GORUCK M23 21L Review

The GORUCK M23 21L is a step in a different direction for GORUCK. We’re not used to seeing lightweight materials and few attachment looks; however, we’re here for it. Will the materials hold up well in testing, or will we be left longing for some 1000D CORDURA®? Let’s find out!

External Components

In typical GORUCK fashion, the materials on this pack are top dog. The primary fabric is 420D Robic Nylon, which is pretty lightweight (especially compared to other GORUCK bags, which often use thick CORDURA), durable, and highly water resistant. The back panel and shoulder straps’ underside are high-tenacity 210D nylon, and the shroud material is 210D Robic Nylon. Though lighter weight than most of the materials that we’re used to seeing from GORUCK, these fabrics are no slouch and have held up incredibly well in testing, which included commutes to and from work, hiking with the dogs around Detroit’s Belle Isle Park, and getting tossed around a kid’s soccer game. This isn’t the first time we’ve seen these materials, and we hope it isn’t the last.

Two FIDLOCK fasteners secure the main compartment, which takes a while to get used to, though the learning curve doesn’t take too long to complete before you’re ready to roll. There are strap keepers, too, which keep everything on the front of the pack looking tidy.

Similar to the durable and reliable materials we’ve already gone over, the zippers are top-notch. They’re from YKK, which, in our experience, is the best brand in the business. Though they don’t handle the primary main compartment opening, they’re used throughout the pack and work incredibly well, as always. The rugged plastic hardware is from Duraflex, which has a similar reputation at Pack Hacker Headquarters. Seriously, there’s nothing to complain about here.

On the pack’s top, there’s a hook-and-loop fastener where you can attach a patch. If you don’t, the GORUCK logo is sewn into it, so it doesn’t look too odd. If you’re taking this bag on a trip, it’s a fun adventure to search for a patch that you want to stick on there as a souvenir while you’re exploring. In the end, it isn’t finding the patch that matters; it’s the friends you make along the way!

There’s a padded handle on the top, though it lacks aeration. That doesn’t bother us; however, it is worth noting if you plan to carry this by the handle a lot on steamy public transportation. Still, we find it comfortable enough for most uses and durable enough to handle the bumps and knocks of travel.

Overall, there isn’t a ton going on here, which is a step in a different direction. Typically, we’re used to seeing many attachment points on GORUCK bags. You can’t attach as much to this pack, and it doesn’t look much like other bags from the brand, like the 40L GR2 that Pack Hacker’s founder, Tom, traveled the world with for two years. Still, we dig how this pack looks, and we dig having different options that all share one common characteristic: durability.

Fit Notes

The back panel has some padding but isn’t overly cushioned and doesn’t have any mesh for breathability. The frame sheet is directly behind it, and if you stow your laptop in the dedicated compartment, that will play a role here, too. The frame sheet and laptop compartment paired with the back panel add structure to a somewhat flimsy backpack, which helps a lot with appearances but adds weight. Overall, when considering comfort, style, and weight, it feels like a solid compromise trifecta.

As mentioned, the laptop compartment will affect comfort, too. If you have the back full and a laptop stowed inside, the pack can feel like carrying a brick or a piece of cardboard strapped to your pack. This is only in situations where you overstuff the bag, and it’s still somewhat comfortable, but it can sometimes occur.

The shoulder straps have a slight curvature and are well-padded but lack mesh for breathability. They’re comfortable but may feel suffocating if you have a smaller frame. Still, the materials and padding make it a pretty comfortable carry.

The sternum strap is on a ladder, so you can move it around, but you can’t make micro-adjustments like you would if it were on a rail. Still, it’s pretty easy to change which rung the strap is on, and you can easily remove it if you don’t want to use it for a certain trip or at all.

Inside The Pack

A pocket on the pack’s front side takes up a large portion of the front face. There’s no organization here, though it’s a useful pocket for stowing items you want to be able to access quickly, as you don’t have to take the pack all the way off to get inside it.

When using the front pocket, it’s best to know which one you’re getting into. A similar entry point on the opposite side goes into the main compartment. Both are handy, but you don’t want to end up somewhere you don’t mean to be.

Two side pockets work for a variety of types of gear. They’re large travel water bottle-sized (think a 48-ounce Nalgene), but you can use them for various things, like a tripod or tools. One of them has two mesh pockets inside; the other has none. We prefer to place our bottle into the one with no segmentation and use the other one to organize daily use gear, like a wallet, snacks, and a phone. However, this will eat into your main compartment space, so it’s essential not to overpack and tighten your water bottle snugly so it doesn’t leak.

The laptop compartment zipper runs around the outside of the back panel. It opens halfway, running around two of the padded area’s four sides. GORUCK says it can accommodate most 14-inch computers, but we could (barely) fit a 15-inch MacBook Pro. It isn’t something we’d want to do long term, but in a pinch, it will work. The frame sheet is accessible here, too, if you want to remove it.

The main compartment is accessible in two ways, which we’ve already touched upon.

First, there’s the side access zipper that we accidentally confused for the front pocket a few times. It is handy for accessing gear you’ve packed on the bottom of the bag, but that journey can still be challenging if you don’t use segmentation devices like packing cubes and a tech pouch, as there’s a lot of open space to work with here. We think that’s good, as it doesn’t limit you to only bringing certain things in the pack.

The second access point is through the top lid, which is likely the most used entry point. After undoing the lid, you’ll find a pocket on the underside and a drawstring cable to get into the main compartment. The pocket is zippered and has a key leash inside, which is handy for hikes, treks through the city, and going to and from work. The drawstring entry to the main compartment is easy to open and close and adds another layer of security.

Once inside, you can more easily access the organization on the back wall of the pack.

On top, there’s a zippered pocket with non-stretchy mesh, which is a solid place to lock down essential gear, like your passport or hotel key. It doesn’t have much depth, so we found that flat items do well here.

Below that, there’s a larger pocket without a topper. It has elastic around the upper portion, which is helpful for hanging onto gear like a travel rain jacket or tool set. The larger the gear you stow here, the less likely it is to pop out unexpectedly.

The rest of the space here is open, which makes this a versatile storage area. Though 21L isn’t huge, you can fit a weekend’s worth of gear here without issue. That’s part of why this pack is a solid travel companion for people who like doing many things. It doesn’t lock you into any one activity; however, it’ll keep your gear safe and dry, no matter where you end up. What’s not to dig about that?