Within the lineup of products offered by Elite Survival, the Pulse 24-Hour Backpack is one of several offered to provide users with a comfortable, adaptive, and rugged means to carry items for the field, EDC, or the range. The 24-Hour has enough size and pockets necessary for a single day’s use and can be a mainstay for any application.
As a whole, the Pulse Backpack is made from 1000D nylon for the greatest level of abrasion resistance and has an overall dimension of 19″ (H) x 11″ (W) x 8 (D). All zippers are thick coiled YKK, with covers to prevent moisture penetration along any line of opening. All exterior zippers include paracord pull tabs.
Exterior
From the front exterior, the Pulse Backpack has an eyeglass pocket, lined with velour and secured via zipper, up top. On the pocket’s exterior is a small (female) hook-and-loop panel for mounting identification or morale patches.
On the bottom of the front exterior is a dual zipper-secured administrative pocket with laser-cut MOLLE paneling on the pocket’s exterior. The exterior of the admin pocket also includes a (female) hook-and-loop panel. Inside the admin pocket is one flat document sleeve, two smaller accessory sleeves, two mesh pockets, and a key lanyard. The inside of the admin pouch also has a larger mesh pocket secured via zipper.
Behind the eyeglass and admin pocket is secondary dual zipper secured storage compartment that includes; a key chain retention clip, a band of MOLLE webbing, and on the inside of the compartment is a larger mesh pocket secured via zipper.
Both sides of the Pulse Backpack include compression straps with slide-release buckles, two bands of MOLLE webbing (per side), and an elastic pocket (one on each side) for hydration bottles.
At the top, the Pulse Backpack features a heavy-duty carrying handle made from woven paracord, and is anchored with bartack and X-pattern stitching for added reinforcement. The paracord carrying handle can be disconnected from the backpack via slide-release buckles and converted into a survival bracelet or 50’ of cordage if needed. Behind the carrying handle is a pass-through slot for a hydration tube that is covered with elastic nylon.
The backpanel includes an air-weight aluminum spine for consistent support, and two bands of 1” custom molded foam that leave a deep ventilation channel between them, and down the center of the back for increased heat mitigation. The molded foam itself is a ribbed, closed-cell foam and enclosed with a nylon mesh for added moisture wicking and heat dispersion. At the base of the backpanel is a removable waist belt that is secured via slide-release buckle.
The adjustable, contoured, harness retention system features a dual shoulder strap design with integrated accessory pockets and adjustable sternum strap. Multiple MOLLE-compatible points are positioned along the shoulder strap, with each strap connected to a slide-release buckle for rapid disconnection if needed. The shoulder straps are anchored to the top of the backpack at two points to give plenty of spacing between the shoulders and neck. Directly under the top of the shoulder straps is a large laptop sleeve or 3-liter hydration pocket that is zipper secured and shares the rigidity of the backpanel’s air-weight aluminum spine.
On the bottom of the Pulse Backpack is an added layer of nylon with a single pass-through drainage grommet.
Interior
Inside the primary storage compartment is an elastic pocket for a 3-liter hydration bladder, and two interior cross-compression straps with slide-release buckles. The inside of the primary storage compartment includes a mesh pocket secured via zipper for accessories and other items.
Specifications:
- 1000D nylon
- YKK zippers
- Two 3L hydration pockets with dual access
- Contoured, high-density backpanel foam
The Pulse 24-Hour Backpack is available in Wolf Grey (featured), Black and Coyote.
Product Evaluation Scores:
- Cost – Fair (2/5): At $159.95 the Pulse 24-Hour Backpack held a significant volume of 1000D nylon material that made the backpack. Typically, this material can be costlier and more difficult to work with as it is approaching ballistic grade, and thus may cost more in the final product. Add into that the cost of hardware and unique elements like a paracord/survival carrying handle and the price is more logical. Alternatives to the Pulse backpack are; the Advanced Field Backpack by The Requirements Group ($126.40), Tru-Spec’s Tour of Duty ($145.95), or the Dragon Egg MkII ($139) by Direct Action. While only one of these alternatives is of the same 1000D material, all hold similar hardware and are still under the price point for the 24-Hour Backpack, thus only giving the pack by Elite Survival fair marks for cost.
- Comfort – Good (4/5): While 1000D nylon tends to be more rigid, the Pulse backpack was still very comfortable in the shoulders and neck thanks in part to its padding and segmented design in those areas. The backpanel, with its deep ventilation channel, was extremely comfortable regardless of weight carried. Extended wear (1hr +) did not emphasize pressure on the shoulder straps and neither pinched nor chafed. The YKK zippers slid easily and did not bind when opening/closing (even with the added material to prevent moisture saturation). The paracord carrying handle was a nice additive not commonly found in other backpacks and provided a wide, thick point of contact. The only area of notable improvement for Elite Survival would be to add some minimal padding to the removable waist strap as it was just a nylon belt. When the backpack was loaded and waist strap utilized, the waist belt became uncomfortable as the base weight would pull the removable waist belt and thus the body. Some padding, no matter how minimal, would help mitigate this.
- Durability – Good (4/5): The Pulse backpack was made from 1000D nylon, which is some of the more abrasive resistant material available on the market. Bartack stitching was noted at the MOLLE webbing on the backpack’s sides and interior, while the laser-cut MOLLE panel held double-line stitching similar to the Advanced Field Backpack or Dragon Egg. Other packs with 500D nylon use additional bartack at key stress points (zippers and pack corners) and it may be that because the Pulse is made from a material with a greater denier rating the vendor felt added stitching was unnecessary. During evaluation, no negative aspect of poor durability (popped stitch, lose threads, thread separation) was observed and the backpack held up well. Research shows that long-term use by consumers have likewise reported no significant impacts to durability during EDC, field, or range use.
- Functionality – Good (4/5): Functionally, the Pulse backpack was well laid out, with pockets and storage areas easily accessible, and no limitations due to hardware. The Pulse was also ideal as a light-moderate backpack that was at home for a day on the range, day hike, or short camping trip. The elastic side pockets, and extensive laser-cut MOLLE/PALS fields offered the benefit of expanding on the pack’s functionality by mounting additional accessories or pouches as needed. The materials and design of the backpanel was one of the more positive aspects of the 24-Hour Backpack in that its materials (thick foam padding, deep ventilation channel, lightweight aluminum spine) were something not commonly offered in other backpacks, and thus made the Pulse backpack stand out. The only negative aspect noted from a functional perspective was the pass-through point for hydration tubing. The slit was barely large enough to accommodate one tube (it had to be disassembled to fit through) let alone two. A recommendation to Elite Survival would be to make two pass through points or widen the current one.
- Weight – Average (3/5): Weighing in at 3.75 pounds, the Pulse 24-Hour Backpack held an appropriate, and comfortable, amount of weight for the volume of 1000D nylon, foam padding, and hardware involved. While it was similar in both size and carrying capacity to alternative backpacks, it was also approximately the same weight. The alternative list of backpacks included; the Advanced Field Backpack (3.35 pounds), the Tour of Duty (5 pounds), and the Dragon Egg MkII (3.49 pounds), all of which were around similar weight to the Pulse backpack. While the weight of the Pulse backpack was minimal, it was also fitting (or average) within the current market, and left to the consumer to determine if that is desired.
Overall Rating – Above Average (17/25)
Product Link: https://www.elitesurvival.com/backpacks-hydration/pulse-24-hour-backpack/
