Radio Adventures in Rugged Style

Radio Adventures in Rugged Style: My Favorite Red Oxx Field Packs

by Thomas Witherspoon, K4SWL

As a guy who regularly hauls radios into the great outdoors—through forests, up summits, and across borders—I’ve put a lot of gear bags to the test. Over the years, one brand has consistently earned a front-row seat in both my shack and my vehicle: Red Oxx.

I’m a licensed amateur radio operator who loves taking my gear into remote summits, state and national parks, islands, and even on international travels. My radio kits have to be compact, self-contained, and dependable—and my packs need to be even more so. I believe in buying gear that won’t fail in the field and will last a lifetime. In addition, my packs must protect what can often be pricey radio gear. Red Oxx gear fits the bill perfectly.

When I invest in a Red Oxx pack, I know I’m not just buying for myself—I’m buying something that will be passed on to my kids. There’s no planned obsolescence here. In fact, quite the opposite.

Their bags aren’t just built tough—they’re thoughtfully designed, backed by real-world experience, and perfect for organizing all the strange but vital odds and ends that go with portable radio. Below, I’ll walk through my favorite Red Oxx packs and how I use them in the field.

Micro Manager – The EDC Powerhouse

This was my first real dive into Red Oxx territory—and it set a high bar. The Micro Manager is compact, incredibly durable, and features a practical internal layout that seems tailor-made for QRP radio gear. The floor is padded, which is brilliant when hauling around pricey gear that needs extra protection—whether tossed in a vehicle, overhead bin, or on a picnic table. I also appreciate the padded tablet pouch and internal organization for my logging supplies (Rite in the Rain pads, pencils, etc.).

It’s my go-to bag for everyday carry and light field operations. I’ve packed everything from my Elecraft KX2 and KX3 kits to shortwave portables in this bag, and it still looks new despite years of hard use. Indeed, I love this design so much, I have three of them—two for radio gear and one for my wife’s traveling art supplies!

Gator – My Utility EDC

 

I only recently added the Gator to my pack lineup, and I’m impressed. It’s very similar in structure to the Micro Manager—just wider and boxier. That extra width makes it ideal for housing larger 100-watt field radios like my Elecraft K2 or for organizing all the supporting cast of cables, accessories, batteries, chargers, and antennas on longer road trips.

If I’m heading out for a multi-week car adventure, chances are the Gator is coming with me—and its exterior pockets are genius for stashing quick-access items like adapters or snacks. I love the easy-to-close pocket snaps!

Hound EDC Pack – A Fully Contained QRP Field Kit

The Hound hits a sweet spot between portability and utility. It’s the perfect size to hold a fully self-sufficient QRP field kit—radio, battery, antenna, logbook, key, and more—built around smaller rigs like the QRP Labs QMX/QCX, Mountain Toppers, CFT1, etc. This is the pack I featured in my “The Art of the Self-Sufficient QRP Field Kit” article for the Parks On The Air Book from the ARRL.

What I appreciate most is the Hound’s narrow profile. It slips easily into the car, truck, or commuter flight!. If the Hound is packed, I’m ready to hit the trail or the park. It’s grab-and-go radio at its best.

Booty Boss - Waist-Carried, Mountain-Top Ready

This one might surprise you—but the Booty Boss is currently housing my complete Mountain Topper kit, including the radio, a custom clipboard kneeboard, antenna, key, logbook, pencil, cable assembly, throw line, battery, and earphones. It’s compact, comfortable, and easy to carry on quick activations or when I want to go super light.

It’s also discreet, which can be a bonus when activating from busy and/or urban locations. Because it’s so compact, I only use it with my smallest QRP radios and typically reserve it for those shorter summit hikes when I don’t need to carry as much extra gear.

Lil Roy - The Mighty Modular

The Lil Roy is simple, flexible, and built to last (have you seen Red Oxx’s Maker video for the Lil Roy?). I’ve used it for a wide range of gear setups, and it adapts beautifully. Whether I’m loading it with portable receivers, SDRs, antenna accessories, or chargers, it just works.

For the price, it’s hard to beat—especially knowing it carries the same lifetime guarantee and bomber construction as all Red Oxx gear.

In Closing

I’m constantly field-testing gear, and my Red Oxx bags have never let me down. Whether it’s a quick POTA activation in the Blue Ridge Mountains or a multi-week journey to Canada, I always have at least one (and usually two or three) of these bags with me.

If you’re a field radio operator, traveler, or just someone who values purpose-built gear that lasts a lifetime, Red Oxx is 100% worth your attention.

Thank you, Red Oxx, for building bags that stand up to everything the field throws at us!

— Thomas Witherspoon (K4SWL), QRPer.com & the SWLing Post