Field film 00104:29 original review
GORUCK Rucker 5.0First-week trail review
I carried the 25L Rucker 5.0 with a 20 lb plate and extra gear for roughly two miles of uneven Northwoods trail. Here is what worked, what hurt, and what one week cannot prove.
Reviewed by Joel Kelly
GORUCK supplied the pack · Watch on YouTube
Bottom line
Built for weighted miles, not weekday carry.
After my first week, I like the Rucker 5.0 as a dedicated plate-carrying training pack. It stayed secure on rough ground and the lumbar pad felt comfortable. Shoulder soreness afterward and a sweaty back are part of my experience too. I have not used the 4.0, tested a hip belt, or established long-term durability.
Test limits
What I didn't test
This was one week with one bag and one load. These are the claims I am not making yet.
- This is a first-week review, not a long-term durability conclusion.
- I did not test the 20L size, rain performance, or the SCARS warranty service.
- I did not use a Rucker 4.0. That comparison is based on published specifications.
- I did not use the optional hip belt, so I cannot say whether it would change the shoulder soreness I felt afterward.
- GORUCK's 75 lb plate rating is a capacity figure. I used one 20 lb plate, and it is not a suggested starting load.
Full text
Transcript
The corrected captions are grouped by the published chapters and lightly edited for punctuation and readability. The final eight seconds are the designed closing card, with no dialogue.
Introduction and supplied-gear disclosure
Hey, I'm Joel with Ruck Authority, and this is the GORUCK Rucker 5.0. GORUCK was kind enough to send this over, but they haven't told me what to talk about. For the last week, I've been using it on the trails up in the Northwoods of Wisconsin.
GORUCK built this Rucker as a training bag. The main idea is to keep a weight plate high against your back instead of letting it sag like a normal backpack would. I don't actually have a Rucker 4.0, so I can't do a direct comparison.
What changed from the Rucker 4.0
The Rucker 5.0 is an upgrade over the 4.0, and one of the main differences is the larger lumbar support. It's 30 millimeters thick. It looks enormous when you actually see the bag, but once I used it, it was very comfortable and I didn't really notice it after a bit.
Choosing 20L or 25L
This is the larger 25-liter version, but they do make a 20-liter version. It depends on your size and where the lumbar support falls on your back. I'm 6 foot 2, so they sent me the larger one, but everybody's back size is different.
Materials and shoulder straps
The main body is 1000-denier CORDURA. The fabric against your back and underneath the shoulder straps is a smoother 210-denier CORDURA, so it isn't as abrasive against clothing or bare skin.
The shoulder straps are thick and well padded. The sternum strap can move up or down or come off entirely. There are no load lifters, and the padded waist belt is optional. I didn't have one, so I didn't test with it.
Plate pockets and frame sheet
Inside, there are two elevated plate pockets, one in the back and one in the front. I did my review with this 20 lb plate. The shorter pocket fits GORUCK's Standard 10, 20, and 30 lb plates. The longer pocket fits its Long 30 and 45 lb plates, and it can hold the Standard plates too. Together they are rated up to 75 lb, although that is a capacity figure, not a suggestion for where to start.
The built-in frame sheet keeps the bag from folding around the plate when you tighten the straps.
Pockets, hardware, and hydration
The bag opens flat. These internal pockets now close with magnets. I found this a good place to throw my keys and assorted little items or snacks. There is also a place to hang a hydration bladder, with a D-ring and an opening near the top.
The zippers are YKK with 550 cord pulls. They are easy to grab and don't rattle around when you walk. Outside, there is MOLLE webbing on the front and sides, with a whole ecosystem of compatible attachments. There are four padded handles on the top, sides, and bottom. Two holes on the bottom are there to drain water.
GORUCK describes the bag as highly water resistant. So far, I've avoided the rain, so I haven't tested that yet. I haven't tried to destroy it, but the stitching around the straps, handles, and plate pockets looks substantial. The bag is protected by the SCARS lifetime guarantee.
Apparently some people don't like the big GORUCK branding and want it to be more discreet. I don't care. I'm fine showing it.
Trail comfort and shoulder soreness
This has been rock solid. I don't feel it wobbling, and it isn't shifting weight around. I had a sweaty back, but I'm a bigger guy, so that is going to happen. I didn't have any hot spots, chafing, numbness, or lower-back discomfort.
My traps were a little sore afterward. I think the hip belt might alleviate some of the stress up high, but I didn't test that. Overall, I didn't notice the soreness while I was walking. It was an after-the-fact thing.
I found plenty of space for extra gear along with the plate. I had a drone case and some camera equipment.
Who it is for and my verdict
If you mainly want an everyday backpack that can occasionally carry some weight, this may be more specialized and more expensive than you need. You give up things like a laptop compartment, an outside bottle pocket, and quick-access storage.
Another consideration is price. This is a premium bag, and the optional hip belt costs extra. If you want to see the current sizes, colors, and price, the QR code and the link below are affiliate links. I may earn a commission if you buy through them, but that doesn't change my opinion of the bag.
If you want a dedicated bag for carrying plates and doing ruck workouts, I think the Rucker 5.0 makes a lot of sense.