The Best Range Bags, Tested
[html]Spend more time shooting and less time looking for your gear with these range bags
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Why would you need one of the best range bags? You’ve seen the person who’s an unorganized mess at the range. The one who has magazines strewn about on a bench and loose ammo in their pockets. Or perhaps you’re the person who makes multiple trips back to the truck to track down extra ear protection, a water bottle, or extra staples. Then, when you think it’s time to send lead downrange, you realize your targets are sitting at home on the kitchen table in a sporting goods sack. You, my disorganized friend, need a range bag to be more efficient with your time and shooting.
I’ve been there myself—multiple times—and finally, I had enough. The best investment I ever made was a quality range bag. Not only was I thankful for it, but so were my wife and kids, who were glad they didn’t have to run back to the truck or house because dad forgot something. I’ve co*piled a list of the best range bags, that way you’ll always be ready to hit the range with all your gear in one place.
Once you purchase a range bag, the days of running back to the truck or house are over. Jace Bauserman
How I Chose the Best Range Bags
To find the best range bags, I tested these by loading them with tons of equipment and hauling them to the range. I placed particular emphasis on durability, organization, ease of use, and if the product performed as the manufacturer advertised it. Also, I tested each bag to see how they carried after I loaded them with gear.
Best Range Bags: Reviews and Reco*mendations
A great do-it-all bag with plenty of room for multiple handguns and the rest of your range needs.
Pros
- Functional
- Organized co*partments
- External Molle straps
- Great access
Cons
- Not the best padding in straps
Key Features
- 3,051 cubic-inch capacity
- Fully padded construction
- Internal dividers
- Elastic mag/accessory panel
Sporting 3,051 cubic inches of space, this range bag by 5.11 lets you take everything and the kitchen sink to the range. The bag is padded, and the PSE board base promotes stability and boosts overall bag function. And the large loop front panel allows for patch and ID attachment, while the left side pull-down pouch has an internal name tape. The front inner pocket has elastic magazine carriers, and those mag carriers work well for other accessories and small handguns. Elastic loops under the lid mean you can carry loaded anywhere, and the YKK zippers are lockable. The main co*partment is spacious and deep, and you can fit a lot of gear in this bag.
The storage co*partments in the 5.11 Tactical Range Ready Trainer Bag allow you to neatly organize all your gear. Jace Bauserman
I’m not great with organization, and I applaud the removable inner dividers and elastic bands. Plus, all pockets, Molle additions, zippered pouches, and elastic bands serve a purpose. I don’t like features in a range bag that take up room, drive the cost of the bag up, and don’t give the user any benefit. The Molle side co*partment makes it easy to add gear, and while the bag doesn’t have an overabundance of padding, it has enough for me.
A solid choice for a casual shooter—enough space for necessities at a great price.
Pros
- Durable make
- Removable tray
- co*fortable to carry
Key Features
- Four medium-sized pockets
- Weight: 3 pounds
- Molded main lid co*partment
While this isn’t the range bag for the pro shooter or the shooter that trains weekly, it’s a solid choice if you hit the range at least once a month. While this bag isn’t the biggest, if you organize your gear well, you should have plenty of room for everything you need. The pack is multi-purpose, meaning you can use it to stack sporting clay shotshells, clay pigeons, or use it to tote a few handguns, targets, etc. It even features five elastic loops to hold shotshells or other chokes, and an adjustable shoulder strap is included. The molded lid main co*partment opens fully and flips out of the way, which makes the primary co*partment extremely functional.
This bag is co*fortable to carry and co*es with a fold-up mat that allows you to work on your firearms on the spot, and the removable inside tray is perfect for placing on the bench when you need easy access to your gear. The main co*partment is lockable, and the added feet on the bottom provide a nice touch.
Photo by Scott Einsmann
Pros
- Doesn’t look like a GUN bag
- Shoulder strap is very co*fortable
- Well organized
- Ideal for bringing a few pistols, shot timer, eye/ear pro, and a few hundred rounds of ammo to the range
- Would work well for local USPSA matches
- Rigid frame keeps contents protected
Key Features
- Includes three pistol slips with customizable labels
- Holds six magazines in dedicated magazine co*partment
- Two side pockets and large main co*partment for accessories/ammo
- Several small organizational pockets
- Padded shoulder strap and tote handles
- Price: $110
The magazine co*partment is one of the author’s favorite features.
You could throw all your gear into a duffle bag and hit the range, but if you’ve evolved beyond being a neanderthal, a dedicated, well-organized range bag is far superior. Your ear protection and eye protection will always be in their proper spot. Your magazines and pistols are protected in their respective locations. You can keep important tools and lubricant on hand. I even keep D-Lead soap in my bag.
The Savior Specialist Range Bag has plenty of space for range day essentials.
If you like the sound of your gear being co*pletely organized and easy to access, the Specialist Range Bag is my top pick. I like to keep mine packed so I can hit the range after work and I know I have everything I need. I just grab the pistol slips — with the guns inside — out of my safe, drop them in the bag and go.
The main downside of this range bag is the bag itself is pretty heavy. So once you get it fully loaded, it’s no feather. The good news is the highly-padded shoulder strap is really co*fortable. So much so that I’m going to use this bag for local USPSA matches as I carry my gear from stage to stage. — Scott Einsmann, gear editor
Offers extensive handgun protection.
Pros
- Oversized coil zippers
- External slash pockets
- Rugged
- co*fortable
Cons
- Flimsy bottom
- Lack of pockets
Key Features
- Soft internal fabric
- Dual-density foam
- S.T.R.I.K.E. Webbing
Thanks to its build and tactical webbing on the shoulder straps and contact points with the addition of tactical web handles, the BlackHawk Sportster is co*fortable to tote and will haul a load. A pair of external pockets offer some extra room, and several rows of S.T.R.I.K.E. webbing makes attaching pouches and other accessory items easy. Blackhawk went above and beyond in the protection department, and the main internal pocket with a dual-slider opening provides immediate access to the bag’s inner contents. This isn’t a large range bag, but it’s designed for the pistol shooter, and there’s plenty of room for ammo, ear protection, and shooting glasses if you’re just looking to empty a few magazines after work.
A co*fortable, intuitive backpack with plenty of pockets.
Pros
- Organization
- co*fortable
- Plenty of storage
- Handgun cradle
Key Features
- Specialized velour-lined pockets
- Hands-free carry
- Removable handgun storage cradle
I’m a backpack guy—a Western hunter—and I appreciate this stylish range bag‘s co*fort and durable build. The zipper function is excellent, and it’s hard to ignore how well the removable blue/black foam cradle holds five medium-frame handguns, and it makes a terrific option for the shooter who wants to take multiple handguns to the range conveniently. The removable cradle allows you to easily access your pistols at the range, and the Visual I.D. System patches give the shooter the ability to label pockets and add gear accordingly. The Visual I.D. system co*es with 16 logo-specific patches, and via the pack’s numerous pockets, shooters can swap patches back and forth until they find an organization system that’s right for them. The pack has lots of room, and specialized pockets are lined with velour for added gear protection.
Holds three handguns with lots of additional space, organized pockets, and high durability.
Pros
- Tough as nails
- Lots of space
- Organized pockets
Cons
- Lack of Molle straps
- Luggage lock not included
Key Features
- 3+ handgun storage
- Removable Velcro divider/main co*partment
- Four elastic loop bands
The Orca Tactical Gun Range Bag is co*pact yet has plenty of storage The 600D polyester fabric makes it bulletproof—double sewn at all strength points—and the bag includes top-notch lockable YKK zippers on both side pouches. And the Velcro-faced accessory pockets have plenty of room for displaying morale patches. This bag’s build makes organization easy and customizable, and it has numerous purposeful pockets, pouches, and elastic. The fully padded co*partments mean you can even use this as an impromptu camera, diaper, or JIC bag in a pinch.
Pros
- Hooked-back dividers for organization
- Two tripod attachment devices on top of bag
- Large, expanding side pocket
Key Features
- 360-degree padding
- 500 Denier Nylon
- YKK Zippers
Leupold knows optics, and when it’s time to travel to a co*petition, the range, or a hunt, their Go Gear Duffle bag is a weather-resistant win for all your optics. This bag is spacious, from rangefinders to binos to spotters, and protects your glass and any additional gear you choose to tote.
A top-tier optic range bag that will hold all your optics and any additional gear, the bag weighs 33.6 ounces and is extremely spacious. The 500 Denier Nylon makes the bags’ exterior bulletproof, and the loop-lined interior allows maximum modularity. The hooked-back dividers co*e in sizes one small, four medium, and one large, so you can organize your bag exactly how you want it.
Pros
- Two detachable magazines pouches
- Two detachable dump pouches
- Multiple lockable pockets
- Cushioned shoulder strap
Key Features
- 600D polyester exterior and internal shell
- Knitted elastic bands
- zippers are lockable
- Double-stitched seams
Not every shooting foray calls for an extensive range bag; the Specialist Mini is an ideal choice when you want to go light and co*pact. This range bag gives users all the best features of Savior’s pistol case but in a much closer size to the manufacturer’s range bag.
This lesser-sized range bag looks small but performs big. Three co*partments provide plenty of space for several pistols, and the middle co*partment offers ample space for magazines. I also cheer the see-through zippered co*partments. These are excellent for holding ammo and any electronics you may bring to the field. The stay-open rear room is spacious, and the front is set up to hold rifle magazines, but if you’re hauling handguns, the pocket has multiple uses.
Pros
- Modular organization
- Room for ammo, handguns, and magazines
- includes detachable brass bag
Key Features
- Cordura shell with MOLLE attachment points
- Hook-and-loop internal organizers
- Detachable brass bag
I’ve been using this Loadout range bag from elite for a couple of years now, and I couldn’t love it more. It’s big enough to haul several handguns to the range along with acco*panying magazines, ammunition, shot timer, stapler, gun cleaning and maintenance tools, and whatever else I might need. The outside of the bag has a lot of MOLLE slots, to which the removable brass bag attaches, and I also installed a portable pistol cleaning kit.
The large front pocket of the Loadout bag has a pistol magazine organizer, AR magazine pouch, and another accessory pocket. The main co*partment has padded dividers that can be arranged via hook-and-loop attachments to organize your bag. Range bags tend to get loaded with heavy stuff and used hard. I have yet to see any sights that mine is giving up the fight any time soon. It’s a spendy bag, but well worth it.
Things to Consider When Buying a Range Bag
Between work, kids, sports, and everyday life, I might only have 30 minutes to empty a magazine or two at the range and then head home. If I didn’t have a range bag with my ammo, hearing protection, extra magazines, targets, etc. all in one place, I’d never make it out the door in time. Investing in a range bag has been an investment in my time.
Most professional shooters have dubbed range bags a must-have item, and I couldn’t agree more. If you spend time shooting at the range, or even if that range is something you and your buddies built on a piece of private property, you need a top-notch range bag.
Range bags co*e in many sizes, shapes, designs, and prices. But you’ll need to figure out what gear you want/need to take to the range first. So here’s a list of items you’ll probably want to include or consider when you look for one:
No, that’s not everything, but it’s a good start, and you get the idea. Knowing all the gear you need to tote makes it easier to visualize what will fit where when looking at different range bag designs.
Durability
Range bags get used and abused. They get tossed in the back of trucks, have cleaning solution spil*ed on them, and the zippers get a real workout. You’ll want a bag with a beefy build, plenty of padding, quality YKK zippers, and is made from a material like Cordura or polyester.
Ergonomics
Something else to take into account is transportability and co*fort. Some range goers prefer a duffle-style tote with reinforced grab-and-go handles and a shoulder strap, while others prefer a backpack-style range bag. I’ve used both and find them equally effective. Whatever you decide, you don’t want a bag that doesn’t carry well when it’s loaded with weight. Range bags get heavy quickly, and you want handles with extra padding and support.
Shooting Disciplines
There are trap and skeet range bags, those engineered for tactical rifles, handgun bags, etc. So be sure and familiarize yourself with the bag’s purpose before you drop a significant amount of cash.
FAQs
Q: Do I need a range bag? Yes, take it from the king of disorganization. When you have a range bag that fits your needs and you take the time to develop an organization system in that bag, you can go to the range knowing everything you need is with you. The days of running back to the truck to grab a target or back to the house to grab a magazine and ammo will be over.
Q: What should I keep in my range bags? The best thing about a range bag is deciding what goes in it. Aside from the obvious items you need at the range, I never leave home without a good pair of optics, rangefinder, snacks, water, and a quality first-aid kit in my range bag.
Q: What is the ideal size of a range bag? The ideal size range bag depends on what you plan to use it for. If you plan on hitting the range once a month and toting a single handgun, some ammo, and a few items, you can go with a smaller bag like the BlackHawk Sportster. If you’re a range enthusiast who likes to haul multiple handguns, rifles, accessories, etc., you’ll want a more extensive range bag that can handle loads of gear.
Q: Can I use a backpack as a range bag? Yes, and backpacks actually aren’t bad options for range bags. As long as the shoulder straps are padded, you can haul plenty of gear. And if your backpack happens to have Molle straps, even better.
Final Thoughts on the Best Range Bags
Take it from someone who fought the range bag revolution tooth and nail. I didn’t want to spend the money, and I figured a standard backpack or duffle bag fitted with a few co*partments would suffice, but I was wrong. Not only was I an unorganized mess, but I also ripped pockets, lost magazines, and banged around handguns during transport.
Buying one of the best range bags will make your range days more efficient and organized. Find one that fits your needs, and you’ll wonder how you ever got along without one.
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