The best rucking backpacks worth carrying, according to an Army SERE instructor

Not only is the REI Co-op Ruckpack 40 our top pick for the best rucking backpack, but it’s also the most planet-friendly, so it satisfies on two fronts.

The pack is made out of a recycled nylon shell with a recycled polyester lining. The material also meets Bluesign criteria, meaning the way in which the material was made is environmentally-friendly.

The water-resistant ripstop fabric is thin but tough. It features lockable zippers, multiple carry options so you can grab it and go or carry it like a briefcase, and a spring-steel frame. It held up to many rucking adventures in the Georgia forest and never felt overbearing.

Sporting tuckable trekking pole loops and a built-in rain cover, the Ruckpack 40 was designed with hikers in mind. The mesh, padded shoulder straps with a chest buckle kept the pack tight. The waist belt and load lifters, coupled with the spring steel frame, made for a pleasant ride even while lightly jogging.

With 40 liters of carrying space and four exterior pockets, plus the main compartment, it was the easiest pack out of all that we tested to store and access gear. Plus, it has two mesh bottle carriers, which both store a 35-ounce bottle snugly. And the Ruckpack 40 comes in black and terra firma, which looks identical to coyote brown.

A comfy carry, with enough room and organization to take you as far off the beaten path as you want to go, the Ruckpack 40 pack makes a great home base for multi-day trips.

For the Best Value, we picked the Kelty Redwing 30L Tactical backpack. The 30-liter design combines elements of a military assault pack and a hiking pack, so this well-rounded rucksack gives you the most out of your hard-earned money.

The design features 500D nylon construction, an internal frame, three tool loops, cinch cord water bottle pouches on both sides, and hydration and padded laptop compatible compartments. The adjustable shoulder straps allow for different body types and sizes to carry with ease. The waist belt has the forward pull straps for adjustment on the go, which is a nice touch. And, its U-shaped zipper design made it easy to access any of our gear while out and about.

Filled with about 35 pounds worth of gear, it was comfortable, the mesh padding on the straps and waist belt dissipated sweat, and it didn’t wear on my lower back. It also comes in a few color options: navy, black, forest green, and tactical gray.

Whether your journey takes you to the canyons of Colorado or the streets of Kandahar, the highly versatile Redwing has you covered.

The Editor’s Choice goes to the Agilite Modular Assault Pack III, or AMAP III, because of how versatile it is. It’s just as effective as an assault pack as it is an everyday carry bag.

Constructed from 500D mil-spec cordura and polymer hardware, the AMAP III feels robust. Each exterior strap sports a hook-and-loop keeper. The laser-cut MOLLE has velcro panels, so it will support multiple load-out options. A small admin pouch for quick access essentials sits top center. Heavy YKK zippers feel sturdy with a paracord lanyard loop through each. On both sides of the pack is well-stitched three-column MOLLE webbing, for even more customization.

While rucking in Chattanooga, the pack turned out to be a fantastic choice. The mesh straps dissipated perspiration well and didn’t cut into my shoulders, which surprised me because of how small they are. When compared to other similar designs, it fits well with a plate carrier.

The AMAP III is the most versatile and universal military assault pack on the market.

We chose the Helikon-Tex as the Best All-Around rucking backpack due to its features — features that mirror many of our other best of products, at an affordable price. With many color options and durable construction to boot, it holds up against some of the more expensive versions in the same capacity and weight ranges.

With YKK zippers, Cordura materials, decent water resistance and ample comfortable adjustable straps, it rolls out at the top of the line against the best of the best. It served well as an everyday carry, day hiking pack, and range bag with ease. Its elastic sleeve against its plastic internal frame worked well for both a laptop and a hydration system with no issues. Its outer beaver tail with laser-cut MOLLE webbing for more customizable options made it a must-have for rucking enthusiasts.

The only thing we found is that the design of the zipper track is kind of odd, making it a little weird to unzip in a hurry. The materials feel cheap, even though they held up to our average day of rucking through thick forest or hitting the range. It’s a good choice to stuff all your gear into the main compartment with little organization. However, the outer beaver tail with cinch straps definitely makes it easier to throw a rain jacket or a couple bottles of water on the outside without worry. This rucking backpack is recommended if you are traveling light or moving through the woods.

It’s an advanced backpack for any use, from EDC to short hikes, and also as a tactical backpack.

The GoRuck GR1 comes in as our Best High-End rucking backpack. The popular brand was started by an elite couple — a spec ops husband and a CIA wife — wanting to make a bag fit for the field and the rear. For many, GoRuck is more than a brand: It’s a lifestyle. The brand has become synonymous with training and exercise.

The GR1 is designed to open flat with the tug of paracord pulls looped through YKK zippers. Its padded laptop compartment is capable of standing up to some heavy falls. And, if you don’t want to carry a 16-inch laptop, you could always pop in an armor plate. With three internal organizer pockets and one outside slant pocket, you can be sure to pack all your essentials.

Quick note: While GoRuck describes the laptop compartment as “bombproof,” it’s not. It’s hyperbole, and thank goodness the customer service department got back to us. We were about to start working on fragmentation by shooting steel plates with the bag angled in the direction of ricochet. However, a Kevlar insert and plate, coupled with the quality of this pack, would more than do the trick.

Otherwise, the pack carried well with various items, and it was definitely one of the best on the list when it came to water resistance. Its removable internal plastic frame did not feel cumbersome and helped maintain the shape of the pack when carried. It will certainly suit a day’s travel into the heavy rainforest or your hasty walk through a crowded market. This pack came highly recommended by one of our editors. If you’ve got the scratch burning a hole in your pocket and enjoy the finer things in life, this is the option for you.

Eberlestock backpacks are widely hailed by rucking enthusiasts. The H31 Bandit comes in at the Best Military day pack because of its size. At just under 14 liters but lavishing many features of the best packs on the market, we had to add it to our list.

Not only are the bottle side pockets great for bottles, but they are also large enough for securing tripods and spotting scopes. The top admin pouch works perfectly for your quick-access must-haves, or your medical kit. It carries a hefty load regardless of its small size.

The bag’s straps and back support sport a modest amount of mesh padding, keeping you cool when hoofing it. It fits even the smallest of body types compared to some of the other packs on this list. Its utility panel on the outside of the pack can lash down most items and, if needed, to secure many options of MOLLE pouches. That is due to its laser-cut webbing throughout the utility panel. The robust full-zipper main compartment with elastic sleeves is perfect for hydration or a small tablet. The H31 Bandit is a perfect day hike pack, day travel bag, or range bag.

This mid-level entry into 5.11’s Rush lineup is a classic that just evolved with some new features. It comes in at the Best Tactical rucking backpack quite simply because it packs a harder punch than your average military assault packs. This bad boy works well in almost any situation, from being a go-bag to an everyday carry pack landing flat in your arsenal as a good assault pack for the military.

What really caught our attention with this particular pack was the contoured yoke shoulder strap system. The straps were designed to work while wearing body armor — a plus for the men and women in uniform defending freedom. But let’s not shy away from the hidden CCW compartment or the fleece-lined eyewear/media pocket. 5.11 certainly made a good effort at making its product just a little bit better.

As far as rucking with it, we found that the pack was more comfortable while wearing a plate carrier. By itself with anything more than 35 pounds, the straps cause the pack to sit lower on your back and become uncomfortable after three or so miles. However, it’s a good well-rounded choice for the cost, almost neck in neck with our value pick.

The Mystery Ranch Rip-Ruck 24 comes in at our Best Urban survival rucking backpack due to its purpose-built and innovative design. Much like the GR1, it mirrors the quality of materials and effort in design for a specific purpose. With small organizational pouches and pockets in a fairly water-resistant material, it sports a rip-zip easy-access system which stands out as a peculiar design. It features a separate laptop and tablet sleeve, with a waterproof coating on the zipper, and another main compartment for all your other gear with the rip-zip main panel. It is sure to impress any city-goer, college student, day-traveler, and everyone in between who is on the move.

Even on the website, you have to dig into what rip-zip even means. Quite simply, it means that a zipper panel coupled with magnets is your easy access to any of your contents. You would think that Mystery Ranch would focus more on this innovative concept, considering that it is very convenient. As far as grabbing and going, the magnets can secure the pack with modest movement if you forget to zip it up. However, if you dropped it, eventually enough force could be applied to lose gear if it tumbled down a hill.
Either way, it is a fantastic concept that many could emulate in the future. It carried well, but only for an office-type setting. We found it hard to pack more than a computer and various essentials into the pack. That was due to its separate compartments that proved to be easy to recall where you put a particular item. It has no strap keepers or outside water bottle pouches to speak of. It does carry well and is a very covert option, as it appears to be just another bag — that is, until you see that infamous Mystery Ranch logo and feel the quality of the material. We recommend going with the larger model if you need more space, located here.

However, if you are using this to carry a laptop or tablet, with snacks and a few other essentials, this may be the right choice for you. It’s definitely a good option for traveling with electronics so long as you have a check bag for any air travel, this being due to its similar dimensions as our smaller packs in this line-up. It can easily meet TSA guidelines and even fits under the seat in front of you.