GORUCK has earned its share of fans and loyal enthusiasts who don’t shy away from praising and even recommending it at every opportunity they get. While it all began with the GORUCK GR1, they went a step further and made an even better bag and launched the GR2 backpack. The GR2 comes with almost everything the GR1 had and adds some extra organization to it. It is also capable of storing more items in almost the same form factor.
In this GORUCK GR1 vs GR2 we’re going to dive into features of both the GR1 backpack and the GR2 backpack and then compare them both.
About GORUCK GR1
The GORUCK GR1 has a very minimalist look and its exterior look is relatively anemic. It has a single big compartment as its main storage unit and another small compartment in the front. That’s how minimal it is. On the outside you can find 3 rows of Molles. The molle webbings do a good job of blending with the bag. If you look at the bag from a little further away, you won’t even notice the molle webbings and the bag will seem like a single block. It looks just like any other school backpack if you look at it from a distance and you won’t be able to tell the difference.
- Opens Flat: The GORUCK G1 shares a design that is similar to the medical rucks that are used by special forces. Like the medical rucks, the GR1 opens flat. This means the whole storing part of the bag is completely accessible at once. This makes it very easy to pack the bag and also easy to organize the contents of the bag.
- Extra Padded Straps: The Gr1 is capable of storing a lot of items at a time. This is a good thing to have, but this might make the bag a bit heavy sometimes. This in turn might hurt your shoulders if the bag is carried on your back for a long time. So to avoid this, the GORUCK GR1 comes with extra padded shoulder straps. Even the top handles have some extra padding. This not only makes it easier to carry heavier loads but it also makes it more comfortable.
- Silent Zipper Pulls: We all have gone through a situation where our noisy zippers gave us more attention then we wanted. Well, with the GORUCK GR1 this won’t be the case. It comes with YKK zippers which are constructed from parachute 550 cord. This makes the zipper capable of very silent pulls and even makes it glove-friendly.
- Bombproof Laptop Compartment: This is one of the key advertising points of the GR1 backpack. It comes with a separate compartment to store your laptop. The compartment is located next to your back and comes with extra reinforcement for the laptop. So, according to GoRucks, even if you carry your bag to combat, your laptop will remain secure and protected.
- Frame Sheet: To compliment the laptop compartment, the GR1 comes with a hard frame sheet made of plastic. Having this extra plastic frame sheet balances the laptop compartment and makes the bag more stabilized. This allows it to carry even more weight comfortably. However, if you want, you can remove this frame if you don’t require it.
- False Bottom: The GORUCK GR1 also comes with a false bottom. This is located inside the laptop compartment. The main purpose of this is to keep your laptop from hitting the hard bottom when you lay the bag straight. This keeps your laptop protected if you accidentally drop the bag vertically.
- Multiple Pockets: Going true to its multipurpose nature, the GR1 comes with multiple pockets to store a wide array of objects. It comes with a total of 3 internal pockets. One of them is a large elastic pocket while the other one is a large mesh zippered pocket. The third and final internal pocket is a small go-to pocket.
- External Slant Pocket: Along with its 3 internal pockets, the GR1 also comes with another external pocket. This external pocket is a slant pocket and it makes it easier to access the keys, cards, snacks, and other small items quickly.
- MOLLE Attachments: In addition to all that, the GORUCK GR1 also comes with 3 different rows of external and internal MOLLE webbing. MOLLE is short for “modular, lightweight load-carrying equipment”. Using a MOLLE webbing you can attach multi-tools, knives, magazine pouches, and many other types of equipment to your GR1 bag. This lets you customize the GR1 however you want and fit it according to your requirements.
- Rainproof: One important feature that is anticipated from most backpacks is to be rainproof. The GR1 delivers this. This bag is highly water-resistant or you can say that it is rainproof.
- Optimized for Hydration: GORUCK has its own Hydration Bladder systems that are tough, and are very easy to clean. Hydration Bladder systems are the perfect choice for hydration on the move. The GR1 has an interior MOLLE webbing that lets you clip the hydration bladder with a carabiner. The hose can be fed under the top handle through the exit port on the handle.
- Perfect Travel Size: The GORUCK GR! is the perfect size for all your travel purposes. It is a TSA compliant backpack. You can easily fit it under the seat in front of you.
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About GORUCK GR2
The backpack although really good is not for all this I thought it important to cover the most important elements about the bag so that you know what you are getting. My goal is to ensure you make the most informed purchase. Moreover, the backpack will set you back a whopping $495 so you better be sure you want it before you spend all that money.
The GORUCK GR2 is a bag that is built to survive the most hardcore and harsh environment and I think it is among the best looking travel backpacks out there. Its design is Simple, quite minimal but on the inside, it is made of bulletproof durable and excellent materials with the military-grade build quality, and enough space to carry all your baggage and more. In short, this is a bag that will last you all your life!
The GORUCK GR2 40L is a much larger Ruck and is best suited for extended stays and even traveling long term.
The GORUCK GR2 40L backpack weighs 4.75 Lbs and the dimensions are 12.5″W x 22″H x 9″D
However, although the backpacks are big both are TSA carry-on compliant meaning they will be allowed as carry-on without any issues. Both big bags that can also equip laptops with a 17”+ screen so I recommend going for them if you need something to carry a lot of luggage.
As you can probably already tell the GR2 is a huge backpack that going to last you a long time. Bottom line if you need something extremely strong to protect your belongings and carry a lot of them more than any other then the GR2 is what you should get.
Materials and Make: The rucksack is made of 1000D CORDURA which is a strong a slash-proof material basically ain’t nobody cutting through that backpack unless you got a saw or something and if you got someone chasing you with a chainsaw then even a military-grade backpack cannot protect you. The materials and components are extremely durable to last you a while without scratches and tear even if heavily used. Remember this was made by a former Army Special Forces it’s going to be strong.
YKK Zippers: For some zippers aren’t something to talk about but not for the GR2. In Fact, these zippers are so strong they are proven to thrive in war. These are the same zippers used by the army in middle east sandstorms
1000 denier Cordura: The name already sounds so cool but you will be surprised to know this is the same material used by marines in the army. In fact, it is the most preferred material for special forces rucks due to its strength to weight ratio and also for its extremely durable nature.
- Extra padding straps to ensure the external components are extremely strong to handle heavy payloads of baggage.
- Bombproof laptop compartment
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GORUCK GR1 vs GR2
No matter how good a product is, unless and until you compare it with another similar product, you can’t exactly tell how good it is. So for this we will be comparing the GORUCK GR1 and the GORUCK GR2 and see how both these bags fare against each other.
If you’ve previously used the GR1 the first obvious difference is the size between the GR2 and GR1 the former being 40L while the latter being only 26L. So if you’re looking for something you can take with you around the world then you definitely need the GR2.
However for those of you that find a 40L bag too big there is also a 34L option available! Although this version is the same as the GR1 the internal compartment capacity is actually bigger than the GR1. You will find that there is more room for stuff because of the increased capacity.
What most people don’t realize is the organization in the interior is more important than the capacity of the backpack.
It is all about how well the interiors are designed to ensure space is used efficiently. And the GR2 34L is designed exactly for that. It is much more organized than the GR1 26L.
Although I like the GR2 I have mixed feelings about the GR2 34L version. You could say it straddles in the gray area as to whether it is too big or whether it is of the perfect size. To be honest most people do not know or aren’t sure what do do about the size. It is wholly too large as a day back and likely too small for travelers that live out of their backpack.
Physically it is a half-inch wider and taller than the GR1 in size and due to this, there is an extra space because of the depth that is created. This also keeps it from looking like an overly large bag. Most people are hesitant about getting the 34L because it is quite similar to the GR1 but with an extra section bolted on it and this alone isn’t worth the extra money to get it. However what most people do not know is the organization is quite different and the add-on built-in field pocket and mesh zipper areas really make quite a difference over the GR1.
GORUCK GR1 vs GR2 Sizing
While the GR1 is geared towards a minimalist packing, the GR2 has slightly more space in terms of the storing volume
GR1:
The GORUCK GR1 comes in two different sizes. The first size is the smaller 21 L volume backpack. It has a height of 18 inches.
The larger variant of the GR1 comes with a capacity of 26 L. It also has a slightly longer height and is 20 inches tall.
GR2
The GORUCK GR2 packs more space in almost similar form factors. This is because of the additional outer compartment. The smaller GR2 comes with a volume of 34 L. Height wise it is of the same height as the larger 26L GR1 i.e 20 inches. The bigger GR2 can pack a volume of up to 40 L and is 22 inches long.
GORUCK GR1 vs GR2 Exterior Design
From the outside, both the GR1 and the GR2 have a very similar design.
GR1
On the exterior the GR1 features a slant pocket and a 2X3 velcro to attach things. It also has a Molle webbing system. In total there are 3 rows of molle webbing on the front and also on both sides as well.
GR2
Like the GR1, the GR2 on the outside features a slant pocket and a 2X3 velcro to attach things. And it also features a Molle webbing system like the GR1. The only difference is the number of rows of webbing. While the GR1 had 3 rows, GR2 has 4 rows of molle webbing on the front and also on both sides as well.
GORUCK GR1 vs GR2 Interior Design
This is where the GR1 and the GR2 differ the most. While the GR1 has just a single internal compartment, the GR2 has an Inner and an outer compartment as well.
GR1
GR1 comes with a total of 3 internal pockets. One of them is a large elastic pocket while the other one is a large mesh zippered pocket. The third and the final internal pocket is a small go-to pocket where you can keep regularly used items for easy access.
GR2
Inner Compartment: This is similar to the inner compartment of the GR1 and comes with a total of 3 internal pockets. One of them is a large elastic pocket while the other one is a large mesh zippered pocket. The third and the final internal pocket is a small go-to pocket where you can keep regularly used items for easy access.
Outer Compartment: The outer compartment of the Gr2 has 4 extra pockets. On one side there is a large mesh zippered pocket with internal dividers and a smaller mesh pocket on the bottom. The other side has two zippered pockets, a small one and a larger one. The smaller pocket is completely concealed while the larger one is a mesh pocket.
GORUCK GR1 vs GR2 Laptop Compartment
Both the GR1 and the GR2 have a laptop compartment at the same location, that is on the back beneath the shoulder straps. They both also have a Frame Sheet inside the compartment. The only difference is the size of the laptop that they can fit.
GR1: The 21LGR1 can store laptops up to 15 inches while the 26L variant can store laptops of up to 17 inches.
GR2: Here, both the 34L and the 40L GR2 are capable of storing laptops larger than 17 inches.
Verdict: I recommend the GR2 40L for most people unless they want to travel light for short trips which is where I recommend the GR2 34L. If you are looking for an overnight bag then go for the 34L or the GR1 which is perfectly sized to be a normal-sized bag but with extra capacity than most of its competitors.
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