GORUCK Rucker 4.0

I I'm 6'2" and bought the Rucker 4.0 20L bag off of Amazon back in early January this year. It fits me perfectly and is very comfortable for daily use. I've added a 3-liter water bladder, optional padded hip belt which I wear very loose and a clip to keep the water hose line secure to the front of the bag where I can get to it. My bag will fit two 15 pound plates stacked in the short pocket plus one 45 pound long plate in the long pocket all at the same time that you can buy from Amazon for cheap (search "Yes4All" for their various plate offerings which do indeed fit this bag). Having only these three plates will, based on combination, let you choose from 15 pounds all the way up to 75 pounds in 15 pound increments (15, 30, 45, 60 and 75 pounds). If you need more weight than 75 pounds then you can also add some additional filled sand bags that they also sell on their website to get you to around 100 pounds max if you so chose. Right now I'm at 45-60 pounds (also including the bag weight and a filled water bladder that I've added) as my ideal for daily rucking and conditioning (start with 15pounds as your initial weight to get a feel for the bag and your conditioning for a week of use before increasing). The bag and straps themselves are built like a tank and will easily take lots of abuse and stay comfortable without rubbing or tearing under load. Just be sure to either remove the weight each time for storage, or ensure that you put the bag with weights flat on the floor (strap-side down!). *Don't* stand up the bag when loaded with weights and then lean the bag up against a wall for a long time else you will deform the inner plastic lumbar support that sits along the back of the bag. Always lay it flat on the ground with straps-side down (or remove the weights and store separately). It's a great and well thought-out system, and I feel I've gotten my money's worth many times over based on actual fitness results and the continued motivation to keep using this quality gear on a daily basis to get and stay outside longer and push harder. The weight is mounted high and tight on your back which is ideal for walking/hiking, and the bag moves with you without swinging or wobbling. It just feels, moves and looks great when in use, and you feel amazingly "bouncy" for the rest of the day after you take it off because your legs aren't supporting nearly as much weight! 🙂 Also check out Gorucks's amazing, supportive (and surprisingly affordable) footwear which are the best I've seen anywhere for these and similar activities where your feet take a lot of abuse. I have a pair of their MACV-2 Mid-tops and they're really great! They support all your arches and raise the heel a bit for optimized and comfortable load distribution over your entire foot.

I hesitated to buy this pack because of the price, but after trying to carry weight in cheap backpack I already owned and suffering shoulder pain and weight at the small of my back, I decided to buy once, cry once. And I couldn't be happier! This thing is top quality and purpose built for carrying weight the way it should be carried. I can't emphasize enough how much of a difference it makes. I can carry more weight more easily, the straps don't dig into my shoulders, the weight rides high up on my back as it should, it fits my body perfectly, and encourages an upright (not hunched) posture as I walk. The padded material on the back is also great as it doesn't absorb sweat like all my other backpacks do. It's also great for carrying a water bottle, towel, etc. inside the pack. I absolutely love it and would highly recommend it. It makes me want to get out there and put the work in each day. Just bite the bullet and buy it! It'll last forever and lets you focus on your workout, not your pack.

Yes, the initial cost is high, but this pack will last for years. I started with a regular hiking backpack, wrapping weights in towels, and used that for about six months to make sure I’d stick with rucking. When I finally got a Goruck pack, the difference was night and day — it carries the weight higher on your back, which feels much better during longer walks. The pack is extremely solid, and the weights stay completely secure (I started with one Goruck plate and plan to add another later — these aren’t something I figure you will buy more than once or twice). I’m 6'0", and the 20L size is perfect for a 45 lb plate plus an additional 20 lb plate in the future.

Bag is well made, and exceeded my expectations as far as quality is concerned. Storage capacity is average, but this bag isn't meant to be a travel bag. It's a plate carrier that can function as an EDC bag or to carry incidentals while rucking. The bag fit is excellent, and again. The attention to detail and durability of straps, handles, etc. is impressive. If you've ever used a lesser bag to ruck with and do the workouts, you'll know what I mean. This isn't a twenty dollar Wal-Mart bag. I have several different types of backpacks and I must say, the straps are unmatched in comfort and initial quality. They are easy to adjust on the fly, and the comfort that is imparted by proper straps makes me look forward to using it. As far as functionality goes, some folks would say, "It's a bag." This is more than a bag. There are handles attached to make it a self contained gym. There's room to carry water etc. There are accessories to help improve the functionality of the bag as well check the GoRuck Amazon shop. I'll be purchasing the hydration system soon.

Built like a tank. The quality and durability are outstanding, and the extra padding makes weighted rucks surprisingly comfortable. It feels solid, stable, and purpose-built for serious training. Expensive, but absolutely worth it.