Best Budget Rucksacks for Rucking

Rucking (hiking or marching with a loaded backpack) is simple, cheap exercise. Throw some weight (20 lbs for beginners, 30 lbs for advanced) into a backpack and walk.

There are many options for rucksacks, but the 5.11 Tactical Rush12 (Buy on Amazon) and the other bags in the Rush line are particularly budget friendly.

These make perfectly acceptable alternatives to the expensive GORUCK bags – and even if they don’t last as long – you could buy 3 for the same price!

We’ll take a look at the models they have available, and what makes them the best budget alternatives for the ruck march or ruck event.

Let’s look at backpacks that are cheap, but good.

These aren’t the premium brand (GORUCK bags) that will break the bank – but they will work fine.

These are the best budget rucksacks for 2020.

Want to jump right to the recommendations? Here they are:

Read on for all the juicy details of the best budget backpacks.

5.11 Tactical Rush12 Backpack

The 5.11 Tactical RUSH12 Tactical Backpack is our budget pick for most affordable rucksack.

This rucksack is typically offered for sale under $100.

But, at the same time, it’s got the features we look for in the best rucking backpack.

It’s got MOLLE (pronounced as “Molly”) webbing (known formally as PALS webbing), and lots of it.

We can connect all sorts of accessories and pouches via MOLLE clips.

The bag also supports 5.11’s proprietary SlickStick connectors. But MOLLE is more of a standard you’re going to see all over the place.

With MOLLE webbing you can customize and configure for better ergonomics, or efficiency.

This rucksack is made from 1050D Nylon. The “D” is for denier – and fabrics with a high denier count tend to be thick, sturdy, and durable.

5.11 calls it water-resistant. That doesn’t mean waterproof. So invest in a good dry sack or rain cover if you transport items that simply can’t get wet.

Or, wrap your gear in a contractor trash bag for a true budget option.

The RUSH12 comes in these colors: Black, Double Tap, Sandstone, and Multicam.

The Multicam model, shown here, is more expensive.

But, it looks GOOD.

“Double Tap” is sort of a dark blue and contrasting black color scheme.

Most of the pictures in this article show the Sandstone color.

Let’s talk about the shoulder straps – because you’re going to be lugging this with heavy weight for long distances.

See those shoulder straps? They are wide, thick, and padded. This helps distribute the load across your upper body.

Skinny straps dig in and that doesn’t help with the fatigue you’re going to feel in your upper body.

It’s also got a sternum strap (chest strap) right out of the box.

Having a chest strap let’s you cinch down the shoulder straps for comfort and to help reduce fatigue. By adjusting the chest strap you can vary the precise placement of the load on your upper body. It’s seriously nice to be able to do this while rucking – trust me.

This is an add-on on premium bags like the GORUCK – but included free with the 5.11 Rush series.

Again, the Rush12 is your value champ – the best bang for your buck.

From the back view we can see two hook and loop (aka velcro) patch areas.

Name tapes can go on the upper velcro and tactical patches or morale patches can go on the lower velcro.

you can also see the grab handle on the top of the pack.

This makes it easy to pick the bag up, and keep in mind if you are participating in a ruck challenge event – you might have to do PT with your bag. A good grab handle will help if you have to do ruck swings, or overhead presses, etc.

You can also see the silent zipper pulls. This doesn’t mean the zipper is silent – that’s impossible. What it means is that these non-metallic pull tabs (or cords, in this case) won’t clink or jangle against anything to make noise.

The zippers themselves are YKK self-repairing zippers. That’s what we want.

And last but not least – let’s talk about backpack capacity.

This bag is rated at 1,476 Cu. In. or 24 liters (24L) of volume.

It’s in the same ballpark as the GORUCK GR1 – which comes in 21L and 26L varieties.

Perfect “day pack” size for rucking. This is also a good size for Every Day Carry (EDC) – in the sense of using this to haul your laptop around, or similar (not CCW).

This isn’t a “lay flat” packing bag. Those bags tend to be more like a big, empty suitcase.

The Rush12 has a considerable amount of storage organization already built in.

You don’t get to optimize storage yourself – as you would with a “lay flat, suitcase” style bag, but it’s gonna be easier to use right out of the gate.

There is a fleece lined eyewear or gadget pocket. Perfect for storing your sunglasses or smartphone without fear of damage.

That zippered pocket is also easily accessible.

It’s got a front admin compartment for organization and easy access to things like: notebooks, pens, flashlights, multi-tools, keys, cards, etc.

Some premium bags don’t really have an admin panel solution out of the box. So you have to buy something separate.

The main storage compartment has zippered mesh storage and elastic-topped compartments keep your gear organized and ready.

The Rush12 has these compartments:

• Main Compartment – 18 inch x 11 inch x 6.5 inch,
• Front pocket – 12 inch x 9 inch x 1.75 inch,
• Hydration pocket -17 inch x 11 inch,
• Left and Right Side Pockets – 16.5 inch x 6 inch x 1.75 inch

And of course, the Rush12 has a 60 ounce hydration pocket.

You buy the hydration bladder separately.

You can route the hydration tube on the left side or right side.

Do you need a hydration bladder for rucking? In my opinion, yes.

You don’t want to have to stop, doff (“Take off”) your ruck, get a water bottle out, drink, and don the pack again.

It’s an energy waster. It wouldn’t be a big deal on a short hike, but after about 5 or 10 miles your energy and endurance might be scarce.

This bag, like all the 5.11 Tactical backpacks, carries a warranty against manufacturing defects for as long as you own it. That doesn’t cover abuse and normal wear and tear. But it does show that 5.11 stands behind their product. That warranty applies only if you buy via an authorized dealer. We recommend you buy direct from 5.11 Tactical via Amazon.

This item is very well liked by it’s users and comments indicate it is very durable over the long term.

So, there you go. The 5.11 Tactical Rush12 is the best budget option for rucking.

If you are dipping your toe in the waters of rucking and don’t want to jump into a $395 rucksack to start, get the Rush12.

Bargain Waist Belt or Hip Belt for Rucking

Here’s another great piece of bargain gear.

GORUCK charges over $60 for a hip belt.

What’s a hip belt important for?

Here’s a few benefits:

• It helps take some of the load off your upper body and transfers it to your hips – this will let you ruck longer (although it does make rucking easier too).
• It can help keep the backpack in place when you are doing PT type exercises during ruck events – bear crawls, burpees, and more. There’s nothing worse than having a big heavy ruck plate in your back and having it smacking you in the lower back – or the back of the head.

As such, we consider a hip belt a serious, must-have rucking accessory.

Take a look at the RUSH12 pack again. See the buckles at the bottom of the shoulder straps?

Those are belt attachment points.

They will work perfect with the Fire Force Backpack Waist Belt Universal (Buy on Amazon).

This is a bargain priced waist belt, at 1/3rd the cost of the GORUCK item.

And it works just as well.

Ruck Plates

By the way, if you are going to do a ruck challenge event (light, tough, or heavy), or you simply want an efficient solution to help you train better, we recommend you look into ruck plates.

These are budget friendly, easy to use, and space efficient training weights.

These would be great to make weight for a ruck event, without wasting a ton of space in your pack.

If you don’t want to pony up $$$ for these, use three bricks, or use dumbbell plates.

Another Cheap Option For a Rucksack

Here’s another super-economical choice from 5.11 tactical.

The 5.11 Rapid Origin Tactical Backpack (Buy on Amazon) has a lot of features you’d want in a rucking backpack.

First of all – it’s got MOLLE – on the back and sides.

It has two places for a patch – there’s velcro up top, and that bottom row of MOLLE on the back is hook and loop too.

It’s a 25L bag – so it’s a “day pack” – it can fit what you’d need for one day. And that’s the perfect size for rucking.

The only downside to this bag – it’s made from 600D Polyester. It might not be tough enough for extended use or very heavy use (as in heavy weights within.)

Nice thick, padded shoulder straps and a sternum / chest strap are included.

You can also see buckle attachment points at the base of the straps – perfect for that universal waist belt we highlighted earlier.

Inside, it has an integrated laptop sleeve (for up to a 15″ laptop or a ruck plate) and it’s hydration bladder compatible.

And look at that big empty storage – in this regard this bag is similar to the GORUCK series that are “lay flat” bags.

I love these because they let YOU decide how to best pack.

But, it does mean there’s less integrated storage than you might find in the RUSH line.

You may need packing cubes, field pockets, or MOLLE pouches to help keep the packing efficient and un-cluttered.

There is a fleece lined admin pocket for your sunglasses – that’s the part you can see hanging down in the main compartment.

Having said all that – this would make a great EDC Bag too. It’s “tactical” but not too tactical and it is very affordable.

Need More Storage?

If 24L of storage capacity isn’t enough, check out the 5.11 RUSH24 Tactical Backpack.

By the way, the “24” is for 24 hour – or overnight pack – not capacity.

As such it is 2,275 cubic inch or 37 liters (37L) in total capacity.

It adds a few other features as well – twin drainage grommets (in case the bag becomes immersed in water), and a “Shove It” storage area.

And lastly there’s also a 72 hour model. This would be the equivalent of the “3 day” packs that are popular, such as the London Bridge Trading 3 day assault pack, or the Mystery Ranch 3 day assault pack.

This has all the great features of the other 5.11 Rush packs, but has a massive 3,342 cu. In. / 55 liter (55L) storage room.

It’s also got a hip belt or waist belt built in.

Use the waist belt when you want to offload some of the heavy load from your upper body to your hips.

This helps reduce fatigue on long ruck marches.

On a short ruck, the waist belt can be tucked away.

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Genuine US Military Surplus – The ILBE

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Here’s another wallet friendly rucking option – with an authentic twist.

The No products found. is right in the sweet spot for a budget rucksack.

First of all this is genuine US military surplus – so you know if it’s tough enough for the troops it’ll work for your ruck event.

ILBE Stands for “Improved Load Bearing Equipment”.

At 1,500 cubic inches (24.5L) it’s perfect size for a ruck, comparable to the GR1.

It’s available in one color: MARPAT (MARine PATtern) Digital Camouflage.

It has padded shoulder straps, sternum strap, and hip/waist belt – all included – at no additional cost.

And lastly, look at all that glorious MOLLE – just what we need.

This item is actually made by Arc’Teryx – who makes a lot of great gear.

Sling Style Backpacks

How about a sling style backpack like the 5.11 MOAB 10 (Buy on Amazon) or 6?

These have their uses, but not for rucking.

They aren’t really a robust load bearing solution.

The main problem is that the single shoulder strap ensures any real load is going to cause that strap to dig into your shoulders.

Check the reviews – and you’ll see.

For lightly loaded EDC scenarios these sling style packs may have their use, and that’s what we’d recommend them for.

By the way, MOAB stands for Mobile Operations Attachment Bag.

And what is a sling bag good for? These sling bags can be worn to the front, keeping everything in view, or to the back and easily spun around to make them easy to work out of, or provide quick access to the concealed carry pocket.

Compare that to trying to access an item from a 2 strap backpack…

Please note that the MOAB 6 and 10 are not named for their capacity. The MOAB 10 is actually 18L capacity, and the MOAB 6 is actually 11L in capacity.

Cheap Rucksacks – In Summary

Budget rucksacks are available.

They have a lot of features that we want for rucking, but won’t break your budget at the same time.

If you want to get started rucking cheaply, 5.11 Tactical’s Rush series are your best options.

For day trips, the Rush12 is sized right, but the Rush24 and Rush72 are also available for more storage.

These also work great as a hunting bag, bug out bag (BOB), and for other uses.

Are you a rucking beginner? You really should check out our guide to beginner rucking gear.

If you want a premium backpack, check out our article on the most expensive backpacks for rucking.

Photo Credits – Budget Rucksacks for Rucking

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Last update on 2024-07-05 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API