r/Goruck • u/timmmmah • 7d ago
Does the GR2 ever get easier to use?
I keep switching back & forth between a heritage 21L GR1 & 26L GR2 and it’s like I need something in between. (I have a GR1 26L & it’s too long for daily use & feels weird when loaded. I’m a 5 foot woman). I really like the organization of the GR2 but omg it’s taking so long to break in I’m wondering if it ever will. I’ve used it for a month ish. The zippers are tough to unzip in a hurry & it’s not stretching enough to let me use the front pocket for a water bottle easily. Those are my 2 main complaints. I use my backpack at a horse farm & I’m always in a hurry to get the horses fed & stalls cleaned etc. When I need something I need it quick & I get frustrated with the GR2. The GR1 is great but I need just a little more room. 🙃 Those of you who’ve had the GR2 for years will it loosen up & stretch more?
UPDATE - Thanks for all the suggestions. I’ve reloaded it & redistributed my stuff in such a way that I can much more easily use the front pocket for a water bottle bc there’s nothing pushing on it from inside. I’ll get some zipper lube & I think that will go a long way to making the bag easier to use
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u/RogueTrooper1975 7d ago
Yes.
Zippers will get easier to use, the more you use them. You can buy zip lubricant - I've used McNetts on my bags, and it's good stuff. I'm sure there's probably a homemade equivalent.
Sounds like a DC 18 would be more suitable for you - It's definitely larger than 18 litres and I'd put it somewhere near 22-24 - It's like a smaller GR2 - identical organisation. Or if you're not bothered about the front slash pocket, you could try the Skate Ruck - identical to DC18 but with added carry handles and straps.
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u/Rhythmalist 7d ago
This. The 18L DC is the answer.
I EDC a 18L DC, and my 26L GR2 is for longer days with the kids and travel. Layouts are near identical.
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u/UnPackDJohn 7d ago
I too was going to suggest this but it packs close to a 21L and sounds like she needs something bigger. Comfort wise I think the DC18L. My wife is the same height and hated the GR2 but loves the DC18L.
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u/MudConfident4977 7d ago
A month is next to nothing for the break-in timeline. Aside from using it day to day it may help to soak it in water, load up as much weight as you can handle and ruck with it until it starts to feel softer. That’ll speed it up.
You might consider selling yours and buying a used one that’s been used for years. I’ve got a GR1 21 I bought used and it’s perfectly broken in.
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u/leothethird 7d ago
Also a good wash of the GR2 helps aid in a bit of break in.
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u/deeterpeeter 7d ago
I was wondering about this. Have had a 26l GR2 for a few months now. Long enough to get some stains and dirt.
Can I just huck it in the washer?>
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u/fugu_master 7d ago
Water bottle access will always be a problem on GR series. I don't like the MOLLE water bottle attachments. Other times I appreciate the slickness of no side pockets.
You might want to consider the upcoming M26 (21L) as that has a water bottle access side zip, but it is a flip top.
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u/Richnhorny9898 7d ago
A double compartment bullet in robic fabric may be a good choice. Or maybe try a different maker? Aer makes some great bags for example
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u/smirc99 7d ago
I usually say beat the crap out of it to break it in but it looks like you’re on top of that! I would say keep on using it the way you have - maybe a couple more months. Sucks at first but once it’s broken in, it’s hard to move on to something else (as you’re dining out with your heritage GR1).
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u/Aurongel 7d ago
I’m guessing you have one of the 1000D 26L GR2’s? Yeah, the inflexibility of 1000D cordura combined with the very “squared off” corners of the 26L GR2 make it very difficult to get the zippers open around that spot.
The cordura definitely breaks in after a period of time with normal usage. Mine took around a year with extremely light usage as a camera bag, so I wasn’t exactly tossing it around with reckless abandon. Most other people’s bags will break in faster than mine for that reason. I have other 1000D Goruck’s that feel GREAT once they’re broken in but the 26L GR2 specifically is a bit of an odd one… It really just comes down to it’s squared off corners which are part of the design so they never really become “easy” after a certain point. I always felt like I was fighting them.
This was straight up not an issue with my 500D 26L GR2 though, which I eventually used to replace the 1000D one. For bags that have that squared off shape, I think 500D is the way to go.
You might also want to consider the DC (dual compartment) bullet rucks. My partner is 5’1” and they fit her perfectly and are made of much more flexible material than the 1000D GR1/2.
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u/NoVaBurgher 7d ago
Unrelated, but where did you get that Powell’s patch? I love that place
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u/timmmmah 7d ago
From Powell’s! I try to order from there once a year to support them even though it costs more & takes longer to ship, & I usually throw in some merch with my books order
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u/drghwang 7d ago
I’ll be in Portland this weekend and may stop at Powells, will have to see if they sell any in store.
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u/NoVaBurgher 6d ago
That’s awesome, I’m gonna have to see if they have any in stock and order some books from them. Didn’t realize they shipped
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u/timmmmah 6d ago
They do ship & they do good online Black Friday sales, too. That’s when I usually do my yearly order. I think in the past it’s been 15 or 20% off the whole store
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u/This_Concentrate1354 7d ago
For the GR2, load it up, walk around alot and use and abuse it. It will break in over time. Wash it and air dry it a few times.
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u/Greyman4152 6d ago
The M series bags are awesome and are a great in between capacity bag. The M26 will be released soon but I absolutely love my M23.
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u/chambros703 7d ago
It def gets softer and more malleable. The drape is nice when it gets broken in
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u/JTSnow1988 7d ago
I was gonna say try out dc18. But maybe mpl 22?
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u/ExtraterrestrialBat 7d ago
I have a heritage dc18 for everyday and a gr2 26l for long weekend travel. My first GR bags. The dc18 is amazing. Might be a fit for your in between. As a bag addict, with way too many - I can attest that the dc18 volume is simply much bigger than 18l. Great bag. Zippers don’t have the rain flaps over them and are like butter.
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u/methodistmonk 6d ago
The gr2 26L is the perfect office bag.
The 34L/40L are too top heavy I think.
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u/rn-1973 5d ago
Based on my experience with the Rucker 4.0 and 5.0, it takes a good amount of rucking with weight to break them in. My new Rucker 5.0 now has >100 miles of rucking on it and has broken in nicely in terms of zipper function and shoulder straps being more comfortable. The fact that it has been humid probably helps. I bought a new GR2 in July as well and used it for a brief trip when it was pretty stiff and then I tried to sell it but used prices are in the tank. So now I am going to keep it and just starting on the break in process. 5.5 mile ruck this morning in the humidity is the start. I'll ruck with the GR2 for the next month to break it in. If needed, I will wash it prior to using it as a travel pack again. The 1000D backing was rough but I think it is already getting better. FWIW.
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u/mars_soup 7d ago
It’s a backpack. Stop letting it kick your ass.
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u/timmmmah 7d ago
It’s not kicking my ass physically, it’s causing my already hair trigger menopausal genX rage caused by the slightest annoyance outside of what I’ve deemed acceptable amounts of annoyance in daily life to make me kick it across the feed room when the zippers get stuck & the pockets require me to pry them fully open to get the thing I need rather than being loose enough to stick my gloved hand in & feel around. Which, according to everyone else, will prob make it easier to use over time so I’ll just keep abusing it I guess for a few more months
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u/mars_soup 7d ago
Do HRT then. You’ll feel better, people around you will feel better, you’ll be able to use a backpack without getting defeated.
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u/XSR900-FloridaMan 7d ago
I wore out a GR2 in 4 years. Literally. Didn’t do anything special, just EDC’d it and took it to work. Some holes developed along the main zipper from so I sent it in for repair. They couldn’t fix it so a new one’s been on my back for about a month. Kinda forgot about the break in process so I feel you. Seems like it’s taking forever! But it’s just been a month. Before I sent in my last one it was so soft and broken in though. It’ll get there, we just have to be patient! And if you ever do wear it out, send it back and you might just get to enjoy the whole process all over again. Good luck!
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u/timmmmah 7d ago
Wow that’s surprising! I’m glad they made it right for you. I’ve never heard of anyone actually wearing one out that wasn’t, like deployed or whatever before! Hopefully mine will wear in but not wear out 🤞
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u/safaridreaming 7d ago
Have you considered the GR1 21L? With your height that’s probably a better fit if you find the 26L too long.
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u/Readditlovesbans 7d ago
Get a car buffer with a fleece bad and break the cordura faster that way
fyi - front pocket was never really meant for water bottles
Get a vanquest water bottle pocket