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In the year of our lord 2025, to see another backpack review is somewhat unexciting. More pockets, less pockets, marginal material improvements, fancy colors, minor frame style tweaks, it’s an endless series of copy/paste from years prior, or fads that never really catch on. One would think that something as figured out as the humble backpack had reached its peak. Even more so when they’re designed to carry a rifle due to the inherent form factor of incorporating a scabbard. However, one company found a way to buck the trends and produce something that I had initially written off until I strapped my rifle in, threw it on my back, and started putting in the miles.
About Skili Gear
Skili Gear was founded by Ernie Robinson, an automotive industry professional and avid outdoorsman after seeing the first field-made pack that a friend of his — a Navy SEAL sniper and team leader — stitched together by hand in the desert to solve real-world problems he was having with traditional packs. After four years of prototypes, incremental improvements, and testing in real-world operations, Ernie’s efforts culminated in the decision to launch Skili Gear at SHOT Show 2024.
Currently, they offer two models: the Phantom and Ghost. The main difference between the two is overall size. The Ghost is the larger of the two at 30 liters of zippered storage space, and more padding around the hip straps and lumbar for better comfort and control of heavier loads. The Phantom is roughly 15 liters of zippered storage, omits the lumbar support of the larger model, and weighs in at 3.5 pounds empty. The larger Ghost adds space and comfort at the expense of weight and comes in at 4.5 pounds empty. That’s half the weight of the pack I had been using, which is at slightly over 9 pounds empty. When putting in miles, weight on your shoulders matters.
Unpacking the Packs
Both packs resemble what I would describe as a cross between a drag bag and backpack, but simplified. Opening the Skili Gear pack is as simple as unclipping a central cinch strap and running a single large zipper to expose what they describe as an eight-layer Tegris attachment panel, supported internally by a removable 3/8-inch aluminum frame. This Tegris panel is made from a woven thermoplastic and features slots comparable to a MOLLE panel. This provides an endless number of combinations for the two provided rifle straps and any other accessories you can thread through the slots in the panel. The basic strap configuration includes two, coated steel G-clips, however different clip styles are available depending on your needs.
Opposite the Tegris panel is a zippered compartment lined with hook-and-loop material for any number of optional pouches for magazines, a Kestrel, or various sizes of additional organizational bags that are easily organized to each user’s requirements and removable when needed. Once set up, strapping your rifle to the pack and closing it up is a simple affair if you’re at all familiar with basic clips and zippers, and if conditions dictate a hasty exit, you can simply strap your rifle in, fold the pack closed, grab the two handles on the right side and go. Once the pack is closed, two main front pockets are obvious, roomy, and incorporate more loop liner for additional pouches, dividers, or just a soft environment to protect things like binocular optics. The lower pocket has an external MOLLE panel sewn to it, which I used to attach an IFAK so it’s as obvious and accessible as possible to everyone when I’m out instructing. On the left exterior of the pack is a water bottle sleeve. However, thanks to the two pack cinch straps located above it and the pack’s rugged material selection, this sleeve can easily be used to carry a tripod, and I found that I often do. Both pack models include provisions for CamelBak-style hydration bladders, so there’s no anxiety about using water space for tripod carrying.
At first glance, the shoulder straps appear to be thin and under-padded. However, under load and on the trail, they’re hardly noticeable, especially when the hip strap is used to take some of the weight thanks to their width and clever padding placement. They are shaped in such a way that they don’t interfere with any bino harness I’ve managed to get ahold of. The pack is constructed of 500D Cordura (laminated where necessary) and heavy-duty Nylon with materials like closed-cell foam providing padding and the aforementioned eight-layer Tegris panel. Skili Gear maintains Berry compliance in their products, which dictates that the Department of Defense and Department of Homeland Security utilize materials sourced and constructed domestically, bringing a truth to the words “Made in USA” — unfortunately, a rare claim in this day and age.
My Instructor Bag
At my Modern Field Rifleman event — a 2-mile hike meets long-range shooting class held in the rolling hills of Los Olivos, California — I opted for the larger Ghost model. Actual use of the pack during the class proved it to be versatile, with myself and multiple students sporting both models across several different rifle platforms. This included everything from 14.5-inch AR-15’s to heavier 24-inch AR-10s, and my 7SAW bolt gun.
Coming from a larger scabbard-style backpack to the Skili Gear made me reevaluate some gear choices. This process highlighted how much extra I had been carrying that I had never used or was redundant. As an instructor, I never felt like I was missing something I couldn’t fit into this pack. I was grateful for the reduced bulk while moving through the brush and between shooting positions. Rifle deployment was quick and simple due to the reduced overall bulk of the pack. At times, the pack offered a simple solution to use as a shooting bag off tree limbs or rocks. The internal aluminum frame retained its usefulness when stood vertically as a rear rifle support as well.
Final Thoughts
According to Skili Gear, their packs are currently in the hands of multiple Tier-1 Special Operations forces, both domestic and foreign. I know of two SWAT snipers who have been using the Phantom pack exclusively as part of their rapid-deployment kit, and they sing high praise of its usefulness. It’s currently offered in five different color patterns with short runs of additional patterns to come (I think it looks especially sharp in M81). Costs for each pack before options are $459 for the Phantom and $599 for the Ghost.
After using this pack the last couple Modern Field Rifleman classes, I can confidently say that unless for some reason I need the expanded internal storage space of the heavier pack I had been using, that this will be my field shooting pack moving forward. Its minimalist approach makes moving through the environment a joy, while maintaining both solid control of my rifle and rapid deployment when needed. Ernie has alluded that there are new products on the horizon for Skili Gear that will continue to challenge traditional form factors and utilize modern materials. I’m excited to see them grow and evolve.
About the Author
Ryan Burns has been a shooter his whole life, competing in PRS, USPSA, and Multigun. Taking up firearms instruction, his goal is to make smarter, more proficient shooters and break the mold on firearms instruction techniques. Find out more details about his training events at southcoastlonggunner.com, and follow him on social media: @southcoast_longgunner.
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