Triple Aught Design has been producing the FAST Pack Litespeed backpack for over a decade, and while the tactical gear purveyor has offered the pack in a huge variety of different variants, the vast majority of these updated specs have consisted of different shell constructions, from sailcloth to waxed canvas to ballistic nylon. So, while the announcement of yet another new material version of TAD’s FAST Pack Litespeed may not sound like all that big of a deal we’d argue this is unequivocally the most advanced and noteworthy backpack the company has ever produced. Introducing, Triple Aught Design’s new FAST Pack Litespeed Black Magic Edition.
Carry-Able Real Estate
Measuring 10.00″ wide x 20.00″ tall x 6.75″ deep, TAD’s new Black Magic Edition FAST Pack Litespeed offers 22 liters of internal storage space — though its exterior can accommodate various attachments that can increase its hauling capacity. Despite the insanely hardwearing nature of this 22-liter EDC pack, the entire thing manages to tip the scales at only 3.1lbs (or 49.6oz).
A True Masterclass In Modularity
Like every existing version of the FAST Pack Litespeed, the new Black Magic Edition sports an incredibly modular design that can accommodate a huge variety of different add-ons, attachments, and optional panels and accessories. The bag’s basic layout includes a zipper-secured top front admin pocket with internal organizer slots, plus a middle front storage pocket that’s also zipper-secured, and finally a pair of internal zippered mesh pockets. This might make the pack sound somewhat spartan, but that’s because it is. By having a more minimalistic design that can be supplemented via its huge bevy of available attachments, the backpack is able to lend itself to an enormous variety of applications — or like TAD says, “from the battlefield to the boardroom.” Removable compression straps further enhance this bag’s modularity and versatility.
A Shell That Looks Down On “Regular” Dyneema
What makes the Black Magic Edition of the FAST Pack Litespeed so special is unquestionably its shell construction. From Challenge Sailcloth’s new ULTRA line, the Black Magic Edition is cut from a wildly advanced material known as ULTRA 400X. Incredibly lightweight and insanely cut, tear, and abrasion-resistant, as well as hydrophobic, and chemical and UV-resistant, ULTRA 400X starts out as already-insanely hardwearing amalgamation of high-tenacity polyester and Dyneema, though instead of being crafted from loose UHMWPE fibers laminated to a backing, Challenge’s R&D team has improved the material by taking these same UHMWPE fibers and bundling the strands and then finally weaving them into fabric. From there, the 4.65-ounce construction is bestowed with an integrated grid of CrossPly reinforcement fibers and Challenge RUV film laminate adorning the construction’s rear face, massively improving waterproofing, with this material being waterproof to 200 PSI.
Hardware Selected Without A Concern For Cost
The bag is constructed around an HDPE frame sheet. The Black Magic Edition’s ULTRA 400X shell construction has been treated to HYPALON synthetic leather reinforcements and an interior that’s fully lined in X-Pac VX-07 Ripstop. Continuing the pack’s spare-no-expense material selection are a set of shoulder straps with spacer mesh stuffed with Evazote closed-cell cross-linked ethylene copolymer foam. In terms of hardware, TAD has laced the bag up with YKK #5 and #8 reverse-coil zippers, and Web Dominators, Looploc anchor points, SR Ladderloc buckles, and Cordlocs, Ladderlocs, Tri-Glides, all from ITW GhillieTEX. There are also mil-spec metal triglides to accommodate an available transporter tail attachment.
Meticulously Made In Our Backyard
It’s not just this backpack’s design, shell construction, and other top-shelf materials that make it so special, but also its super meticulous build quality. Using extremely high standards for craftsmanship and employing super stringent quality control measures, the entire backpack is sewn in Los Angeles. This next-level build quality allows this backpack to be that much more bulletproof.
Why We Love It
Triple Aught Design’s original FAST Pack Litespeed was already a ridiculously-well-designed backpack, so it’s legitimately impressive that the company was able to improve on it in such a major way. The use of ULTRA 400X will also likely raise the bar in the bag shell construction space and set a new standard for durability, cut, abrasion, and tear, resistance, and, of course, weatherproofing. We also love that the backpack was made right here in our backyard in Los Angeles. Sure, the Black Magic Edition FAST Pack Litespeed doesn’t come cheap, but between the spare-no-expense material and hardware selection, and the American manufacturing, we’d actually argue this carry solution’s MSRP is somewhat justified.
Spec Sheet
Brand: Triple Aught Design
Model: FAST Pack Litespeed Black Magic Edition
Shell: Challenge Sailcloth ULTRA 400X
Lining: X-Pac VX-07 Ripstop
Volume: 22L
Dimensions: 10.00″ W x 20.00″ H x 6.75″ D
Internal Structure: HDPE Frame Sheet
Reinforcements: Hypalon Synthetic Rubber
Foam: Evazote Closed Cell Cross-Linked Ethylene Copolymer
Weight: 3.1LBs
Manufacturing Origin: USA
Pricing & Availability
Offered exclusively in a fully blacked-out colorway, the Triple Aught Design FAST Pack Litespeed Black Magic Edition is available for order now — albeit in limited numbers — with pricing starting from $550.
Recap
Triple Aught Design FAST Pack Litespeed Black Magic Edition
Triple Aught Design debuts its most advanced FAST Pack Litespeed backpack to date with a new variant that boasts a shell made from Challenge Sailcloth’s state-of-the-art Dyneema-based ULTRA 400X fabric.
