REVIEW: Direct Action Dragon Egg

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Dragon eggs are definitely hidden deep in the forest, in a cave. Or they lie in a nest on a cliff that no climber can scale. No, here we have a dragon egg that we have been carrying for days: the Dragon Egg backpack from Direct Action Gear has an extremely modern design and we wanted to know what it can do in practice, besides looking good. From the outside, it already looks quite dragon-like, also due to the pattern in which it is held.

When placed on the back, the dragon egg looks more like a halved dragon egg. If two were put together, there might be an egg shape. A single Dragon Egg, however, has a capacity of 25 liters and is a decent daypack for city and country.

The special appearance of the Dragon Egg is due to the material it is made of: 500D Cordura, which does not have a smooth surface, but is laser-cut. A normal MOLLE system carries sewn-on loops with which additional bags can be attached. Here, a different and innovative approach was taken: the "loops" are cut into the backpack material, giving it a "slotted" appearance. As it is also a porous backpack, a second layer of thin plastic was placed behind it to make it waterproof again. The necessary combination means that the backpack is not the lightest. On the right and left of the main surface are two rows of six sewn loops each, to which equipment can be attached with the help of shock cord, for example.

The back is also specially designed: in the two mesh strips are plastic bars that go all the way down the back. They are not flat and even, but wavy. The idea here was not to let the daypack rest fully on the wearer's back, so that air can circulate and cool. At the same time, the Dragon Egg is also rigid and stable.

From the front top, you can see three zippers on the Dragon Egg: two large compartments that encompass the entire backpack and a small pocket at the top front, which is also lined with soft velour. This protects, for example, your mobile phone, but the owner can also store a patch inside or attach a small bag. The carrying handle is held in a playful solution in braided paracord. This is usually seen in bracelets and is intended to make the braiding always detachable, providing a stable cord with which something could be repaired at any time. To the right and left of that are two D-rings for attaching things.

The main front compartment is very well organized: here, the backpack owner can store half an office or the outdoor gear they want to have on hand easily. Pens, pocket knives, radios, tissues all have their place here. An opposite mesh pocket also helps with organization.

The rear compartment is simpler, with a securing point where something can be fastened. Lots of storage space in one piece.

Directly on the back and thus well hidden from view, under the "back plate," lies the (almost) hidden third large compartment. Here, a hydration bladder or a 15-inch laptop in urban use would be well placed (we would only put both in here if we can absolutely trust the quality of the hydration bladder manufacturer).

The shoulder straps are very well padded and also have D-rings for attaching items. A strap stretches across the chest, allowing the wearer to tighten the two shoulder straps together, providing a better carrying experience, especially when the dragon egg is fully packed.

On the outside, there are two open pockets on the sides, so you don't have to store stuff inside. For example, we put the water bottle that needs to be handy in there. Nice detail solutions also with the straps, all of which have Velcro strips to keep them always rolled up and tidy.

The Direct Action Dragon Egg comes in many colors (Coyote, Ranger Green, Black, OD) and patterns (PenCott, Multicam, Polish Woodland). In the picture, Kryptek can be seen, a quite unusual camouflage coming from the United States. Kryptek includes four different patterns, with the green camouflage called "Mandrake." Like with any camouflage pattern in the world, its effectiveness depends on the background and lighting conditions. Here you can see how finely Mandrake blends in with moss and roots in the wild. The reptile-like structure is intended to remind of camouflage nets. HERE is the interview with Butch Whiting from Kryptek, who explains the camouflage pattern.

CONCLUSION: The dragon egg is a very good backpack. Innovative design meets solid workmanship quality and playful solutions. We like Kryptek Mandrake, which was another argument for choosing this pack. It is suitable for both urban tours and excursions into nature. In our opinion, the pattern plays a role, as it looks very modern and less military. Beyond that: a quality backpack that the owner will enjoy for a long time. The only small "drawback" in our opinion is the laser-cut MOLLE solution, which looks cool but requires a second layer of material. This, along with the heavy-duty back, brings the Dragon Egg to 1.6 kilos when empty. It could be lighter, but honestly: it doesn't have to be.

You can get the Direct Action Dragon Egg at CAMOSTORE in various colors starting at 129.90 euros.