Read more and get your KR1 from GORUCK here:
Black (13L only) https://www.thadforester.com/kr1-black
Seaspray + Hot Pink (13L only) https://www.thadforester.com/kr1-black
Spearhead Splatter (9L and 13L) https://www.thadforester.com/kr1-spearhead
Note: as of this review in March 2024, the Spearhead Splatter is on sale for $99. Regular price for all KR1’s is $160. Use my link to take you straight to it: https://www.thadforester.com/kr1-spearhead
If you’re not familiar with GORUCK, you may be asking yourself if I mis-typed those prices…. I get it. Why would anyone pay that kind of money for a backpack, especially a kids backpack?? I discuss this in the video below, and why I’m one of those crazy people who will pay extra for high quality. Honestly, I’m not sure I’d pay full price for these. I got one during their President’s Day sale for $69 and then the Spearhead Splatter is still on sale for $99 (as of now).
You can watch my YouTube review here for more details and all the features:
As an avid rucker with children who are active, I want them to ruck with me. And they WANT to ruck with me. They have their own REI adventure backpacks, but they are ready for more–something that will carry intentional weight–like a weight plate–for rucking and working out.
This GORUCK KR1 is the solution for our needs. It’s GORUCK, so it’s tough. The straps are padded and meant for carrying heavy weight and the zippers and stitching will last. This is also important since they will double as their school backpacks.
Their Chromebooks from school fit in the laptop compartment (I didn’t have one to show when I made the YouTube video).
Pros:
-Great for rucking and ruck workouts (since it has a handle on the top and bottom and padding for a weight plate).
-Will last so when your child grows out of it, the next child can use or possibly the woman of the house.
-Backed by the Scars Lifetime Guarantee. You break it, they will fix it. Hence, the high price point.
Cons:
-Size: In the 13L, which my boys have, there isn’t much room for something other than lunchbox, some books, and other necessary school supplies. If your kids walk to school with frigid temps in the morning, then it’s much warmer in the afternoon and don’t need the thick gloves and a big coat from the morning, there isn’t enough room to put them in the KR1, along with a lunchbox and other required books. If you don’t have a lunchbox, then you can add some bigger clothing.
Below is my 5th grader’s KR1 fully packed with his daily school items. If you can tell, his Chromebook is in the main compartment instead of the bombproof laptop compartment. This is b/c his Chromebook won’t fit in that section easily (it has a case/protector). His KR1 is full and doesn’t have room for his lunchbox, so he carries it separately, along with his water bottle, that won’t fit in the water bottle holder.
-Drink holders on the sides are small. My boys have 26 oz water bottles that will not fit (but easily fit their other backpacks. As you see in the pics, the diameter is 3″, which is too much. They also have 20 oz water bottles that are just under 3″ dia and it barely fits. The bottom picture is a 20 oz. Zulu that fits tight, but works for the boys.
The boys were pumped to get their KR1’s and were excited to take them to school today (April 1). I told them the only way we’ll know they meet their needs for school is to use the packs. If they turn out to be too small, our boys will still use the KR1 for rucking and our F3 bootcamp ruck workouts.
You got questions, let me know in the comments or email me at thad@patriottothecore.com
I’ll update later once my kids use them. I don’t know how much longer it will fit my 11 year old, but hopefully another year or two.
Here is another review I’ve done on GORUCK Rucksacks: https://youtu.be/eB0VuNVnW-A
Update from 4/6/24: The boys have used their KR1’s all week for school and we’ve gone on two rucks this week. They love the KR1, but for school, they are a little too small to hold everything they have, including their bigger drink bottles, binder, soft lunchbox, Chromebook, etc.
Update from 1/11/2025: the KR1 is definitely too small for my boys to use for school (now ages 9 and 11), but ours still get used for rucking and other fun the boys have.