GORUCK GR Echo initial thoughts

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GORUCK GR Echo initial thoughts

9 February 2012 | Comments | 15 notes | ⇀

The GORUCK GR Echo that I ordered a couple of weeks ago just arrived (I also ordered its bigger brother, the GR2, ~~but it’s still in transit and is somewhere in California at present~~ read my review here). I haven’t found that many reviews of it online so I thought I’d post some pictures and first impressions.

I wanted the GR Echo as a small daypack sized bag for carrying around my iPad and/or MacBook Air along with a few other items (HDD, charger, cables, Kindle, Canon S90 etc) to and from the office and also for longer trips away. I’ve read that the GR Echo makes the perfect companion to the GR2 which is designed as a long-weekend sized bag, fitting neatly inside.

I’d also read about the legendary build quality and attention to detail of the GORUCK bags. I was not misled. This bag is tough. It looks like it would withstand almost anything. The stitching is perfect and the heavy duty fabric is, at the moment, really stiff and thick. I have no doubt that the fabric will wear in nicely while hopefully retaining its waterproof characteristics.

The styling of the bag is also ideal for my needs; functional yet minimal. There are no extra straps dangling or silly whistles built into buckles. The only stylistic statement on the outside is the velcro patch. There’s also a ‘slash’ front pocket where you could slip thinner items that you wanted easy access to like a point-and-shoot camera, travel documents or a map.

Inside, there are two pockets on the front ‘lid’, some MOLLE straps on the back side and an elasticated webbing pouch big enough to hold an iPad or an A5 sized Moleskine notebook. The pouches on the front easily hold a LaCie rugged portable FireWire hard drive, some cables and other bits and pieces. The rear of the bag has the hydration pouch which doubles as a secure laptop stowage, easily big enough for my 11-inch MacBook Air. I’m not sure if you would get a 13-inch MacBook Pro in there but the larger Air might just fit.

Update (7 July 2011): Tried the GR Echo with a 13-inch MacBook Pro and it does fit – just. It’s a snug fit but perfectly usable and would probably become easier over time as the fabric softens up.

The carry handle on top of the bag will come in handy if you find yourself in a crowded situation like on a train, although this bag is extremely slim.

All of the zippers are heavy duty YKK with a shiny silver finish. The traditional metal zip pulls have been replaced with black (or sand-coloured for the inside top pocket) paracord and rubber hosing to make them completely silent – another nice touch.

While the GR Echo looks out of place next to my Billingham Hadley Pro, it looks great with casual or sports wear but due to its minimal styling, it also goes well with a suit. Far more so than something more technical looking like a North Face or Berghaus bag.

I can see myself using the GR Echo for work on a daily basis, at weekends on countryside walks and also for skiing in place of my North Face Big Shot. It’s not quite wide enough to fit my 5D Mark II comfortably, but a smaller DSLR like a 550D would probably fit nicely.

Overall, this is a great little bag. If you are looking to pack it full of bulky items, you might be better served by the larger (and less slimline) Radio Ruck or even the GR1. On the other hand, if you just want to carry the essentials, or you want to pack it inside another bag for a longer trip, the GR Echo is a fine choice.