Quick Answer
Choose the FlatPack X if you want a premium X-Pac shell and limited-edition colorways, and you are not planning to run a soft armor panel in the pack. Choose the FlatPack Plus if you want to add Level IIIA soft armor, or if you need the Piggyback strap setup for single-person access while wearing a plate carrier.
FlatPack Plus
What Actually Separates These Two Packs
Both packs share the same minimalist assault-pack layout: a low-profile body that sits close to your back and stays out of the way when you are moving. The real difference is in the shell and the accessory ecosystem. The FlatPack X is built with a Dimension-Polyant X-Pac laminate shell and is offered in limited-edition colorways such as MultiCam Tropic and RELV Marauder. The FlatPack Plus is the platform that accepts the FlatPack Plus Level IIIA Soft Armor panel, a lightweight, flexible panel designed for years of dependable service.
How to Decide Based on Your Loadout
Start with the heaviest thing you plan to carry. If that is a soft armor panel, the Plus is the only one of the two with a matching armor option, so the decision is effectively made for you. If your load is a hydration bladder, a med kit, or a light sustainment layer, the X gives you the upgraded shell and the limited colorways without adding armor you do not need.
Then look at how you access the pack. If you wear a plate carrier and want to reach the pack without taking it off, the FlatPack Shoulder Pads and Straps are designed for single-person access when used with a plate carrier, and they work with a FlatPack or FlatPack Plus. That accessory is not tied to one shell, so it should not be the deciding factor between the two packs.
- Armor first: if you want Level IIIA soft armor in the pack, choose the Plus.
- Shell first: if you want the X-Pac laminate shell and limited colorways, choose the X.
- Access first: if you need single-person access over a plate carrier, plan for the Piggyback straps on either pack.
- Color first: if you want MultiCam Tropic or RELV Marauder, those are FlatPack X colorways.
Where Each Pack Makes You Give Something Up
The FlatPack X gives you the premium shell and the limited-edition look, but it does not have a matching Level IIIA soft armor panel in the supplied catalog. If armor is part of your plan, you are giving that up. The FlatPack Plus gives you the armor path, but you are working with the standard FlatPack shell rather than the X-Pac laminate, and you do not get the limited-edition colorways.
The Trade-Offs at a Glance
- Armor capability: The FlatPack Plus is the platform that accepts the Level IIIA soft armor panel. The FlatPack X does not have a matching armor panel in the supplied catalog. If armor is non-negotiable, stop here and choose the Plus.
- Shell material and colorways: The FlatPack X uses a Dimension-Polyant X-Pac laminate shell and comes in limited-edition colorways such as MultiCam Tropic and RELV Marauder. The Plus uses the standard FlatPack shell. If you want the premium shell and a limited colorway, the X is the only option.
- Accessory compatibility: The Piggyback straps are designed for single-person access to a FlatPack or FlatPack+ when used with a plate carrier, so they fit either pack. Decide on armor and shell first, then add the straps to whichever pack you choose.
Key Product Facts
- FlatPack Plus Level IIIA Soft Armor: The Haley Strategic FlatPack series Soft Body Armor (Level IIIA) is a lightweight, flexible panel that provides you with years of dependable service. This is the armor option that pairs with the FlatPack Plus, and it is the main reason to choose the Plus over the X if protection is part of your loadout.
- FlatPack X - MultiCam Tropic: The FlatPack X is built on the original FlatPack legacy with premium materials, refined ergonomics, and purpose-driven upgrades, including a Dimension-Polyant X-Pac laminate shell, and is available in limited-edition colorways. The X-Pac shell and limited colorways are the concrete upgrades you get with the X, but the supplied catalog does not list a matching Level IIIA armor panel for this model.
- FlatPack Shoulder Pads and Straps: The Piggyback Straps are designed for single-person access to a FlatPack or FlatPack+ when used with a plate carrier, and are aimed at medics, police, and military. If you wear a plate carrier and need to reach your pack without help, this strap set works with either pack, so it should not be the deciding factor between the X and the Plus.
Which One Fits Your Carry
Best for
- Carriers who want Level IIIA soft armor in a minimalist pack and will choose the FlatPack Plus with the matching armor panel
- Users who want the premium X-Pac laminate shell and a limited-edition colorway such as MultiCam Tropic or RELV Marauder on the FlatPack X
- Medics, police, and military who wear a plate carrier and want single-person access using the Piggyback straps on either pack
Not for
- Anyone who needs a matching Level IIIA armor panel should not choose the FlatPack X, because the supplied catalog does not list one for that model
- Anyone who wants the X-Pac shell or limited colorways should not choose the FlatPack Plus, because those features are specific to the FlatPack X
