There are times when collaborations between companies or manufacturers are disasters (or even just unsuccessful). Anyone remember the short-lived Colt Z40 semi-automatic pistol? It was one of several failed Colt attempts to enter the high-capacity pistol market in 1998. The Z40 was a .40-caliber steel pistol that held 12 rounds. Manufactured by CZ for Colt (so Colt wouldn’t have to continue paying R&D costs for a pistol of their very own), it was a CZ pistol design with the “Colt” name stamped on it. It was a decent enough pistol in terms of function, but anyone who was going to purchase a Colt wanted, well, a Colt. The collaboration between TUFF Products and Sentinel Concepts is nothing like the Colt/CZ arrangement. This partnership is proving itself with long-term product design success.
The latest collaboration is the A.R.B. Range Bag. Designed by noted trainer Steve Fisher of Sentinel Concepts to be the ultimate bag for range support gear, it is one very well-thought-out design.
While many shooters’ bags are designed to tote handguns as well as some range supplies, the A.R.B. is a true “range bag” (as I define it, anyway) — that is, the A.R.B. is designed to carry all the support supplies one needs to have a successful and fun day at the range. It is a medium- to large-sized (8 inches wide by 16 inches long by 7.5 inches deep) bag designed to carry ammo, eye and ear protection, spare magazines, tools, cleaning supplies, smaller targets, pens and notebooks, spare parts and batteries, and even a small first-aid kit. There is a lot to like about it.
My A.R.B. sample came in a gray/OD green color, which is nice because I’m a bit tired of tactical black for everything shooting related. A prominent feature of the A.R.B. — one that is quite unique — is that the color of the interior of the “inner bag” (more about that in a moment) is lighter than the exterior, which makes finding dark-colored things inside easier. This is a big plus as I get older and find my eyes needing a tactical flashlight to assist in finding things in dim conditions.
The A.R.B. is actually two bags in one, as there is a separate “inner bag” as I mentioned earlier. The inner bag is removable in case you want to travel with the bag empty and folded flat. When you get the A.R.B., it looks fully assembled, and if you want to use it without fixing the inner bag in place, you can do that. However, I think most folks will want to fix the inner bag in place by removing the Velcro pile covers on the sides of the bag that keep the hook section from attaching to the pile interior of the outer bag. This way, you won’t inadvertently drop stuff down between the inner bag and outer bag. Hold on to the protective strips in case you want to remove the interior bag for any reason. Full directions are on the TUFF website. By the way, don’t worry. If I can put the A.R.B. together, anyone can.
The construction of the A.R.B. is typical TUFF — which is a good thing: double-layered 500D Cordura Nylon. There are two exterior elastic side pouches that measure 5 by 7.5 inches each. I could see these as good places to stash a roll of masking tape, a staple gun or a measuring tape.
There is a total of eight exterior 30-round AR-15 mag pouches, placed four per side. While there are two zippered and padded interior weapon pockets measuring 7 inches by 14 inches with dual zippers, I will be putting the various tools/tool kits that I bring along for a range session in those much-needed areas to keep them out of the way. The entire central bay will be used for ammo.
Also included are two pistol magazine/tool pockets that can be attached at the ends of the bag’s interior via Velcro backing (where would the shooting/tactical world be without that stuff?). Each one holds up to five individual standard-sized magazines or similar-sized tools.
The bottom of the interior bag is fully padded, which is good if you carry fragile things, such as binoculars or a small spotting scope, to the range on a regular basis. A polymer bottom stiffener plate is included (which goes between the inner bag and the outer bag) that also provides additional protection to the interior contents in case the bag is dropped.
There is a no-slip adjustable shoulder strap included that can be mounted on either side of the bag or diagonally across the bag from side to side for better balance while carrying. Opening of the central section of the bag is accomplished by a dual zipper setup that has a protective flap to “Velcro” in place once the zippers are closed. The nylon carry handles on the sides can be pulled together and “locked” in place with a Velcro flap.
If you are not an AR-15 shooter, or a shooter of a rifle with similar-type detachable magazines, the new TUFF Products/Sentinel Concepts A.R.B. may not be for you, as the exterior pockets will go to waste. But if you want a well-designed range bag that is sure to give you a lifetime of service, consider the TUFF Products/Sentinel Concepts A.R.B. The price is $149.99. For more information on the entire TUFF lineup, visit www.tuffproducts.com.
