REVIEW: CZ 4M FOP 35 Pack

At IWA 2018, Rob stopped by the CZ booth and was drawn to their tactical equipment, specifically the backpacks. He was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the products and the details on the backpacks. CZ then provided him with the CZ 4M FOP 35 Pack for field testing.

"As a member of a special unit of the Dutch Police, I took this backpack on our missions and also use it as my personal EDC bag," Rob reports. After field testing, here is his SPARTANAT review of the CZ backpack.

About the Manufacturer

4M SYSTEMS is a sister company of Česká Zbrojovka, known for their pistols. 4M Systems develops, produces, and distributes tactical equipment for military, police, customs, corrections, border protection, etc. The company was founded in 2015 with the aim of providing professionals in defense and security with the best possible service and ideal products. Behind the company are former members of Czech Army and Police Special Forces with years of experience.

About this Backpack

The FOP 35 Pack is designed as a medium-sized backpack for all types of missions. The volume is 35 liters, as the name suggests, with an empty weight of 2.0 kilos.

The backpack has a rectangular shape to effectively utilize space - especially in (armored) vehicles. Only Mil-Spec materials like Cordura 500d and YKK zippers were used in its production.

The CZ 4M FOP 35 carrying system is designed for heavy loads and is modular. This means the standard shoulder straps can be replaced with lighter, less padded straps for use with a plate carrier. The entire carrying system can also be replaced with that of the larger 60-liter expedition backpack, making it extremely comfortable to carry even heavier loads.

An innovative solution allows for adjustment of the shoulder straps and the hip belt to the wearer's body length. The hip belt can also be quickly detached from the backpack in case of emergency.

The hip belt can also be used separately as a War Belt. Here is the classic fastening system. The backpack has two main compartments. The larger one can be fully opened thanks to the "Clamshell" construction. This main compartment is equipped with straps on one side and two large zippered pockets on the other. Two adjustable straps can be used to secure heavy items in this compartment.

The second compartment features two zippered pockets and Velcro for attaching pockets. With a small handle, the compartment can be quickly opened, very efficient for carrying a hidden pistol, for example.

There is a flat front compartment on the backpack secured with a zipper.

At the bottom, there is another small compartment where the included rain cover can be stored. Always useful for a rainy day...

The backpack also features four handles, one on each side, at the bottom, and at the top between the shoulder straps.

There is also a quick-release system on the shoulder straps. Simply pull the small black tab and the strap is open. Also note the Velcro-attached handle.

SPARTANAT is the online magazine for Military News, Tactical Life, Gear & Reviews.
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