The last couple of months I’ve been on the hunt, aren’t we always , for a new bag. The bag I was looking for needed to check off at least most of the following boxes in no particular order:​

• 20L – 25L capacity
• Can open clamshell style (I’ve found I prefer it tremendously for ease of packing)
• Has a waist belt. Ideally a slightly more substantial one though any sort of a waist belt is okay
• Has sternum strap
• Has MOLLE/Velcro for additional configuration options
• Can hold 15″ MacBook Pro Retina
• Has some organizational features
• Didn’t look absolutely ridiculous size wise on me

Bonus points if it checked off any of these boxes:

• Could open as both top loader in addition to clamshell opening
• Had compression straps (Love being able to compress a bag down a little more to save space and make it more stable)
• Had pockets on the waist belt (I’m a bit spoiled from the hiking bags I’ve used)
• Didn’t weigh over 3 pounds (The less the pack weighed the less my overall kit would weigh)
• Didn’t look super duper crazy tactical
• Was aesthetically pleasing to me

So, I figured this was a fairly tall order. One thing that helped offer up candidates for my search was the discovery of laser cut MOLLE which I don’t think was a thing the last time I really invested time researching for a new bag. I think it looks much more sleek and refined than traditional MOLLE and given that it isn’t as common I also don’t think it looks as “tactical.” For most of that time I spent it researching between the Vanquest Trident 20, Ibex 20, Falconer 27 (Even though it was a little above my capacity range it was light enough relatively speaking and within a certain physical dimension range that I considered it), Cannae Legion Elite, Maxpedition Riftcore, GoRuck GR1 and GR0, TAD Gear Fast Pack Litespeed, and Tom Bihn Synapse 25. These were all bags that I’d heard excellent things about.

The Tom Bihn ended up being the first to go then I crossed the GoRucks off the list. The Litespeed was next. The Ibex 20 was a serious contender until I realized that the 20 model didn’t come in all black. The closest it’s offered in is this black with multicam on the sides which I wasn’t interested in TYMMV with that. That left the Trident 20, Falconer 27, and Cannae Legion Elite. I ultimately decided against the Falconer because knowing my packing habits and how I like a packed bag to not be all droopy I knew I would pack the Falconer with extra stuff I didn’t need and weigh myself down more. So for about a week it was back and forth between the Trident and the Legion Elite. Which one was it gonna be?

Then one day I was scrolling down on some website and an ad for the new SOG packs popped up. The Toc 20 initially caught my eye so I clicked through. From there I found the Scout 24L. After looking at the images, reading the feature list, and watching a couple videos I realized it ticked off nearly every single box that I had laid out and even a couple that I didn’t originally consider. I ordered it that day. I received it recently and I’ve lived with it for a couple of days and tried a couple different setups in it now.

The Scout 24L is, as the name implies, a 24L bag. It weighs about 2.78lbs, and has a plastic frame sheet with an aluminum stay running down the center to give the back of the bag support and structure. It’s made of coated 500D Kodra, has YKK zippers all around, and duraflex buckles. It has a hypalon MOLLE field on the outside of the pack, a nifty “crush proof” pocket on the top where I keep my Canon G7X II that I use for vlogging along with a couple pens and cables. It also, running alongside the MOLLE, offers a bunch of loops for additional attachment and this steel cable that loops out at the bottom on both sides of the bag that when used in combination with the shock cord that comes attached to the bag allows for the attachment of something like an axe, hatchet, trekking poles, or in my case more likely light stands.

The main compartment, through use of the compression straps, can be accessed either as a top loading bag or if you unbuckle the straps becomes a clamshell opening bag. It makes packing it an absolute cinch. The main compartment of the bag has another MOLLE/velcro field, slot for a laptop, three more pockets on the flap that gives you access to the main compartment, and a slot for a water bladder.

The shoulder straps I find to be sufficiently padded and very comfortable and the waist belt is not only even more substantial than I was hoping for but they can also be stowed away when not in use which I think is absolutely great. My biggest nit pick with the bag is the giant skull in the SOG logo on the back but I figured since that would be out of sight the vast majority of the time it was perfectly forgivable.

So far this bag has been a breeze to carry, looks pretty slick (to me), and seems to be solid construction all around. I’m very, very happy with this purchase so far. Below are a few photos I took of the bag. If you’re interested in a photo not included or have a question please feel free to ask!