The GORUCK Rucker 4.0 is the toughest backpack for rucking on the planet. It’s built to Special Forces standards from ultra-durable 1000D Cordura with a single heavy-duty zipper for the main compartment. The GORUCK Rucker 4.0 is incredibly well-built and is designed for training hard. Handles on the top, bottom, and sides allow you to maneuver it in so many ways to get the most out of your training sessions. And the reflective strip on the front of the pack keeps you visible to traffic driving by in low-light conditions (like those 5am ruck marches!!).
Table of Contents
Specs
- Primary Material: 1000D Cordura
- Back Panel Material: 210D High Tenacity
- Shoulder Strap Material: 210D High Tenacity
- Elevated Ruck Plate Pockets
- Velcro Internal Pockets
- Relfective Stripe
- Included Sternum Strap
- MOLLE for accessories
Pros
- Tough, Rugged, & Durable
- Water-resistant (rainproof)
- Best pack for rucking
- Best warranty on the Planet
- Can Hold 75 lbs from Ruck Plates Alone
Cons
- Expensive (but worth it)
Price
At the time of this article, the Rucker 4.0 costs around $255, but depends on the size and sometimes the colour pattern you want.
Check GORUCK for the latest pricing!
I listed the price as a “Con” in this review, but although it’s expensive, it’s worth it. You’re buying an item meant to last a lifetime and if you use it, it will benefit your physical and mental health so much! This is an investment.
Design & Build Quality
The GORUCK Rucker 4.0 built extremely well and is meant to take a beating! It’s constructed from ultra-durable CORDURA nylon, either 1000D or 500D depending on colour.
Features padded shoulder straps and multiple grab handles (top, sides, and bottom) for versatile carrying options. These handles are excellent for doing different exercises, like fireman carries, over-head squats, or bent over rows. The possibilities are endless! … maybe not endless, but there’s too many to come up with here.
Elevated ruck plate pockets keep weight high and close to the back for better stability. There are two ruck plate pockets in the Rucker 4.0 allowing you to carry up to 75lbs of weight from Ruck Plates alone!
Built to military-grade standards with exceptional stitching and attention to detail. The Rucker 4.0 is built to last! GORUCK’s warranty is probably the best warranty on the planet. If it breaks, they’ll fix it or replace it.
Capacity & Size Options
The GORUCK Rucker 4.0 is available in 15 L, 20 L, and 25 L sizes. Depending on your height, you’ll want to select a size that is suited for you.
I’m 5’10” using the 25L and it does feel a bit large on my back, where my wife’s 20L Rucker fits nicely. So if you’re 6′ tall or more, then the 25L would be a safe bet. Any shorter than 6′ then I would stick to the 20L
Each model features well-thought-out internal organization with separate weight plate compartments. The Main Weight Pocket can hold the 45 lb Ruck Plate, and the 2nd Weight Pocket can hold the 30 lb Ruck Plate, a total of 75 lbs!
Comfort & Carrying Experience
The GORUCK Rucker 4.0 has an enhanced lumbar support with 10 mm EVA foam padding at the lower back area. Having this support on your lower back is such a game-changer for those long heavy rucks. I don’t know how many times I’d ruck with my military-issued rucksack and the chafing on the lower back was so painful. Thankfully, GORUCK has incorporated the lumbar support to prevent this from happening.
You can also purchase the padded hip belt which is phenomenal for those long heavy ruck marches. I highly recommend investing in the hip-belt as this will greatly help relieve the stress on your shoulders. What I do is I tighten the shoulder straps so the Rucker 4.0 is sitting nice and high on my back, then I tighten up the hip-belt, and then loosen the shoulder straps ever so slightly.
The shoulder straps are lined with smoother 210D material to prevent chafing and has webbing so you can attach the adjustable sternum strap, which is included with the Rucker 4.0, helping keep the Rucker stable on the back.
Once you have the Rucker 4.0 setup and positioned on your back, it makes for one comfortable (or as comfortable as it can be) ruck march. Essentially, it’s making it difficult for good reasons, and not for bad reasons which cause injuries or serious chafing. Enjoy the suck!
Load & Ruck Plate Compatibility
The GORUCK Rucker 4.0 is purpose-built for weighted rucking and fitness training. As they say on their website, it’s a gym on your back. You can go for a lengthy ruck march, then take the pack off and do some overhead squats while holding the two side handles, or flutter kicks with the Rucker 4.0 held up, there are so many possibilities.
The elevated plate pockets keep the load from shifting mid-march. They’re secured using a velcro closure keeping the plates nice and snug.
The 20 L and 25 L versions accommodate up to a 45 lb plate, while the 15 L handles up to a 30 lb plate.
Dual plate pockets (in the larger models) allow stacking weights for progressive overload. As I said earlier, the 20L and 25L Rucker 4.0 can hold both a 30 lb and 45 lb Ruck Plate simultaneously. That’s 75 lbs of weight!
External MOLLE webbing supports optional hip belts or additional gear attachments. I can’t recommend the padded hip-belt enough! It will help a ton with relieving strain on your shoulders and also keep your Rucker 4.0 from swaying left to right, especially when running.
Features & Practical Details
There are three rows of MOLLE webbing on the front and sides for customization and accessory attachment.
Drain holes at the bottom allow water to escape during wet training or rainy conditions. Remember this for when you use the Rucker 4.0 just as a daily use backpack with valuables inside.
Reflective stripe enhances visibility for early-morning or nighttime rucks. Too often I’ve been driving on base and it’s so difficult to see anyone if they’re not wearing a reflective band. The fact that GORUCK incorporated a large reflective stripe on the Rucker 4.0 is a great design feature. My wife has the older 2.0 version and it doesn’t have this. So good job to GORUCK for adding it to the 4.0 variant.
Hook-and-loop Velcro patch panel for identification or morale patches. Not much else to say about that.
Durability & Daily Use
The GORUCK Rucker 4.0 is built to Special Forces standards. I’ve owned three GORUCK packs now, as well as the GORUCK Kit Bag, and I can honestly say that GORUCK makes the most durable and rugged gear.
GORUCK is so confident in their gear lasting for decades (even centuries?) that they have a Scars Lifetime Warranty. Basically if your gear is broken in ANY way, they will either fix it or replace it. This isn’t including footwear though, since footwear will fail eventually after continuous use.
The GORUCK Rucker 4.0 is designed to take a beating. The older versions of the Rucker used to have an external zipper and two internal zippers, but those kept getting smashed up from people throwing the Rucker on the ground during a workout session, so GORUCK replaced the external zipper for a reflective panel, and replaced the two internal zippers for velcro.
The 1000D Cordura material is extremely durable and abrasive resistant, as it’s similar to the material used for kit bags by Special Forces units around the world.
I’ve also used the GORUCK Rucker 4.0 as an Everyday Carry bag since I own the MultiCam pattern and can wear it while in uniform. I don’t recommend using this as a Field Kit bag though, because of the big reflective band on the front of the bag. Not great for tactical environments.
Value & Final Thoughts
The GORUCK Rucker is a very durable backpack designed to take a beating. It’s made from rugged 1000 Denier CORDURA in many different colour patterns. Made to the standards required for Special Forces operations, the Rucker 4.0 will not fail.
Not only is the GORUCK Rucker 4.0 an incredible tool to have for training and will last a lifetime, it’s covered by GORUCK’s SCARS Lifetime Warranty, so if anything breaks at any time in the future, you know it’ll be fixed or replaced.
I highly recommend getting some Ruck Plates to insert into the Rucker 4.0 and the padded hip belt to make those loaded ruck marches as comfortable as possible.
Make sure you also check which size is best for your height. You might not think this matters, but it does. If you’re only 5’9″ but want to get the 25L to fit more stuff, it might feel awkward on your back and not sit properly. So get the right size.
Although this is a pricey item to buy, I would consider this an investment for your health, and you’re only going to have to buy it once.