{"id":29113,"date":"2017-11-13T11:47:21","date_gmt":"2017-11-13T15:47:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/?p=29113"},"modified":"2022-11-16T12:18:53","modified_gmt":"2022-11-16T16:18:53","slug":"a-review-of-the-red-oxx-micro-manager-edc-and-radio-gear-bag","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2017\/11\/a-review-of-the-red-oxx-micro-manager-edc-and-radio-gear-bag\/","title":{"rendered":"A review of the Red Oxx Micro Manager EDC and radio gear bag"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Besides being a radio enthusiast, regular SWLing Post<\/i> readers know that I\u2019m also an avid traveler and, as a result, something of a pack geek.<\/p>\n

In September, I posted a review of the Red Oxx \u201cLil Roy\u201d<\/a>–a small, relatively inexpensive multi-purpose bag that I love to haul my radio gear in.<\/p>\n

In the spirit of full disclosure, I\u2019m a huge fan of Red Oxx<\/a> gear. I\u2019m fairly choosy about the quality of packs that I buy and am willing to pay a premium for packs that offer exceptional durability and are guaranteed for life. Red Oxx gear is designed and made in Montana, USA, and is nearly bullet-proof.<\/p>\n

I love the design of Red Oxx bags; they can\u2019t always be accurately described as tactical, low-profile, or urban, however. \u00a0Red Oxx leader Jim Markel describes the bags\u2019 strengths this way: \u201cTactical strength without looking like you\u2019re going to war.\u201d \u00a0That\u2019s fair.<\/p>\n

Their designs are unique to the company and, I would argue, in Red Oxx bags, form definitely follows function.<\/p>\n

After posting my review of the Red Oxx \u201cLil Roy,\u201d I received a message from a representative at Red Oxx. They kindly noted that they were impressed by the detail my review<\/a> provided, but also recalled that last year, I\u2019d made a suggestion that they design an EDC (Everyday Carry) bag especially suited to those of us who like to carry radio gear (or any electronic gear, for that matter) out to the field. I specifically requested if they would consider designing a medium-sized bag with padded sides and floor, and the option for an over-the-shoulder carry strap\u2013\u2013?<\/p>\n

My hopes were not unfounded. \u00a0Red Oxx replied, saying that they\u2019d actually designed just such a bag and wanted to know if I would test it prior to release, and offer any input.<\/p>\n

Well…How could I resist?<\/p>\n

The \u201cMicro-Manager,\u201d as their new product is aptly and amusingly named, arrived the day I left on a weekend trip. As I drove down the road with the unopened box next to me, I simply couldn\u2019t wait to see what the design looked like. Since I didn\u2019t know the dimensions, configuration, compartment size, nor the coloring, I really wasn\u2019t sure what to expect.<\/p>\n

Introducing…the Micro Manager<\/h2>\n

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Upon reaching my destination, I opened the box and removed the Micro Manager<\/a>\u2013\u2013and by golly, I was very<\/i> impressed with the bag\u2019s size: \u00a0modest, handy, but not dinky. \u00a0Just about right.<\/p>\n

I say this because portable radio gear is a funny thing. \u00a0Quite often I find a great pack in terms of material and features, but it\u2019s either too small or too shallow for portable gear\u2013\u2013or, at the other extreme, swallows my equipment, so that I have to fish around in its yawning depths to find my rig and add extra padding. Rarely is a bag appropriately sized in terms of height, width, and depth for radio carry. \u00a0The Micro Manager appeared to be just about the size I\u2019d have made it, if I designed it myself. \u00a0But I had still to test it with the actual equipment, so I tried not to get my hopes up too soon.<\/p>\n

Construction<\/h2>\n

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I unzipped the pack, noting that the Red Oxx-standard extra-beefy #10 YKK VISLON zippers actually extend to within an inch<\/i> of the bag\u2019s base. In terms of main compartment access, structure, and configuration flexibility, I find this nearly ideal. The zippers also have attached \u201cmonkey fist\u201d knots made from nylon cording that permit easy zipper operation. \u00a0These look rather cool, too. \u00a0In addition, the Micro Manager is designed with the Red Oxx Claw Shoulder Strap in mind, having two D-rings on opposite sides of the zipper\u2013\u2013this means balance on the shoulder. And the Micro Manager includes the Claw Shoulder Strap, which is sturdy and solid.<\/p>\n

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Like all Red Oxx packs, the Micro Manager\u2019s exterior sports 1000 weight CORDURA nylon material that is available in twelve solid color combos; mine is \u201cOlive.\u201d \u00a0Which is, well, olive<\/i>\u2013\u2013olive green\u2013\u2013just as you\u2019d expect. \u00a0No weird color names to throw you off.<\/p>\n

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Inside the Micro Manager, Red Oxx opted for a red 400 denier CORDURA Brand nylon lining which makes the interior resilient to nearly any kind of damage, and easy to wash up. \u00a0The vivid red color of the lining also means that any items in the bottom of the pack stand out, making it a cinch to find whatever you\u2019re looking for in there.<\/p>\n

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But I wanted to check the pack even more closely, from the inside out. \u00a0And so I did just that: \u00a0I turned the pack inside out, examined it up close, looked at the stitches and the basic construction: \u00a0this is clearly one rugged bag.<\/i><\/p>\n

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Durability is not in question here. \u00a0Tom Bihn<\/a> is another excellent US pack company; I\u2019d say Red Oxx\u2019s products and Tom Bihn\u2019s run neck-and-neck, though Red Oxx has more of a tactical leaning and beefier hardware than the urban sleek, neat packs Tom Bihn produces.<\/p>\n

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In short, the Micro Manager is one tough pack. I would argue the toughest I\u2019ve ever used for field equipment.<\/p>\n

This little pack is built like a tank.<\/p>\n

Padding<\/h2>\n

Of course, what really makes this pack ideal for radio gear is the fact the floor of the pack as well as the side panels are lined with Volara 4-pound closed-cell foam padding. This isn\u2019t super-thick padding, but it\u2019s dense, and in my view effective for radio gear. Nor would I want thick, bulky padding in this pack. It\u2019s simply enough to absorb the shock of setting the pack down, even a hard or hasty set-down, and would likely help protect the contents if the pack were dropped.<\/p>\n

To be clear: I\u2019m not talking about stashing upwards of $1300 worth of radio gear in this pack and flinging it out an upstairs window to test the padding. \u00a0I\u2019m not planning to check this bag at the airport, since I like my gear handy, and I\u2019ll treat the pack and its contents with reasonable care. \u00a0The padding in this case just makes the contents more secure and resilient to the odd drop, bash, or tumble. I think it will do just fine.<\/p>\n

Right Size…confirmed<\/h2>\n

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But I still had to see how everything fit in the pack. \u00a0Being the radio geek I am, the first thing I did upon my arrival at home was to throw my Elecraft KX2<\/a> Transceiver pack and antenna supplies bag in the Micro Manager to see if my gear fit as well as I thought it might. \u00a0It all fit like a glove, and still had room for log book, pens, multi-tool, sunscreen, and (of course) bug repellent!<\/p>\n

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Next, I removed these items, and tried my larger Elecraft KX3<\/a> for size in the Micro Manager\u2013\u2013again, ample interior room with just enough space left to include a battery pack and antenna supplies. Brilliant!<\/p>\n

I tried various combos of gear and kit to find that the Micro Manager is quite a flexible field bag. \u00a0Finally! \u00a0A pack up to the task.<\/p>\n

Configuration<\/h2>\n

But what really makes this pack shine? The large, open compartment is ideal for us \u201cmodular pack\u201d folks.<\/p>\n

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Tom Bihn Pilot (left) Red Oxx Micro Manager (right)<\/p><\/div>\n

In my experience, frequent travel means modular packing. In my main EDC pack (a Tom Bihn Pilot<\/a>) all my gear is organized in cubes and pouches. If I\u2019m heading out the door to catch a flight and want to take a backpack, rucksack, or duffel bag, I can whip the stuff out of my EDC bag, and in a matter of seconds, populate the other pack. Not only does it make transitioning from one pack to another a speedy process, but I\u2019ll know exactly what\u2019s in the pack, and exactly where.<\/p>\n

When I opened the Micro Manager the first time, I instantly saw that it lends itself to modular packing, since there\u2019s no internal organization walls and pockets are on the interior sides.<\/p>\n

So, aside from packing radio gear, tablets, headphones, a DSLR camera, recording gear, or any other accessories, a packing cube could be used in the Micro Manager to carry clothing on a weekend or on a quick one-to-two night jaunt.<\/p>\n

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Packed for an overnight trip.<\/p><\/div>\n

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All essentials inside: iPad Air in sleeve, Tom Bihn Snake Charmer (I use as toiletries kit), and an old Eagle Creek<\/a> packing cube.<\/p><\/div>\n

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Fully unpacked. Click to enlarge.<\/p><\/div>\n

I\u2019ll take a close look at the Micro Manager\u2019s internal dimensions and see if one of the Red Oxx packing cubes<\/a> might fit the bill. \u00a0Maybe, if I\u2019ve been extra good this year, Santa will drop one in my stocking.<\/p>\n

Packing in a cube and other modular packs would take full advantage of the Micro Manager\u2019s modest-outside, spacious-inside capacity. A full-size internal cube packed with clothing would be easy to stash in a hotel room to reduce bulk while you\u2019re in meetings at your location, thus leaving more room for files\/reports, magazines, a paperback (for those of us who still like paper), and the like; then you could simply replace your clothing module in your MM for your flight home.<\/p>\n

A great EDC pack, too<\/h2>\n

I have even pulled all of the packs from my Tom Bihn Pilot EDC bag and cheerfully used the Micro Manager for the day.<\/p>\n

The Micro Manager works wonderfully as an EDC pack if I don\u2019t need a laptop (my 13\u201d MacBook Air is a little too large). It packs my iPad Air with ease and the padded interior pocket gives me peace of mind, encapsulating the tablet in padding all around. On the outside of the padded tablet sleeve, Red Oxx has added four pencil holders and two larger pouches which are large enough for most smartphones, business cards, field notes, and other small accessories.<\/p>\n

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Of course, there\u2019s another interior pouch with an embedded pocket on the opposite side of the padded sleeve. I\u2019ve used this sleeve for note pads, coiled antenna line, a paperback book, and a portable radio over the past few months. I\u2019ve used the embedded zipper pocket for charging cables, wire cutters, adapters, USB memory sticks, you name it. It\u2019s not a deep zipper pocket, so I wouldn\u2019t put anything thick inside simply because I don\u2019t like bulking out pockets, but it\u2019s very useful.<\/p>\n

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On the outside panels of the Micro Manager, you\u2019ll also find two double-zippered pockets. These are shallow in depth, but are ideally suited for cords, wire, and antenna line. Of course, they\u2019ll easily hold notepads and other supplies.<\/p>\n

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The Micro Manager is large enough to hold 8.5 x 11\u201d paper in a folder or even low-profile notebook. For someone who carries a tablet to work, this could easily replace a briefcase.<\/p>\n

The genius behind the Micro Manager\u2019s flexibility, in my view, \u00a0is the open design: the ability to open the main compartment zippers either partially or all the way to within an inch of the bottom of the bag. This allows you to fully open the pack without compromising its ability to be self-supporting. Since Red Oxx\u2019s #10 YKK zippers won\u2019t slip backwards, you can even simply open the top of the bag and not worry about the contents spilling out. \u00a0I like that.<\/p>\n

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Summary<\/h2>\n

Everything I review has its pros and cons, of course. When I begin a review or evaluation, I take notes from the very beginning so that I don\u2019t forget my initial impressions. Following is the list I\u2019ve formed over the time I\u2019ve been evaluating the Red Oxx Micro Manager:<\/p>\n

Pros:<\/b><\/p>\n