Just a quick note that the GORUCK GR1, full 1000d with front and side molle, is about to get the much loved quick access pocket. Actually it’s technically already here, but only in hot pink. However I’ve seen screenshots of an email someone posted from GORUCK support stating that other colors, including black, are inbound within the next couple months.
This is fantastic news, the quick access pocket is a massively requested and very useful feature, and for so long was only available on very expensive and rare collaboration or heritage bags. Now it’s arrived on the ripstop GR1/GR2, the two compartment Bullets, and now/soon the 1000d GR1. This continues to incidicate that GORUCK is making an effort to deliver bags a little more tailored to EDC. Looking back at what GORUCK has released in the last year or so, (the two compartment Bullet 18L, the ripstop / waxed canvas / 500d M23, the ripstop GR1 and GR2 with QAP), these are the bags I’d always wanted from them.
I personally think I’m happy with my ripstop GR1 with QAP, but I do miss the utility of front molle at times (lashing layers of clothing mostly), and theoretically the 1000d will last longer and better than ripstop, although I have no reason to fault it at this time. If I were buying new, I’m really not sure which I’d go for, ripstop is nicer to use, 1000d is tougher.
In any case, options are great, and well done GORUCK.
EDIT: And it’s here! See the link above. Only for 21L black so far, and the pocket is bright orange for some reason. (I dig it, but maybe not everyone will) Popular concensus is that they’ll sell off their old stock of other colors and 26L, and switch all of these over. Didn’t think we’d ever see the day the 1000d GR1 would have the qap but here we are.