HAZARD 4Kato: iPad/Tablet Mini-Messenger Bag w/MOLLE

This is very well made with high quality materials. The zippers are heavy duty. This is a durable and functional bag. The front flap over the molle section can be buckled down with a beefy plastic buckle which also has a locking feature to prevent accidental unbuckling. The padded tablet section is better than 'luxury' computer cases. The design is well thought out with plenty of molle attachment points, zippered sections and several hidden fabric pockets. The multiple top-zippered sections not only give you extra spaces in which to put things, but more importantly, they permit you to access sections without exposing other sections. It is possible to access the 'concealed carry' section which can be used for velcro mounted holsters or mag holders without undoing the main flap. I use this as my EDC bag because I can pack it with an amazing amount of equipment and still have a small lightweight bag which resembles a man purse or shoulder carried tablet bag. The 'sectioned' design helps me to keep things organized by function or need for accessibility. The bag is inconspicuous in an urban environment. This bag has made me a big fan of Hazard 4 gear.

And I own a LOT of tactical bags.My background: I travel, domestically and internationally, a dozen times per year. When I travel, I also prefer bags that allow me to carry a laptop or tablet on the plane. I'm also a gun nut, and while I prefer to CCW on my person in OWB holsters or appendix carry IWB for my J-frame (fellow gun nuts will understand), I always appreciate the option of having my BUG in my tote. And I'm also a longtime political operative, which some might disparagingly refer to as "a hack," and this also requires me to have a very dynamic bag that can hold different items ranging from comms equipment, to surveillance gear, to 500 voter absentee registration cards to distribute to people who should know better. But bottom line, I like a good bag I can TRAVEL with, and I've been looking for the perfect EDC for a long, long time.This is as close as I've gotten.I currently own (and not including add-on gear and non-major brands) a Maxpedition Fatboy Versipack, Maxpedition Jumbo Fatboy Versipack, Maxpedition Messenger, Maxpedition Quad Laptop tactical laptop case, Maxpedition NeatFreak, 5.11 Moab Rush 6, and my Hazard 4 Kato arrived in the mail today. Upon unpacking the Kato and giving it a thrice-over, it was honestly almost a revelation...like the first time you get behind the wheel of a 302 Mustang, put it in first gear and floor it...like the first time you fire a pistol, a Glock 9mm that sends a thrill down your leg...like your first BJ in the school parking lot during sophomore year. Yes, the Kato is THAT GOOD. Not perfect (like the ex-girlfriend from 1996) but very, very close to it. How have I been carrying tactical bags for a decade and not heard of this brand???For the sake of relevancy, I'll compare the Kato to its two closest rivals--the Maxpedition Versipack Fatboy, and the Moab Rush 6. All are comparable in size, and intended/marketed use.MATERIALS/BUILD: The Kato is absolutely top-notch as far as build quality, materials, seams, stitching and hardware. I would say it's just as good as the Maxpedition, which is legendary for durability, and it is far superior to the 5.11, which I think is fundamentally inferior as far as materials and durability. I have beat my Maxpedition bags to absolute hell, all over the country and all over the world. I've carried them through desert heat, tropical humidity and snow, and they've lasted with me through a decade of adventures and still look new. I expect the Kato will perform similarly.DESIGN: This is where the Kato truly does beat out both the Moab and Versipack.The Versipack, despite its awesome build quality, is simply an obsolete and inferior design. For the size of its footprint, it doesn't hold very much and the layout is simply awkward and limiting. I have trouble fitting just two cell phones, a wallet, my keys, knife and pepper spray. It has a ridiculously outdated "cell phone" pocket that probably hasn't been usable since the flip phones of 1999, and the messenger flap is difficult to clamp down and when the clip is engaged, even if the bag is nearly empty, it sticks out revealing everything under its cover. I love the bag for its durability and appearance, but it's simply not an efficient design.The 5.11 Moab Rush 6 is a sling bag, meant to be worn cross body, and while the materials and build quality aren't impressive, at first glance its features are. There's a cool hidden pistol compartment with instant Velcro access; there's the felt-lined sunglasses pouch, which I truly to appreciate; there's the option to configure it for left or right side carry; and unlike the Versipack, it truly can hold a lot of gear in it. HOWEVER, when you actually USE the damn thing, particularly in real life situations, it simply doesn't live up to the hype. First off, fully loaded it can get very uncomfortable. The 1.5 inch strap is simply too thin. Second, when you load the bag up, it expands in a way that it's basically like lugging around an awkward backpack--it doesn't sit right, sit at the right height, the weight distribution with the strap is all wrong, and it just doesn't feel right.More importantly, I was carrying a fully-loaded pistol in the hidden compartment and, on one occasion, had to move and move very quickly--unbeknownst to be, the pistol ended up flying out of the compartment, where it was really only secured by a Velcro closure. That is UNACCEPTABLE. The 5.11 has been shelved and I don't imagine I'm using it again.The Kato is, seriously, an incredibly smart design. FIRST and FOREMOST, the messenger flap zipper that allows you to access the main compartment while the exterior flap is still covering and locked. This is absolutely AMAZING. You have no idea how much of a difference this makes until you've carried messenger type bags. Undoing the locked flap, lifting it and then unzipping the main compartment zipper doesn't sound like much of a task, but try doing that 15 times in the airport while you're trying to roll your carry on, take a conference call and still hit on the girl at Duty Free Incheon. If there's ONE THING that sells the Kato, it's the ability to access the main compartment through the main flap.Second thing I absolutely love is the full length outer pocket on the messenger flap cover. I carry these bags on flights with me, and the single most important thing to me is a functional outer pocket on my bag where I can EASILY store my boarding pass and passport. Particularly travelling internationally, you know you're going to be pulling these both out five or six times before you make it to the terminal. I don't want to keep the papers in the main compartment with my water bottle, beer, camera and beef jerky, and I'm certainly not going to shove it in my pants pocket where I'll either crumple or lose it. I don't want a fancy section with pen tabs, multiple mini pockets and key lanyards for my tickets to get jammed up on. I want a simple pocket large enough to hold all my boarding passes, easily accessible, thin and secure. The Kato delivers spectacularly. A simple pocket large enough to hold boarding passes and right there with easy access. On the plus side, when not traveling, there's a Velcro attachment lining the inside so you can attach a holster and carry a pistol there.And third, the amazingly plush laptop/tablet compartment in the rear of the bag. Honestly, this thing is better-made than actual laptop security cases. Yes, it adds weight, but if you're going to spend $900 on your Surface Pro 4, I'd think you would appreciate a well-made pouch for your investment. I plan to purchase an ASUS 10" combo to travel with, as it's cheap enough that I won't throw a fit if it gets damaged, and the Kato is marketed specifically as a bag to carry 10" mini laptops.As for the rest of the bag, YES, there are all other sorts of cool knickknacks that most of these types of bags come with. The drawbridge multi-whatever area to hold your pens, leatherman, condoms, documents, whatever, etc...but like I said, most of these bags come with a compartment much like this. If that's important to you, then know that the Kato has a compartment like this on par with the best bags I've ever seen from Maxpedition. But for me, honest, I don't go crazy over these parts of my bags. I stuff some Advil, Tums and Pepto packets, a few Trojans and some Chapstick in those pockets with my tactical light and a few pens and forget about it.Other noteworthy mentions...it comes with an AWESOME carrying handle, which is something Maxpedition NEVER provides (though they cost almost twice as much) and a decent side pocket that I THINK I can fit my sunglasses case in. The strap is a true 2" with a very comfortable pad. And while some are complaining about the locking foldover messenger latch, I quite like it. Again, because of the ingenious design that lets you access the main compartment through the outer cover, the inconvenient latch becomes more of a security boon.CONS: The ONLY thing I will say that struck me as less than positive, and this is not even a valid concern, is the size. I envisioned it being smaller. Again, this isn't a criticism, as the bag is marketed as a 10" laptop carrier and it is exactly the size it has to be to carry such an item. This is solely an issue of my perception and expectations after looking at pictures, and at the end of the day, the Kato is still WAY smaller than my Maxpedition Quad laptop that I used on my last trip and would prefer not carrying internationally again.AND, if I'm being perfectly honest, as a gun nut I cannot say I'm thrilled about the interior hook-loop patches where you can attach a holster, because unlike Maxpedition--which will line the entire inner wall with mounting material--the Kato only has it in smaller, designated patches. Just eyeballing the inner compartments, I can tell this could become an issue with a larger pistol, as you may not be able to position the firearm low enough for it not to stick out of the compartment. The attachment areas are either very high or very low, whereas they should be more in the center of the compartment. Again, I generally CCW with a firearm on my person, and if I carried a BUG I would most likely put it in the tablet compartment without a round chambered...but this is something to consider. I don't think the Kato will reasonably accommodate a pistol as well as the Maxpedition.CONCLUSION: For those of you who have bothered to read this far, you're most likely bag nuts like myself. You most likely own numerous bags from all the main brands. And you most likely are here because you're still in search of the Grail. The Kato, honestly, is not "IT." But the Kato, honestly, is a close as you're getting in this decade. If you're on the fence, just do what I did--get really drunk, sign up for the Amazon Prime VISA and then use your bonus gift card to buy the Kato.You can't go wrong with Prime, or with the Kato.

The only reason this bag is not getting all 5 stars is due the CCW compatibility. I don't think it is touted as being a CCW bag, but I use it as an EDC ccw bag... The place for my weapon is a bit bulky and makes it hard to get used to the weight being in the front of the bag and not closer to me.... The other thing it could use is a slightly longer strap. That is due to my huge girth.

i love this bag to death. i bicycle and bus everywhere i got this as a smaller alternative to a bug backpack when i dont have alot to carry. i keep my ipad mini in it along with a water bottle, camping bamboo silverwear/chipstick set, wallet, coin purse, work badge, 2 bus passes, bicycle tools, coil lock bike lock, chapstick, sunscreen, hand towel, deoderant... and a bunch of other stuff and still havent used all the space.today i was trying to use it with a sunburn on my collar and the shoulder strap was irritating it. so i attached the velcro strip on the back aver my belt. tittened up the shoulder strap and wrapped it around my waste and i now have a very comfortable fanny pack. the only thing that would be nice is if i could take the shoulder pad off the strap.the stability strap is great for turning this into a impromptu backpack when needed. i recommened this item to everyone i talk to thats looking for something like it.

This is an excellent bag. It has pockets and pouches for everything and the customizable attachments make a great bag even better. The padding in the tablet section is even and plush so you don't have to worry about a thing. It also carries easily, even when you stuff it full for long trips!

Great for my daily keep with me needs. Could use a longer shoulder strap

Wasted so much money on this. Of course it starts tearing apart shortly after the available return time. It looks great. All of the available pockets are great. However after light daily use it’s starting to tear apart from the inside. I use this in flight school environment. So It’s never out in the rain or being thrown around on the ground. I keep my iPad in it and bought it for that specific padded pocket, and I thought spending extra money on something that seemed well made would protect my expensive contents. I was wrong, durability is awful. If it were durable it would be just what I need. Now I’m left with a useless bag and short of 160$ (After shipping) to spend on a different bag to provide what I need.

This more than met my expectations. I am a WII Warrior at Walter Reed with limited use of my left arm, (for now), and this bag is perfect for what I need.....made of very strong material but is still very light, my iPad fits in the iPad sleeve even with an Otter Box case. I will be giving this as a gift to a few people and I Fully Reccomend it to anyone.

Me encantó la facilidad de acceso a los compartimentos, la comodidad y el tamaño es perfecto para mis necesidades. No le veo mucho sentido/utilidad a las divisiones internas del compartimento principal.

Inzwischen, nach etwa einem halben Jahr normaler urbaner Nutzung, geht die Tasche langsam aber sicher kaputt: es lösen sich hier und da Nähte, Klettfächen lösen sich ab usw...Leider gar nicht zu empfehlen. Ich mag das Design aber die Materialen sind das Geld nicht wert - nichtmal im Angebot.Ursprüngliche Rezension: Generell bin ich mit der Tasche sehr zufrieden - auch ohne dass ich ein Tablet oder Netbook mit mir herumschleppe :) Als Vergleiche hatte ich u.a. den Maxpedition Jumbo und den 5.11 Double Tap im Einsatz. Verarbeitung fast auf dem Niveau von Maxpedtition, Tasmanian Tiger oder Vanquest.Das einzige was ich an der sehr kompakten Tasche zu bemängeln haben ist der Schultergurt. Der ist zwar bequem aber die Haken knarzen schon heftig beim Laufen. Ich habe den Gurt gegen einen Savotta Griffin getauscht und mittels Sea-to-Summit Ersatzschnallen befestigt.Ist im Angebot (unter 90 Euro) sehr zu empfehlen.

Ottimo prodotto .... rimane un pò grande ma va benissimo .... spazi interni buoni .... la cinghia, per chi è altro oltre 1,75, rimane corta. Nel complesso il materiale è forte, molte tasche ove porre cavetti, powerbank, ecc. Tempi di consegna rapidi. Consigliato.

It's amazing what you can fit in this bag. It's really well made and with the additional strap stays in place well on my back.The two things I would mention are the padding in the main compartment is not that great so any camera you put in there really needs to be in a padded case of some kind. Also if you put things in the front compartment for quick access (I believe the american designers intended this for concealing hand guns, scary!) when you swing it over the top it can upset the balance of the bag. Although that is probably my fault for not loading the bag properly.

Me gusto, me deja muuy satisfecho esta mochila.