Readers may note that I have already reviewed the VooDoo Tactical Mini Tobago pack in the past. I love my gray-with-pink-stitching version – using it for day trips, day hikes, and as a travel carry on. It was also my EDC pack for SHOT 2018.
The fact is, that I love that pack so much that I decided to order the exact same model in a camo pattern for my hunting gear this fall. It arrived in time for one of my first crossbow expeditions of the year, and I wanted to give it a new review because I bought it for a completely different purpose.
Specs
-Durable pack cloth construction
-Measures 14” x 9” x 17.5” and has a volume of approx. 25 liters.-
-Padded shoulder straps with sternum strap for comfort.
-Grommeted drain holes
-Heavy duty zippers with paracord pulls
The outside of the Mini Tobago sports generous amounts of MOLLE webbing to attach whatever extras you may want. I may even sew-up some blaze orange panels to velcro onto the MOLLE for rifle buck season.
The pack is roomy, with many pockets, but compact enough that it doesn’t overwhelm my short-ish female frame. I also try to keep size under control because packs – just like purses – tend to accumulate way more crap than I actually need. If there is more room, more unnecessary “stuff” goes in.
I am no hunting “expert”, but I try to be prepared, so here is a pocket-by-pocket description of what this pack holds for me. Bear in mind that where I hunt is 2.5 hours from home, and a good walk from the car, so I can’t just run back to the house if I need something. I have to have it ON me.
On top is a sturdy carry handle. Once the pack is off my back, hefting it around on stand is usually done via the top handle. This handle is no wimpy afterthought.
The upper left side pocket contains “survival” gear like waterproof matches, a fire-starter, and compass. Granted it’s hard to get lost on the particular 100+ acres I hunt, but “better to have and not need…”
The upper right side pocket holds a small first aid kit.
The lower left and lower right side pockets will hold 16-ounce water bottles. This pack is hydration compatible, but I don’t have a bladder unit, and knowing me I’d be dragging the hose mouthpiece in the mud or something. I just re-use old Gatorade bottles. I’m cheap like that.
The bottom front zipper pocket contains deer gutting and dragging gear, including an extra knife. I’m trying to keep all the gloves and bags and such in that pocket so that I don’t even need to open that zipper unless I am successful in dropping a deer. The less stuff I have to paw through in the main compartment, the better.
The front top zipper pocket holds maps and an extra orange vest
The next pocket inward (including administrative panel) holds pens, rangefinder, Surefire flashlight, headlamp, granola bar, plastic bags for trash I find or accumulate, and a completely empty pocket.
The main compartment (with another administrative panel)- contains a blue tarp (for either dragging a deer or emergency shelter), space blanket, paracord, collapsible shooting stick (it does stick out the top a bit), camo duct tape, roll of “no trespassing” signs, small notepad, ziploc bag of license/tags, and a couple more empty pockets.
With all of that, there is plenty of leftover space for a soft lunch bag cooler (for on stand munchies) and room to stash an extra fleece layer in case I need to peel off when the sun comes up.
For those who are worried about encountering creatures that might shoot back, the Mini Tobago pack also has an armor panel pouch inside the main compartment (armor not included), and a zippered padded mesh butt-pad that “could” hold a kydex velcro-backed holster with a subcompact pistol – like my Glock 42. I will neither confirm nor deny that mine contains that pistol, just saying that it “could”, in case – you know – “reasons”.
If you have reasons of your own for wanting a sturdy, compact but roomy pack to hold all of your hunting extras while you are in the field, consider pointing yourself or your gift-buying-other to VooDoo Tactical this Christmas.
