GORUCK Rucking Weight Vest Review: Three Weeks at 20 lb

The Rucking Weight Vest feels secure in a way I appreciate as soon as I start walking. Its curved plates sit close to my chest and back. They aren't sliding around or bouncing up and down, and the fitted shape doesn't feel as though it's hitting odd places on my body.

That's the strongest reason I'd choose it: a stable load in a vest I can reconfigure with another plate pair. The details are thoughtful, too, from the opening cummerbund handles to a chest pocket that actually holds my phone. There are limits. I'm close to the end of the fit adjustment, the phone is a squeeze, and a big hole in a plate doesn't turn a padded vest into an air conditioner.

How I've used it

I've had this vest in my rotation for three weeks, walking with the 20 lb complete setup. Mine is Coyote Brown, L/XL, with a Vietnam-made label, and I'm 6′2″. GORUCK supplied the vest and curved plates. I haven't recorded cumulative distance, and this review doesn't establish long-term durability.

I also have the heavier plate pair that makes a 30 lb setup, but my walking findings here are from 20 lb.

The video above shows the fit, phone pocket and complete plate installation. You can also watch the review on YouTube.

Curved plates are the point of this vest

There is one plate in front and another in back. Both are cast iron and curve around the torso, with the weight pushed toward the perimeter. The center is open, the top has a U-shaped cutout below the chin and neck, and the sides give the arms room to swing. Together, those cutouts leave clearance where a full slab of iron would get in the way.

In my use, the plates stay close to me. I feel secure without the weight sliding or bouncing. The vest still has to fit properly to do that; the plate shape doesn't replace adjusting the straps.

The Curved plates are specific to this vest. My flat Standard backpack plates are a different format, and buying a GORUCK plate doesn't automatically make it compatible. The plate guide shows the different shapes and where they belong. Curved plate compatibility.

The 20 lb figure includes the vest

My lighter pair is marked 9.25 lb per plate. That's 18.5 lb of cast iron, plus GORUCK's listed 1.5 lb empty vest, for a 20 lb complete setup. The heavier pair is marked 14.25 lb each, making 30 lb with the vest. The third listed combination is 14 lb total.

These are labeled and manufacturer-listed weights, rather than measurements from my own scale. Choose the complete load you want, then make sure you're ordering the matching pair. GORUCK's weight options.

Check the adjustment range before buying

The L/XL fits me, but its straps are near the end of their adjustment range. Torso shape and circumference matter as well as height, particularly if you want space for another layer.

The vest adjusts from both the front and back. Lifting the rear panel exposes the straps, and the cummerbund closes around the waist. Small release handles let me pull the closure open quickly.

GORUCK offers S/M and L/XL, with the same listed 11-by-13-inch front and rear panel dimensions. The straps and cummerbund are the sizing difference. Check the current size guidance and how much adjustment you need. Sizing and fit instructions.

The phone pocket works, with a tight exit

The magnetic chest pocket just fits my iPhone Pro Max. I can put it away and close the pocket, but getting it back out takes more effort than I'd like. A slightly roomier opening would make it more useful.

I appreciate having that space. My Achilles vest has no phone pocket, so this gives me somewhere to put one small essential without relying on my clothing. It still isn't backpack storage for water, a layer and everything else I might take on a longer outing.

The openings don't eliminate heat

The outside is 500D Cordura, and the softer lining is 210D Cordura. Between the plates and my body, there are still layers of fabric and padding covering those big openings. Materials.

Heat builds up, and I can finish with a vest-shaped sweat patch on my shirt. I haven't measured its heat retention, but I would expect to sweat in it. The center opening changes the plate geometry; it doesn't leave bare skin exposed to the breeze.

Installing the plates takes some force

GORUCK's instructions say the plates fit snugly and may take force to seat. That matches my experience. The pockets are tight enough that seating a plate takes a deliberate push. Official loading instructions.

In the demonstration I open the pocket, pull the flap clear and insert the plate with its curve oriented as shown. I keep the double-sided hook-and-loop strap from grabbing before it's in position, wrap it around the plate and press the closure shut.

Use GORUCK's current installation walkthrough when setting yours up, then check that both pockets are closed securely. This isn't a plate I would plan to swap casually in the middle of a walk.

There's also a padded handle on the back for picking the vest up or hanging it to dry.

Budget for the vest and its plates

The garment and plate pair are separate purchases, and the verdict box above shows today's GORUCK price for the vest. Compare the combined cost with a vest that already includes its weight, and check the size, color and pair selected at checkout. Availability can differ by plate weight.

The ability to change the load is the reason to pay for this system. If I know I want the same weight every time, the fixed-weight Achilles takes less preparation. I haven't run a controlled comfort comparison between them. For other load formats and budgets, the weighted-vest guide compares the options.

My verdict after three weeks

The design feels well thought out and refined. The plates follow my body, the 20 lb load stays secure, and the cutouts keep the hard edges away from my neck and moving arms. I appreciate the attention paid to those details.

I'd choose it when I want front-and-back weight and the option to change my load by changing plate pairs. I'd check fit first, budget for the whole setup and accept that it will get hot. The tight phone retrieval is a nuisance, but the limited adjustment room is the detail I'd take most seriously before buying.

At 20 lb, it's a secure, thoughtfully designed option for weighted walks. The fit check and the cost of a complete setup are what I'd settle before ordering.

Frequently asked questions