The Rucker 4.0 is our best option to get started if you want to use your gear mainly for rucking. It offers two sections to place weight plates and comes in 3 different sizes (Small Frame, 20L, and 25L).
If you want to carry a laptop and use your gear mainly for every day carry and travel, the GR1 is a better choice.
If you are under 6' tall, we recommend going with the 20L Rucker or GR1 21L but if you are 6' or over, the 25L Rucker or GR1 26L is a great fit and offers a little more room. If you only plan on using your gear for rucking, the Rucker 20L is a better fit for anyone regardless of height since it will keep your weight more elevated than the 25L will as it is a shorter pack. The Rucker is great as an everyday carry bag as well as it offers plenty of room to pack items needed for a quick day trip or your daily work commute.
- The Rucker 20L (both versions) can hold 1 plate securely. One Rucker 20lb or 30lb plate can fit in the elevated velcro plate pocket (the 45lb plate and our GR1 plates will not fit). There is still room left in the main interior if you wish to add more plates but they will not remain as secure and may shift some while rucking.
- The Rucker 25L offers the ability to beef up your weight more than both versions of the 20L. It includes 2 ruck plate compartments and if you have a longer torso, the hip belt included will sit lower towards your hips as opposed to around your core when worn with the 20L. The 25L can hold a 45lb plate in the back plate pocket, unlike the 20L versions which can only fit a 20 or 30 Rucker plate. Keep in mind, if you place a 45lb plate in the 25L, only a 20lb Rucker plate will fit in the second pocket.
- The GR1 is designed with a laptop compartment in the back panel unlike the Rucker. While it does not have the elevated plate pocket like the Rucker, it does come with an elastic sleeve that you can place a ruck plate in if you want to use it for standard rucking (no PT or any other movements like like in which the ruck plate will bounce and move around a little bit). Also, the GR1 comes with internal molle in the back panel of the main interior unlike the Rucker.
Check out the Ruckers here: Ruckers
Check out the GR1s here: GR1