#1 YOMP-SPEED No1 - GORUCK GR1 26L - MULTICAM BLACK VARIANT (REVIEW)


There are few things better in life than a FEDEX mail-call!!! And when that Mail is a brand-new GORUCK GR1 26L Multicam Black, you know you’ve reached your peak : )

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For my sins I own X3 GORUCK rucksacks: A GR1 21L Wolfgrey for my EveyDay Carry, a GR2 34L Ranger green for hiking and the new GORUCK, mentioned above, for YOMP-SPEED duties.

SERIOUSLY, NOTHING TO SUCK HERE : )

WHAT IS YOMP-SPEED?
Basically up-until recently this was how I hiked. Fast, with minimal gear, all day, 14miles approx, circuit routes taking in self imposed way points. This would mean crossing awful terrain, off track, river crossings, lake and even some ocean swims, swamps, hills and unmanaged forest. It could be terrible and yet bloody good fun. I ask myself why I would want to do this again simple, things were learned and to do them again means I won’t forget.

WHY THE NEW GORUCK?
This was a tough consideration after all I could use the GR2, hiking’s hiking right? I found I had 3 problems with using the GR2 for YOMP-SPEED: Size, weight and wanted to keep it nice for holidays etc.

I love my GR2 especially with its mods but for this task I needed a more simple stripped down design, my GR1 21L is for posh meetings and EDC so I don’t want to use that. I also figured I could use the extra capacity the 26L version would give me. Honestly I looked at other packs but was finally nudged to GORUCK by a 20% discount code I earned by taking part in a survey : )

THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I'VE SEEN MULTICAM IN REAL LIFE, ITS A THING TO BEHOLD.

GORUCK GR1 26L - THE ORIGINAL, CLASSIC & SIMPLE DESIGN
For this post I’m going to assume that you the reader are unfamiliar with GORUCK GR1 26L. By all accounts this was the first rucksack that the company produced, since then other models have come along, some abit bigger, others smaller, there are variants that work best for one bag travel and others specifically designed for rucking! They all have two things in common, the first is the clam-shell, open flat design the other is the no compromise build quality which is to the most wonderful levels of over engineered paranoia you’re ever likely to benefit from.

MORE FROM THE DESIGN DEPT - CARRY HANDLE
OK so, clam-shell design tough construction, what other features?
The GORUCK GR1 has an excellent and really comfortable carry handle it’s double layered with padding between 1000D Cordura! and has to be one of the best rucksack carry handles available. This looks like over kill but comes into it’s own when the rucksack is stuffed and heavy.

SUPER COMFORTABLE CARRY HANDLE, HIDING THE COVERT HYDRATION PORT BENEATH

HYDRATION
Integral to the carry handle construction and reinforcement is a concealed hydration port! This has a hook and loop closure which apart from keeping mud, sand and water out, once closed this port is completely hidden. I just like this. The GORUCK GR1 doesn’t have a dedicated pocket for a bladder but there’s a large well built pocket with-in the rucksack that will fit the bill perfectly. We can then use part of the internal MOLLE field to suspend the bladder from. Again we see the GORUCK ethos, to gives us just enough features to think of a solution for our selves. : )

LAPTOP STASH
The 4th pocket is to the very back of the GORUCK and is the laptop stash. It’s padded, has an internal frame sheet to keep it and the rucksack nice and stiff, it also has a raised base, which means when your GORUCK is set down your laptop doesn’t hit the ground. Really the laptop stash is very good and if like me you actually run your business from your laptop, in my opinion buying a GORUCK for this feature alone is a good as good as any.

MORE POCKETS

INSIDE GORUCK POCKET CONFIGURATION

The GORUCK GR1 pockets follow a standard configuration for rucksacks of this type. There is a big and super useful slash pocket to front front. Big enough to carry a folder. In side front of the clam-shell are 2 more pockets. The top is made from the same ballistic nylon as the rest of the rucksack and has a full YKK zip closure. Great for smaller important items and items you might want to keep from prying eyes. The second pocket again has a YKK zip closure and a mesh front. In contrast to the top pocket this allows us to see its contents and grab what we’re looking for. For YOMP-SPEED the mesh front to this pocket means it drains super quick.

MOLLE / PALS FIELDS

EXTERIOR MOLLE / PALS FIELD

The GORUCK GR1 has 6 columns x 3 rows of MOLLE that are integral the rucksacks design. A slight issue is that it doesn’t fit the usual NATO spec for MOLLE ie 1.7/8” instead of the standard 1.1/2” wide? I think I get why this is. In theory it makes it easier to weave MOLLE enabled pouches into this ladder but in reality, it means some pouches won’t fit unless you position them left or right, central is quite awkward.

INTERNAL MOLLE

INTERIOR MOLLE / PALS. GOOD VIEW OF THE HYDRATION PORT AS WELL

Exactly as the outside there is a 6 column X 3 row internal MOLLE field. This is a great enabler for those who like to organize, allowing us to customize the rucksack interior in any which way we like. The genius is, it gives us features enough without trying to second guess what we want. Was this judgment on the part of the GORUCK designers or just luck? At the end of the day I don’t care, all I know is I like it.

SHOULDER STRAPS

SHOULDER STRAPS ARE AS PADDED AS THEY LOOK

The shoulder straps are clean and simple and yet a single vertical row of MOLLE means that if we want to attach; pouches, carabiners, hydration tubes and sternum straps we can. The main body of the strap is wide and constructed from 2 layers of closed cell foam. 

These shoulder straps are designed for carrying very heavy weight for a very long time. The standard issue ladder lock buckle to adjust the strap is a quality generic brand unit.

GENERIC NO NAME LADDER LOCK BUCKLES BUT EXCELLENT QUALITY FOR ALL THAT

Loops have been added to the very end of the shoulder straps adjustment, this stops the strap pulling through the ladder lock by accident and provides a welcome thumb loop for those really long RUCKS and YOMPS. 

SHOULDER STRAP ANCHOR POINT DETAIL (TOP)

The anchor points at the shoulder probably are actually built-proof : ) and are rigorously constructed and tested as disused earlier in this post.

SHOULDER STRAP ANCHOR POINT DETAIL (BOTTOM)

OVER ENGINEERED BUILD QUALITY
All materials used are military-spec,  fabric is 1000D water resistant, ballistic Cordura nylon, high stress points are strength tested to over 400lbs and bartacked and backtacked I.e. where shoulder straps, carry handles and MOLLE fields amongst others are sew to the pack. Dual density foam is used in the shoulder straps, one foam provides comfort under load, the other longevity compression spring (it stays spongy for longer). US made YKK zippers are used everywhere including inside pockets which for me is appreciated attention to detail. As I’ve found to my cost shits zips are a real weak point in any rucksack.

WHY IS THE GORUCK GR1 26L IDEAL FOR YOMP-SPEED?

1 Simple design
2 Build quality
3 Weight
4 Easy to drain

WEIGHT
The 1st and 2nd points have been covered so let’s discuss weight! I chose the GR1 26L over just running the GR2 34L because the first is 3.20lbs and the second is 4.74lbs, be aware that no GORUCK rucksack is light! For their size Vs litre capacity they are probably heaviest in class, that’s the price we pay for the longevity the no compromise build quality affords us. This Bulldozer / Rhinoceros ideology to construction does make life easy though, we just don’t need to think about being careful or precious with this rucksack, just load it up and go get physical.

EASY TO DRAIN?
Given the standard issue GORUCK GR1 doesn’t have drainage holes, how can this be?
GORUCK SCARS dept offers an after market service for drainage holes to be installed if we decide we need them but at this point this is not what I mean by; “easy to drain”, I mean the GROUCK has a simple design and build, it’s not lined, uses closed cell foam and doesn’t have too many pockets so doesn’t soak up water and potentially, water it does collect, drain it quickly but for this to really perform the rucksack will need drainage holes, I will discus this in the next post.

CLEAN SIMPLE BOXXY, UTILITY CHIC

IN CONCLUSION
For me; running up a mountain, swimming across a river or a speed march cross country for charity this rucksack is understated utility chic, a classic example of being more than it seems and for that - I love it. until GORUCK SCARS get their hands on it and then, maybe it won’t be so understated : ) but that’s for another post... soon.

RELATED LINKS:

GORUCK GR1 26L
GORUCK GR2 34L

CREATING THE GR1 - GORUCK BLOG
THE GORUCK CHALLENGE - GORUCK BLOG

ABOUT THE LINKS WITH-IN THIS POST.

I've included links so you can find out more or even purchase. In some cases items have been upgraded or discontinued so I have linked to equivalents, I hope that's OK.

RELATED POSTS:

#2 YOMP-SPEED No1 - GORUCK GR1 26L - EX-MODS

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