain covers to prevent water from leaking in. Attention to detail right up there.
Grab Handle
Solid grab handle for when you are getting it in and out of the car, or if you are of the mind to just carry it one-handed for short distances. The attention to detail on the grab handle is pretty impressive. Two straps, one on top of the other for durability, but with the bottom strap sewn in a slight U shape inwards on both sides for added comfort when carrying. Considering it is only a grab handle, I am surprised they bothered. But it is appreciated.
Gadget Pocket
A gadget pocket on the strap, with an elastic loop to keep it stable.
Concealed Carry Compartment
On the front between the main compartment and the admin section, there is a concealed carry that can hold a handgun (although not a large one). It uses Velcro to stay closed and has a hook and loop panel on the inner side to hold the weapon in place.
Sensitive Gear Pocket Or Eyewear Pocket
On the top between the grab handle and strap, there is a zippered fleece-lined pocket that perfectly fits a pair of sunglasses.
Padded Back
The bag is lightly padded at the back with 2 extra padding on the back that have non-slip material sewn on.
Hydration Compartment At The Back
The bag does come with a hydration compartment, although finding a hydration pouch that fits will be a challenge. I would think a 1-liter pouch would fit, but have not bothered to get one yet. So if anyone has tested it, please do leave a comment.
The Main Compartment
The main compartment is roomy, and for a bag, this size can fit a surprising amount of gear. It also comes with 3 pockets.
A large drawstring pocket on the back that will fit hold an Ipad in place. On the front there are two pockets, they extend the full width of the bag, and are zippered. The one on the top is mesh for easy visibility of its contents.
Grommet
There is a grommet at the bottom of the main compartment, if the bag ever does somehow get flooded with liquid, the grommet will allow it to drain out.
Admin Section
The admin section of the Moab 6 is of the classic 5.11 design. It has amazing organization, there are a total of 8 pockets.
A large pocket that extends the length of the admin section
Two for pens or pencils
A couple that fit a 6-inch Israeli bandage or spare magazines
Two medium-sized pockets for Altoid tins or something slightly larger
A single business card holder
It also comes with two key keepers, one on each side of the admin panel.
The Good And The Bad
So let’s get down to business. We will start with the good. Cos if it was all bad, there wouldn’t be much to talk about. Since we talked about all the features of the bag above. The good will be a very brief summary. The bad on the other hand will be a little bit more detailed.
The Good
This bag is built to last, it is compact, and for its size, you can pack a surprising amount of gear in it. It is very modular, pouches can be added to the exterior PALS webbing, and gear can be attached with carabiners or tied on with cordage.
It can be slung to hang on the back or front while on the move, making the gear inside easily accessible. The very well-designed pockets make organization easy.
It is water resistant, so in light rain, the contents inside will remain dry. It was designed to be attached to other Rush series bags. Making this bag extremely versatile, durable, and the best danged EDC bag on the market today.
The Bad
While I like the heft of the bag, some people have mentioned that it was a little heavy for an EDC bag. But I am ok with that, it’s a burden I am willing to carry for durability. Although if you are looking for ultra-light, then this is not the bag for you.
The bag can hold a lot of gear, the main compartment is very roomy. But that does make it stick out quite a bit. If you are front carrying it’s not so bad. The solution is to use the 5.11 tier system as compression straps to keep things tidy.
The lack of a hydration hole for the tubing, while not a big deal, would have made sense as they advertise the bag as having a hydration pocket.
The Breakaway buckle, now this is probably going to be my biggest complaint. I have no idea what size person this bag was designed for, but unless I start practicing being a contortionist, there is no way for me to quickly and easily get to that buckle. So while the concept of a breakaway buckle is great, the design location is terrible. The only way to get to the breakaway buckle would be if you were front carrying the Moab 6.
While not necessarily a bad thing the Moab 6 lacks a waist strap to stabilize it, it would have been really nice if the bag came with a simple waist strap to stabilize it while running, climbing, or cycling. But I guess if you really wanted one, just get a strap or belt and make your own.
Observed Complaints
I have seen some complaints online of this sling bag being uncomfortable, I have never had that problem, I have packed this bag full, and carried it for hours. I have used this as my 24-hour bushcraft bag, I have used it as an EDC bag to and from work daily for years. Comfort has not been an issue for me, but we are all built differently, so I figured it bears mentioning.
Conclusion:
The 5.11 MOAB 6 is the best danged EDC bag I have carried, I am tough on my gear, and the fact that it is still in one piece after years of EDC is a testament to the quality. The pros far outweigh the cons as far as value for money goes, there are no better deals out there.
5.11 Moab 6 Specifications
1050 Denier Nylon
Water Resistant Material (Not waterproof)
Main Compartment – 10.5” H x 9” L x 5” D
Front pocket – 9.5” H x 8” L x 2” D
Hydration pocket -9.5” x 8”
Total Capacity – 11 liter
Weight – 2.0 lbs
Pals Webbing on 3 sides of the bag
Hydration pocket (without a dedicated hole for the drinking tube)
Breakaway buckle
Admin Section
Hook and loop patch
YKK Zippers
Concealed carry pocket
Ambidextrous designed adjustable shoulder straps
Padded back with non-slip pads
Drainage grommet at the bottom of the bag
Fleece-lined sunglass pocket
Gadget pocket on the strap
Grab handle
5.22 Tier system buckles and straps (doubles up as compression straps)
