My love for camping and hiking started in the early days of Cub Scouts, only grew as camping became a major part of my life in Boy Scouts, and I’ve been in love with the outdoors ever since.
Hiking and backpacking, in particular, were favorite interests of mine, and if there’s one thing you learn quickly, it’s the importance of a truly great backpack.
Full Review of SOG Ninja Tactical Backpack
While I’ve had many personal favorites over the years, the SOG Ninja Backpack really ranks up there as one of the better all-around packs that I’ve enjoyed using. Whether exploring local trails or going for a weekend camping trip or taking a road trip to visit friends, this pack has been solid for me.
Video Review
Major Features
- Multiple pockets inside and outside
- Adjustable shoulder straps with sternum slider
- Hydration pockets flanking the main compartment
- Advanced nylon design
- Constructed from strong premium quality material
- Available in five different colors, including digital camo (I’m a personal fan of Desert Clay)
Exceptional Design
The SOG Ninja isn’t just a normal backpack with a main compartment, but the design allows for water bottles on both sides of the pack, or even hydration systems. A pouch on the back gives extra space for storage that is also easy to access, while an interior pouch inside the pack is perfect for sliding in a tablet or thin laptop.
This daypack made from outstanding polyester materials and the design makes it a functional choice for a wide array of circumstances.
Premium Quality, Inexpensive Price
One of the things that really stood out to me about SOG Ninja Tactical Backpack was the fact that it wasn’t very expensive. Usually, you need to pay for really decent quality, but I feel like the balance on this particular pack was really good when it came to pricing.
In fact, this was quite a bit less expensive than much less useful backpacks I bought a full ten or fifteen years ago – and that’s really saying something. In fact, this is one of the better packs I’ve worked with at any given time.
MOLLE Friendly
The SOG Ninja Backpack is considered MOLLE-friendly. MOLLE stands for Modular Lightweight Load-carrying Equipment and basically refers to any pack specifically designed around modern NATO designs to not only function as a standalone pack, but also easily take attachments to further the carrying capacity and versatility of a pack.
If you don’t care about MOLLE this might not be a major selling point, but I like any pack designed with a nod to versatility. That’s what this acronym means to me, and any pack that is designed to work well with attachments must be designed with a degree of quality to work.
Smaller Sized Pack
While for me the Ninja is more than enough, it does technically fall under the small backpack size range. If I was going to hike the Appalachian Trail or the PCT then I would definitely need to look for a larger pack of backpackers. However, except for really special needs, there’s no reason that this pack won’t be more than enough for most people’s needs. I’ve been happy with it as a student, for weekend hikes, for packing up clothes for a weekend campout – it’s a spacious “small” pack.
Five Different Colors Available
There’s no question I’m a particularly a big fan of Desert Clay as my favorite backpack color for this particular model and is a really good color for desert type settings. The digital camo is going to be popular with a lot of people, especially those who served in the military, and it’s also very hard to argue with the traditional choice of plain black.
Coyote and olive drab are the other two colors that are currently available and each of them provides their own aesthetic that some people will really enjoy.
Pros
- Very good design
Cons
- Zippers and straps can be a little bit stiff at the beginning
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: Are these bags really MOLLE friendly?
A: Yes. The SOG Ninja is designed specifically to MOLLE standards so if you really are into these attachments and expanding your pack’s carrying abilities, this is a good option. These are actually MOLLE certified, not a cheap knock-off claiming to be similar.
Q: Do these work as good college backpacks for students?
A: Yes. They are excellent versatile packs that have plenty of interior pockets and slots for books, tablets, laptop, electronics, and more. In other words, there’s plenty of space for everything that any student will need.
Q: How much does this pack weigh?
A: The daypack itself with nothing added, and assuming no additional MOLLE add-ons are included, weighs a mere 2.4 pounds.
Q: How big a laptop can this bag comfortably fit?
A: If using the interior pocket your limit is a 15-inch laptop or smaller. Anything larger than that will be a touch too big for the bag’s natural design.
Q: Is the pack waterproof?
A: This backpack is rated as water resistant. This means in most circumstances it will be fine for limited amounts of time against rain or snow, but you don’t want to put on your laptop and then dunk it in a creek or pool. Water-resistant and waterproof are two different things.
Care to read what other customers are saying? Here is the link to read reviews from real buyers.
My Final Verdict
Yes, that’s me.
I think at this point it is probably obvious that I am definitely a fan of the SOG Ninja Backpack, and it is one of my favorite from the several I’ve bought and used at some point.
For anyone wanting a normal backpack or a premium backpack for general use, I feel really comfortable recommending the Ninja.
This is a really well-made backpack, and while the adjustment straps and zippers might be a touch stiff at first, with even just a little bit of use they will loosen up to a comfortable amount, and the average price of these means that anyone buying won’t bust their budget. An excellent option that I can’t recommend myself more.
This is a really well-made backpack, and while the adjustment straps and zippers might be a touch stiff at first, with even just a little bit of use they will loosen up to a comfortable amount, and the average price of these means that anyone buying won’t bust their budget. An excellent option that I can’t recommend myself more.For anyone wanting a normal backpack or a premium backpack for general use, I feel really comfortable recommending the Ninja.I think at this point it is probably obvious that I am definitely a fan of the SOG Ninja Backpack, and it is one of my favorite from the several I’ve bought and used at some point.My Final VerdictA: This backpack is rated as water resistant. This means in most circumstances it will be fine for limited amounts of time against rain or snow, but you don’t want to put on your laptop and then dunk it in a creek or pool. Water-resistant and waterproof are two different things.Q: Is the pack waterproof?A: If using the interior pocket your limit is a 15-inch laptop or smaller. Anything larger than that will be a touch too big for the bag’s natural design.Q: How big a laptop can this bag comfortably fit?A: The pack itself with nothing added, and assuming no additional MOLLE add-ons are included, weighs a mere 2.4 pounds.Q: How much does this pack weigh?A: Yes. They are excellent versatile packs that have plenty of interior pockets and slots for books, tablets, laptop, electronics, and more. In other words, there’s plenty of space for everything that any student will need.Q: Do these work as good college backpacks for students?A: Yes. The SOG Ninja is designed specifically to MOLLE standards so if you really are into these attachments and expanding your pack’s carrying abilities, this is a good option. These are actually MOLLE certified, not a cheap knock-off claiming to be similar.Q: Are these bags really MOLLE friendly?Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)Coyote and olive drab are the other two colors that are currently available and each of them provides their own aesthetic that some people will really enjoy.There’s no question I’m a particularly a big fan of Desert Clay as my favorite backpack color for this particular model and is a really good color for desert type settings. The digital camo is going to be popular with a lot of people, especially those who served in the military, and it’s also very hard to argue with the traditional choice of plain black.Five Different Colors AvailableWhile for me the Ninja is more than enough, it does technically fall under the small backpack size range. If I was going to hike the Appalachian Trail or the PCT then I would definitely need to look for a larger pack of backpackers. However, except for really special needs, there’s no reason that this pack won’t be more than enough for most people’s needs. I’ve been happy with it as a student, for weekend hikes, for packing up clothes for a weekend campout – it’s a spacious “small” pack.Smaller Sized PackIf you don’t care about MOLLE this might not be a major selling point, but I like any pack designed with a nod to versatility. That’s what this acronym means to me, and any pack that is designed to work well with attachments must be designed with a degree of quality to work.The SOG Ninja Backpack is considered MOLLE-friendly. MOLLE stands for Modular Lightweight Load-carrying Equipment and basically refers to any pack specifically designed around modern NATO designs to not only function as a standalone pack, but also easily take attachments to further the carrying capacity and versatility of a pack.MOLLE FriendlyOne of the things that really stood out to me about SOG Ninja Tactical Backpack was the fact that it wasn’t very expensive. Usually, you need to pay for really decent quality, but I feel like the balance on this particular pack was really good when it came to pricing. In fact, this was quite a bit less expensive than much less useful backpacks I bought a full ten or fifteen years ago – and that’s really saying something. In fact, this is one of the better packs I’ve worked with at any given time.Premium Quality, Inexpensive PriceThis is a pack that is made from outstanding polyester materials and the design makes it a functional choice for a wide array of circumstances.The SOG Ninja isn’t just a normal backpack with a main compartment, but the design allows for water bottles on both sides of the pack, or even hydration systems. A pouch on the back gives extra space for storage that is also easy to access, while an interior pouch inside the pack is perfect for sliding in a tablet or thin laptop.Multiple pockets inside and outsideAdjustable shoulder strapsHydration pockets flanking the main compartmentAdvanced nylon designConstructed from strong premium quality materialAvailable in five different colors, including digital camo (I’m a personal fan of Desert Clay)Major FeaturesWhile I’ve had many personal favorites over the years, the SOG Ninja Backpack really ranks up there as one of the better all-around packs that I’ve enjoyed using. Whether exploring local trails or going for a weekend camping trip or taking a road trip to visit friends, this pack has been solid for me.Hiking and backpacking, in particular, were favorite interests of mine, and if there’s one thing you learn quickly, it’s the importance of a truly great backpack.My love for camping and hiking started in the early days of Cub Scouts, only grew as camping became a major part of my life in Boy Scouts, and I’ve been in love with the outdoors ever since.