Pelican’s Rugged Travel Backpack Gets a Way More Capable Tactical Edition

This reissue is far more than just a camouflage colorway.

Camouflage Pelican backpack with brown straps and a top handle.

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Published January 15, 2026

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Last year, Pelican — the brand beloved for its legendarily tough hard cases — revamped its luggage collection. Of the three-part release, arguably the most novel was the brand’s Aegis sub-lineup, which sought to combine the protection of hard-sided luggage with the versatility of soft-sided offerings.

Now, the brand has revamped one of the core bags in that lineup in a few significant ways. The Pelican Aegis 25L Tactical Backpack could very well be the ultimate expression of this bag.

Camouflage Pelican tactical backpack with MOLLE webbing inside a vehicle bed. — Alongside the new multicam exterior, the bag has also gotten a full suite of MOLLE-style webbing attachment points.

“Hard” core

It’s important to note that the core bag remains wholly intact with this new edition. And that’s a very good thing, as the bag was already excellent.

Exclusive to the 25-liter size, the bag is built from versatile, durable 500D Cordura and weighs just 2.9 pounds, making it a great all-around option for travel and EDC alike. It’s also equipped with the brand’s Pelican Shield, which, per the brand, combines the “EVA-molded construction of a hard case with the versatility of a soft case.”

Camouflage Pelican tactical backpack with MOLLE webbing on a truck bed, held by a person in a green pullover. — The clamshell opening makes accessing the main compartment incredibly easy, anywhere, anytime.

The bag also features a full clamshell opening, granting easy access to its main compartment anytime, anywhere. Alongside that main compartment, it also has a top, quick-access laptop pocket.

It also has a water bottle pocket on the side, breathable air channel back panel, compression straps and more. Yet, that’s all part of the core bag. Some new additions make it even more capable.

Open Pelican tactical backpack with camouflage padded inserts held by a person wearing a dark green textured jacket. — The bag comes with a dedicated range bag and removable ModPak Insert.

Modular madness

The new additions to the Aegis 25L come in four parts. For starters, the most obvious change is the colorway. The bag now has a classic multicam exterior.

To pair with its tactical-inspired colorway, the brand has also equipped the bag with a full suite of MOLLE webbing straps. There’s a full panel on the front, webbing up and around the sides and top, and it even extends to the internal back panel.

Open camouflage Pelican tactical bag with gray interior and two smaller pouches, one camouflage and one black. — The MOLLE webbing also extends to the internal back panel.

The last two upgrades come in the form of an additional pair of modular packs included with the purchase of the main bag. There’s what the brand calls a “range bag” — typically used to house ammunition, but it could be repurposed for EDC gear, socks and underwear or whatever else you need in your adventures. And there’s a smaller dopp kit-style bag for anything else.

There’s just one caveat: this is a special edition. Only 300 examples of this bag have been made and the brand has no plans to make any more. So, if you like what you see, you’re going to want to grab one while you can.

Camouflage Pelican backpack with MOLLE webbing worn by a person in a green long-sleeve shirt and camo cap. — If the original Aegis backpack wasn’t quite capable enough for you, this one should do the trick.

Pricing and availability

The Pelican Aegis 25L Tactical Backpack is coming soon at $340. You can get it on the brand’s site or on Amazon starting January 20. As mentioned, it’s a limited edition; only 300 units have been made, and that’s it.

Pelican

Pelican Aegis 25L Tactical Backpack

$340 at Pelican

About the Author: Sean Tirman is an associate editor at Gear Patrol who specializes in EDC, cannabis and outdoor gear.

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