GORUCK Kit Bag 2.0 (32L) Review

The 32-liter GORUCK Kit Bag 2.0 has a simple-to-use design with durable materials. We’ve come to expect that from GORUCK—but we’re curious how this updated duffle design will work for travel. Will we be happy with the minimal internal organization and single external compartment, or will we be left wanting more? Let’s dive in!

External Components

The primary pack material is 1000D CORDURA®. This material is extraordinarily durable, offers good water resistance, and looks sleek. We’re used to seeing CORDURA® on packs from GORUCK, so we aren’t surprised to see it here. It’ll keep your gear protected, which we dig.

This pack utilizes YKK zippers with heat-shrink plastic pulls. They operate as you’d expect them to; YKK is one of the best zipper brands around, at least at the time of writing. Pair them with one of the most durable materials on the market, and you’re in for smooth sailing!

The removable shoulder strap utilizes metal clips that attach to metal D-rings on the pack’s sides. They’re heavy but sturdy, which is a theme for this pack. It isn’t the most lightweight option, but nothing here lacks durability. The D-rings also assist in opening and closing the main compartment’s beefy YKK zippers, which is handy.

The main compartment has a large fabric welt that covers the zipper when it isn’t open. It offers extra protection from precipitation and spills and looks pretty swell, too.

Overall, there isn’t a ton going on around this exterior. The look is sleek and subdued, which we dig.

There’s a hook-and-loop fastener on the front where you can attach a patch. Ours came with an American flag GORUCK logo, but you can put anything you want there or leave it blank. The GORUCK logo is in white on the bottom right of the pack’s front, so you won’t get out of showing off the logo completely, but it isn’t too loud if you’re worried about that sort of thing.

Both sides of the pack have a water bottle pocket. While they aren’t stretchy, they’re large enough for a big bottle like a 32-ounce Nalgene. They aren’t super tall, so a long, skinny bottle probably isn’t your best bet. If you’ve got a lot loaded inside the main compartment, you won’t be able to fit as large of a bottle here.

We’ve got two carry handles to work with, neither of which has padding or aeration. They aren’t the most comfortable handles in the world; however, their low-profile design keeps them out of the way when you aren’t utilizing them. There isn’t an apparatus to keep them together like on some other duffles, but we didn’t mind that much.

Fit Notes

The strap has ample padding in the middle, which is comfortable. There isn’t any mesh, so it’ll get hot, especially in the sun (because it’s black). The padding is comfortable, though.

CORDURA® isn’t the most soothing fabric on bare skin, so wearing the shoulder strap with a tank top might not be as comfortable as wearing a T-shirt or a sweatshirt.

The strap is long enough to be worn in a few styles. How you like to do so will depend on your shoulder strength, how you walk, and personal preferences. The carry handles are helpful in quick-use situations or while on public transit.

Overall, carrying this thing is simple. There isn’t a ton going on, so you don’t have to worry about how to get your gear to your destination. This method won’t work for everyone, but it’s effective for most uses.

Inside The Bag

The interior of this pack is lined with, yup, you guessed it, more CORDURA®! This time, we’ve got 210D fabric. That’s as thick as some daypacks and travel backpacks choose for their external materials. Not GORUCK! Durability to the max.

There’s just one secondary compartment on the pack’s front side. It’s large, taking up the whole front face of the bag, and is an excellent spot to stow a book, tablet, or other reading material while waiting in the airport to board your flight. There isn’t any padding, but the CORDURA® does well to protect your gear from bumps and knocks. We’ve got an internal mesh pocket with a zippered closure, which helps lock down smaller items in the only quick-use compartment on this pack.

You can stow a tech pouch here to access your battery bank and charging gear quickly, snacks for the road, or anything you want at a moment’s notice.

The main compartment is an ample open space with minimal organization. We expected that from a duffle, and it works well in practice, whether you’re going to work, on a trip, across the globe, or a combination of the three.

Two mesh pockets on either end of the interior help organize clothing or other smaller items. They work well for socks and underwear or for separating clean and dirty clothing. The zippered closure ensures nothing pops out unexpectedly, which we dig, considering there isn’t much organization here.

A zippered pocket on the back side of the pack isn’t stitched down. It hangs there like a large tag and is crafted from CORDURA®, not mesh or something more lightweight. This is an excellent spot to stow your passport, travel documents, or other essential items. The liner is durable enough to offer some protection, and you always know where to find your essential gear. If you’ve already got a place for your travel documents, this isn’t a bad place to store tech or your wallet, as it has more security than the secondary pocket we went over earlier.

The rest of the space is wide open for you to utilize however you want. Because there’s so much space to work with, staying organized is on you, whether through packing cubes and organizers or specialty items like a tech pouch. The pack is still usable without them, but your gear may get disorganized.

Overall, we dig the simplicity of this pack, and when packed smart, it’s an effective way to travel, hit the gym, go to work, or take a road trip. Plus, you can put a new patch on for every trip. How fun is that?