GORUCK Kit Bag Review: Special Forces Flight Bag

The GORUCK Kit Bag is ideal for military members, tactical aviators, or anyone who is required to lug a ton of gear with them. The 32L capacity is plenty for your gear, clothing, books, water, or mission plans. The 1000D Cordura material is extremely durable and built to last a lifetime. Another key feature is that it’s TSA Carry-On compliant so you can bring the Kit Bag with you anywhere.

For years I’ve been using GORUCK gear. As a serving member in the military, I require gear that can take a beating! I’ve used the Rucker, the GR1, the Ballistic Trainers, both the MACV-1 High and MACV-2 Mid boots.

In order to truly have the GORUCK Kit Bag 2.0 tested, I had a Tactical Aviation Pilot use it for a few weeks. He used it as an EDC bag, a gym bag, a go-bag, and threw it in the back of the helicopter during his flights.

Specs

Material: 1000D Cordura
Lining: 210D Cordura
Colors: Black, Ranger Green, Armor Grey
Dimensions: 17.5”W x 11.5″H x 9”D
Pockets: 4 External + 4 Internal
Shoulder Strap: Included
Interior Lining: 210D Cordura

Cost of the GORUCK Kit Bag

At the time of this article, the GORUCK Kit Bag 2.0 costs $150. This is a steal in my opinion, as this is a kit bag that you will likely have for life.

Check GORUCK for the latest pricing.

All the GORUCK gear is meant to last a lifetime. So paying less than $200 for a GORUCK Kit Bag is an incredible investment.

First Impression

I was so excited to get my hands on this bag that I was checking the shipping status daily! GORUCK makes, in my honest opinion, the toughest gear out there, and I use their gear everyday.

I can carry this thing while in my military uniform and still look professional. I would feel comfortable using this kit bag for military operations either on Exercises or Operations.

It’s also excellent for using as a gym bag for PT, or a range bag for carrying a plate carrier, ear defenders, ammo, etc.

The main compartment has 3 internal pockets, which is great for organization.

The outer zipper pocket also has an internal mesh pocket, and there are two external pouches, one on both ends of the Kit Bag.

As mentioned above, the GORUCK Kit Bag is TSA Carry-On Compliant, meaning you can use this bag as a carry-on at the airport for your flights.

Functionality

If you’re looking for a durable, tough, rugged kit bag to carry your tactical gear around in, the GORUCK Kit Bag will do the job.

The outer zippered pocket is large enough to fit a laptop, although it doesn’t have a false bottom which means the laptop will contact the ground. So make sure it has a protective case.

Special Forces Flight Bag

The GORUCK Kit Bag has been dubbed the Special Forces Flight Bag for its ability to be used as a travel bag, aircrew flight bag, and deployment bag.

It has plenty of storage for flight gear such as Eagle Vests, aircrew helmets, plate carriers, documents, and more.

I’ve personally talked to someone in the Special Forces community about GORUCK. I was walking by with my GR1 and they approached me. I asked what they used, and they said they were using GORUCK’s Aviation Kit Bag.

Material

The materials of the GORUCK Kit Bag are 1000D Cordura, which is very rugged and water resistant.

There’s a flap that goes over top of the main compartment zipper, preventing water from leaking through the zipper teeth.

GORUCK prides itself on it’s durability and toughness. They trust their gear not to fail so much that they have a SCARS Lifetime Guarantee meaning if you manage to break it, they’ll fix it or replace it.

The internal compartment is manufactured using 210 Denier Cordura, which is slightly less durable than 1000 Denier, but it’s also less rigid, making it an excellent fabric of choice for an internal compartment.

Main Compartment

The main compartment on the GORUCK Kit Bag is very spacious and opens wide so you can easily pack and access your kit for travelling or finding what you need during missions.

Within the main compartment itself are one enclosed zippered pouch and two side zippered mesh pockets. The enclosed pouch is about 6” x 10”. The two side zippered mesh pockets are 8” x 8”.

Regardless of what scenario you find yourself in, whether it using it as a carry-on for travel, bringing on deployment, or using it for tactical aviation missions, you’ll be able to fit a ton of gear in this bag.

External Zipper Compartment

There is an external zipper compartment on the GORUCK Kit Bag 2.0, which inside has a zippered mesh compartment great for organizing your gear and any loose documents you need quick access to.

Keep in mind that if you have the main compartment completely packed full, it will inhibit you from packing very much in this external compartment.

For aircrew, this compartment is excellent for storing your mission data, flight manuals, or any other devices necessary to carry out the mission.

YKK Zippers

GORUCK also uses heavy duty YKK Zippers on all of their products because of their strength and resilience to harsh conditions that GORUCK expects their gear to go through. The attachments on the ends of the shoulder strap and the D-rings on the Kit Bag are a heavy gauge metal.

No worrying about it getting busted up or bent.

I’ve used the GR1 Everyday Carry backpack, the Rucker, and now the Kit Bag 2.0, and never has a zippers failed. The pulls are made using 550 Paracord and heat shrink material which is very easy to find and grab hold of in low light conditions with or without gloves on.

Shoulder Strap

The should strap on the GORUCK Kit Bag 2.0 is included and is very well padded. There’s some rugged attachments on either end, so no worries about those failing anytime soon.

Even the hardware for adjusting the length of the shoulder strap is very strong. All the stitching is done to the highest standard. As someone who has worked with Aviation Life Support Equipment, I know good stitching when I see it.

Conclusion

The GORUCK Kit Bag 2.0 is a versatile, heavy duty, rugged, affordable, and last-for-a-lifetime quality Kit Bag that can be used by anyone for almost any situation. Whether it be for tactical aviation missions, going to the gym, using as a carry-on travelling the world, or sitting by the door as a Special Forces Go-Bag, the Kit Bag will not fail when you need it.

I’m extremely pleased with the GORUCK Kit Bag, and will be using this bag regularly for the rest of my life, and will likely pass it down to my children or grandchildren.

What’s great about GORUCK’s Scars Lifetime Warranty is that their gear is meant to last a lifetime. You break it, they fix it. It’s a no-brainer.

If you want to check out the other GORUCK gear I use, check out my review of the MACV-2 boots, or the Rucker.

Thanks for reading up on my in-depth review of the GORUCK Kit Bag (if you made it this far). I hope it’s been helpful to you for your decision making on if you’ll purchase one or not. If you’re looking for a kit bag that will outlast you, you won’t be disappointed.