0
Evolution Outdoor: Affordable Tactical Gear
Over the years, I’ve accumulated more range bags, backpacks, and pistol cases than I’d like to admit. Some have been incredibly well made but expensive enough to make me question if they were truly worth the expense. Others looked great online and started falling apart after a few range trips. Evolution Outdoor seems to strike a nice middle ground.
From the range to EDC, Evolution Outdoor strives to fill each role.
They’re not trying to reinvent the wheel or convince you that a range bag needs to cost as much as a decent optic. Instead, they focus on making practical gear that helps keep your firearms and equipment organized and secure, without emptying your wallet.
Between the backpacks, range bags, and gun cases, there are options to cover you from EDC to your next competition.
Tactical Backpack
I’ve found that the more time you spend shooting, the more gear seems to follow you to the range. Extra magazines, ammunition, eye protection, hearing protection, tools, batteries, targets, and random accessories all have a way of piling up.
Since this backpack is very much on the tactical side of the aesthetic scale, I’ve been using it only as a range backpack, as I prefer a more subtle pack when out in public.
Several rifle mags fit perfectly in the front pocket.
It gives you plenty of storage, enough organization to keep everything where it belongs, and a layout that makes sense.
The larger compartments easily fit a substantial amount of ammo, your rifle magazines, and a pistol or two if you want. At the same time, the front admin-style pouches are perfect for your eyes and ears, plus some medical gear, pistols magazines and smaller tools.
What I Like
- Plenty of storage for a smaller range day
- Useful compartment layout
- Comfortable enough when fully loaded
- Durable construction
- Priced well below many competing tactical backpacks
You’ll also notice a couple of extra “tie down” type straps across the top and sides, and while they can be helpful, I do wish the side straps could be fully “removed” and not simply extended. It’s a small wish, but worth noting if you like to quickly open your bag completely without having to adjust straps.
Lots and lots of straps.
Tactical Shoulder Sling
Not every trip to the range or quick errand requires a full backpack. However, being a dad of two, I do usually require some more storage space than what I can fit in my pockets. That’s why I’ve picked up quite a few sling bags and smaller backpacks, so I knew this one would get some quick use.
You’d be surprised how much you can stuff in there.
It’s compact, easy to carry, and just large enough for the essentials. Between the handful of various zippered compartments, I like that you can separate your gear for quick access and not have to dig through a single compartment.
What I Like
- Compact and lightweight
- Great for handgun range trips
- Easy access to gear
- Affordable enough to serve as a secondary range bag
Given its smaller size, you likely won’t be able to use it for a dedicated range trip, unless you’re just going to bring a single pistol and a couple of boxes of ammo. For everyday needs though, or a secondary range bag for medical and extra gear, it’s a solid option.
Soft Pistol Case
I’ll be honest, I don’t usually use soft pistol cases like this, so you’ll have to keep that in mind. A small soft-sided pistol case is one of those products that doesn’t need to be complicated.
At the end of the day, its job is to protect your handgun during transport and storage. While this pistol case does do that, I think the focus was placed more on its aesthetics than functionality. The company’s logo takes up the majority of each side of the case, and is also accompanied by a non-removable patch and a tag. That’s a lot of branding for a small case.
Just enough room for two compact pistols with optics.
The interior padding provides enough protection for your pistol and optic, so I can’t fault it there, but it’s fleece-lined, which I feel may not be ideal for long term use if it happens to get saturated with any oils or lubricants.
What I Like
- Lightweight design
- Good padding for protection
- Easy to store inside larger bags
- Budget-friendly
There are definitely pros to the bag as I just outlined, but with the lack of additional storage for even a small amount of range gear, the bag will likely serve a limited purpose.
Lots of branding, but at least it’s in grayscale.
Don’t Overlook the Hard Pistol Cases
While The Mag Shack doesn’t currently carry Evolution Outdoor’s hard pistol cases, they’re worth mentioning because they fit the same overall value as the rest of the company’s lineup, and this one checks most of the boxes!
You won’t have to worry about inclement weather.
I’ve used plenty of premium hard cases over the years, including offerings from Pelican and Condition 1. They’re excellent products, but they can get a bit pricey. Evolution Outdoor’s hard pistol cases offer many of the same benefits, such as foam interiors, an IP67 rating, air-pressure valves, and locking points, but at a lower price point.
The pick-n-pluck foam inserts are a nice touch.
If you’re looking for something more protective than a soft case but don’t necessarily want to spend premium-case money, they’re worth considering. Not every handgun case needs to survive being dropped out of the back of your truck or boat. Sometimes you just need reliable protection for range trips and vehicle transport.
Final Thoughts
What I like most about these offerings, aside from affordability, is their practicality. There are no claims (that I’ve seen) about each of them being the “best on the market”, and that sets the expectations well.
For a handful of pistols and gear, these options will have you covered.
That’s not to say they won’t meet certain higher expectations, but it helps deliver the value most people are going to be looking for at these price points. Sometimes the best value isn’t the cheapest option or the most expensive one, it’s simply the product that does exactly what you need it to do, and that’s where Evolution Outdoor seems to have found its niche.
While I can’t speak to the long term durability of these yet, they’ve given me confidence through their use so far that it shouldn’t be a problem.
