Magpul DAKA Utility Organizer: Discreet Tactical Advantage

Whether you’re looking to build an EDC pouch, need a place for your cords and chargers, or want a reliable bag to keep your possessions safe in the field, the Magpul DAKA Utility Organizer is a perfect choice. Magpul delivers a durable yet fashionable pouch great for anything that can be imagined. I’ve loved using it for various purposes and have been pleased with just how versatile it’s proven to be.

A Look at the Outside

Daka pouch closed, from the outside — The surface, a polymer fabric, is soft to the touch but still offers enough grip to not slide or slip. Any dirt or grime collected through use is easily managed with a wet wipe or rag without damaging the pouch or contents. Meanwhile, many fabric pouches would need a thorough wash after a particularly dirty day out in the field. [Photo credit: Grace Stevens]

This bag is easy to take just about anywhere. It’s not huge, yet is just big enough to hold your chosen essentials, and isn’t so small that it’s easy to lose. It’s 4.5’’ x 7.5’’ x 1.75’’ with I’d say a tiny bit of wiggle room since it’s structured yet still very flexible. So, it can handle a little bit of overpacking within reason, making sure to be cautious of the zipper (not because it can’t take it, but to ensure longevity by not abusing it).

The outside feels smooth and looks incredibly neat. It features polymer fabric with a non-slip texture accompanied by a water-resistant YKK Aquaguard zipper and a large pull tab for ease of use. The pull tab seems to be designed with keeping barriers like gloves in mind, using long paracord with heat shrink on the end for grip. I’ve definitely run into the issue of gloved hands and classic metal zipper pulls not mixing, so this is a pleasant addition.

Daka pouch zipper pull, 'magpull' on the shrink wrap — The extended zipper pull with an added grip creates ease of access for this pouch. [Photo credit: Grace Stevens]

Down the side of the bag is an additional piece of material, guarding the start and end of the zipper and providing a loop for a carabiner to latch on. One of the first concerns that came to mind is that the loop would wear with time, but the material is resilient enough that I doubt extended carabiner usage would wear it much, if at all. This feature is perfect for the average outdoorsman, because who doesn’t love the opportunity for extra storage on a full bag using a carabiner, MOLLE, or paracord?

This bag comes in four colors for specific needs or preferences. High visibility colors are available such as DAKA red and orange, perfect for hunting or to keep retrieval easy and fast. Flat Dark Earth (FDE) is another choice, which seems to match most tan gear and camouflage, making it great for blending in. You can even get it in black for that sleek tactical look, though I’ve found it looks elegant enough that it can work in just about any environment, professional or tactical. Sometimes your prized MOLLE hunting or range bag with a Velcro Whiskey Tango Foxtrot patch, among dozens of other 2A patches, just doesn’t blend in some places. Though yes, those bags are awesome and fun to collect, it can be nice to have an option that looks a bit less obvious.

I will say that this bag is up to the challenge of a rugged bag, though. Between the reinforced polymer fabric, water-resistant zipper, and semi-structured form, it can stand up to dirt, rocks, scuffs, weather, and heavy use. All seams have been RF-Welded, a kind of plastic weld, reinforcing all edges with a complete seal that won’t budge. Polymer fabrics are very durable, especially since they’re non-hygroscopic (meaning they won’t absorb moisture, as opposed to most fabrics) which only adds to their weather resistance.

It’s the Inside That Counts

inside of the utility pouch — The six pockets and loops offer several ways to organize your gear. [Photo credit: Grace Stevens]

When you open the bag, each side of the organizer has pockets. On the right, there is one 6.75’’ x 3.75’’ mesh pocket sealed by a zipper. The zipper pull is similar to the external one, as it’s made of a long piece of paracord to grab easier. This pocket would be great for small loose items or important papers/tags you don’t want to lose. I noticed that my phone fits in it — for reference, I have an iPhone 12 — so keeping devices safe in the mesh pocket or just enclosed inside may be a great option during travel or outdoor activities.

On the left are two 4’’ x 3.75’’ pockets layered on top of each other, both able to expand by around an inch in depth. This could be great for notebooks, field guides, small first aid kits, or moderately sized tools. It can surprisingly even fit a graphing calculator which comes in handy for me as a college student.

The front of the smaller pockets on the left has elastic loops creating three sections, each about 1.25’’ long with 1’’ thick elastic. These are tight enough to hold pens and pencils, expand large enough for bulky tools, and are wide enough to hold wound-up cords without bunching up. Their placement also assures that the space between the two sides can be filled with the width of larger tools if needed while leaving other pockets unbothered.

Overall, with the three pockets, three elastic pass-throughs, and the remaining space available between the sides after pockets are filled, the Magpul DAKA Utility Organizer is great for a variety of uses. It can hold more than you’d expect. It’s also not too expensive, typically retailing around $30.

Using the Magpul DAKA Utility Organizer

The ways you could use the DAKA organizer are endless. Gun owners could always use an addition to their range bag to keep it tidy. This pouch is perfect to create a gun cleaning kit or to bring some range must-haves and keep it all in one place. I found that for the range, the following fits well:

Small notebook
Pens/Sharpies
A utility knife
Ear plugs
A small flashlight
Travel tube of sunscreen and/or bug spray
A few cards for the Playing Card Drill
Tape or extra staples
And depending on the proportions of other tools, some eye pro can fit last, or their case could be hooked onto the carabiner loop.

Daka Pouch filled with outdoorsmen gadgets. — In this setup, I used some of my favorite gear for hiking, hunting, and camping. On the left: knife, multi-tool, flashlight, campsite pass, and field notes. On the right: a lighter, measuring tape, hot hands, turkey call, bandaids, and several mini multi-tools. Towards the top of the bag, you can see I attached a carabiner, whistle, and ring to the loop on the outer edge. [Photo credit: Grace Stevens]

For outdoorsmen, it’s great for licenses, tags, calls, personal possessions (keys, wallet, etc), field dressing supplies, and any other gadgets for the game, region, or weather. Even if it’s not directly for hunting or fishing, it would be a great option for snacks, medication, or emergency items.

This is perfect for hikers and campers too, especially for long-term trips where having all your gadgets in one place could make your life a lot easier. Not to mention the universal need for a first aid kit, which would be smart to have no matter what.

Pouch used for a first aid kit — Above is a first-aid kit arrangement. On the left: tweezers, scissors, balm, ointment, pouch for acetaminophen/ibuprofen, bandaids, antiseptic wipes, and a gauze pad. On the right: tape and gauze. [Photo credit: Grace Stevens]

Another idea is to create an everyday pouch carry, a common trend among outdoorsmen, preppers, hobbyists, or the overly prepared type. If you’re not familiar, it’s just gathering all your small EDC gear into a smaller pouch or pocket organizer to keep it all organized and together anywhere you go. There are some pretty impressive pouch carriers online if you’re looking for any inspiration.

Lastly, just about any non-tactical use is great too. Whether that be school supplies, makeup (yes, really), toiletries, travel, cords, small tablets/devices, or really anything needing a tidy home, the Magpul DAKA utility organizer has it covered.

Final Thoughts

The Magpul Daka Utility organizer is more than worth the money. This little $30 pouch will likely give you years of use. What I love the most is that it can be used for anything and aesthetically it fits in pretty much anywhere. I can also trust that my things are safe from the elements, which makes it all the more useful.