Our short review of the Eagle Industries Crossover Pack
The Crossover Pack is probably one of the lesser ‘popular pack within the Eagle Industries range of packs. You will not find much reviews or comments can be found on the internet about this particular model. We manage to get hold of a brand new Crossover Pack in 2014 and we have been testing it out as an EDC pack ever since. This is NOT a complicated pack and while some shun upon it (we think its purely because they are made out of the USA), we feel that it is a wee little pack that does the job. Here’s a closer look at the Eagle Industries Crossover Pack.
First of all, lets get one thing clear. At Garrison Packs, we invest in all sort of packs to test, review and discover for ourselves all the good and bad of a particular nylon product. Reviews are great but lets face it, it all boils down to personal preference (and a lot of ego). So, as you read this, bear in mind that we are writing this strictly from our own perspective. Lets agree to disagree.
Inside the Crossover Pack. All set for a radio and some other small items.
The first thing that struck us with the Crossover Pack is how light and compact it is. The outside of the pack is covered with molle and and inside has organisation which makes it like an ‘office’ or ‘urban’ pack rather than a combatant pack. The lack of side compression straps to us may indicates this pack is not intended to take heavy bulky loads where compressing contents is not a priority.
We manage to get our hands on a black Eagle Industries Crossover Pack
In terms of size, perhaps the Crossover is within the 20L range. We had a S.O. Tech MPMD with us and we thought the two would do a good comparison for sizing. It is obvious in the picture below how much smaller the Crossover is compared to the MPMD. We only lasted a few months trying to carry the monstrous MPMD as an EDC. It was way too heavy and bulky (but we found it an excellent pack for other uses)
A side comparison for sizing…the Eagle Industries Crossover and the S.O.Tech MPMD
The chap that tested the Crossover at Garrison Packs took the pack through almost every part of his daily routine. No…he is not a combatant in war nor is he the sort that gives a hoot about brands. It was his work bag during the weekdays, his kid’s diaper bag during the weekends and his go bag on extended trips (max 2 days). The molle panels on the pack made it easier to add more space to the pack as well as compression straps.
The Tatonka external pouch added packing capacity to the Crossover Pack
A smaller sized pouch on the Crossover Pack
The external pouch on the front panel made a lot of sense when you need additional space for things you would need to reach quick. While we would love to say that it held items like gun magazines or flash-bangs…. the most it carried throughout the duration of the test were baby diapers or other baby supplies. Not glamorous but that’s the truth. Its easy enough for us to put on side compression straps to the pack. Some US army repair kit buckles and a few lengths of milspec webbing does the job. The compression straps keep the pack from bursting at the zippers.
We have the parts and mil-spec material to add compression straps to the Crossover Pack
Zippers, stitching and everything else on the outside of the pack seems in order (for the pack that we had at least). One thing our in-house ‘tester’ liked particularly is the fact that the black color pack, although covered in molle in the front and sides does not really seem so tactical. If the pack was in coyote or worse…any of the DPM sort of shade, this pack in the city as a diaper pack would probably attract some weird stares.
