When it comes to getting your bag in order, whether it be for hunting, shooting, or travel, having extra pouches inside can be a real help. The Magpul Large DAKA Lite Pouch is a great option to keep your things where they need to be without cluttering your bag. It is one of the Lite line of Magpul DAKA pouches, and is made from material that is just as durable as that of their classic DAKA pouches.
Specifications
The Magpul Large DAKA Lite Pouch is 9’’ x 13’’ and weighs only 41 grams. When stuffed to the brim with soft materials I found the bag expands comfortably. As for more rigid objects, the width expands less but still impressively. However, I did both while keeping the zipper in mind so as to not over-stress it. That doesn’t necessarily mean you can’t fit more, the construction is very sturdy — just be reasonable.
After folding the bag in half as many times as possible, it came out to be only a fraction of its original size. I could have folded it another time if I wanted to, but the zipper started to resist. Overall, the bag itself is incredibly flexible. [Photo credit: Grace Stevens]Magpul’s listing features a picture showing the entire bag condensing into the model’s hand, so I wanted to give it a try too. Of course, it fits. My interest mainly stems from my hand only being about 7’’ long, which can come up a lot in the gun and gear world — not that you’d need to squish down the bag like this on a regular basis. Actually, when folded nicely it condenses down to 1/16th of its original size without creases or signs of wear, just to show off a bit of this bag’s ability. It’s pliable yet sturdy constriction makes it stand out from other (mainly plastic) pouches like it that are meant to organize for travel.
Features
The material making up the pouch is 70D TPU-coated nylon, which is known to be tear-resistant while maintaining its low weight. Though it’s not listed by the manufacturer, most materials like these are at least water resistant if not waterproof. This can be further reinforced because of the YKK Aquaguard Water Repellant zipper, and the RF welded seams, which is a kind of plastic weld that uses electromagnetic energy to bind two materials (which is exactly what you want, given the strong bond it creates).
On the left is a regular carabiner, commonly found at most stores not meant for climbing. On the right is a higher-end option meant to actually take on some weight. Though the fit is tight, even the large carabiner fits. [Photo credit: Grace Stevens]Each corner is fitted with carabiner attachment points in a teardrop shape; each opening is about 0.5” long and 0.3” at its widest. This can help any external carry go smoothly, adding to its utility. I appreciate that each corner has this feature, especially because it means I can secure the bag down completely if I need to, preventing it from swinging around. The quality of the material prevents the stress that may be experienced in use from being overwhelming, so even if the bag is tugged around on the carabiner, it’ll stay put without tearing.
As per usual, the zipper has been made very accessible using a longer cord and an injection-molded zipper pull with Magpul’s logo embossed across the side. Magpul never fails to impress me in thinking about the little things when it comes to their tactical bags. You may not appreciate things like this until you need them. Barriers like bulky gloves can easily be an afterthought. A bigger zipper pull surprisingly makes a difference.
The zipper pull is just big enough to enhance use without getting in the way. The vibrant red can even help in dark environments. [Photo credit: Grace Stevens]I’ve mentioned a few times that this one item is part of a series, the variations being in sizes small, medium, and large. Today I’m using the large pouch, but the others are good options for other gear. They also come in three colors: black, Flat Dark Earth (FDE), and gray. The color options are great for specific needs (such as FDE for hunting, or a low-profile black), or for personal preference. It has a clean look, while genuinely being ready for action. In my opinion, the bag is worth the price of around $20. You get what you pay for in a quality product with a long lifetime ahead of it.
Uses
This pouch is perfect for field use. I enjoyed keeping my nature guides alongside backup gear. I take it with me on camping, hiking, and hunting trips. [Photo credit: Grace Stevens]This bag is great to keep just about any hobby or sport a little more organized. If you go to the range often, this could be just right to organize gear in your range bag such as spare magazines, ammunition, ear/eye protection, or first aid. Even if your bag is out of space, this can clip onto the outside.
The same goes for hunting. This pouch can come in handy for similar things to shooting at the range, but it could also offer safe storage for important documents or devices that need to stay on you but can’t take a hit from bad weather. I’ve personally enjoyed using this to keep gaiters, gloves, socks, and other small garments in order for my hunting gear since they always seem to go missing.
When it came time to clean up the pouch, I had no problem. Most of the time I just needed to swipe dust off, but for harsh grime a wet wipe is all I needed. If any dirt made it inside I just flipped it inside out and did the same. Even after heavy use, it looked just like new.
The pouch can also be used for travel. Typically, bag organizers designed for travel are flimsy plastic meant to hold up for one or two trips. But, if you’re looking for a reliable bag to keep your carry-on or luggage in order, the Large DAKA lite bag is a smart choice. It keeps valuables, devices, and accessories together, or it could be used just to keep undergarments in one place. It will offer years of use and additional use between trips.
While traveling, the DAKA lite pouch was just what I needed to keep smaller items together in my duffel, saving me so much time in the long run. [Photo credit: Grace Stevens]Lastly, daily use. For some, travel, hunting, and shooting are daily occurrences, but for others office work and common commutes are. This pouch is great for just about anything, especially with its size. Keeping a bit of extra weather protection for my laptop on my way to class on an unexpectedly rainy day came in handy, as well as keeping larger supplies at bay in my bookbag. No matter how you put it, this pouch is a must-have.
Final Thoughts
The Magpul Large DAKA Lite pouch has been wonderful to use, and I’d recommend it to anyone needing extra organization options. Given its size, it works for a wide variety of gear and accessories while standing up to heavy use over time. Overall, this simple pouch packs a big punch.
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.
