Mission First Tactical

Achro 22 EDC Backpack Review

There are a lot of off-body concealed carry options available these days. In certain circumstances, this type of carry might be your only option. Mission First Tactical (MFT) has a non descript looking Everyday Carry (EDC) backpack called the Achro EDC. This pack also has a separate, externally accessible, compartment for holding a pistol. Being able to have a normal looking EDC backpack can be a great advantage when carrying in certain locations.

The Achro EDC pack looks like something your kids might wear to school. I was sent the black color, but it comes in two other colors: Forest Night and Dark Lagoon. Having color options makes the pack even more discreet. Just because it is an EDC pack, does not mean that it is not functional without a pistol in it. The only, kind of, tactical look this backpack has is the laser cut MOLLE on the front storage pocket. Being that it is a 22 liter pack, it is not overly large, so it won’t look suspicious as to what it might be holding. No one is even going to suspect this pack is carrying anything but a laptop and your lunch.

On the front of the Achro pack are two compartments. The first is a large admin pocket. It probably takes up half of the front side. I call it an admin pocket because inside are places for pens, notepads, etc. There is also a small zippered pocket inside this admin pouch/pocket. Behind that, is just an open pocket for sliding stuff into. All of the zippers on the Achro are YKK’s. The external ones are even water resistant. Also on the front of the pack, at the top, is a zippered glasses compartment. Inside it is soft fabric to hopefully keep your glasses from scratching. Inside this compartment is also another zippered pouch for storing stuff in. That pretty much covers the front of the Achro.

The exterior of the Achro is constructed with durability in mind. MFT uses 1000D Kodra Carbonite. It looks to me like it is similar to 1000D cordura that has some sort of coating to keep it water tight. But what it is, is an abrasion resistant and weather proof exterior. This should give you plenty of years to abuse it without it falling apart.

The main storage of the Achro EDC backpack is pretty nice. You get dual zippers to open it up. It opens up completely so you can fold the front down and easily get to the stuff at the bottom. Inside the front section, the one that folds down, is a large zippered mesh pouch. On the back of the main compartment is the slightly padded laptop sleeve. It won’t hold a huge laptop, but it will hold a smaller one. On the front of the laptop sleeve is another open pouch. The inside of the Achro is pretty simple, but that is okay with me.

Now to the outside of the MFT Achro. There are stretchy mesh pockets on each side of the pack, they state these as water bottle holders, which they work fine as. You can also use them for other stuff. Around the back side are well padded shoulder straps. The back is also padded with a vent section running in an inverted “T”. This helps air to flow around the padding and maybe keep you cooler.

On each side of the Achro is a zipper. These zippers are for the EDC compartment. It is a passthrough compartment, so if both zippers are unzipped, you can reach through to the other side. This EDC compartment is about ⅔’s the height of the backpack. Meaning that it will hold most compact handguns like a G19 or similar. Inside, one side of the pouch has loop fabric. This is so the MFT multi mount can hook to it (think Velcro). The MFT multi mount is a triangle plastic piece that gives you the ability to mount holsters, or anything that goes on a belt, to it. So you can take a holster, mount it to the multi mount, and then position it inside the EDC pouch. It actually works pretty good.

Now to draw from the Achro EDC pack. The Achro does not let you have a super quick pistol draw, like a holster worn on your belt would. But, it is not as slow as expected. When wearing the pack, quickly slip it off and swing it around the front of you. Then you must unzip the EDC compartment. It has a zipper pull that works, but if you are using this with a pistol inside, I might recommend putting a larger zipper pull on it. Then you can draw your firearm. I practiced with it some, and it works, it is just not my preference.

There are a few things I would add or change to the MFT Achro pack, and some I would not. The size is perfect. Especially if you are using it for airline travel, please make sure there aren’t any firearm items inside it. It is made to fit under the seat in front of you as a personal item. I will probably make it my SHOT show pack. My biggest complaint is that it is not hydration compatible. Meaning it has no compartment or no hole for the water line to exit. The straps are a little stiff, but I figure that as I use it more, they will wear in. I really like the grayman aspect of the Achro as nobody realizes what kind of backpack it is. If you are wondering, the Achro will fit a small pistol caliber carbine, with a 30 round magazine, in its main compartment.

If you are looking for a discreet carry backpack, the Mission First Tactical Achro EDC might be worth looking into. I really liked the size and how it is pretty non-discreet looking. The Multi-Mount also worked really well for mounting a pistol inside the pack. Even if you are just looking for a regular backpack, go check out the Achro EDC.

Firearms Insider Reviews - Key Points

Claim to Fame:

EDC backpack with CCW access that doesn’t look tactical

Target Market:

Anyone who wants a ccw backpack that doesn’t look tactical

Features, Benefits, and Specifications of this product:

Low-Vis (Gray Man) design aesthetic
Dedicated and discreet firearm pocket
MFT Multi-Mount Platform included
Smart storage for vast array of EDC organizational options
Lighter colored WR (water resistant) ripstop liner to aid in interior visibility
YKK AquaGuard® zipper
Aluminum key clip
Weather and abrasion-resistant construction
Secure storage for 16” laptop or tablet
Premium padded back panel with ventilation channel
Fully adjustable, premium padded shoulder harness
Adjustable and removable sternum strap
Dual-stretch mesh exterior 32oz bottle storage pockets
Laser-cut MOLLE for additional gear attachment
Large panel-zip allows full access to main compartment
Internal zippered storage pockets
Front admin & cable storage
Fleece-lined sunglass pocket
Fits neatly under the seat in front of you (for flying)
22L Capacity, Approximate Dimensions: W(10”) x D(6.6”) x H(17.5”), 2.55 lbs