Blackhawk S.T.R.I.K.E. Large Utility Pouch: A Bigger Bag to Do Even More

Tactically speaking, a quality rugged pouch is an absolute must-have. Blackhawk offers several kinds of S.T.R.I.K.E pouches, and today we’re looking at their large utility pouch. It’s a great addition to any bag or vest, especially for larger gear that needs some extra wiggle room. Plus, who could say no to a new pouch?

Specifications and Features

Blackhawk strike bag packaging — The Blackhawk S.T.R.I.K.E. bag is a great choice for all your tactical needs. [Photo credit: Grace Stevens]

Blackhawk’s large S.T.R.I.K.E. utility pouch is about 7’’ x 8’’ x 3’’ and weighs just under a pound at 0.7 pounds. This is just a bit bigger than the standard S.T.R.I.K.E. utility pouch I’ve also reviewed, being 9’’ x 5.5’’ x 3’’. This pouch is definitely better for larger gear or extra room.

The large pouch is one open compartment, similar to the standard size. However, it has additional outer storage. On the front, there is a 4×3 webbing; great for adding compatible gear. The sides also have small loops perfect for carabiners, keychain-style tools, and even something like paracord lanyards. They could also help secure the bag in obscure ways if the time comes. So, the upgrade not only offers internal growth, but external too.

back of bag showing MOLLE — The integral straps make all the difference when it comes to carrying this. They offer MOLLE compatibility on top of making sure it is completely secure with strong snaps. [Photo credit: Grace Stevens]

On the back, 2×3 webbing and two integral straps make this bag attachable to MOLLE. It’s kept closed with metal snaps which are difficult to break apart unless you intentionally disconnect them, which assures its security when strapped onto your bag. When not in use, putting them underneath the webbing aids in keeping the bag compact when needed. The integral straps are constructed with stiff ends, making it easier to guide through webbing, which only adds to its overall convenience.

A zipper closes the bag, using a ribbed zipper pull making for an easier grip. The zipper appears to be good quality, as I never really ran into snags or issues. Over time it kept working smoothly, even with the obstacle of dirt or grime. A zipper closure is optimal for a bag like this to ensure easy access, especially considering the most common uses for this bag would be on a vest or backpack strapped onto the webbing.

The bag itself is made of 500 denier nylon in three colors: coyote tan, olive drab, and black. Their Multicam comes specifically in 500 denier Cordura nylon. These are water-resistant, durable materials perfect for tactical gear. It’s made to take a beating from heavy use, so it’s ready for what you throw at it. Not to mention the color variety offers options to match common tactical bag colors and meet camouflaging needs.

Here you can see a close-up of the mesh bottom. [Photo credit: Grace Stevens]

The bottom is a layer of thick mesh, so this pouch may not be your best option for full weather resistance, although that’s not its advertised purpose anyways. Water has the potential to seep in if the bottom is exposed to moisture. However, this also makes the bag breathable which can be beneficial for many kinds of gear as well as faster drying. Just don’t go around setting this bag in puddles deliberately. Other elements like dirt and debris aren’t a major problem since the mesh still does a great job of repelling even smaller bits of dirt and sand.

It also seems to shake out nicely if any water does try to stick around. On trips to outdoor ranges, I found that cleaning-up the bag was a matter of patting and shaking the bag to get any dust off. A quick rinse also solved any problem of mud or spilled drinks without having to deep-clean it. So, even the messiest and clumsiest of users can rely on this bag being reliable even when catastrophe strikes.

What can the Blackhawk Utility Pouch be used for?

Blackhawk utility pouch open showing supplies — This bag holds more than you’d expect. I can carry my daily carry pouch, secondary defense, cords, and other essentials with extra space to spare. It’s easy to pack an extra set of clothes depending on the thickness too, which comes in handy during ventures facing the elements. [Photo credit: Grace Stevens]

This bag is great for a variety of things, the first of those obviously being just about anything gun-related. This is great for ammunition, magazines, small targets, ear/eye protection, and other small gear that may come in handy at the range or in the field. As mentioned before, the integral straps on the back make this bag easy to add to just about any bag with MOLLE/S.T.R.I.K.E webbing which is common in many range or tactical bags. This can also fit on most vests, adding what would end up being an extra-large pocket with perfect potential for keeping magazines and/or ammunition close.

A high-quality medical kit is great for a bag this size, especially since there’s just enough space to carry full-size bottles of chemicals, treatments, or specialty equipment. You could even go to the extent of keeping large emergency items like an extra bottle of water or a can of food. Creating a pouch like this to keep in your car is a great idea. Not only does it help you stay prepared, but it’s a great-looking first-aid bag.

The extra space also makes this an excellent mini bug-out bag (or an addition to a larger one). It has just enough space to fit big essentials while staying small enough to not take up too much room wherever it’s stashed. However, any especially water-sensitive items should be sealed in their own water-proof bags, which would be useful to have on hand anyways. Otherwise, this bag is easy to strategically pack and organize your favorite survival items.

closeup of pouch on bag — The MOLLE compatibility makes it easy to strap onto backpacks, being the perfect size to match up with most larger-outer pockets. On mine, it lined up nicely. [Photo credit: Grace Stevens]

I also just enjoy having a bag this size nearby. I’ve found that it can be convenient for travel, school, home, and work for storage or organization. The size is surprisingly convenient for my mid-size to large items that normally I’d need an oversized bag for. You can never have too many pouches, especially with an interest in guns, hunting, or any outdoorsman pastimes.

It holds a surprising amount of gear as well, especially since it seems to have mild wiggle room from the measurements due to flexible materials and a quality zipper. I also appreciate the aesthetics of it, with the webbing on a rugged design that fits the classic tactical look we know and love. The Blackhawk logo sits on the back of the bag as well, making it so the front of a camouflage version goes untouched, as well as keeping a smooth professional-looking base for users to add whatever they want to the front.

Final Thoughts

The large Blackhawk S.T.R.I.K.E utility pouch is the perfect upgrade from a smaller pouch. Everyone has some awkwardly large gear that needs a home or even a surplus of small supplies that need some extra space to keep together. Regardless of the task, this bag is up to the challenge.