HYPERWEARHyper Ruck, 20L Rucking Backpack with 3 Rucking Weight Plate/Laptop Sleeves

I have other backpacks about this size, but this has padded sleeves for weights that can also be used for your laptop, tablet, etc. The main compartment in this is larger than my other packs, and there's no outside pouch like other packs have. There's a separate compartment, but it has the same length and width as the main compartment, only smaller.There is also 5 rows of MOLLE straps to attach whatever you want to the outside of the bag.The thing I like the most about this bag is that since it's designed to carry extra weight, the material is thick and very durable.

I really do love this thing overall. I think it is very versatile in that you can use it for pure strength training, for weighted walks, and as just a rugged backpack. I have two very specific uses/needs for this. The first is that I have a very long commute to a part-time teaching job that involves a lot of walking, and I have to take a lot of stuff with me—work supplies, including a laptop and one or two books, plus a few meals, water bottle, etc. This bag is not big enough for that, but it will help me stay in shape over the summer for when it's back to the grind. The second is that I have two young kids, and as we transition from double stroller to trikes/bikes, whatever, it will be nice to have something to wear to put water bottles, jackets, whatever else, plus workout gear (plus it's its own piece of workout equipment) to keep me occupied when I don't have to monitor their every move on the monkey bars.It is certainly high quality and rugged, with good zippers, pockets, Velcro, buckles—everything good quality, though maybe not the best available. It's fine. I'm sure this thing will last.I only got ten pounds of weight, though I had the option for twenty or thirty, because I knew I would be packing other stuff into the bag, I'm in my fifties, and I have a tendency to overdo things, so that was a way to avoid that a little. Plus, I honestly don't like all the plastic that is involved in that weight system, though that is a very minor consideration. I actually ordered some sandbells from Hyperwear, and according to their website you can load 25 lbs. worth in this backpack, so that plus the 10 should be enough for me. I also, as you can see in one of my images, have my 3.5-lb. jump rope coiled up in there. With the 10 lbs. plus the jump rope it's actually a good amount of weight for me to walk around in without, again, overdoing it. It adds a nice little bit of weight for doing impromptu calf raises or dips at the park. The zippers are strong enough that I can stick this small weighted bat I have in there too, with just a little of the handle sticking out and it doesn't move around at all. There are a lot of options for adding weight and stuff, and that is probably my favorite thing about this bag.So, now for the reservations. It's not as comfortable as I would ideally want. There are a couple of hot spots with the shoulder straps, and I find it hard to get a really good, tight fit with this thing. I am 6'1", 190 and I have to cinch the straps down all the way to get a snug fit. I find myself fidgeting with it a lot, trying to get it to sit even. I wish it had pull down adjustments on the shoulder straps and I wish the hip belt and chest belt were a little more substantial. The hip belt is too far up on my waist, and the chest belt, no matter how much I tighten it, doesn't really do anything. Both are a bit constrictive relative to how much support they add. And no matter how tight I get everything, it definitely moves up and down when I jog with this on. If you're my height or shorter and two bills or more, you probably won't have these problems. But I feel that if you're taller than me and/or thinner, it might be tough to get a good fit.Despite the above paragraph, I'm still giving this five stars (after a good deal of consideration). I think overall it does everything I need/want it to do and then some, with a lot of versatility and functionality. I do think Hyperwear makes good products, and I get that it is what it is, but I think some of their prices are too high, especially for the 10-lb weight packs for this backpack. I'm not sure what steel plates would be like, but those have functionality beyond just being weight. These weight packs you can use for pinch-grip training, but not much else.If I was shelling out full price, I would want to try a couple different brands on to make sure they fit and feel good, especially if you're going to be doing serious rucking.

I ordered this because my regular, everyday life is too easy. Why walk around and workout with a 30 lb. backpack on my back? To make life fair for everyone else. This backpack is really great. It’s held up during all of my adventures, and there’s no sign of it failing.Quality is Top Notch (Quality = 95)__________________________________________________I’m really, really pleased with the quality. The material is thick and abrasion resistant. The zipper, Velcro, and buckles are super strong and oversized. After about 3 weeks of use, this backpack looks as good as it did the day I opened it. The stitching has easily held up with the 30 lbs. of plates loaded in the backpack. I haven’t tested it with more than 30 lbs. inside, so I can’t attest to the weight limit claims of 60 lbs., but I’m sure this backpack would laugh at even 60 lbs.Versatility Sets this Backpack Apart (Performance/Versatility = 95)__________________________________________________Not that I’m going to replace the plates with my laptop and take it to the office or on a trip, but I like that I could. At this price point, quality and versatility are the name of the game, and this backpack nails it. I love that this backpack is versatile enough to use with my hiking gear and a hydration bladder, as a simple piece of exercise equipment, or for some yet to be determined adventure that will require attaching accessories to the backpack. The reflectors and handles on the side are also a nice touch. As comfortable as it is loaded with weight plates, it’s definitely going to be comfortable loaded with textbooks or just about any other type of gear.Premium Price for a Premium Backpack (Value = 70)__________________________________________________A quick search on Amazon didn’t immediately reveal any peers, so this backpack is somewhat in a category of its own. The only other rucksack like this that I’m aware of is made by a notable fitness equipment manufacturer and costs about $25 more but with fewer versatility options. That would make this backpack a pretty good deal. However, even with the exceptional quality, the $350 price tag feels a little steep for a piece of exercise equipment not made by that other company. That leaves me with some other comparisons. Since my next, next best alternative would likely be a high quality weighted vest, I started with that for comparison. A very high quality weighted vest with 35 lbs. of weights included is about $180. That’s roughly half the price of this backpack. That means I’m paying an additional $170 for the backpack. Though the backpack does have some additional capacity for attaching accessories, the material and zipper are very similar to a high quality sandbag, which has a 125 lb. weight limit and costs about $66 plus about $15 in sand. There’s just no good comparison for this backpack. It’s not a no-brainer at $350, but it would be if it was $275 - $300.How I Determined the Number of Stars__________________________________________________Quality (.40) = 95Performance/Versatility (.40) = 95Value (.20) = 70 Weighted Sum (Total) = 90 pointsTo ensure that my reviews are as unbiased as possible, I use a five step process to review each product.1. I list the criteria I believe to be important for each product,2. Assign a weight to each criterion based on my perceived importance of that criterion,3. Score each criterion from 1-100,4. Calculate the weighted sum to arrive at an overall score for the product,5. Assign a star rating (1-20 = 1 star, 21-40 = 2 stars, 41-60 = 3 stars, 61-80 = 4 stars, and 81-100 = 5 stars).By examining my perceived criteria, assigned weights, and assigned values, it’s easy to see how I calculated my star rating and easy to then determine the extent to which my criteria and weights reflect your own, enabling you to make a more informed buying decision.