Best GoRuck Backpacks (2025): Rucking, Hiking, and Every Day Carry Leave a comment
The GoRuck GR1 (7/10, WIRED Assessment) is the pack that launched the corporate, and nonetheless the most effective and most versatile of the GoRuck lineup. The GR1 is available in 2 sizes: 21L and 26L, I’ve each, but when I needed to decide just one, it will be the 21L. That is the right dimension for rucking, on a regular basis carry, and weekend journeys for those who pack gentle. I’ve even lived out of the 21L bag (with a shoulder bag for my digital camera gear) throughout every week lengthy journey. It was a squeeze, but it surely labored. The 21L GR1 is deceptively giant and all the time appears to swallow extra gear than I believe it may well.
My favourite factor in regards to the GR1 is its versatility. I’ve used this pack for airplane journey (as a carry-on), rucking, climbing, hauling digital camera gear, and extra. I even strapped it to the again rack of my bike for an in a single day bikepacking journey. The one caveat I’ve is that for those who use it for rucking (or climbing, or no matter you wish to name it) you’ll sweat and that sweat will soak into the pack. Finally it is going to get pungent. That is straightforward to repair by washing with cleaning soap and water after which hanging it to air dry (by no means put the bag in a washer or dryer), but it surely does take some time. Remember to plan forward for those who’ve been rucking rather a lot and don’t desire stares on the airport.
The GR1 consists of three compartments. Towards your again there’s a well-padded, inflexible laptop computer compartment (or ruck plate holder if you’re rucking). On the entrance outdoors of the pack there’s an angled zipper pocket for continuously accessed objects. This does get tight for those who’ve actually packed out the inside, but it surely’s helpful for pockets and passport and the like. The within is one large compartment accessed by a U-shaped zipper in order that the “lid” folds utterly out of the way in which and you may load it out like a suitcase.
Internally there are three rows of MOLLE (Modular Light-weight Load Carrying Tools) webbing on the high for including pockets and organizers, together with 3 inside pockets: a big elastic pocket on the again, and a zippered mesh pocket and a small strong pocket on the lid. The skin of the again is fabricated from very heavy obligation 1000D cordura. The again panel and shoulder straps are 210D cordura. The lighter-weight again cloth is simpler on much less sturdy (however superior) materials like merino wool. There’s 3 rows of MOLLE webbing on the surface entrance and sides. This lets you strap on further compartments and organizers for those who like (I maintain a Vanquest water bottle holder, which inserts a Nalgene, on the facet of mine. See under for extra organizers and equipment). It’s also possible to use that facet MOLLE to connect a padded hip belt. The highest deal with will not be solely sturdy, however comfy sufficient to hold the GR1 for fairly a methods. Additionally, you possibly can pull out the plastic framesheet behind the pack if you’d like the again to be much less stiff, however I’ve by no means felt the necessity to do that.
In the event you’re over 6 ft tall, or simply want extra room in your pack, the 26L model can also be an ideal pack, and does have a really good further zippered pocket on the high of the bag the place you possibly can stash your pockets, keys, and different small objects.
