Features: Fits a GR2 inside Side Handle (so you can hold like a suit case) Removeable waist belt Side Compression straps GR3 was trade marked this January by Goruck. https://trademarks.justia.com/873/11/gr3-87311281.html
I've been after something like this for a while. I dig my GR2, but the two panel load sections would be better for me as one single compartment, so this is pretty close.
That's a giant, heavy looking backpack for... backpacking or extended travel where wrinkled clothing is ok? I wonder if Monster is a therapy dog. Makes sense.
After doing several trips with the GR2, the new approach makes a lot of sense to me. I've come to prefer a little bit less built-in organization so the pack can be a little more modular. Given the simpler build, I wouldn't be surprised if this one actually comes out a little lighter than the GR2. Hope it still fits carry-on specs! As for the interior, I would be happy to see a full molle webbing panel - maybe even the laser cut stuff? I usually find a use for the internal pocket, but if it wasn't there the pack would be more configurable. Not a huge fan of Velcro fields since it limits pouch choices.
It's good they added a waistbelt, but still, it's seems this will be a 45-50L pack, priced at probably $400+, with no real stays, lumbar pad, or actual suspension and a relatively flat, 1000D back pad. If it is cheaper than the GR2 (Which I guess is possible since it is more simple in terms of construction), then i guess it's a good (but still expensive) "one bag" for air travel. If it's 400+ I don't really see the point unless it's just a fashion bag at that point. At 45L+ you need a real suspension if you are going to do more than carry the bag from home to the airport to the hotel, and at Goruck prices there are lots of nice options from companies who build pack suspensions. IMO The "Ruck" on GORUCK is on target. The design is good as a ruck sack and they carry really nice as far as shoulder-only bags are concerned. I don't think the design scales up to a bag that size very well.
For the amount of weight you can fit in that thing, it seems like there are way better options for the price. It's a GR bag, so the weight will be on the shoulders. I do like the side handles though, and I would like them on my GR1. Every bag should have them.
Isnt that the point of the waist belt? To take the weight off your shoulders and put it on your pelvis?
Yes and no. It will be interesting to see how well it works compared to a pack that has actual stays, lumbar pad, etc. The price will be the key factor. If it's in the 350 range then it could make sense. If it is $400+, you'd have to be nuts to buy this over a Kifaru 14r or tarryall, Arcteryx Bora AR 50, etc., IMO. Also since the 40L GR2 is already a 22" bag and it fits inside, the dimensions are going to be marginal for travel carryon if you aren't careful.
What is the no part? I would imagine these guys are pretty well versed in rucksack loading etc and have countless hours of R&D between military and private enterprise. I only ask because I don't do hiking with a bag, ive rucked for 15 hrs with a GR1 and wished for a waist belt. Those other bags seem like apples and oranges to me just from outward appearances.
Those are what packs that are natively designed to load carry via a waistbelt look like. Again if it's the style that you are into, there's no shame in that. We all need to buy what we like and looks is a big part. But from a purely technical standpoint the "no part" is that adding a waistbelt doesn't automatically transfer load to your hips in an effective manner. Watch Jason unclip the waistbelt in the video. Watch the ruck itself. Based on that you can draw your own conclusions with respect to how much weight the belt was carrying in that example (for reference, on a well adjusted suspension pack when you unclip the waistbelt you should see the whole pack drop noticeably).. I have had a 21L GR1, 34L GR2, and 40L GR2. They shoulder carry very well, as far as shoulder carry only goes. I have also tried the molle waistbelt goruck sells for the GR2's, it was useless for me. Now again the GR3 is longer overall and the hip belt is integrated, so that will help. Still, a GR2 will a molle waistbelt was not even in the same universe in terms of load carry ability as compared to packs I now own with actual stays etc. Hopefully the GR3 frame sheet is substantially stiffer than the smaller bags. I still want a 21L pack with double compartments and a built in field pocket like a GR2. I would buy that bag in a heartbeat. I sold my goruck bags because I could not organize the GR1 adequately and the GR2's did not make sense versus packs with suspension. Again just my experience though.
There are many of packs out there with stays and full backpacking suspensions. They serve their purpose well in the right setting, not so much in others. They've been around for decades, and fundamentally haven't really changed much aside from materials and suspension tweaks. They excel in the mountains and are a compromise in the airport. This kind of pack isn't Goruck's thing, so why criticize? Let companies build what they build, and if you don't like it, don't buy it.
Well ya never know... It just may be their thing. I don't know many companies out there that stand behind their products like Goruck. I'm eager to see how this one plays out. Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk
Exactly. There are a bunch of people that need an airplane friendly panel loader with some organization that needs to carry well enough without the cumbersome suspension that backpacking packs tend to have. it seems that most people criticizing bags like the GR2 and this bag just don't get that. If you spend enough time on airplanes and jockeying shuttles, buses, etc, you'd see why bags like the Patagonia MLC and other spacious carry-on packs exist. This looks like a good addition to those options without the unnecessary compartmentalization of Red Oxx and Tom Bihn.
No critiscm, just discussing where the bag "fits" in terms of price vs size vs features. I thought that was the point of the forums. Like I said if the form factor works for you (that said I still this pack certainly should not be compared to bags like the MLC given that the gr3 is almost certainly too large to fit most carry on limits unless you really under pack it - funnily enough an MLC was one of the first "real" bags I ever bought. It's been to 4 continents and has close to 200,000 miles on it. So for what it's worth, I've dragged a couple bags through a couple airports in my time.) I think I maybe sound overly opinionated or critical because I recently went on my own quest to find a "better" carry on. Having tried some "real" backpacks I feel "enlightened" in a way, so I think that comes off the wrong way . again this is just for me personally.
When I needed a new carry on that would house my "big a** laptop" there were few options that could do that and replace my Covrt18. The GR2 fit the bill for both my laptop transport needs, and for airline carry on. While this new GR3 looks like it has a few things I would like to see in the GR2 it seems like it would be a might to large for the overheads in smaller regional planes let alone some of the even smaller commuter planes I spend a lot of my travel time in. I have never had my GR2 not fit in an over head, but I dont pack to its overstuffed capacity when traveling, but even in that "normal" packed state I have had to move things around in the pack to make it fit in the over head on a very small Dash-8 variant. I see this as a the possibility of a great extended weekend single bag road-trip, or long day hike/single over night hiking bag, kinda thing. Or even B.O.B. or trunk get home pack, because like above I agree that when packed to capacity your going to be hard pressed to make it work as carry on, unless you are only flying on bigger narrow body or wide body aircraft.
I'll definitely be picking this up. I love my GR2, but it can get a bit heavy when loaded, so this will be perfect as another bag I can carry my loaded GR2 in.
The purpose of forums is to discuss things and voice thoughts. That shouldn't need to be pointed out. I agree with everything he said. Making a pack this size without a proper suspension begs the question - who is this intended for? The person who wants to carry a lot of weight in a pack lacking features designed to do just that? I'm not saying it's a gimmick, but I have to assume this pack was a solution in search of a problem. They set out to create a new pack, not to solve a problem, and that's evident in the design.
