Let’s talk about the best backpacks (rucksacks) for rucking.
We’ll highlight the best products that look good, are functional, and tough as nails.
As an example – here’s the GORUCK GR1 backpack. It is purpose designed for rucking.
And by that, we mean rucking for fitness purposes. You might have seen the GORUCK rucksack in use at the first annual Rogue Invitational CrossFit sanctioned event.
Here’s the rucksacks we’ll cover:
We’ll also highlight some great rucking accessories that help you get the most out of your gear.
When choosing the best backpack for rucking – you need to consider a few things:
- Function
- Form
- Durability
- Price
Read on to find out why we think the GR1 is the best choice for rucking – and for everyday use.
Essential features for the best rucking backpacks
Also, there are some key features in common with the best rucking backpacks. You should look for these items:
- Zippers – Nothing makes a backpack worthless quicker than a blown-out zipper. Look for high-quality zippers (such as YKK) whenever possible. Bonus points if the zipper pulls (the tab you grab to pull the zipper) is a “silent pull”. This means they won’t jangle, clink, or rattle and make noise as you are moving about.
- Ruck plate (weight plate) compartment – A specialized ruck plate compartment will help ensure the ruck load stays stable, comfortable, and in the correct position – high on your back.
- Toughness – If you are taking part in a GORUCK challenge, there’s a very high probability you’ll be using your ruck as a PT implement – squats, presses, holds, drags, carries, swings, and more. A cheap backpack is not going to survive this sort of treatment.
- Laptop compartment – For a versatile EDC (Every Day Carry) ruck – look for a laptop compartment. Even better if it’s fully padded, including on the bottom where damage from an accidental drop is likely to occur.
- Velcro patch area – If you are going to get into rucking – you’re gonna want to put some patches on – whether showing some style, making a personal statement or showing off a major achievement – patches have an important role in rucking.
- Rain proof or some degree of water resistance – If your backpack can’t keep your gear dry in a sudden downpour what good is it? Doubly important if you are carrying a laptop or other expensive electronics. Sure you can double wrap everything in plastic – but that gets old quick – and the one time you don’t do that, it’ll be sure to rain.
- Wide shoulder straps or padded shoulder straps – Skinny little shoulder straps are going to dig in too much – it’s simply physics – you want the load distributed over the largest surface area for maximum comfort. Go with a model that was wide shoulder straps and padded shoulder straps.
- Sternum Strap or Chest Strap – a chest strap is recommended where possible. It can be had as an add-on for many packs. It helps you vary the load on your musculature, as well as secure the pack to your body better.
- Hip Belt or Waist Strap – A hip belt can be used to put some of the load on the large muscles of the hips – this will help stave off upper body fatigue and will let you ruck longer. This is recommended for very heavy loads (50 pounds+), or for long ruck marches. A hip belt (also called a waist strap) is not a necessity. Although, some ruckers report that a hip belt can help keep pack movement to a minimum if you have to do bear crawls or burpees as the PT component of your ruck event.
- Size – Backpacks and rucksacks are rated according to capacity (volume) in liters. For example, you’ll hear references to 21L, 26L, 30L, etc. The bigger the “L” the more it will fit. But there are other considerations as well. Is it a “lay flat” rucksack? These are easier to pack efficiently. Are there special pockets or compartments for laptops, electronics, weight plates, etc? All of these can make the difference between an easier-to-use rucksack. We’ll highlight some common accessories that can help you get the most out of your ruck below.
Let’s look at some options and rate them according to each category.
GORUCK GR1
We’re going to start with our recommended choice for nearly everyone.
GORUCK designs and builds gear specifically for rucking – and their GORUCK GR1 is a top notch piece of equipment.
Built to last, and made from quality materials – it’s a practical piece of equipment that is made for real world use.
Let’s review the features.
- Function – This is a real backpack, made for real-world use. Not only that but it’s designed well and gets rave reviews from those who buy it. Features include: Separate (and super-tough) laptop compartment, opens flat for easy packing, rainproof, and has a hydration port.
One of the most important features of the GORUCK gear – it’s got MOLLE. MOLLE is rows of webbing – heavy-duty nylon stitched onto the vest/pack to allow for attachments. This allows endless versatility for securing items and adding attachments. There are 3 rows of external MOLLE, easily seen in these pictures, but there are also 3 rows of internal MOLLE – at the “top” of the bag.
GORUCK bags have the most comfortable straps around. The comfort has to be felt to be believed. The straps are wide – which helps distribute the load and padded. This is one area where GORUCK stands out amongst any competitors – whether on a fitness ruck or international travel having comfortable straps helps lighten a heavy load.
It’s also compatible with GORUCK ruck plates, which are compact weights perfect for ruck load. Lastly, this backpack was designed specifically for rucking. The right model will keep the weight high on your back.
- Form – It’s available in two sizes – 21L and 26L. The 21L is the recommended model for nearly anyone, but if you are 6 foot plus in height – you can get more space with the 26L. By the way, the L is for “liters” – meaning capacity.
Will the GORUCK GR1 fit under an airline seat? Yes – it is “personal item” sized – even the 26L model. The GR2 described below is “carry on” size.
It’s also available in all black with no logos – which is required by the US military for personnel to use non-government issued backpacks that don’t match the camouflage uniform in use. There are many other colors and styles available as well. It’s got an easy-access, zippered slant pocket – which is the perfect place to stash car keys or other small items that you might need frequently.
- Durability – GORUCK claims to overbuild their gear and it’s got a lifetime warranty (aka the SCARS warranty) to back that up. SCARS covers a lot – including worn out zippers. For items that aren’t covered (such as outright abuse) they’ll fix things for a reasonable fee.
It’s a heavy duty rucking backpack, it’s that simple. Made from 1000D Cordura, which has a good strength/weight ratio and it’s resistant to abrasion, cuts, and wear. Please note – 1000D Cordura is tough – and it’s a bit abrasive compared to other materials such as 1050D Ballistic Nylon.
- Price – Check the GORUCK website for current prices.
Need a backpack for business or personal travel (especially with a computer) – and you want to reap the fitness benefits of rucking? This is the piece of gear for you.
Is this too expensive? Not in our opinion – it’s dual-purpose gear that will last a lifetime and it has features you can’t find in cheaper backpacks. About the time you’re on your 3rd cheap backpack you may wish you’d bought the GR1.
Here’s the best video overview of the GR1, right from the source, GORUCK:
Lastly, if we’re going to lug this thing everywhere – let’s make it look good. The GR1 comes in a variety of styles – from business commuter to combat-ready – and has a cool velcro patch area – slap a sweet looking GORUCK patch on there if you’re at a loss for any other ideas, or check out our article on where to buy morale patches.
One thing we like about the GORUCK packs – they have several color options (Black, Wolf Grey, Steel, Java, Navy Blue, and more) that have a very “civilian” look. Great for when you want to remain covert, or when you need a dual purpose pack for both fitness and business.
Many people actually consider the black GR1 as the least “tactical” looking option – with the black GR1 the MOLLE (which is also black) blends right in – you can barely see it.
The Wolf Grey is another great color that looks very civilian.
And we think that’s another reason the GORUCK GR1 is the best EDC backpack.
Please note that some of these patterns and color combinations are limited runs – which means once they are gone, they might be gone forever. The stock that GORUCK has in each particular color also varies over time.
Click through on the image below to see what they have in stock now.
The only upgrade we recommend right out of the gate is the Sternum Strap. It attaches to the MOLLE using clasps.
Almost any MOLLE compatible chest strap will work. The Fjallraven Chest Strap (Buy on Amazon) has some neat features – like a built-in whistle and reflective logo (for safety).
We don’t recommend the Hip Belt for the average rucker – but you can always add it later – because it definitely has some uses.
As explained previously, it helps put some load on your hips (and off your back), but it also helps minimize bag movement.
The Hip Belt can help keep the pack in place if you have to do any dynamic PT movements – such as bear crawls and burpees.
The good news is that the GORUCK hip belt is fastened via the MOLLE webbing – so you can remove it when you don’t want it on.
Shown below is the GORUCK Padded Hip Belt in action.
The GR1 is a nice trade-off between capacity and bulk – but it is only available in 21 Liter and 26 Liter sizes.
If you need more space, check out the GR2 (available in 34L or 40L.)
And if you need even more room than that – check out the GORUCK GR3.
This bag offers 45L of capacity – and a lot of the same great features and toughness as the smaller bags.
It’s like having an ultra-tough suitcase that you can wear on your back.
Let’s look at some other options.
Generally speaking, hiking backpacks (such as those from Mystery Ranch and others) aren’t the best option for rucking. Why? because they rely extensively on a hip belt to put the majority of the load on your hips. Much of the benefit of rucking is had from including the upper body in the action – and that means keeping the load high on the back, and off the hips. For very long ruck marches, a hip belt (and a sternum strap) can be a useful addition to vary loads over different musculature over time, but for short rucks you’re going to miss out on upper body training benefits if you rely on one too much.
Hiking backpacks are also pretty large and specialized – and not practical for other normal travel or commute uses.
What’s a frame sheet and do I need one?
A frame sheet will help make your ruck stronger. It allows for a higher-up weight placement when rucking – keeping the weight up high helps prevent your shoulders from being pulled backward. Overall this will reduce fatigue and help you go farther.
It’s a standard feature of every GORUCK GR1 backpack – another reason why these backpacks are the best for rucking.
GORUCK frequently issues discount or coupon codes and has special sales, such as Christmas in July (XIJ) or Black Friday.
But, they also have their Earned Service Discount which is a ongoing discount of 25% off your total order of gear and events for :
- Military (Active Duty, Active Reserve, National Guard)
- Veterans
- Police – including Air Marshals, Fish and Wildlife officers, and much more
- Firefighters and EMTs
- Government employees
- Students – College, University, etc.
1000D Cordura is Tough – But it Doesn’t Breathe
Here’s one thing we picked up on in our extensive testing.
That 1000D Cordura is very tough and abrasion resistant – but because it is so densely stitched, it doesn’t breathe well.
Here’s a 15L Bullet after a 6-mile ruck march. The back panel is soaked with sweat.
(This is not an outlier, this is pretty common.)
Having said that, this was August in Florida, and I was sweating all over when I was done.
The 1000D makes the backpack tough and rain resistant, but the tradeoff is that it doesn’t breathe.
GORUCK GR1 Women’s
GORUCK now offers a women’s version of their GR1 rucksack.
This has all the great features of the GR1 – External and internal MOLLE, hydration port, tough laptop storage, and a plate pocket.
What’s different?
The straps are curved for a more comfortable fit.
It’s available only in 21L size – to accommodate the smaller frame.
And lastly, it’s made from 500D Cordura.
500D is plenty tough – but will cause less abrasion and wear and tear on delicate clothing.
The Rucker
The Rucker is GORUCK’s simpler rucksack made specifically for rucking and fitness.
There’s no laptop compartment, false bottom, or internal MOLLE, so it’s a bit cheaper than the GR1.
Shown here is the Rucker in Hunter Green color – a good-looking and versatile color.
It’s also got thicker padding on the straps and works best with the Expert ruck plates – which are not as long as the regular plates. They’ll stay nice and high on your back – as they should.
The Rucker does NOT have the rows of internal MOLLE. Instead, it has a D ring in the interior.
The Rucker’s frame sheet – which helps adds stiffness and comfort – is even stiffer than that of the GR1.
The Rucker has features you’ll want for ruck events and training.
For example, there is a bottom handle in addition to the top handle – this makes it easy to use the Rucker for overhead exercises and PT (Physical Training.)
The overhead press, front squats, overhead squats, and other two-handed lifts will be easier with two handles.
It also has drainage grommets – in case you have a water immersion portion of your ruck event. This will help water drain quickly.
There are two sizes of the Rucker available: 20L and 25L.
The 25L Rucker has 5 liters of additional storage space, but it also has side handles.
That makes a total of 4 padded handles – top, bottom, and both sides.
Otherwise, it’s very similar. It still has the external MOLLE webbing (15L doesn’t have side MOLLE though – which means you can’t attach a hip belt!), frame sheet, rainproof, made from 1000D Codura, 2×3 velcro patch area, hydration port, silent pull YKK zippers, easy access slant pocket, etc.
But, the main decision point is really – is this bag for physical fitness training and rucking or do you need an EDC (Everyday Carry) bag for a laptop?
Or do you want to save some coin?
Just like the GR1, the color options for the Rucker vary over time according to what GORUCK has in stock.
They also have versions of the Rucker that use a two-tone color scheme.
These are slightly more expensive because they are made in the USA.
The colors available change all the time, so click here to see the latest.
Let’s look at another ruck option.
Bullet Ruck – When Small and Streamlined Is What You Need
Need a “day pack” that is simple and streamlined?
The 10L or 15L Bullet Ruck is your top choice.
It’s small but still accommodates a 20 lb Standard Ruck Plate – or a hydration bladder. It’s a great “Dayruck”. It’s the smallest ruck offered by GORUCK that will fit a ruck plate.
The new 15L Bullet is the perfect step up from the 10L size – with 5 liters of additional capacity.
Here they are side by side.
Kid Size Ruck – The GORUCK KR1
GORUCK even has a kid size backpack – the GORUCK KR1. It’s 13L in size, comes in fun colors, like Coral + Ranger Green ,and Sea Green and Navy (as pictured here).
It’s “slick” with no MOLLE, but it does have a Velcro internal patch board, in addition to the external 2″ x 3″ velcro patch area.
This item is more for everyday school use than rucking, but still pretty cool. It has 2 interior pockets, one small pocket for pens, pencils and crayons and another for notebooks.
NOTE: The KR1 is rarely in stock. If you want it, and see it on the website – grab it before they are all gone!
Bullet Ruck 15L Black Multicam
The Bullet Ruck 15L now comes in Black Multicam (a mixture of black and grey tones) and uses 500D Cordura nylon, a strong fabric with high abrasion resistance, and has a two-pass polyurethane coating and a water repellent. The back panel and shoulder strap use 210D HT Cordura that you can wear with a tank top or even shirtless without abrasion burn. It also uses YKK zippers with quiet, glove-friendly zipper pulls built from a parachute 550 cord.
Arrange your work essentials conveniently with its flat lay clamshell opening. And since it’s a grab-and-go rucksack, not only does your work essentials fit perfectly, but also your day hike or outing gear as well as your pool ruck. A covered top pocket, a mesh bottom pocket, and a slip pocket are still present which are uniform with all GORUCK bags. Even if this rucksack is very durable, it still comes with a Scars Lifetime Guarantee so you can freely abuse it.
Rucking Backpacks – In Summary
We hope we’ve given you some ideas on some rucking backpack options. Now that you’ve picked out a rucking backpack, you may want to check out our rucking accessories guide. These add-ons and accessories will help you get the most out of your rucksack.
You may also want to check out our ruck plates guide and our ruck footwear guide.
Fit At Midlife Bottom LineRucking is a simple exercise that doesn’t require a lot of requipment.
But if you get serious about rucking, there are some great equipment options that make rucking more enjoyable.
The best gear is high-quality – and dual use – meaning it’s not just fitness gear, it’s a practical tool for every day use.
The GORUCK GR1 is the best option for most people.
Photo Credits
- Some product photos on this page are provided by, and property of GORUCK.
- Other product photos are property of the manufacturer, and provided by the manufacturer.
Tim is the founder of FitAtMidlife.com – an avid gym rat for 30+ years, he’s a reviewer of many, many shoes – and founder of the Speed Bag Gathering – the world’s only gathering of speed bag punching enthusiasts. See more gym reviews at Tim’s YouTube channel.
