I gritted my teeth and bought a GoRuck GR1 a year ago. If it fell into a volcano, which is what it might take to destroy it, I’d buy another one. It’s still possible to find “buy it for life” backpacks but be prepared for eye-watering price tags.

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lizardking 6 hours ago | parent | next [-]

I used my employer's fitness stipend to buy a GoRuck GR2, and I have no regrets. There is just a level of build quality that I desperately wish I could find in the other fitness and travel items I buy.

	▲	kstrauser 5 hours ago \| parent [-]
		Same here. I love it. I completely get the cost criticisms: for the price it should be amazing. And yet, it is. I also wish I could level up my other purchases in the same way.

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busterarm 8 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

Seriously, I've had my GR1 since 2013 and it's still flawless. It replaced my bike messenger bags (Chrome, Mission Workshop).

It's been through sand, mud, dust and just shakes the abuse off like nothing.

I do wish half the time though that I'd bought a 40L GR2 though.

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kstrauser 8 hours ago | parent [-]

Yep. I like that the care instructions are literally to hose it off in the back yard and let it dry. This thing will outlive me.

But I main got it because I’m a relatively large guy with broad shoulders and other bags pinched my neck. I was given a Timbuk2 pack from work that I otherwise liked, but the straps were too close together. I could either wear it high on my back and have them mash my neck all day, or low on my back wear it’s much harder to carry weight.

(Side note to everyone: wear your backpack as high as possible when it’s even moderately loaded. When I see someone on BART with a huge backpack slung down by their hips, my back aches sympathetically. You want the heaviest load up between your shoulders.)

Edit: I also keep glancing at the 40L GR2, but it's just FOMO. Great bags, but huge. I don't want to schlep something that size to the office, and definitely not on some of the trails we hike.

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busterarm 5 hours ago | parent [-]

I've gone on one or two trips every year where the GR1 wasn't big enough and I needed a separate small bag.

But granted, I wouldn't want to be hauling that around every day either, it's just more convenient for the overall pack.

	▲	kstrauser 4 hours ago \| parent [-]
		Makes perfect sense. If I were going for a longer single-bag trip, I'd probably be running the same calculus in my head.