Dynamic Subspace

Tag: Patches

  • GoRuck GR1 26L, an Outstanding Backpack for Travel and Work That Easily Carries a 16″ Laptop

    GoRuck GR1 26L

    As I’ve documented here, here, and here, I continue searching for the perfect backpack. While there may not be one backpack that checks all of my boxes, I think that the GoRuck GR1 (26L) checks the most.

    I purchased the larger 26L version of the GR1 before the fall semester began. It is the most expensive backpack that I’ve ever purchased, but its design, materials, construction, and “Built in the USA” provenance supported the price.

    My original intended use for it was to carry my 16″ Lenovo ThinkPad P1 Gen 4 laptop, charger, water bottle, coffee thermos, and papers to and from the City Tech campus.

    Then, after my dad was released from the hospital after a back problem, it became a travel companion for overnight train rides to-and-from NYC (along with a simple barrel duffel bag). It carried my laptop, charger, 8″ Samsung Tab Active3 tablet, its charger, an MRE and snacks, 1 liter of water, overnight clothes, and 1 quart Ziploc bag for toiletries.

    So far, it has excelled in both work commuting and long distance train travel. It holds my gear, it’s easy to organize, and it’s constructed tough.

    Below are photos of its pockets and their use.

    GoRuck GR1 26L

    Between the shoulder straps and top hand grab is a pocket that holds my RayBan sunglasses in their case and my reading glasses in a smaller plastic case.

    GoRuck GR1 26L

    The back of the backpack supports breathing and features a smoother synthetic material than the body of the backpack. It’s advertised as being less aggressive on clothes, which I can confirm.

    GoRuck GR1 26L

    Flipping the shoulder straps around makes the “bomb proof” laptop sleeve more easily accessible. It is advertised as holding up to a 16″ laptop.

    GoRuck GR1 26L

    You can see above that the laptop sleeve does indeed hold my 16″ Lenovo ThinkPad P1 Gen 4 with room to spare on its width (i.e., the height of the pocket in relation to the backpack) and just a hair of extra space for its depth (i.e., the width of the pocket in relation to the backpack).

    GoRuck GR1 26L

    The front zippered diagonal pocket extends from the zipper to the bottom of the pack. It can hold a lot! I keep an Apple Airtag and pocket knife in there. The top of the pack has a 2″ x 3″ hook-and-loop patch area, which I attached one of my Scouting patches to. I added a 3.5″ x 4.5″ hook-and-loop MOLLE panel to the bottom area of my GR1 where I affixed my “The Dude Abides” patch.

    GoRuck GR1 26L

    In addition to the MOLLE attachments on the outside of the pack, there is more MOLLE inside for pouches or hook-and-loop panels.

    GoRuck GR1 26L

    On the back interior of the GR1, there’s an elastic panel that can hold a smaller laptop or tablet. I used it to hold my 8″ Samsung Galaxy Tab Active3 in a hard case with plenty of room to spare.

    GoRuck GR1 26L

    The front flat interior has two zippered pouches. The top one is smaller but opaque. The bottom one is larger but its contents viewable thanks to the netting.

    GoRuck GR1 26L and Ape Case

    To help with organizing my gear, I dropped the larger half of the yellow, padded Ape Case Cubeze Duo (ACQB 41) with one divider in the bottom of the pack. This creates four areas in the bottom of the pack to keep things from banging around–a thermos, two water bottles, and charging brick for the Lenovo laptop.

    The GR1 doesn’t come with a sternum strap, but I haven’t found that it needs one while walking or climbing stairs. Having one less strap to undo or get caught while dangling is okay with me. It’s also easy to put on and take off. However, depending on my load–specifically with the 16″ Lenovo, I bend over to put on my shoes before donning the pack so that I don’t put too much pressure on the laptop within the pack against my arched back.

    I’m very happy with the GR1 and look forward to carrying it in the days ahead.

  • Simple Sewing: Hook-and-Loop Patches for Your Backpack

    I outfitted the front MOLLE (Modular Lightweight Load-Carrying Equipment) webbing surface of my backpack with M-Tac’s Morale Patch Boards (3″ square and 4.5″ x 3.5″ rectangle) so that I could swap and change embroidered patches that I sewed hook backing to along the outer border of the patch.

    I enjoy displaying patches that mean something to me. Maybe someone else will see them and get a boost. But for myself, it’s carrying a little morale with me wherever I go.

    I cut slightly more hook material than needed, positioned the patch on the opposite side of the hooks, sewed around the border of the patch through the hook material, and finally, trimmed the excess hook material.

    Unless you’re planning to tape where you’re sewing patches directly to your bag, using hook-and-loop attachments like this will maintain its waterproof/water-resistance.

    Pro Tips:

    • Verify what you need to attach to your patches (hook or loop backing) before you sew!
    • Use a sharp needle of size 2, 3, or 4 as patches are generally heavier fabric and some have thermal heat backing.
    • Absent a thimble to help push the needle through the fabric, use the corner of the table, a LEGO brick, or something else sturdy and not easily damaged by the back of the needle pressing into it.
    • A cheap travel sewing kit with a few needles (though they might be smaller gauge needles than ideal), different color thread to match the border of your patches, and a needle threader should get you started. But, you can create your own kit with a spool of black thread, a pack of needles, and a thimble.