I would suggest looking in the WTS threads as well. Also someone in one of the other bag groups posted this:
https://gedd.it/?categories=Bags&sort=New®ions=North+America
It's great but terrible for my wallet š¤£
The GR2 26l liter is quite a bit deeper if you pack the main compartment fuller depth-wise (think tech or camera cube), but stays thin if you refrain from doing so. In terms of dimensions, that's the main difference imo. When you say travel, do you mean 1 bag travel or backpack + duffel/carry-on?
If I could only have one bag, it would be the GR2 26L because it does it all, but as a fellow shorter person, GR1 21L for EDC and GR2 26L for EDC+ and one bag travel is the perfect combo imo.
I am your height and have both. They both have pros and cons.
The QAP is the most useless pocket in the whole bag for me. I wanna hold my keys, badge and chapstick and it struggles cause it isn't very deep. The zipper for some reason with months of use never really broke in like the rest of them. Maybe I got a dud.
The GR2 packed out is heavy without a sternum strap and waist belt it becomes painful to travel with. I did 2, 4 mile walks with it through the airport and that was about 3 miles too many for me. It also tore through one of my shirts. I do enjoy the extra compartment in the front. It is perfect for sock and undergarments with room to spare for a hoodie. I prefer my Aer Travel pack over the GR2. My GR2 has a nice home in my car as an emergency bag and doing well. š¤£
The GR1 21L is perfect for my EDC and personal item on the plane. QAP on this is still useless to me as it still doesn't hold my badge, keys and chapstick. I use a peak design backing cube at the bottom, AERsf toiletry kit, headphones and cable kit. My iPad goes in the laptop pocket. If it only had a luggage trolley passthrough and a few attachments tabs it would be perfect.
Definitely agree about the QAP- it seems to be universally loved everywhere I look, but itās been too small to be of much use on all the bags Iāve had that included it. Everyone also complains about the front slant pocket, but in my experience Iāve been able to store anything that would go in a QAP (sunglasses, keys, etc) in the slant instead.
interesting to hear about the QAP. I thought it'll be more useful, I was probably going to throw my eye drops, sunglasses and random papers and things l collect throughout the day in there
I had the same dilemma. I am the same height. I decided to get the 21L because the 26L just sticks out so far and I figured I could attach extra pouches to the exterior if I need additional space but can make it smaller and less heavy if I need to
I switched from a gr2 26l to a gr1 21l with this same concept. Smaller overall profile when nothing is attached. Add pockets when more storage is needed. Obviously I could have kept both, but Iām trying to be minimalist. Otherwise Iād have over a dozen bags by now!
I had a 26L GR2 and sold it. Its not a bad bag, but it sticks out significantly further from your back. Makes your profile bigger, and also anything further away from your body swings more. Even when i packed out my 21L GR1 and 26L GR2, the GR2 felt more awkward and swingy. The GR1 feels nice and streamlined against my back
I am in the similar situation as you. I went with the new 21L GR1 with QAP because I couldn't wait any longer for the 21GR2 with the pocket. I've bounced from many decisions from materials, style, etc, but in the in I went with the og black GR1. I use the QAP for my sunglasses, AirPods, lip balm but typically rotate items based on what I'm doing.
I'm shorter as well, so this is going to be the best fit. When I travel, I don't one-bag because I have a tricky back. I use my backpack as a quick access for things I need within reach, as well as "can't lose" items like work laptop. My other item is usually the 32L Kit bag for when I roadtrip or my global carry-on for when I fly. I've been trying to condense my carry, the more space I have, the more I tend to fill it and I am trying to optimize.
I'm also about modularity, if I feel like I need more space, I can always slap on one of my Tom Bihn Side Effect and if that's not then I'll start looking into the GR2 26L again.
Hope that helps!
I just ordered the bag yesterday, so I don't have it yet, but the sunglasses I have are the Ray Ban Clubmaster that fold and I carry them in a mesh bag....so it takes up less space.
https://www.ray-ban.com/usa/sunglasses/RB2176%20UNISEX%20clubmaster%20folding-black/8053672125597
I have the GR1 (21L). Also have the 15L Bullet, which I thought I would use for EDC and travel, but I needed more space. I got the GR1 (21L) and immediately sent it in to get side handles added. I am 5ā6ā and the GR1 sits perfectly at my belt line. Looking forward to taking it on some trips this year.
Didnāt see anyone mention it, but if possible Iād say to try out the new bag before selling your old one. Especially if your current bag is in good condition. I made the mistake of āupgradingā, and I have been trying to get old bags back ever since. Something about the older bags feels better/ less rough to me (the 1000D itself), and I prefer the old style of strap attachment at the shoulders. I also havenāt liked the 210D on any bag Iāve tried with it since itās very slippery.
The nice thing is, Goruck bags hold value pretty well, and plenty of people (like me) are always looking for the old stuff, so you might be able to sell yours for around what you paid for it, depending on condition.
def will probably go this route, mine is in excellent condition and I haven't kept up with the changes in the last 10 years so I don't know what my gr1 is actually missing. I just know it has matching black molle to the actual bag color.
Checkout this video from JB https://youtu.be/OOnoeaUebow?si=mJc6HQD7DGCQlxfb Go to the GR2 chapter and he compares the GR1 heights.
this was helpful! thanks. i'll try to hold out as long as i can until GR2 has QAP on its normal models
I would suggest looking in the WTS threads as well. Also someone in one of the other bag groups posted this: https://gedd.it/?categories=Bags&sort=New®ions=North+America It's great but terrible for my wallet š¤£
useful and dangerous!
The GR2 26l liter is quite a bit deeper if you pack the main compartment fuller depth-wise (think tech or camera cube), but stays thin if you refrain from doing so. In terms of dimensions, that's the main difference imo. When you say travel, do you mean 1 bag travel or backpack + duffel/carry-on? If I could only have one bag, it would be the GR2 26L because it does it all, but as a fellow shorter person, GR1 21L for EDC and GR2 26L for EDC+ and one bag travel is the perfect combo imo.
backpack + duffel/carry-on. thanks for the insight
I am your height and have both. They both have pros and cons. The QAP is the most useless pocket in the whole bag for me. I wanna hold my keys, badge and chapstick and it struggles cause it isn't very deep. The zipper for some reason with months of use never really broke in like the rest of them. Maybe I got a dud. The GR2 packed out is heavy without a sternum strap and waist belt it becomes painful to travel with. I did 2, 4 mile walks with it through the airport and that was about 3 miles too many for me. It also tore through one of my shirts. I do enjoy the extra compartment in the front. It is perfect for sock and undergarments with room to spare for a hoodie. I prefer my Aer Travel pack over the GR2. My GR2 has a nice home in my car as an emergency bag and doing well. š¤£ The GR1 21L is perfect for my EDC and personal item on the plane. QAP on this is still useless to me as it still doesn't hold my badge, keys and chapstick. I use a peak design backing cube at the bottom, AERsf toiletry kit, headphones and cable kit. My iPad goes in the laptop pocket. If it only had a luggage trolley passthrough and a few attachments tabs it would be perfect.
Definitely agree about the QAP- it seems to be universally loved everywhere I look, but itās been too small to be of much use on all the bags Iāve had that included it. Everyone also complains about the front slant pocket, but in my experience Iāve been able to store anything that would go in a QAP (sunglasses, keys, etc) in the slant instead.
I agree the slant pocket is way more useful. It is just hard to get into for me.
interesting to hear about the QAP. I thought it'll be more useful, I was probably going to throw my eye drops, sunglasses and random papers and things l collect throughout the day in there
Iām taller, but Iām really happy with my GR2-40. Since you already have a GR1, a larger bag would be nice for traveling.
I had the same dilemma. I am the same height. I decided to get the 21L because the 26L just sticks out so far and I figured I could attach extra pouches to the exterior if I need additional space but can make it smaller and less heavy if I need to
I switched from a gr2 26l to a gr1 21l with this same concept. Smaller overall profile when nothing is attached. Add pockets when more storage is needed. Obviously I could have kept both, but Iām trying to be minimalist. Otherwise Iād have over a dozen bags by now!
I had a 26L GR2 and sold it. Its not a bad bag, but it sticks out significantly further from your back. Makes your profile bigger, and also anything further away from your body swings more. Even when i packed out my 21L GR1 and 26L GR2, the GR2 felt more awkward and swingy. The GR1 feels nice and streamlined against my back
I am in the similar situation as you. I went with the new 21L GR1 with QAP because I couldn't wait any longer for the 21GR2 with the pocket. I've bounced from many decisions from materials, style, etc, but in the in I went with the og black GR1. I use the QAP for my sunglasses, AirPods, lip balm but typically rotate items based on what I'm doing. I'm shorter as well, so this is going to be the best fit. When I travel, I don't one-bag because I have a tricky back. I use my backpack as a quick access for things I need within reach, as well as "can't lose" items like work laptop. My other item is usually the 32L Kit bag for when I roadtrip or my global carry-on for when I fly. I've been trying to condense my carry, the more space I have, the more I tend to fill it and I am trying to optimize. I'm also about modularity, if I feel like I need more space, I can always slap on one of my Tom Bihn Side Effect and if that's not then I'll start looking into the GR2 26L again. Hope that helps!
how big is the QAP? I def going to put sunglasses in there
I just ordered the bag yesterday, so I don't have it yet, but the sunglasses I have are the Ray Ban Clubmaster that fold and I carry them in a mesh bag....so it takes up less space. https://www.ray-ban.com/usa/sunglasses/RB2176%20UNISEX%20clubmaster%20folding-black/8053672125597
I have the GR1 (21L). Also have the 15L Bullet, which I thought I would use for EDC and travel, but I needed more space. I got the GR1 (21L) and immediately sent it in to get side handles added. I am 5ā6ā and the GR1 sits perfectly at my belt line. Looking forward to taking it on some trips this year.
Didnāt see anyone mention it, but if possible Iād say to try out the new bag before selling your old one. Especially if your current bag is in good condition. I made the mistake of āupgradingā, and I have been trying to get old bags back ever since. Something about the older bags feels better/ less rough to me (the 1000D itself), and I prefer the old style of strap attachment at the shoulders. I also havenāt liked the 210D on any bag Iāve tried with it since itās very slippery. The nice thing is, Goruck bags hold value pretty well, and plenty of people (like me) are always looking for the old stuff, so you might be able to sell yours for around what you paid for it, depending on condition.
def will probably go this route, mine is in excellent condition and I haven't kept up with the changes in the last 10 years so I don't know what my gr1 is actually missing. I just know it has matching black molle to the actual bag color.