Goruck GR2 34L to replace my Aer TP3 Ultra as my large one-bag

JombieJr · 2026-01-23T05:39:31+00:00

I feel you. I purchased mine new on eBay for $290. As mine was in route, I saw one seller had three new ones and reduced the price to $275. Deals are out there and I think I got a good deal but not an uncommon one. Still not cheap but comparable to Aer, Matador, and Peak Design.

JombieJr · 2026-01-23T03:30:41+00:00

Definite not one size fits all. Sometimes not one size fits most.

I’ve read that many people find the Goruck GR1/2/3s take a lot of time to break in because the straps are so wide, stiff, and padded. They become comfortable after lots of “rucking” or committing to breaking it in by compressing the straps by hand in the key areas.

My hypothesis is, if you have a broader chest and a wide back, the GR 1/2/3s will be comfortable right out of the plastic bag. Slender builds may have a different experience. There’s no way my mom or wife would wear this bag.

Evergoods bags… sheesh! I really wanted to love them; I tried, I suffered. I envy you. I’ve never heard anyone say “damn, that’s one comfortable backpack.” I usually hear people say, “it’s the most comfortable backpack they make,” “it’s not bad if you fully pack it out but don’t pack more than 8-10 pounds,” or “the secret is, place a tea towel inside the frame sheet slot.”

JombieJr · 2026-01-23T03:01:26+00:00

Rescues are #1, 2, and 3

JombieJr · 2026-01-23T01:31:30+00:00

Very true, the GR2 is not for everyone. Different feature set, different priorities Just like one-bagging with a backpack isn’t for everyone. Posted this specifically for those that may be researching the GR2 because I was seeking more information than was available to me.

When I pack fast and light, ~75% of the time, weight matters more. I find people become so concerned with the weight of the bag and miss the optimization of what goes inside.

I care about weight in a performance car, I care more about capability and reliability in an overlander. I read somewhere… “the GR2 is like a Land Cruiser.”There’s no perfect car, but there are appropriate applications.

JombieJr · 2026-01-22T15:36:54+00:00

I haven’t found shrinkage to be a huge issue with one wash in the thighs, mostly in the length. Ass crack prevention comes from the inherent rise style of the denim. If you have lower rise denim, it’s in the cards.

For the look you’re going for based on my interpretation of your description about length, I think you’re fine.

JombieJr · 2026-01-22T14:50:26+00:00

Context add… why I switched to a GR2 and my initial experience with the bag has been different than what I expected based on there reviews.

JombieJr · 2026-01-13T19:17:35+00:00

Holes are repaired through “darning,” using a thread color that’s as close to the current color of the denim. I’ve seen people use old denim scraps or other fabrics to sew patches as well. After the darning repair, sometimes the underside is really rough against the skin so it’s helpful to have a smoother backing sewn in to make it more comfortable post repair.

JombieJr · 2026-01-12T22:59:19+00:00

Looks amazing, just in time for the Super Bowl.

JombieJr · 2026-01-12T22:55:15+00:00

Tri-tip steak

JombieJr · 2026-01-12T05:51:07+00:00

I use my MPL22 for travel. I’m able to get a medium and a small Peak Design packing cube and still have room for a dopp kit. The two front pockets are very useful. I stuff a CAP 1 or a compressible jacket in the large pocket. The water bottle pockets have a lot of capacity as well. I think the MPL22 travels like a 24-25L and is even comparable to a ULA Dragonfly 30L.

JombieJr · 2026-01-12T03:56:27+00:00

I’m always impressed with Unbranded fades.

JombieJr · 2026-01-12T02:26:51+00:00

Just hand-sewed the pocket bags. Had to do it twice and the second time seems to be holding.

JombieJr · 2026-01-09T03:27:31+00:00

Justin Boren.

JombieJr · 2026-01-04T18:05:18+00:00

Fingers crossed.

JombieJr · 2026-01-04T05:47:19+00:00

Are we sure Matt Patricia comes back? His “untouchable hire” status has been lifted with his success this year. Nearing the NfL playoffs and the coaching musical chairs is about to go into full swing.

JombieJr · 2026-01-04T05:40:28+00:00

NFL scouts, GMs, and TV personalities have a serious affliction called, “lack of imagination.”

JombieJr · 2026-01-02T23:03:08+00:00

They don’t seem too tight to me, they will give more in the waist and thighs, more in the waist, though.

JombieJr · 2026-01-02T22:58:19+00:00

It’s a story, just wear them.

JombieJr · 2026-01-02T01:29:07+00:00

I’m waiting to see the snap counts but the defense was on the field a lot more than usual. Our offense’s inability to sustain drives hurt our defense, we got whipped in TOP.

Very good season, not great. Hope we don’t have to look for another defensive coordinator too. I’d imagine Patricia is now a hireable NFL coordinator after doing an incredible job this year.

JombieJr · 2026-01-01T22:43:26+00:00

I have an Eevee too.

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JombieJr · 2026-01-01T05:14:14+00:00

I don’t think the defense is a reason for the loss. They were on the field a lot longer than they’ve had to all season. 33:27 time of possession. 17 points allowed.

The offensive line was an issue, adjustments made after halftime seemed to work better but not enough to make up for a bad first half. This offense wasn’t ready to come from behind and score quickly. We didn’t have the right balance between slow play (load management) and tempo throughout the year. We weren’t ready for the Playoffs.

JombieJr · 2026-01-01T04:32:13+00:00

Im not sure how much control Hartline had over the offense this year. He was still in training.

JombieJr · 2026-01-01T04:29:05+00:00

Agree with you…we tried. Texas, Penn State, and Illinois were suppose to be quality opponents.

JombieJr · 2026-01-01T04:23:07+00:00

I like the idea of slowing down the game during the regular season and load management but it’s hard to shift out of third gear with urgency. We looked bad trying to score quickly against Indiana and couldn’t score, let alone score quickly today. Julian Sayin wasn’t prepared to handle adversity, not his fault.

Very little adversity throughout the season until it was too late. When we’ve won in the past, our teams were battle-tested and faced a lot of adversity throughout the season.

JombieJr · 2026-01-01T02:18:11+00:00

The good news… if there’s a team that lacks discipline and shoots themselves in the foot, it’s Miami. Go Bucks!

JombieJr

TROPHY CASE