Anybody has this issue with their Rush 24 ? Recently I came back from Orlando, Fl. All i have in it was my dslr with basic kit lens, my maxp edc pouch, and a maxp admin pouch. I was debating whether to put in a camelbak omega beast bladder in it considering it was kind of heavy with the minimum stuff in it. After a day at the theme parks, my shoulder would be sore already. Its a great pack, but is it the 1000 denier that puts on the extra weight ? Anybody else has this issue ?
It is not the weight but the design. Even though it could be lighter there are heavy packs that can be carried half of forever and will not hurt you. Most of the packs talked about on the forum are short tripper packs.
The RUSH 24 is designed for 24 hours, obviously not spending the whole time hiking. I've loaded the 72 for a 3 day hike into the hills/mountains bordering the Queen Charlotte track, and loaded right it was perfect for that. For EDC I find the RUSH 12 just oversized, but I don't fill it and that means I can add extra gear/weight ifneeded, and hopefully not have to carry it too far (or convince whomever I'm with to carry it for me, they quite often comment on just how comfy the 12 is). Sounds like you're carrying too much pack, for too little contents. I bet you could fit all that in a TRIAB 18 or a RUSH 12, maybe a pouch or two as needed...
But it wouldn't be pack weight alone. There are packs you can carry 65 pounds all day in that are heavy packs easier that you can carry 25 pounds in other packs. It could also be the adjustments. If he is using add on's to the pack those could be in motion when he is walking.
I quite often think I've got too much stuff in my Rush 12, but once the sternum strap is done up the weight just seems to lift off. The Rush series aren't the best for one shoulder carry (even though that's how I tend to carry mine about for short trips...)
I've talked about this a lot in other threads. 1000D nylon is a heavy material and for what you make up for in durability and added structure you lose in weight. You're absolutely right - the RUSH is heavy when empty. You're not imagining it and it factors into how much you can load out the RUSH considering you're already starting out with a deficit in terms of overall pack weight. It's one of the reasons why Camelbak when to the 500D versions of their Motherloade and BFM. They we're able to make both of those designs larger with less weight empty by going with the lighter and yet plenty strong material. Tactical tailor did something similar with their Fight Light line. It's the trend right now. With that said, I still love the RUSH 24.
You're probably using the wrong pack for the purpose. RUSH type packs are designed to carry some weight and as such are overbuilt with stronger, heavier nylon material. You would probably be better served with a Lowe Pro camera backpack for your DSLR and related gear. Also make sure when you carry a pack, you carry it as high up as you can for longer term carrying comfort. Chris
I had the same problem with my Rush 24. I just loved the organization and the looks but didnt think the comfort was good enough for hikes or longer walks. Changed it for the Tasmanian Tiger Mission pack which didnt have the same organization but way better comfort. Hipbelt and a longer narow design. (Someone told me that the shoulderstraps on the Rush series is designed to carry on a ballistic vest ? )
If you look at the "dry weight" of a lot of these packs...they're kind of heavy. The T.A.D. E.D.C alone is 4 pounds empty. GoRuck GR1 empty is 3.2 pounds. Price you pay for the webbing, stitching and materials. I don't find it to be a problem. I find it to be kind of helpful because you realize just how much you're carrying and how you can remove certain items you don't really ever use or will need.
First and foremost, I dislike the RUSH series. That said, having experience with body armor, the RUSH 24 was not designed to better fit around it - at least not the IBA. That said, the RUSH is still heavier than comparable "civilian" packs because it was designed to be competitive with military packs - some of that is material, some of that is the "overbuilt" concept to endure more abuse than the average user would dish out. For long trips where you might expect to be sore, I recommend going with a lighter civvie pack that is specifically designed for carrying loads comfortably and can use lighter materials. Especially if you're going to be carrying such a light load that a "full" pack isn't needed. I think that's why they made the RUSH 12 - as a day pack rather than the heavier "extended mission" versions.
According to Amazon, the Rush 24 weighs 3.6 pounds. I feel like the weight of the pack is reasonable considering what you get, and how it carries. The Rush 24 is definitely overkill for the few items the OP was carrying; even the Rush 12 has much more capacity than was used on that trip. If the pack isn't comfortable for you, you're lucky that there are lots of other packs out there that will fit you differently (and weigh less), and you can sell it on the forums to help fund your next bag.
