I got my Tactical Operator Removable Operator Pack a few weeks ago, I had some time to get accustomed and make some pictures of it.

The Removable Operator Pack (or R.O.P.) belongs to Tactical Tailor’s Operator Series, it is aimed to be attached on a tactical vest or an other backpack.
An other manufacturer build such a pack, a bit more expensive but could be a bargain regarding the build quality that seems famous on US forums (not well known here in France, though): Kifaru E&E.

This bag offer two compartments for an overall volume of 1175 cu. in. (20 liters) that make a nice day pack. The bag sports a third compartment for a 2 or 3 liters hydration bladder.
Front and sides have MOLLE webbing allowing to carry some more accessories.

Made of 1000 denier Cordura nylon fabric, it is available in 7 colors (ACU, Coyote Brown, Foliage Green, MultiCam®, OD and Ranger Green, Black).

Dimensions:

Empty R.O.P. is 1480 g – 3 lb

Let’s have a look (click on the pixies to get 1600×1200/300 kb pictures).

OUTSIDE

Except the side zipper of the front compartment, the bag is symmetric each side being equipped the same way.

The top front sports a large velcro pad for your patches and morale, three rows of four loops MOLLE webbing and an adjustable bungee cord.

Man! It’s zipper pulls wearing a bag… Heavy-duty they say! These are quite generously dimensioned with 500 lbs paracord. Of course it’ll make them easy to grab while wearing gloves or with numb hands (I don’t have boxing gloves nor mitten to test further); thanks to these, the quite stiff zippers won’t be a fuss to get open and surely never accidentally open (time will tell).
Music lovers would say it was designed by Erik Satie for it’s pear-ish shaped.

The back is padded but not ventilated when worn directly.
Shoulder straps are ergonomic and quite wide but not really padded. The bottom part is adjustable and the straps are long enough for the hefty of us (make sure to get Web Dominators or a bicycle inner tube piece so it don’t flap around).
Equipped with an elastic strip for hydration hose or communication-gears routing.
Sternum-strap’s height is adjustable on about 6 in./15 cm. D-rings to hook some accessory that get secured under the sternum-strap’s slipper so they don’t rattle.

INSIDE

No space managing in the front side pouch (Maxped’s fan are allowed to whine).
Its volume don’t encroach over the main compartment so its payload will be tight but never crushed (20 lbs cat litter bag test: done).

So, mine is filled up with a Tactical Taylor Monkey Stealth Admin silent counterpart of the Maxpedition MCAP —please watch Roz’ video review— (used as light FAK and admin furniture), Maxpedition Janus (for all tools and hard accessories, for it’s heavier on the bottom), two glasses cases (reading glasses vertical ready to grab & sunglasses on the top), wallet and coin purse (missing on the pixies). There’s enough place to add some maps, copy- or notebook, a little magazine, even a pocket book (not Joyce’s Ulysses).

Double zipper-pulled main compartment opens wide. Its inside is lined with orange fabric for ground-aerial rescue marking, I guess.

No space management in there too except two elastic tightened pouches on the bottom side —can hold a 32 oz./1 l. Nalgene though.

Under the upper grab-handle, hydration or radio gear hole lid. We could quibble about the velcro doesn’t reach the edge and it sticks up a bit but keep it reachable with gloved hands.

The backside compartment is aimed to store the folded away shoulder straps (kept open with a Spyderco Resilience).

Releasing a second velcro strap grant access to the hydration bladder compartment that will be secured with a ring.

WHAT MAKES THE R.O.P. SPECIAL

As stated on the beginning, this bag can be worn attached on a vest or an other backpack.

So we have to release the shoulder-straps.

Then slip them away in the rear compartment; the ring mountings make things easier but are wide enough they don’t twist on your shoulders —well done.

Hide the other half in the slit at the bottom side and tear the second set of male SRB equipped straps.

Voilà!

TT provides four of this removable attachment hardware —4 in./10 cm— to tighten the R.O.P. on its host with their MALICE clips® or any compatible gears.
Note that TT always ship necessary MALICE clips with their gears, it’s not a premium option that costs an eyeball.

These strap sport Quick Attach Surface Mount Buckle which female part can be inserted on the R.O.P. or the host’s MOLLE loops depending how you mounted the other one.
Note there’s no “side” on the female part so you can install the male QASMB strap as you need.

See here two males on the upper fixed female buckle, two female buckles on the bottom side of my 5.11 Rush 12.

Upper male go in the upper fixed female on the R.O.P. —not very becoming when not used.

Male QASMB with the female straps.

When all put in place. The second set allows to secure the R.O.P. on bigger backpacks (40+ l.).

CONCLUSION

Choose with discreet tint… black, this bag is really low profile, alike many sport bags and makes it a nice EDC urban/hiking, far less bulky than another so called day pack (like my Rush 12 from now on kept for week-ending outings).

The wide shoulder straps make it comfortable though the minimal padding if reasonably loaded.

The finishing is fairly good even if its don’t made like a armored car.

To split hairs, the R.O.P. lacks a velcro pad in the front compartment to stick space managing accessories like Maxped’s; anyway there’s none on TT catalog while they offer a large choice of different pouches, TT choosing not to subdivide the available room, leaving it to the end user’s habits and choice.

Ordered on Tactical Tailor web store, they are fast and friendly answering a mail.
After spending only a few hours to get clearance by customs, it took less time to travel from Washington to France than it took to make the last 18 miles/30 km to its destination —thanks to La Poste.

Feel free to comment, ask your questions and suggest some English improvements.

A little update. (9-29-2011)
Since we talked about the possible load in the other ROP thread.
My daily load in the front pocket distributed as follows:

MSM Stealth Admin: 914 g – 2 lb
– notepad
– set of ball & felt pens
– Leatherman Charge Tti with its bit-sets, extension
– Nitecore D10 SP w.14500 batt. and headband
– Buff Dry Cool neckband
– propane lighter (a Zippo in the pants pocket)

Maxpedition Janus as FAK: 400 g – 14 oz.
– different fluids (eosin, physiological solution, antibacterial)
– 2 elastic gauze bandage
– bunch of gauze swabs
– assorted bandaids, flat rolled bandaid
– scissors
– pair of nitryl gloves

reading glasses in their case
sunglasses and case (Oakley C-Wire or Crosshair)
8×20 monocular
digital camera (Canon ixus 200HS /Elph 300 HS)
wallet and coin purse
pack of tissues

I keep the main compartment flat with 4 Grimlocks (as seen in the beginning) and spread it when needed for unforeseen load (books, some shopping etc.).
These GL can be used to lock anything out of the bag, one or both of the pouches if needed.