5.11 Tactical | PT-R® Daily Grind Pack 26L

The 5.11 PT-R Daily Grind Pack is a great casual everyday carry backpack. I like to call this a “Knock Around Pack (KAP)”. This is a low-profile, casual-looking pack that fits the role of a gym pack, a day trip to the city, the beach, or the woods, for a hike. Its slim profile with minimalist features has a nostalgic appeal in an era of technical and overly organized backpacks. The Daily Grind is a twenty-six-liter pack made of 600D polyester. With a slim profile that makes it ideal for moving through crowded locations like train stations, airports, and shopping centers.

The dimensions are as follows from the 5.11 website:

Measurements: 19″ H x 10″ W x 6″ D

Total Capacity: 1586.62 cubic inches / 26 liters

Personally, I see this pack as a casual carry bag, not for work but for when I’m doing relaxing activities. Could it also be used for professional purposes? Absolutely. The decision would be an individual one and based on the culture at your place of work. I’ve been using the Daily Grind over the summer for trips to the gym and down to the seashore. Perfect for moving through the crowds on the boardwalk and stuffing in a locker at the gym.

Starting from the exterior, on the sides there are stretch water bottle pockets and a 3”X3” panel of laser-cut MOLLE on the top part of the sides. On the front, there is 5.11 branding and a Velcro panel for a morale patch of your choice, and a Velcro strip for a nametape. The bottom has two non-slip strips on it. On the top is a grab handle and a zipper pocket that’s perfect for storing an extra pair of glasses, your phone, or other little quick-store-and-grab items. The back panel is a mesh material that helps keep your back cool, and the mesh is also on the straps. There are also some Velcro straps for attaching patches. The straps are comfortable and adjustable. A nice feature that I’ve liked is the ability of the loaded Daily Grind to stand up and not fall over when you set it down loaded.

The clamshell design of the main compartment allows easy and quick access to your stuff. There’s a laptop sleeve in the main compartment that could also be used for a ballistic panel should you choose. A small mesh zipper pocket is on the interior wall of the main flap that’s convenient for storing small items such as a bottle of hand sanitizer and snacks. The interior of the pack also has a material that feels water-resistant (Not waterproof) should you get stuck out during the rain.

I’ve been using the Daily Grind pack all summer and have really enjoyed it. It’s a great knockaround pack for fun activities or serious use. It’s a great minimalist pack whose slim profile works perfectly for the gym, boardwalk, day trips to the city, or woods for a hike. It holds all the necessities for everyday carry and activities. MSRP is $70.00

Thanks to 5.11 for providing the PT-R® Daily Grind Pack 26L for review.