Hazard 4 Switchback

Hazard 4 Switchback Sling Bag

The collective experience review from the urban trekker.

We at Shifter Life love offering multiple views on a single product so that every aspect can be viewed before anyone makes a serious purchase.  Let's face it, money is money and before one takes the plunge into the tactical gear market for their everyday lives, you have to make sure it suites you.  With the Hazard 4 Switchback, I am offering you the view of an urban crawler that needs to have his basic essentials with him.  The real-world dimensions of the main compartment are 18 inches tall, 10 inches wide and 4.5 inches deep with a stretch limit of 7ish.  The admin pocket 9.5 inches by 9.5 inches with a plastic map flap.

In my opinion, Hazard 4 is a company that designs a lot of niche items, for example their Hazard 4 Evac Plan B being purpose designed.  The Hazard 4 Switchback is no different.  As a person who loves messenger bags, the "sling" Switchback bag was not an uncomfortable transition.  Almost like putting on a new pair of underwear, new and yet very familiar.  With the added dimensions of the Switchback being a bit of a departure from my standard use bags.  It is more like one of those hiking backpacks, but with a mindset towards organization.  My load-out with the Switchback was a little more robust being that I had more storage space to take advantage of.  The items include: Samsung 10.5 Tablet, Kindle, a pair of Skullcandy Bluetooth headphones, first-aid kit, an elastic of cords, plugs, chargers and a spare pair of ear buds, portable power-bank, light sticks, para-cord, police issued pepper spray, assortment of pens and markers, passport, religious charms, emergency blanket, flashlight, paracord bundle, paracord survival bracelet, ziploc bags, tissues, nasal spray, fruit snacks, granola bars, meal-supplement bars and a pack of mints.

The extra room made packing a lot easier for me, being that I am not looking to pack clothes or outdoor items.  The main compartment of the Switchback is cavernous with 2 slotted areas where you can tuck in a kindle on the top sleeve and perhaps some other items in bottom.  The space threw me off on the bag.  But, once I situated the items I was looking to carry with the copious amounts of netted pockets, hidden pockets, zipper enclosures and admin pockets, the bag sat amazingly comfortable on my shorter, squat frame.  Hazard 4 took a step in redistributing the weight one carries on their back.  Other companies would design their admin pockets or smaller compartment sections at the bottom of the bag causing more weight displacement onto the lower portion of your back causing unavoidable lower-back fatigue.  Hazard 4 places the weight onto the top of your back and shoulders, giving a very natural feel to moving gear on long distances and times.  This feature alone is a sale point in my opinion.  Even though I am not carrying a heavy load, once roaming in the city with the gear I had stated above, it eventually would weigh down on my back if I was using a regular bag.  With the Switchback, it was a piece of cake.  The other thing that stands out to me and may seem quite normal to some, the bag has cinch straps at the critical places.  My load-out may not have stressed the bag in any means, but having the ability to cinch it down to make everything snug was A-M-A-Z-I-N-G.

FIT 8.5/10 - The bag felt amazing as I roamed through the West Village of Manhattan in the heat and in the earlier autumn temps.  The padding that is known on Hazard 4 bags indeed helped with airflow to keep me cool.  But, with a heavier load, I foresee the sling bag format straining the shoulder.  And, being this is a left shoulder bag only layout, switching shoulders is not an option.

FUNCTION 9.5/10  - Storage.  Compartmentalization.  Stash Pockets.  The bag is a tribute to the anal-retentive if you ask me.  Those that like to hyper-analyze where they store their things for which function or use will love this bag.  It has SOOOO MANY ways to load your things.  Why did I take a .5 off?  Because, I HAD TOO MANY OPTIONS.  Yes, there can be too many options.  I lost things in this bag that I needed and eventually found them several days later when looking for another item.

TACTICAL 9/10 - It works as a bug-out bag if you ask me.  It functions well with molle covering the bag for customization for mission purpose and a water-bladder compartment with a zipper enclosure makes this thing a very viable option if one would like to use it as a 24 hour assault bag.  But, extended walking patrols may prove questionable in the sling format.  It would be a perfect road bag, or if you are a person that likes to take long trips on a motorcycle or ATV, this would be a great choice.  As an urban crawler, I got stopped by NYPD several times to be searched and questioned.  It DOES get some attention.

I worry about the
durability of this.

BUILD AND FINISH 9/10 - The model I got is made of 1000 Denier Cordura.  This thing is like a tank with great stitching that is still hanging in there.  My only gripe is the male side of the sling being connected to a piece of cushioned fabric on the bottom and side of the bag.  It has a decent box stitch, but I am worried that, being a stress point, it may wear and cause a catastrophic failure.  Other than that, I really see this bag standing up to the test of time.

STYLE 7.5/10 - As a modified sling bag, you have to really understand it before you truly like the looks of it.  It is like a hot girl that is slightly off somewhere and you can't place it to where the fault is.  The bag is a great looking bag.  The Switchback can attract those that like a bag covered with molle, straps dangling and the tough aggressive tactical look that screams "COME AT ME, BRAH", but it can also turn some off to it.  As a urban crawling living in fascist NYC, the less attention I can get the better.  But, granted, when some guys asked me about the bag while taking the train to and from, they all have told me they dug the look of the bag.  Utilitarian but very stylish.

Yavor and I had spent countless hours talking about this bag before pulling the trigger and each buying our own bags.  I know he loves his for what his life demands.  As a guy that doesn't live on the road and doesn’t really dig camping, this bag is a bit of overkill.  I like the bag for what it stands for and what it offers to that niche market of consumers.  It has great quality and thought to it.  If you need a different look to a 24 hour bag, or a hiking bag check the Hazard 4 Switchback out.  www.hazard4.com/

Pat - Shifter Life - Gear Reviewer