Ghost Mk II

I've held off on reviewing this bag for a couple of months because I wanted to get some actual use before I made a review. I did not receive this bag in exchange for a review or anything like that, I paid full price on the Direct Action Gear website (well designed website, I highly encourage you to check it out and compare prices). This is a phenomenal bag and fits my every need.Size:I was looking for a bag that I could use on day hikes or short camping trips. This is not as large as my 5.11 Rush 72 which I was perfectly fine with. If you are looking for a large 3-day bag, I would not go with the Ghost. If you are like me and want a larger sized day bag to hike with or for shorter backpacking trips this bag will work very well. It has some compression straps on the bag and has an overall slim profile compared to many bags of this size. The capacity is 31.5 liters if you include the detachable external pocket. There are great organization options in the detachable external pouch. There are 2 mesh pockets, 4 holders for pen/pencil/firesteel/any other slim items of that size, a lanyard for your keys or anything else you'd like to attach, 2 rectangular pouches (think altoids tin size) with velcro flaps, a small "dump" pouch in between the other organizers, and a larger dump pouch behind everything else. That's not to mention the entire "dump" area of the total external pouch as well as the zipper on the front of it that extends the entire area of the external pocket. This would be a great option for a medical kit as you can detach it and it can hold plenty of items (not what I use it for, just saying as my mind always goes there being a nurse and all).For the main compartment itself, there is another zipper on the outside that is about half the height of the bag. The outside on the main compartment also has a sunglasses holder, a water bottle holder on each side (easily fits a standard 32oz nalgene and has compression straps to lock it into place), and access to your first water bladder compartment on the back (easily fits my 3L water bladder and has a nice hook to hang it on and access to the outside for the hose). Inside the main compartment has one mesh pocket and a divider that you can access the second water bladder area (again with the nice hook and hose access). The rest of the compartment is just an open dump area. That's pretty much it for the main compartment if you're looking for organization. I'm fine with it being a large dump area, but it may be a turn-off to some.Function:The hip belt is detachable and comes with straps that you can attach magazines, holsters, etc. and wear that alone. I will never have a use for that but it may be important to some. The hip belt itself is very wide and actually transfers weight to your torso/legs MUCH better than my Rush 72. However, being a shorter bag it takes me some adjusting to get to that point and isn't as comfortable as when I have it all cinched up on my shoulders. I usually just use it for stability or to carry a knife. I'm 5'11" and my torso is just a little too tall for it so if you're 5'9" or shorter, or have a shorter torso than I do, I believe it will perform well for you. The shoulder straps have buckles so you can quickly detach the pack if you are wearing it. There are 4 compression straps on the outside if you count the ones that attach to the external pouch.The laser cut MOLLE looks fantastic and contributes to the slim-profile look that was mentioned before. If you need MOLLE, this is the bag for you as there is absolutely no shortage of it. It is featured on the main bag, the external pouch, on each side (even on the water bottle compartments), the hip belt, and four on the bottom of the pack to allow for tent/bedroll/etc. attachment. The laser cut MOLLE does take some getting used to. It is definitely more rigid and I find it more difficult to attach things to it. It's not impossible, just a little more difficult. I took the old method of using a butter knife to guide my attachments through and that seems to cut down on the time and frustration, as it did with standard MOLLE loops. It is nice that it will not snag or absorb water and weigh the pack down. Perhaps over more time it will loosen up and become less rigid, but who knows. Not a huge deal for me.The external pouch can be detached but I will never do that. As one reviewer mentioned, it's kind of a pain due to the knots and stringing of the shock cord. I use it beaver-tail-style and stuff things (rain jacket, tarp, plano tackle box, etc.) in between the external pouch and the main compartment. You can cinch it down tight and nothing will come out. Well, it may, but not easily. Also, I cannot speak to the NIR as I have absolutely no use for such thing and I got mine in shadow grey (very nice looking dark grey).Comfort:This bag is amazingly comfortable. I've worn it for many continuous hours while hiking and absolutely love how it feels and performs. The shoulder straps are well contoured and have nice padding, the hip belt works really well, there is an adjustable sternum strap, and the water bladder portions works well and carries the weight well if you use the hook.... and I haven't even gotten to my favorite part- the back padding! The Combat Vent System is probably just shy of 3/4" thick and is made of foam encased in mesh and has many large and deep ridges cut into the foam to help air circulate. It did not prevent my back from sweating (nothing will because, let's face it, it's still in contact with your back) but with even the slightest breeze cool air went through those ridges and cooled my back. That is a great feeling on a hot day with a lot of hiking!Quality:This pack screams quality. Seriously. Very well made. It is 500D Cordura Nylon (lighter than 1000D and still very strong) and DWR coated (water repellant) with fantastic stitching. There are no frays or loose stitching and after two months of pretty good use hiking/camping/being thrown around in the woods, it still looks like it did when I received it (minus the dirt on it). The shoulder straps and top handle are all Box-and-X style stitching. Pretty much anywhere on the pack where you find a strap or buckle there will be a loop with velcro nearby to fold up the excess straps, which is very nice to keep it snag-free and keep the excess straps out of the way. The shoulder straps also have D rings and other attachment points to feed a water bladder hose. The buckles themselves are made of duraflex and the zippers are all YKK. The zipper pulls are also great (also duraflex?) and the cord attaching to the zipper is encased in a tough-rubbery material. I know, I sound very scientific with that but that's the best I could come up with! There are two velcro attachments on the outside if you're into morale patches and those sorts of things. I'm not, but the look doesn't bother me. Each compartment, the main and external pouch, also have a drainage hole on the bottom. There are 2 D rings and various other attachment points that I couldn't even tell you what the use would be for them. I could go on and on here, but I'll just conclude the quality section by saying I came away VERY impressed with Direct Action Gear. Finding hidden gems (probably not for long) like Vanquest and Direct Action Gear make me appreciate quality so much more and gives me little hesitation for ponying up the extra few bucks to go with them.Conclusion (finally, right?):If you are looking at this review you are either a) unsure of what you're getting for the money or b) on the fence about buying this because it may be a tad more expensive than some other packs out there or c) I don't know, why are you still reading if you aren't considering it? Full disclosure: I have not had the opportunity to test or try many backpacks of this style- very few, actually. But I can be confident in saying that if you're looking for this style of backpack and you like what it has to offer, and it fits your budget, you will be extremely satisfied with this pack. It's a slam dunk in my opinion. Sorry about the lengthy review but I hope it helps!

Short version: I love everything about this bag except for the water bottle holders on the sides, which I wish were taller.Longer version:Use model and context:I got this pack to haul my school stuff to, from, and around campus. My usual load is a laptop, charging cables, 4-5 notebooks, a textbook or two, lunch, snacks, an extra layer, a large water bottle, and other small school items. Most name-brand schoolbags of sufficient size seem to skimp on quality or water bottle sleeves, so I've recently turned to military-style bags. I first tried a relatively inexpensive bag from Mardingtop, which was high quality but not deep enough to comfortably fit all my stuff. I bought the DA Ghost and 5.11 Rush 72 to try in parallel and see which one worked out better.Noteworthy features on the Ghost:I use one of the hydration bladder pockets (the one just in front of the back panel) to hold my laptop. This creates extra usable depth in the roomy main compartment, while giving my laptop some extra padding. I also love the "stuff-it" area between the main compartment and the removable organizer pouch. This is a great spot to put lunch, layers, or anything else that doesn't pack well. My only small gripe with this feature is the fact that it's open at the bottom, with only two alligator clips on the bottom to hold stuff in. This restricts that area for use with bulkier items. (The Rush 72 wins here because its "marsupial-style" pouch is closed on the bottom.)The zippered interior mesh pockets keep wires and smaller devices out of the way, and the dedicated sunglasses pocket on top provides easy access without need for a bulky case. While I don't see myself ever fully detaching the organizer pocket, it provides ample space and separation for pencils, erasers, snacks, and the like. It has replaced the separate pencil pouch that used to float around in the main compartment of my old bag.One unique feature that I really appreciate is the “combat vent” padding system on the back panel, shoulder straps, and hip belt. Most bags tout some sort of air-flow technology, but the Ghost is the first pack that has actually created a lot of separation between the back panel and my back, which significantly reduces back sweat when biking.The YKK zippers feel very sturdy. They don’t pull very smoothly, but this minor annoyance is only due to the zipper covers that help keep rain out.Areas for improvement:The only significant issue I have with the Ghost is the water bottle holders. While they are technically big enough to hold a 40-oz. insulated water bottle, they are a bit too short for comfort. Secure enough for biking and walking, but not running or jumping. Also, it’s a good thing that the hip belt is removable, because it’s too long for me even when fully shortened. (I’m a short guy with a small waist.) I wouldn’t use the belt for school anyway.Verdict:Although I'd take the 5.11 for wilderness survival due to its higher capacity, huge zippered side pockets for water bottles, and superior "marsupial" pouch, the Ghost ultimately seems more practical for an everyday bag. The Ghost is more than big enough to fit all my gear, but compact enough to look like a normal-sized backpack. (The Rush 72, while not uncomfortable, is enormous even when empty.) The short side pockets on the Ghost are a bit annoying, but the "combat vent" back panel is a truly helpful special feature. I'm hoping this bag will last me for many years of abuse, and I'll update the review over time.

I purchsed the Direct Action Ghost after purchasing the Direct Action Dragon Egg. I gave the Egg to my wife as it was smaller than I like. The size is the only thing I could find wrong with this pack. The two day dragon egg would have been perfect if it was larger. I'm disappointed with the three day Ghost as the shoulder straps are made with thinner material. I can't get my mind around the decision of a manufacturer to reduce the thickness of the shoulder strap padding while making the pack larger. There is uniformity between the combat vent system and the shoulder straps (material thickness) on the Dragon Egg. The same can't be said for the Ghost. IMO, Direct Action loses a star due to poor use of logic in shoulder strap design. I included photos of both packs side-by-side.

This became my EDC bag very quickly.The front removable pouch is very well laid out - carries a couple of diaries, journals, medication, pens, etc. When I initially got the back I thought I would take this part off and leave it at home - using the Ghost almost like Direct Action's Dragon Egg bag. However it has proven itself so handy that I left it on the bag.The reason then that I chose the Ghost over the Dragon Egg were the youtube reviews that mentioned the zip covers on the Ghost in terms of giving it more help in terms of water proofing. And you definitely need that in Ireland. The material is very stiff at the beginning but gets more pliable with time and use. At first the main compartment zippers are almost tough to open - not because of the zips or anything, but because the material is tough and stiff. After a few weeks, it opens perfectly, and quickly. The rubber coated zip pulls are very easy to use too.The bag is easy to carry on my shoulders - I'm a bigger guy and I have no problem with the straps or the back padding. I did remove the waist support as I wouldn't be carrying enough weight to require it. It comes out very easily. The shoulder straps are very easy to adjust - sometimes maybe a little too easy, as they seem to slide when all of the weight is on one strap and I hold it a certain way but this is so rare that it doesn't bother me at all.Side pockets are super useful size for water, etc - taking my oversized thermos easily. I normally carry a small folding umbrella on the other side with no trouble either.

This pack has been completely awesome and has survived the hardest tactical test of all - its been used for the past two years as a baby bag. Day in day out, from being thrown out of vehicles to projectile vomiting, this pack has seen it all. I have to give a big shout out to the simply brilliant service of Direct Action who just serviced a product return with no questions and with such grace - thanks to everyone at DA - class act! If this bag can survive two small kids it can survive anything. It swallows amazing amounts of crap and looks like new from the outside. If I had to pick fault (and I'm really picking here), the proofing had begun to wear on some parts of the bag and the rubberised shrink fit zipper pulls started to crack; other than that a great pack. The pack gets lots of comments and a bit of envy from guys forced to carry their partners girly diaper bag around.

Best backpack I've owned. Masses of features, very high quality construction, looks great, fantastic value. I'd give it 6 stars.

The bag itself is robust and tough and works great for me, however the zips with the lace type pulls covered in plastic are very poor as they pull out and you can’t return back. I wouldn’t buy again, but have made my own pulls that work

very well build bag for the moneywould recommend anyone to get it if you want a bag that will last years

Whatever the sell this bag as is a lie. It's better haha.Didn't actually buy this bag as a laptop bag cos it says it fits 15" laptops. Mines is 17.3" and it fits. Barely but it still fits 😊100% worth it.

Der Ghost-Rucksack ist wie von DIRECT ACTION gewohnt sehr gut Verarbeitet, die Lieferung erfolgte schnell. Bis zur Verfügbarkeit der neuen HALIFAX Rucksackgeneration (Mitte 2018) stellt der GHOST den bis jetzt grössten Rucksack bei D.A. dar. Geordert wurde der GHOST in ADAPTIVE GREEN diese Farbe stellte sich für mich bis dato als in unseren Breiten als recht gute Lösung heraus, da nicht zu grün und auch nicht zu braun.Konzipiert ist der GHOST als so genannter 3 Tages-Rucksack dies ist natürlich nur bei vernünftiger beladung möglich, aber machbar. Ein sehr großer Vorteil ist der Modulare Aufbau sowie die optionale Erweiterung über das lasercut Molle-system, der entfernbare Hüftgurt ist durch den zusätzlichen Schulterriemen als leichte Koppel einsetzbar, dies funktionierte trotz relativ schwerer Molle-Taschen bis jetzt erstaunlich gut. Die adaptive Fronttasche ist durch den zusätzlich mitgelieferten Schultergut auch als kleinerer Organizer recht praktisch.Zur Zeit steht ein Langzeit-test noch aus, diese Gelegenheiten werden sich demnächst bei Jagd, Fischerei und allerlei anderen Outdoor Aktivitäten noch reichlich bieten. Ich denke jedoch da ich schon diverse Utensilien von DIRECT ACTION und HELIKON-TEX seit einigen Jahren in Gebrauch habe das ich keine sonderlich schweren Überaschungen erleben werde.

gut durchdachter Rucksack mit Top Verarbeitung. Hüftgurt abnehmbar und mit beigelegten "Hosenträgergurten" auch ohne Rucksack tragbar. bzw. auch nur mit der kleinen Tasche. Farbe: urban grey wie erwartet und einfach richtig schön. Wollte kein Tarn oder olive oder sonstige "Einsatzfarben". Organizertasche für mich gut ein und aufgeteilt. Seitentaschen gute Größe, passen die Nalgene Literflaschen ganz leicht rein. Im Rückenteil Platz für Trinkblase, aber für mich viel besser, für Dokumente und Raincover. Hauptfach ausreichend groß für Lunchbox, Kleidung usw... Molle: sehr gut. Material: Cordura 500 echt sehr robust und stabil. Schnallen auch Top.verwende den Rucksack zu 90%Arbeit und Rest Freizeit/Familie.Versand von Military1st extrem schnell!!!

First of all the main pack is 28l and the beaver tail bag is 3.5l bear that in mind because in the discription it says it is a 31+l but it doesn't say that 3.5 of those liters is the small organizer.Now to the pack. it is maid from 500d cordura nylon and 210d cordura nylon (the 210d is inside). it is to mention that cordura nylon is much tougher, more durable and has a better water resistant coating and a higher melting point than other nylon fabrics. for example a no name 1000d nylon fabric is less durable than the 500d from cordura.the specific version that i am reviewing has the multicam camo pattern and yes this is the original multicam from crye.the hardware on this from duraflex (woojin) korea (worlds leading company for plastic buckles). unlike ordenary buckles, which are mostly made out of nylon plastic the are made from acetal which is a military grade plastic. unlike ordenary buckles these are less susceptible to elements such as moisture and temperature.The zippers are from ykk (rc - class) they are reversed which makes operation smoother and the zippers water resistant.so much for the materials now to the compartments.the main compartment features a dobble run zipper which is covered by a nylon "overhang" which makes the main compartment 100% water resistant. on the inside it has a mesh organizer pocket (on the front) and a elastic compartment for a water bladder (on the back). the back compartent is designed to carry either your water bladder or a full size laptop. the hose from the bladder can be fed through from eiter compartment.on the front there is a lazer cut molle panel an a dump pouch that goes from the bottom of the pack up to half of it's hight.the beaver tail bag (organizer pouch) can be removed comletely from the main bag. just pull the bungees out. it has it's own carrying handle and molle antachment. the best of course is if you just leave it on the pack because it can be pulled snugg with the bungees. it is actually designed to put your helmet there so you don't have to carry it in your bag or on your head (Soldiers) but you can stuff pretty much anything down there jackets for example.the organizer also features a "lip" on the back (i'm am not terribley sure but i think it is for the muzzle of a gun so the gun doesn't fall right through).the inside features many sleeves, mesh pockets, pen sleeves, a pouch for a magazin and a pouch for a cellphone.the waist belt can be removed and used seperatly with the included low profile suspender (mine was located in the mesh pocket in the main compartment didn't find it at first) it is very well padded. the shoulder straps are to even though they look a bit thin they really are comfortable. the back is especially comfortable thanks to their cvs (combat vent system) which is thick ribbed foam and almost feels like a massage to your back.this is definitly one of the best backpacks out there. you can't go wrong with this i love it.now i did say in the title that it is "near perfect" but that really is just picking at beans. but if i could change something then i would in future like to see a paracord handle like on their dragon egg and additional compression straps on the shoulder pads on the top where they meat the pack.Pro's- extremely comfortable- wide range of usage- extremely tough- nicely thought throughcon's...non really...

Good design ideas, ultimately disappointing.Proportioned for a relatively small guy - if you're tall and broad-shouldered, the waist belt hits you mid-chest and the angle of the shoulder straps is too narrow to be comfortable. They'll twist a bit if you cinch them down and the waist belt is really awkward.Build quality isn't there - I had to exchange my admin pouch right off the bat because the internal pockets were torn. After 3 months of light use the large interior pocket is already tearing in several places and there are loose and frayed threads all over the place. I don't really trust the pack now so it's going to get retired. I wish I had returned it when I saw that there were tears right out of the box, the quality control is obviously lacking.If this was a 50 dollar pack, fine, but at this price point these issues aren't acceptable. For a little more I could have gotten a Kifaru. I'm really sad to say this because I do think DAG is aiming at something great here but the execution is lacking.

Ho comprato questo zaino per tante ragioni, ma sicuramente la principale caratteristica che mi ha spinto a scegliere questo zaino piuttosto che uno zaino tecnico sulla carta ugualmente capiente e meno costoso, è la sua modularità.Il DA Ghost vi accompagnerà nella maniera giusta in ogni situazione, potete smontarlo come volete.Serata da amici, dove magari dovete portare solo qualche birra ed un gioco da tavolo? Toglietegli tutto, portatevi solo lo zaino. Comodissimo e c'è spazio per tutto.Una giornata fuori un po' più lunga? Mettete la seconda borsa ed organizzatevi come volete.Tre giorni o persino una settimana fuori? Riempitelo a dovere, mettete la cintura lombare, infilate le cose ingombranti fra zaino e borsa, usate gli attacchi MOLLE per legarci altre borse piccoline, se necessario.Ed io personalmente ho anche aggiunto una tracolla alla borsa separabile per renderla una comoda borsa a tracolla quando non mi serve lo zaino.Insomma, costa un po' tanto? Sì. Ma vale quanto tre zaini. Sarà sempre comodissimo, e non solo perchè è fatto per stare in spalla senza sentirlo, ma soprattutto perchè può essere ridotto o ingrandito alle dimensioni esattamente necessarie.Questo senza neanche andare a parlare della qualità costruttiva, assolutamente eccezionale in ogni dettaglio, o della semplice presentazione del prodotto: arriva in una borsa nera con in grande stampato il logo Direct Action, è così bella che se l'è prontamente "rubata" mia madre... :)Foto: borsa, zaino ed un vecchio lowepro slingshot come paragone per le dimensioni.

Der Rucksack ist wirlich gut verarbeitet und sehr praktisch konzipiert. Hatte ihn im 3 Wöchigen Japanurlaub mit. das wirklich einzige, was negativ aufgefallen ist, ist wenn er komplett voll bepackt ist dann merkt man schon, dass der Tragekomfort des Systems nicht perfekt ist. Dann beginnt sich die Lasche zum Stauraum des Zwischenfaches für den Wasservorrat in den Nacken zu pressen. Einzige Möglichkeit das zu Unterbinden ist, dass man die Riemen lockert und weiter nach unten gibt. Das impliziert aber wiederum Kreuzweh. Im Endeffekt Ließ ich dann den Rucksack im Hotel und ging nur noch mit der vorne angebrachten Tasche aus, wo meine wichtigsten Dokumente, Tablet, Hobiltelefon, Powerpack, Geldbörse, Wasserflasche usw untergebracht waren. Funktionierte auch einwandfei.

Lo zaino tattico perfetto. Ormai lo uso da diversi mesi affrontando viaggi in treno, aereo e durante lunghe giornate lavorative ed escursioni in montagna. Contiene agevolmente tutto quello che serve: laptop e accessori, camere, cambi di vestiario, attrezzature, etc. Si adatta ad ogni uso. Forse potrete trovare zaini più economici... Ma adal canto mio vi consiglio di investire in prodotti di qualità come questo Ghost MKII

Validissimo prodotto che ben si adatta ad una infinità di utilizzi pratici, versatile, robusto e ben realizzato. Buona anche l'estetica e la modularità con la possibilità di staccare la sacca esterna ed usarla con la cinghia come fosse una tracolla (ben più comoda e versatile del sistema con gli spallacci in dotazione). Permette inoltre di utilizzare la fascia lombare staccabile come una battle belt (ben fatta) e con il sistema Pals-Molle di aggiungere numerose pouches all'occorrenza. Ben fatto l'organizer della tasca esterna, pratico e funzionale. Unici nei (volendo proprio trovare il pelo nell'uovo e suggerire qualcosa ai produttori) sono:- cinghie di lunghezza smisurata, è pensato per essere usato da gente enorme (o molto, molto grassa) ed io non sono proprio uno "mignon" (180 cm x 76 kg)... le cinghie andranno necessariamente tagliate a misura.- parte alta degli spallacci non regolabile o staccabile ma cucita direttamente (tramite ampia fettuccia in cordura) allo zaino.- assenza di punti di aggancio (solo uno, molto ben fatto, per la sacca idrica) interni allo zaino per gestire un eventuale organizer con fettucce, bande elastiche o separatori semirigidi. Basta poco che ce vo'?- un po' di confusione progettuale sugli spazi dedicati al laptop/tablet e sacca idrica, il vano subito dietro l'imbottitura/schienale non si capisce esattamente a cosa serva, non ai device considerata la forma e visto che lo zaino si piega seguendo i movimenti del corpo/schiena e non alla sacca idrica visto che manca il punto di aggangio e l'uscita predisposta del tubo è nello zaino ... personalmente ci metterò qualcosa di simile al pig grunt large frame sheet cosi da irrigidire il sistema (soprattutto quando mi porto dietro il laptop). In conclusione peccatucci di poco conto e risolvibili con un po' di creatività e senso pratico.Gli zaini di etrazione tactical o militare scontano ancora un gap apprezzabile (in tema di schienale e spallacci ed ergonomia in generale) rispetto ai confratelli da trekking, alpinismo, MTB ecc ma il divario va rapidamente colmandosi ed in pochi anni si son fatti passi da gigante in tal senso... in compenso hanno una versatilità, praticità e modularità senza pari e, last but not last, dei colori che non fanno a pugni con l'ambiente circostante.

Buena,robusta,cómoda y calidad excelente. El problema que después de escoger el pedido rápido,20 euros más,me ha llegado con UPS y he tenido que abonar 36 euros más al repartidor. En este aspecto bastante desilusionado. He contactado con el vendedor y no he recibido la respuesta sobre mi pregunta y sobre esta situación. No volveré a pedir ningún producto a este vendedor.