Just like patches, most gun owners love to have several convenient bags and pouches for their various pieces of gear. Also, we need a place for our patches (duh). However, no basic cotton bag will do the job; you need one with strength and durability. Whether you shoot for sport, hunt, fish, or just need a sturdy bag for daily use, the Blackhawk S.T.R.I.K.E. Utility Pouch will get nearly any job done.
This is the Blackhawk STRIKE Utility Pouch, ready for action. [Photo Credit: Grace Stevens]
Specifications
The dimensions of the bag are 9” x 5.5” x 3”. This pouch is big enough for most gear without being so big that it’s inconvenient to carry. It’s made of rugged 500 denier nylon for solid colors, and 500 denier Cordura nylon on their camo design. These fabrics are commonly used in tactical gear as it is dependable, strong, and even water-resistant. There’s a small grommet at the base of the pouch for venting, so it is not fully waterproof, but it isn’t meant to be.
Taking a look inside, you can see the single compartment and the grommet inside. [Photo Credit: Grace Stevens]The pouch is designed as single compartment, meaning it doesn’t have little organizational pockets, but that’s not necessarily the goal for this one. It is also fitted with three integral snapping straps on the back that are MOLLE-compatible. It opens and closes using a single zipper running along full length of the top with two pull tabs made of what appears to be paracord and a plastic cube with gripping grooves.
What can you do with it?
This pouch can go inside other bags or be attached to another pack for easy access. The integral straps on the back of the bag are designed to secure tightly on any bag with MOLLE, PALS, or S.T.R.I.K.E. webbing. I decided to try and test out just how much weight the snaps could hold without breaking. That meant loading it with as much ammunition as could fit–which ended up being about nine pounds–at which point the webbing on my bag started to drag down. That said, the snaps themselves didn’t even budge. Honestly, your personal bag will take damage before the Blackhawk bag does.
Blackhawk’s integral straps fit onto appropriate webbing on backpacks and vests. [Photo Credit: Grace Stevens]This pouch can stand up to the test of wear and tear well, it can handle a bit of dragging and throwing without taking much damage at all. After loading it full of ammunition with me on a hike, it stood up to the test, and will likely withstand extensive use, too.
However, sharp edges like knives need to be covered and safe in this bag. The fabric isn’t distinctly resistant to a knife’s edge, however, any tear that is made won’t spread easily. Fraying isnt an immediate issue either. After my bag took a tear from a knife, the hole didn’t spread or fray no matter how much I pulled barehanded or used it further. A basic patch or stitching with thick thread should do the trick if your bag does get a hole in it for one reason or another.
The zipper itself is also fairly sturdy; even when the bag was packed to the brim the zipper held up to the test. It never split, caught, or came undone. It seems likely it would withstand a decent amount of heavy use before it would have significant issues.
This pouch provides plenty of space for whatever your heart desires. It holds more than you’d think if you pack it right, too. After daily use, I found that this bag met my needs for a range of uses without any real problems.
Outdoorsmen
This pouch may be a fisherman’s dream for just about any gear. It can hold a small tackle box and some tools, or maybe even what the ol’ trusty tackle box can’t handle. Though this bag isn’t necessarily waterproof it can likely withstand a bit of moisture on those early mornings where it won’t stop sprinkling. Its versatility makes it convenient for any need that may come up, so even if you don’t bring it pre-packed, I’d consider bringing it empty. After all, it’s compact enough to stow easily and could easily be taken out for whatever you may end up needing it for.
This pouch is perfect for trips out to the stand or the lake, your choice! [Photo Credit: Grace Stevens]This bag has hunters covered as well. Binoculars? Check. Rangefinder? Check. It easily fits small to moderately-sized tools and gear. Once again, those MOLLE straps come in handy for any bags with webbing, which applies to many hunting packs. Every outdoorsman needs an extra bag or two for miscellaneous uses, and this bag even comes in Multicam. Let this bag move with you through the hunting seasons and it may come in handy. It could hold all kinds of things including your field dressing knife, gloves, Thermacell, or hand warmers.
Range Use
Everyone needs an extra bag when they go to the range for one reason or another. This utility pouch comes in handy. [Photo Credit: Grace Stevens]When range day comes, consider bringing this bag along. It’s the perfect size for your ear protection, eye protection, ammunition, and other pieces of gear you may need (think spare mags, Sharpies, multitools, etc). It’s even perfect for keeping up with your spent brass, because don’t you want to pick it up? Everyone does, right? Or maybe you need to carry some extra magazines or snacks. This pouch makes it no problem especially since you can even strap it to a belt or a vest with proper webbing for convenience.
I can fit almost all of my basics from headphones, to my calculator, to secondary defense. [Photo Credit: Grace Stevens]Personally, this bag is perfect for me. As a tactically-inclined college student I’ve found myriad uses for it. It’s perfect for holding things every student may need: pencils, pens, a calculator, sticky notes, and secondary self-defense tools. If you’re not old enough for concealed carry or it’s prohibited on campus, consider SABRE red pepper spray. It’s easy to keep this bag close during classes. Having easy access to smaller things you need with a reliable zipper to keep them in place until they’re needed could easily save your life. Just remember, if it’s used for off-body carry, you must remain in control of the bag at all times.
Having access to my pepper spray is important to me whether it’s at the store or in college, and this bag gives me a safe option on campus. [Photo Credit: Grace Stevens]Looks may not be as important when you’re on the market looking for a reliable bag, but the STRIKE Utility Pouch is sleek. It even comes in four colors: Black, Coyote Tan, Multicam, and Olive Drab. Those options are perfect for your hunting needs, or just because you love the colors. Personally, I prefer black. Blackhawk delivers yet again with a simple yet stylish utility pouch that isn’t overly flashy. Simple is good, and it performs as expected.
Grace Ainsworth Stevens is an outdoor writer and political cartoonist who writes for a number of industry publications including The Truth About Guns and Breach Bang Clear. She's been hunting everything from deer to feral hogs since grade school and started honing her handgun skills at the age of 13. Grace's art is Second Amendment focused and speaks to current events and gun world cliches. She's also a college sophomore and will fight you over robotics and early education issues.
