The prospect of buying a backpack that can last you for the rest of your life is a tempting one. Not everyone needs a backpack so tough that it will survive decades of abuse. But for those who do wantβand can affordβsuch a bag, it can travel with you to the office and to any corner of the globe, for any activity, year after year. For photographers, we have a pick built to protect your gear from the worst rain and knocks.
But backpacks have always been a central concern of mine: I lived out of one, moving from couch to couch, for a year in New York City, and that experience made me hyper-attuned to backpack organization and construction.
This bag is simple, tough, and backed by a well-tested repair-or-replace program. It sets the standard. The GoRuck GR1 is a hell of a tough bag that looks at home in an office, on a trail, or dragged through a muddy pit. Although a few companies made expensive backpacks before the GR1, GoRuck more or less invented and now defines the tough, buy-it-for-life pack.
The GR1 stands apart for its detailed construction, a flexible but simple organization that adapts to nearly any situation, and comfortable straps that mold over time to your shoulders. The GR1 is available in a liter version, which is 18 inches in height, and a liter one, which is 20 inches in height. Every seam and stitch of the GR1 is sewn with the strength of the bag in mind. The top handle, for instance, feels great in the hand.
Stress-tested for up to pounds, the handle is ostensibly for hoisting your partner over an obstacle or wall. GoRuck organizes obstacle runs where people carry weights in their backpacks and run along beaches and over mountains β¦ ridiculous, I know. In my testing, the thick nylon fabric was fairly resistant to rain during a light shower. Inside the front flap are two pockets, one mesh and one covered. The front of the bag has a thin front pocket for holding slim books and the like. These three pockets provide some organization but not that much.
