Reflectzyn

The time has come for me to separate the bag from my shoulder and let you know just what I think about the Astro Gaming Mission Bag.  The Mission Bag is featured in Astro’s “Transport Series,” and is built specifically for the traveling, competitive gamers.

Not unlike the Astro Scout Backpack, the Mission Bag is specifically marketed towards the gamers of the world.

ASTRO Transport Series gear bags are built for the seasoned pro’s tournament schedule, so the four-versus-four down the street or weekend vacation is no problem.

The design, durability, and capacity were structured in a manner that is best suited for carrying around the gaming console, a few controllers, and some of my clothing apparel.  As with any product review, specifically in the luggage department, I was checking the following:

• Design
• Durability
• Capacity

Those interested in the review continue reading below.

Video Review

Design (Exterior & Interior)

As seen with other Gear Bags in the Astro lineup, the Mission Bag features a base black design, with a “ballistic nylon, EVA-injected reinforced frame,” and Astro branding in a select few areas.  Like the other bags in Astro’s lineup, I would love to see additional color options.  Black is a safe bet, but I am all about variety.

As far as carry options go, there are two small carrying straps and one larger over-the-shoulder strap.  Some carrying straps have a velcro connector, however that is not the case with the Mission Bag.  You will have to hold both straps with this one. And while the velcro is not a necessity and does not really take anything away from the carrying experience; it is an odd choice not to have it available (considering there is velcro on the interior).  The shoulder strap with my edition (MLG Mission Bag) has Major League Gaming branding on the band with additional blue and red coloring on the strap.

There are four smaller zipper compartments on the exterior of the bag.  The larger side compartment has an extra zip pouch for smaller accessories or toiletries.  The two smaller compartments have the headphone jack zipper add-on and appear to be identical in size.  I found the smaller pockets useful for additional wire cables and chargers.  The top pouch has a very small zipper and compartment for glasses, similar to the one found on the Astro Scout Backpack.

The interior of the bag, minus the Astro-themed detailing, is straightforward and simplistic. There are only two pockets lining the upper interior opening and along the bottom there is a velco strap that can hold larger wires and cables in place while on the move — an odd placement to say the least.  Despite the main compartment’s simplicity, there was one extra goodie waiting inside.  The Mission Bag actually houses another, smaller laptop carry case.  I was pleasantly surprised to see the extra bag and made use of it during my test period.

Durability

The Mission Bag is definitely built like a tank. The bag is reinforced very well in all of the right places which is important with any carrying bag that is lugging around precious, electronic cargo.  What I did find is that the nylon material does not do so well against your skin if you have on shorts, using the two carrying straps.  I would recommend to use the shoulder strap as much as possible to avoid chaffing.

Some of the larger bags I have used in the past have always had issues with the buckles breaking that hold the shoulder strap in place.  From what I have experienced thus far, the Mission Bag’s buckles are top notch and I have not had the same troubles.   There has been no wear and tear on the bag and it has traveled to one major gaming tournament and all over Terre Haute, Indiana.

I also ran the heavy duty zippers, located on the main compartment, through my 500 zip test and they held up well.  Should I experience any issues with pieces falling apart, I will update this section.

Capacity

The Mission Bag has 3200 cubic inches of housing space and is 25″ long along the bottom of the bag, 12″ wide and 13″ tall.  There are seven total compartments, including the large interior area, two small pockets on the inside, and four compartments on the exterior of the bag.  Astro also throws in the extra laptop bag which can store a 17″ laptop.

I loaded this bag up with 80-pound (yeah 80 pounds) weights for a brief period during my two week test just to see how well it would hold up along the buckles.  As previously stated, they held up exceptionally well even under the added weight stress.  For the gamer’s out there, I was able to fit:

• Two Xbox 360s
• Two Astro A40 Headsets
• Two Controllers
• Two Games
• GUNNAR Optiks
• Chargers & Additional Wiring

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Excellent Price Point at $79.95
• Great for mobile gamers
• Great Build Quality
• Protects Cargo
• Additional Laptop Bag

Cons

• Small hand straps do not include velcro or fastening mechanism
• Limited number of interior compartments
• Limited color options

End of the Day

Astro’s Mission Bag and MLG Mission Bag fill a nice niche  for the traveling, competitive gamers out there.  The Mission bag is well structured and designed first and foremost with gamers in mind.  Fans of the Astro brand have a legitimate reason to go out and purchase a gaming bag that carries their electronic hardware.

If you plan on traveling quite a bit and taking your gaming or tech gear around with you, the Astro Gaming Mission Bag may be right for you.  The solid price point combined with Astro’s attention to detail and build quality make this a bag worthy of your shoulder.  It is available on the Astro Gaming online store.

A Second Opinion

by Kerrington “Seventeen” Smith

I was quite honestly blown away by Astro’s Mission Bag. Prior to traveling to DC, I had a choice of either taking the old suitcase or the bag, and there was no questioning my decision — I took the latter. Here are a few major pluses that I enjoyed while using the bag:

Comfort

Traditionally, I’ve always used a suitcase to pack for tournaments.  As most of you know, suitcase grips are usually uncomfortable, thus most people use the wheels when lugging around their suitcases. But, if the wheels get messed up, then the whole experience is maddeningly annoying. With the Mission Bag, there are two grips as well as an over-the-shoulder option for carrying the bag. Much to my delight, and unlike a suitcase, the grips and shoulder latch were extremely comfortable! It may seem like a miniscule issue to some, however I know there are others out there like me. Major props to Astro for hitting that nail on the head.

Spaciousness | Usability

I’ll use a simple illustration for this: I often sit on my suitcase and struggle to get the zipper to contain those last few straggling items, whether they be toiletries, shoes, equipment, or what have you. The Mission Bag fit everything with room to spare — not including the toiletries. Ah, yes, I conveniently popped those into the front zipper compartment.

Overall

I am extremely pleased with Astro’s Mission Bag, and also slightly upset that I had to give the bag back to my brother. The bottom line is this, if you’re looking for a bag that will take care of all your tournament needs and then some, Astro’s Mission Bag will get the job done.

Thank you, Astro, for giving us the opportunity to experience the Mission’s greatness.

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