GoRuck

Like everyone else, I worked my tail off to get where I am today, and everything I buy needs to earn its keep. There is not any room for disposable goods. But therein lies a problem—quality goods that are built to last are really expensive, and there are many goods that are labeled as premium brands that are not exactly all that durable either. So, copious amounts of research are required to find the items that fit your needs.

Seven years ago, I enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and signed my life away to Uncle Sam. One of the first pieces of gear that I bought was from a then little-known and small start-up business based out of Montana called GoRuck. I needed a daypack that was going to stand up to the everyday rigors of training, deployment and exposure to excessive elements. Their original GR1 Daypack stood out from the crowd.

Jason McCarthy is the founder of GoRuck. He signed up for the military after 9/11 and found his way into some of the most elite war fighters in history, the Green Berets. His goal was to create products that could help veterans transition between military and civilian worlds, as well be part of the community in both training and War.

Tribe & Training: More Than Just Gear

But GoRuck isn’t just about the packs—it’s about building community and forging resilience. If you’re looking for more than a bag, you’ll find a tribe here. Members can join up for the monthly patch and challenge, daily workouts, and even dig into some bonus warrior poet content along the way. It’s about pushing yourself, connecting with others who value grit and self-improvement, and keeping that sense of mission alive—long after the uniform comes off.

Giving Back: Supporting Those Who Serve

As someone who appreciates gear with a story and a purpose, I’m always keeping an eye out for brands that stand for more than just a logo. True to that spirit, this company steps up in a big way—each year, they commit a portion of their revenue (not just profits, but total sales) to organizations dedicated to serving active-duty military, veterans, and first responders.

So, when you pick up their gear, you’re not just investing in something that’ll survive years of hauling, mud, airports, and whatever else you can throw at it—you’re also helping support groups like Team Rubicon, the Green Beret Foundation, and similar nonprofits that have real, lasting impact for those who serve and protect. It’s a small but meaningful way gear can be more than just a purchase; it’s part of a cycle of giving back.

The GR1 daypack was the first product that Jason designed. His background was not sewing or even product design; it was defending our freedom. He set out with the vision of how gear holds up, and how and why it fails in the harshest of conditions. The focus was to take the best features of the military gear he had in the Special Forces, but to simplify everything to the essentials and let people do their own customizing. No detail was too small to consider, and it took a year and a half of prototyping and field testing to get it right.

What you get with the GR1 is a minimalist approach—no extra frills or training-specific features like a dedicated ruck plate compartment that you might see on more specialized packs. Instead, it’s all about rugged versatility. The bag is comfortable no matter how much weight you throw in it, and it feels at home whether you’re pounding out miles in a city, trekking off the beaten path, or hauling gear through airport terminals. The streamlined design means you can adapt it to your needs, whether you’re a seasoned rucker, a daily commuter, or someone who just appreciates gear that’s built to last.

Built for Both City Streets and Combat Zones

So, what exactly sets this daypack apart—making it equally at home in the heart of Manhattan as it is overseas on deployment? For starters, it’s all about the design philosophy: keep it simple, make it bombproof, and let real-world conditions do the talking.

First, this rucksack is overbuilt—literally designed to meet the same standards as gear trusted by some of the world’s toughest operators. The construction isn’t just robust for marketing’s sake; every stitch and reinforcement is grounded in the kinds of environments most of us only see on the news or in action movies. While the overall design stays minimal and clean (so you don’t look like you’re prepping for a field op during your morning subway commute), it’s engineered to be dragged through just about anything—rain, dust, subway turnstiles, muddy back roads, you name it.

Another thoughtful feature is the separate, seriously reinforced compartment that cradles a laptop like it’s made of gold. Whether you’re dashing between meetings or on the move in less-than-friendly territory, your gear—and your electronics—stay secure. The weight-carrying comfort doesn’t get left behind, either; the pack is built to handle as much as you can lug, without punishing your shoulders or back after a long day.

Long story short, while many bags promise “rugged versatility,” this one delivers. It looks right at home hoisted onto a boardroom chair, slung over your shoulder on a trail, or caked with dirt after a real test in the wild. The form may nod to its tactical roots, but it blends into any urban jungle you find yourself in.

The bag is hand built in the USA from Mil-Spec 1000 Denier Cordura, and even heavier Cordura Ballistic—a nylon canvas rip-stop derivative developed by DuPont chemical in 1929 that traces its legacy to military applications spanning WWII to present. The “denier” refers to the linear mass density of the fibers, and there are many different weights available, and the 1000D means that it has the mass in grams of 1000 per 9000 meters; as a frame of reference, a single strand of spider silk has a denier of 1. By in large, it’s built like a brick house.

I have always equated the quality of a product directly to the type of zipper used. If the company that sells their product is willing to pay up for a zipper that is of the class of product they’re trying to sell, then the product is probably that good. In Jason’s case, he felt the same way. He sees zippers as the weakest link of any backpack. They do not play well with threads and fail when subjected to varying degrees of the elements. GoRuck exclusively uses YKK zippers, that are made in the USA. YKK invented the zipper, and their zippers are still the best in the business.

The GoRuck logo is not found anywhere externally on their products, in fact, the only placement of their logo is a small patch on the inside of the bag that also indicates the model. On the front, is a 2×3-inch piece of velcro that has on it the silhouette of a reversed American flag. This flag dates back to the military’s early history when both cavalry and infantry units would charge forward towards battle. Always forward, never backing down. The reverse flag is a symbol of honor, courage and respect.

These major things were what sparked my abandonment of the traditional Jansport or North Face bags that have become so popular. It wasn’t until I had the bag in my hands that the thorough and thoughtful design really began to shine. The labor of love that Jason had envisioned and poured himself into was this—the result, it’s wonderful.

How It Stacks Up Against Other High-End Packs

When you line up the GR1 next to other high-end or tactical backpacks—think Mystery Ranch, 5.11 Tactical, or even classic outdoor staples like the North Face Recon—there’s an immediate sense that you’re dealing with a breed apart. While many companies have dabbled in rugged, expensive “buy-it-once” packs, the GR1 managed to strike a unique equilibrium: tough enough to drag through mud or concrete jungles, yet refined to fit in during an office commute.

What sets this bag apart isn’t just the bombproof build or American-made pedigree—it’s the subtlety. No massive logos shouting for attention, no flashy extras—just an understated, purpose-driven design that’s laser-focused on durability and function. Unlike some tactical bags that bristle with excess straps and compartments, the GR1 is a master class in smart restraint. You’ll find all the protection and organization you need, but none of the unnecessary clutter or weight.

Whereas many rivals lean heavily on either overt military styling or lean into the ultralight, the GR1 bridges both worlds. Whether you’re slogging down a trail in the Cascades or threading your way through airport terminals, it handles wear and tear with quiet confidence. In the end, what you’re left with isn’t just a backpack—that’s a dime a dozen. It’s a tool, refined by a backstory and ethos, ready for wherever you’re heading next.

The backpack, while simplified, carries an assortment of interior pockets to hold your gear—a laptop/hydration pouch in the back, an interior sleeve decorated with useful MOLLE webbing, two interior pouches sewn into the reverse of the face and finally an exterior pouch running the front 2/3 face of the bag. At 26 L, it’s plenty of space to thoughtfully organize an adventure.

What sets this bag apart is the sheer intentionality behind its design—particularly in how it protects what matters most. The compartment that sits closest to your back is not just any sleeve; it’s a separate, heavily reinforced pocket designed to safeguard your laptop (or tablet) with almost absurd confidence. Whether you’re dodging elbows on the subway, sprinting through airport terminals, or braving the elements on a cross-continent trek, that machine is cocooned in what can only be described as a bombproof vault—ready for the chaos of daily life or even the unpredictable corners of the world.

This is the kind of durability and organization that transforms a simple backpack into a lifelong travel companion, giving you peace of mind whether your journey is across the city—or somewhere a little less forgiving.

My favorite feature of the bag is that it unzips totally flat. Instead of thinking vertically when packing a bag, and dreading the moment that you need to access something that is at the very bottom, you can simply unzip the whole thing, watch it lay flat and you have a firm grasp of what’s happening at the bottom of your bag. Jason says it best:

“Because the GR1 opens flat, gypsy camps don’t survive and organization is easy.”

This is something that you’ll hold onto for a lifetime, and it carries a warranty for that duration, as well. This bag is built to be carried to war and tailored to the needs of its owner. Like a good pair of boots, the bag comes stiff and hesitant. It doesn’t trust you yet, you haven’t proven yourself to it. With time, it shows its wear, becomes yours and becomes more forgiving to the demands you place upon it. It carries a lifetime of scars that tell a story of the adventures and places you’ve been. It’s built that tough; one day you’ll be able to point at every mark and fray and tell its origin, then slip the bag on and go for another.

Four years I’ve owned this bag, and I have literally used this every one of the last 2,500-plus days. It is my go-to SHTF, daily wear and adventure bag. I have molded it through the years into my own, and will continue to shape it as new needs arise for years to come. Here’s to you GoRuck—you did a hell of a job.

Notable Media Appearances

If you’re someone who perks up at the idea of a little pop culture cred, you’ll appreciate this: even the heavy hitters take notice. In the Marvel universe, you’ll spot this very backpack slung over the broad shoulders of The Punisher, that iconic, gravel-voiced vigilante who deals with problems in his own, ahem, persuasive way. It feels fitting, really—the bag’s tough, understated, and ready for trouble, much like its fictional carrier.

It’s not just a background prop—it’s a purposeful choice, a silent nod to those who know that function and durability matter, even on screen. To see it woven into popular media, standing out not with logos but with capability, is a testament to how this rucksack has quietly earned its stripes.

At just under $300, do yourself a favor and buy a bag you won’t ever regret.