As with previous “State of GORUCK” posts the 2020 chapter is a long one! At just under 11,000 words it took me a bit of time to read and digest. I’d recommend reading through the whole thing if you have the time but, if you don’t, here’s what I found to be some of the highlights for me.
GR1 (and GR2 and GR3) Manufacturing Coming Back to the USA
Starting in 2021 GORUCK will be bringing GR1, GR2, and GR3 manufacturing back to the USA.
With GR1, that’s a brand unto itself that we built up. It’s synonymous with Special Forces quality rucksacks, built over the last decade at the GORUCK Challenge, and it’s still synonymous with the best of American Manufacturing. So we’re bringing it back and will build it exclusively here in America. This goes for GR2 and GR3 as well. This will come fully to fruition in 2021, we still have some overseas versions we need to get through this year, all of which also come with our Scars Lifetime Guarantee.
When they announced opening manufacturing in Vietnam it felt like they started sewing everything there. I’m happy to see GORUCK bring these back (in their entirety) to be sewn in the USA. This is a big win in my book and I can’t wait to see more USA made rucks show up in the GORUCK online store.
Many More Books to Come
Speaking of books GORUCK released their first book “How Not to Start a Backpack Company” in 2020. The book has very favorable reviews on GORUCK’s website and I really enjoyed the read. On the topic of books GORUCK said the following…
We have several more books in the works. Rich and I sat down and recorded a lot of stories he has from serving in MACV-SOG in Vietnam, and we started on a Leadership book that also involves Emily’s perspective from the CIA. We have an entire draft book on Rucking that has been sitting idly for two years now. For some of these, we need to find some additional help in editing (it’s hard, time-consuming work). My goal is that we have one new book a year.
One new book a year is very ambitious but I’d love to see GORUCK get it done. That first one was great and I’d love to read more from GORUCK Media.
New Rucking / Workout Technology?
GORUCK has been working on a new app that’s different than their previous ruck club app idea. This one sounds like it will be more universal, reach more people, and will hopefully be rolling out soon.
In the end, this technology play has the broadest appeal, and it’s solving a direct problem we see at the Ruck Club level. Rucking will be one of the categories, so will Sandbag Training. So will running, so will cycling. We believe people will appreciate access to a diversity of people doing a lot of different kinds of activities, close to home. As always, time will tell how right we are. We’ll be launching a Stealth (Beta) version in a few cities here in a month or so, and this will roll out more fully in the Spring as the weather turns.
It’s hard to tell exactly what this app or technology will be but it doesn’t sound like we’ll need to wait long to figure it out. With a beta version in a month or so and the full release by Spring, 2021 it will be here before we know it.
GORUCK Tactical
Firearms gear is coming back (slowly) and there’s going to be a 48 hour event in Texas sometime in the August/September 2021 timeframe. You’ll have to apply to get in, you’ll live out of your ruck, and you’ll fire a lot of rounds. It’s not entirely clear of GORUCK Tactical events & gear will be getting their own websites or not and I guess only time will tell.
We are separating this brand out simply because it speaks to a different audience. And we’re happy to speak to both. Our goal is to make GORUCK Tactical synonymous with the most mentally and physically challenging firearms instruction and way of life that exists outside of Special Operations. We are separating this brand out simply because it speaks to a different audience. And we’re happy to speak to both. Our goal is to make GORUCK Tactical synonymous with the most mentally and physically challenging firearms instruction and way of life that exists outside of Special Operations.
The “(w)e are separating this brand out” makes me think there might be a new website like how there’s different websites for GORUCK Events, Java Forever, Glorious Professionals, and The Standard Film.
Final Thoughts
I always enjoy reading the “State of GORUCK” posts and look forward to their release. It’s great to see what GORUCK has been working on in the past year and where their head is at. I’ve always felt they were refreshing and, even if I wasn’t completely happy with them, they were honest. If you have thoughts on this year’s “State of GORUCK” I’d love to hear them in the comments below.
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