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Mike Collins's avatar

I bought a vest first, wore it twice and immediately bought a GR1. I have broad shoulders and found that the vest was seriously uncomfortable. I can throw the ruck on and wear it for extended periods of time. I ruck with it, I've mowed the lawn, walked the dogs, grocery shopped... You would freak people out with a vest on in the super market :)

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Coach Robbie's avatar

This is 100% on point Michael! I've been a 'field test' for this comparison the past 4 weeks; (Goruck's training vest came back in stock in early August right when I joined my heaviest phase of training for the upcoming hunting season.)

After a month of 2-a-days, 3 miles each w/50 then 60lbs in the vest, I need to switch back to my 25L Rucker for the final 2 weeks. My back is trashed.

I've got both on-again/off-again bulging disks and disk compression issues across multiple vertebra. For the most part disc bulges come and go and I address disc height issues w/various decompression strategies ranging from sessions in an inversion chair to both in-home and chiropractic decompression traction sessions.

After 4 weeks in the vest it's time to say 'no mas!' and go back to my Rucker. (Fortunately Goruck gear is AWESOME currency on eBay!) While I can live w/the lower lat/serratus muscle aches (you hump out 50-80 lbs of meat, it's a familiar pain to embrace BEFORE the load-out), there's no escape from nerve/compression pain.

While the vest definitely evenly distributes the weight around my core and for the first 1.5 miles is more comfortable, I have little doubt it's lead to my current state of pain, most of which comes from compression that I can't quickly get rid of. Also Ben's spot on about breathing - having 2 30lb plates w/me sandwiched in between, not to mention when I tighten the vest to stabilize the weight, breathings a stone cold bitch.

I hunt out of a pack and that's what I'll stick to training in. Also - I learned in The Corp, vests (plate carriers) are for fighting, Rucks are for carrying shit and will stick to that going forward.

BTW - I COMMEND you for this sentiment and wish ANY in the msm would adhere to:

"I’m a journalist. My job is not to wage internet wars but rather to cover the wars. To talk to both sides, give you both perspectives, and then try to draw some reasonable, actionable, and practical conclusions."

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