With the rise of clamshell opening backpacks like the 5.11 AMP72, and the fall of the awful backpacks with dozens of poorly formatted and laid out nylon compartments, some members of the preparedness and tactical community were looking for a new way to organize gear. And without the limitations of predetermined pockets, we had everything we needed for a fully customizable experience.
But what happens when you’ve got all that space, and just start ramming gear into it? You have to dig to get to what you want, or open your bag all the way on an unstable surface. Oh, and all that stuff you jammed into your bag? None of it is secured anymore, so one wrong bump, and suddenly your ferro rod is at the bottom of your bag, right next to your only pen and that ancient piece of chewing gum you never see. Oh, and your trauma shears conveniently disappear every time you need them.
Then came Grey Man Tactical, with their unique solution to backpack organization, the RMP. It’s a panel made of high density polyethylene that can mount literally any molle panel you already own, in any configuration you want. It won’t mold or mildew, and all of your gear can detach from it, so if you’re doing outdoorsy things, you can always remove your gear and let it dry if it gets wet.
Durability and Functionality
For all of the advantages of the RMP, its durability is pretty high up there, but there are some things I personally don’t like. For one, the RMP is advertised as load bearing and sag resistant, and while I have found it to be capable of load bearing very well, it always seems to sag in the middle. I think you can work around this with specific packing layouts (Putting all of your heavy items at the very bottom, for example), but who wants to fuss around with that? I prefer a set it and forget it layout, where I put my gear onto the RMP and then never have to mess with it again. They do have stiffener bars for the larger vehicle RMP’s, but nothing for the backpack size offerings. However, even with the flex in the middle, this panel is incredibly sturdy, and I can pretty much guarantee that you won’t damage it using it under most normal conditions.
The function of the RMP extends way beyond a simple molle panel though. If you need to set up a functional base camp in minutes, the RMP is the way to go. You can dump all of your gear all at once, and keep it neatly laid out and organized for use in all kinds of ways. Oh, and you don’t have to use Molle/pals webbing to hold your gear. Shock cord and packing straps are an easy alternative, and Grey Man Tactical designed a backing plate system so you can mount holsters, kydex sheaths, magazine pouches, and I’m sure there are more things you can come up with if you get creative.
Expanding the Capability of the RMP
I’ve already mentioned shock cord and packing straps as an alternative to molle webbing, but there are some other methods I’ve been implementing recently with my RMP to help me get the most functionality from it. By adding two nylon straps of decent length to the RMP, you can use the panel itself as a backpack, or secure your gear to a tree or branch to keep it off the ground (These nylon straps can also be utilized for other things later, if need be, so they are multi purpose). The second thing I would recommend is a velcro backer, which can be used to secure your RMP to pretty much anything. And the funny thing is, Grey Man Tactical already sells these, so you can just drop them into the checkout box and they’ll be ready to go.
I think the RMP is one of the most well thought out systems I’ve ever encountered. It is clear to me that the developers of this product vetted it through some of the most qualified and thoughtful people in the industry. Almost every issue I’ve had with this piece of equipment has been thought of, and resolved, before I could reach the conclusion. And here’s the thing: I’m positive there are things I haven’t thought of yet. Dozens of options and solutions for things that I won’t ever think of. That being said, I did think of one thing: ATV specific mounts. Just throwing it out there in case someone from Grey Man Tactical comes along.
Also, if you’re looking to get into RMP’s for less, July 1st is your chance to get into the Grey Man Tactical annual blemish sale!
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