GORUCK GR2 Review: The 34L for Rucking With Real Gear

The GR2's extra compartment earned its place on my Round Lake outing. My drone, controller and batteries stayed up front, ready to reach, while a 20 lb plate, the drone case and first aid occupied the main compartment. For a day out with that much gear, this is the GORUCK bag I'd choose.

As a dedicated training rucksack, the black 34L is a lot of bag. After about 90 minutes of nonstop use, I noticed a little lower-back numbness and missed the Rucker 5.0's lumbar pad. Those two findings belong together: the organization was excellent for my mixed load, while the carry setup left me with something to work on.

GORUCK supplied this bag. They didn't tell me what to say or sign off on the review. The shopping links are affiliate links, so I may earn a commission if you buy through them.

How I used it

I've had this 34L GR2 in black for about two weeks. On September 24, 2026, Jase and I went to Round Lake in Wisconsin's Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest. I took a 20 lb GORUCK plate, drone gear, first aid, water, a dog bottle, safety equipment and bear spray. The 20 lb figure is the plate alone; I didn't weigh the complete load.

This is an early-use review, with no long-term durability or water-resistance result. The comfort findings apply to that load and outing.

The front compartment is why I'd choose it

When I wanted to fly the drone, I opened one zipper. The drone, batteries and controller were there, separate from the weight and larger items in the main compartment. I didn't have to dig past the 20 lb plate to get to them. Keeping that kit together was the practical benefit of the second compartment.

Both compartments open flat, which makes the layout easy to see and pack. There are smaller organizer pockets as well, so the GR2's appeal is more specific than simply having a bigger cavity. I could separate the drone equipment I wanted to reach from the plate, hard case and first aid that could stay put.

My GR1 has external and interior pockets too. For this mixed load, the GR2 gave me a second full space to organize, and that is the feature I'd be paying for.

The webbing made the outside useful

I attached my water bottle holder, bear spray and Jase's leash to the external MOLLE webbing. Those are accessories from my own setup, not extra equipment that came with the bag. The attachments meant I could keep those items outside the two main compartments.

There's webbing inside as well, and the front patch is replaceable. The shell on my reviewed bag is 1000D CORDURA, with YKK zippers and cord pulls. GORUCK describes the zipper pulls as glove-friendly; I haven't separately tested them while wearing gloves. It feels like a premium bag, but two weeks is too soon to turn that impression into a claim about years of wear.

What I noticed after 90 minutes

The GR2 didn't come with a sternum strap or a hip belt. I didn't find myself missing the sternum strap. The shoulder straps pulled my shoulders back a little, and my posture seemed to appreciate it. That's a personal impression, not a measured change in posture.

I did miss the Rucker 5.0's big lumbar pad. After about an hour and a half of nonstop use, my lower back felt a little numb. Nothing dramatic, just something I noticed with this load and setup. I can't establish the cause from that outing.

The GR2's plate holder is an open sleeve with a couple of straps. It held my 20 lb plate, but it doesn't lock the plate high in the way the Rucker's dedicated pockets do. In a bag this tall, the plate can sit lower than I'd like. That difference matters more when the bag spends most of its time carrying a weight plate.

I previously suggested using internal webbing and a rolled towel to hold the plate higher. I haven't retested that arrangement on a long walk, so it remains an idea rather than a fix for the sensation I noticed.

Travel capacity adds depth

The GR2 is a separate model from the GR1, not the GR1's second version. Mine is the 34L; my GR1 is the 26L. GORUCK lists the GR2 34L at 12.5 inches wide, 20.5 inches tall and 9 inches deep, compared with the GR1 26L's 12 by 20 by 6.75 inches. The GR2 adds only half an inch in height; most of the extra space is in the depth, where the second compartment sits.

It has a separate laptop compartment against the back and a removable frame sheet to help hold the bag's shape. That makes sense for GORUCK's one-bag travel purpose. I wouldn't choose to carry my laptop and a weight plate together, though; that is my packing preference, not a simultaneous-load test.

GORUCK describes this as a carry-on travel bag. Check your airline's size and weight limits before flying; I haven't done an airline fit check with mine.

At 34 liters, it is a lot of room for a day walk. Room is great until things have room to move. Having separate compartments helped me organize that space, but packing still matters. If I were taking only a plate and water, I'd have less reason to carry the extra compartment.

Where it fits beside my GR1 and Rucker

For a day out with the drone kit, the GR2 is excellent. The front compartment alone is the reason I'd choose it over a single-main-compartment pack for that job. It earns the extra depth when I have separate gear to reach.

For dedicated plate training, I'd choose my Rucker 5.0. Its elevated plate pockets and lumbar pad suit that narrower job better. My GR1 26L sits between them: a slimmer everyday bag that also rucks. Those are the sizes I've carried; this review doesn't establish the same fit or comfort for every GR1 or GR2 capacity.

I'd buy the GR2 for gear-heavy outings and organized travel, with its weight and depth in mind. I wouldn't buy the 34L simply because a larger number sounds more capable. For me, the useful upgrade is the separate compartment.

Warranty and buying details

GORUCK backs the bag with its SCARS lifetime guarantee. Under the current terms, repair or replacement is at GORUCK's discretion. It is a useful benefit on a bag I'd keep using.

Use the current listing to check the exact size, color, origin and price rather than assuming every GR2 matches my review pack. I haven't independently established the sewn country of origin of this bag. The review's construction and comfort observations apply to the black 34L I carried.

Frequently asked questions