What's going on, everybody - Stephen here with another Apprentice Gear and EDC post!

Today I wanted to give you all an update on my 5.11 COVRT24 41L backpack I talked about in an earlier gear post. In my limited experience, it has quickly become one of my favorite pieces of gear this year.

This is actually my third 5.11 bag overall and the second one I currently own. At some point I'll have to tell the story of the missing third bag. It was one of 5.11's smaller sling bags, and somewhere along the line it apparently vanished from my desk at work. For months I've searched my vehicles, my house, and everywhere else I could think of. At first I assumed I had simply misplaced it, but at this point I'm convinced it's gone for good.

Fast forward to earlier this year, and I stumbled across the COVRT24 on a sale that honestly felt too good to be true. If I remember correctly, I paid somewhere around $30 for it. Considering these bags usually sell for well over $100, it felt like an absolute steal.

I suspect the discount had something to do with the color. Mine is a shade of green that I believe is called Florida Green or something similar. Personally, I actually like it. It's different without being flashy, and it blends in better than the typical black tactical backpack.

Before the COVRT24, I had been carrying a SwissTech backpack for five or six years. It served me well, but it was finally showing its age. The straps were beginning to fray, materials were wearing down, and it was time for retirement.

That bag was a fairly standard backpack. It wasn't designed specifically for EDC or “tactical” use, and honestly that's usually my preference. The interesting thing about many tactical bags, though, is that they often include practical organizational features that make them useful for everyday life. That's where the COVRT24 really shines. While it definitely has some tactical-adjacent elements, it maintains a fairly low-profile appearance. Most people would never give it a second glance. Perfect for a Tech Job

One of the biggest reasons this bag works so well for me is the amount of gear I carry every day. My job in IT isn't just sitting behind a computer all day. Sure, there are plenty of software, systems, and support responsibilities, but there's also a surprising amount of hands-on hardware work. On any given day I might need:

A drill and bit set
Precision screwdrivers
Flashlights
Network cables
Phone chargers
Console cables
Badges and access cards
Various troubleshooting tools
A laptop and accessories

The COVRT24 handles all of that without breaking a sweat.

The large main compartment gives me plenty of room for tools and equipment, while the additional organizational pockets make it easy to separate smaller items. I never feel like I'm digging through a giant black hole looking for the one cable I need. One feature I've really come to appreciate is the internal MOLLE paneling. While I haven't fully built it out yet, it gives me lots of options for future customization.

What I Like

So far, the positives heavily outweigh the negatives.

The bag offers:

Plenty of storage space
Excellent organization
Room for both tech gear and tools
A low-profile appearance
Internal MOLLE customization options
Good comfort for daily carry
Outstanding value, especially if you can find one on sale

Most importantly, it does exactly what I wanted it to do. That's really what matters when evaluating gear.

No bag is perfect, and there are a couple of minor annoyances I've noticed.

The rear compartment—the one closest to your back—can be somewhat awkward to access because of the way the shoulder straps sit over the opening.

I'm also not a huge fan of the strap buckles. I wish they were either removable or a little more secure in how they're positioned. It's not a dealbreaker, but it's something I've noticed during everyday use.

That said, considering what I paid for the bag, these complaints feel pretty minor-even I had paid full price, none of these would make me feel like I paid too much for an inferior product.

Future Plans

One thing I'd love to do eventually is fully customize the interior MOLLE panel.

Right now I'm taking a very budget-friendly approach. I use the same Velcro cable-management straps I use at work and have improvised attachment points for flashlights and other equipment. It's a little bit of a "redneck engineering" solution, but it works surprisingly well.

Eventually I'd like to add dedicated MOLLE pouches and organizers, but for now I'm having a lot of fun figuring out creative ways to make the bag work for my specific needs.

Honestly, that's one of the things I enjoy most about EDC gear. It's like LEGO for adults. You start with a basic platform and slowly customize it into something uniquely yours.

Additional Packs and future plans

I've also been looking at replacing my missing sling bag. Surprisingly, I probably won't go with another 5.11 sling.

The one I had was well-made, but it was simply too small for how I wanted to use it. Lately I've been considering a budget-friendly sling bag from Walmart or somewhere similar and building it into a simple "park day" setup.

There have been plenty of times when Maddie doesn't want to carry her giant purse, and I'm standing there trying to cram everything into my pockets. A small sling bag would be perfect for carrying essentials while staying hands-free.

It would be great for carrying things like:

Snacks
Wipes
Phone chargers
Small first-aid supplies
Keys and wallets
Kid-related essentials

Plus, it keeps things light and allows both parents to stay mobile when chasing kids around the playground.

I'll definitely do a post once I settle on a bag and start building out that loadout.

Final Thoughts

If I had to score the 5.11 COVRT24 today, I'd give it a 7.5 to 8 out of 10.

It's comfortable, organized, durable, and versatile. It replaced a backpack that had been with me for years and has handled everything I've thrown at it so far.

Could it be improved? Sure.

Would I buy it again, especially at the price I paid? Absolutely.

For now, it's earning its keep as my daily work and gear bag, and I'll continue updating you all as it accumulates more miles and more wear.

Until next time, I'll see you guys in The Apprentice Corner.

Later on...