Rucksack Vs. Backpack: Is There A Difference?
Curious about the difference between rucksacks and backpacks? Or are you convinced that there’s no difference and it’s all the same thing?
You’re neither right nor wrong, and you’re definitely in the right place if you want to find out why. In the rest of this comparison, I will tell you about the key differences between backpacks and rucksacks – or lack thereof – so you will finally be able to forget about this whole backpack thing!
At A Glance: Rucksack Vs. Backpack
- Best Multi-Day Rucksack MT Military New Gen ILBE RucksackJump To Review
- Best Everyday/Work Backpack The North Face Borealis BackpackJump To Review
But first I’m going to show you some of the best backpacks and rucksacks; take a good look at them and try to see if you can tell the difference on your own!
Top Product Overview
 | Best Multi-Day Rucksack
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 | Best Everyday/Work Backpack
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Top Products
MT Military New Gen ILBE Rucksack
If it were up to me, there would be a photo of this bag right next to the definition of rucksack in dictionaries. It is the embodiment of a sturdy rucksack, with durable materials, tough construction, and a water-repellant exterior.
This is made from 1000D nylon, so it is a military standard rucksack. It features an internal aluminum frame that helps with load distribution, which in turn helps you stay comfortable while you’re wearing the rucksack.
The back system of this bag is also great; it features a fully adjustable harness with thick padding and breathable mesh everywhere. The padding ensures you don’t feel the contents of the bag while you’re wearing it, and the mesh is there for excellent ventilation. That’s why you can wear this rucksack on a really warm day, without getting too sweaty.
The main compartment is top-loading, with a drawstring closure and a top cover. It is very spacious, and you could fit quite a lot of gear inside this rucksack. But you can fit even more gear on the bag’s exterior, thanks to all the different laser-cut MOLLE panels. You have those on the top, front, and sides of the bag, so it’ll be really easy to carry all those bulky items.
Another thing I really like about this bag is that it comes with a detachable daypack. This is perfect for multi-day expeditions, as it allows you to leave the camp for a little while with only the essentials, as opposed to having to carry a 40lbs+ rucksack.
In addition to that, you will also get a hydration bladder with this bag, as well as a small hydration pack for it. A mobile phone case is also included in the price of the bag, and you’ll also get a radio pouch – it’s a pricey bag, but it’s actually great value for money thanks to all those accessories.
Pros
- Mil spec materials
- Detachable daypack included
- Laser cut MOLLE panels
Cons
- Pricey
- No rain cover
Product Information
- Dimensions: 26” x 14” x 10”
- Weight: 12 lbs (shipping weight!)
- Capacity: 75 + 25 liters
5.11 Tactical RUSH24 Military Backpack/Rucksack
The Rush24 is a great example of why people can’t tell the difference between a backpack and a rucksack. It looks like a regular backpack, but it is actually a rucksack because it is made from military standard materials. I’ll explain this in more detail later – for now, suffice it to say that it’s the materials that determine whether you’re looking at a backpack or a rucksack.
Also, this tactical pack features only YKK zippers, which are the best zippers you could hope for. They are self-repairing, meaning that the puller is designed to break away from the bag if it gets caught on anything.
This is a 24-hour bag, so it is best for short expeditions. The rucksack has an internal capacity of 37 liters, but you can attach a lot more gear to the exterior of the bag thanks to the multiple MOLLE panels. You will find those on the front and sides of the bag, and you’ll even get a few attachment points on the shoulder straps.
But the thing I like the most about this bag is that it has a total of 29 compartments. This includes all the external compartments and the internal pockets, so there will definitely be a spot for everything you want to put in the bag. If it’s important to you to stay organized in your adventure, the Rush24 is easily one of the best bags for you.
It’s also a very comfortable rucksack, with thick padding all over the back system. But it’s lacking breathable mesh, so it might not be the best bag for really hot days. And that’s pretty much the only downside – everything else about this rucksack is top-notch, from the sturdy compression straps to the two drainage grommets.
Pros
- Mil spec materials
- Total of 29 compartments
- Multiple MOLLE panels
Cons
- No breathable mesh
- No hip belt
Product Information
- Dimensions: 20” x 12.5” x 8”
- Weight: 4.2 lbs
- Capacity: 37 liters
The North Face Borealis Backpack
The Borealis by TNF is one of our favorite backpacks of all time. It is a very versatile bag with several spacious compartments and lots of internal pockets. Whether you want a backpack for school or a bag that’s great for everyday commute, the Borealis is a really good option.
One thing I can’t tell you is the exact material of the backpack because that depends on the color you choose. But it can be either nylon or reinforced polyester; both are very tough, durable, and tear-resistant, so feel free to get the color you like the most.
It features thick padding and breathable mesh on the backpanel and harness, for excellent carrying comfort. In fact, the suspension system is TNF’s proprietary FlexVent, which includes injection-molded shoulder straps and a breathable lumbar panel for great ventilation. And the backpack features a sternum strap and a hip belt, so you will be comfortable even if you manage to make it really heavy.
The main compartment of this pack features a padded laptop sleeve that can fit standard 15.6” laptops, as well as some slimmer 17” devices. And there will be lots of space for other items inside this compartment since it is very roomy. There’s another spacious compartment on the front of the bag, as well as a smaller compartment with an organizer panel and a padded tablet sleeve.
On top of that, the Borealis also features stretchy side pockets, a bungee cord at the front panel, side compression straps, and daisy chain webbing. The total capacity of the bag is 28 liters, but you will be able to get away with carrying more stuff if you need to, thanks to all those external attachment points.
Pros
- Padded and ventilated back system
- Hip belt and sternum strap
- External attachment points
Cons
- Hip belt is not padded
Product Information
- Dimensions: 19.75" x 13.25" x 9.75"
- Weight: 2.7 lbs
- Capacity: 28 liters
SwissGear 5358 USB ScanSmart Laptop Backpack
SwissGear is one of the top brands when it comes to laptops and travel backpacks. They’ve mastered the TSA-friendly computer compartment, which is why their bags make excellent carry-ons. And the ScanSmart 5358 pack is no exception – with a laptop compartment that lies flat when unzipped you don’t even have to take out any devices when going through TSA checkpoints.
You can fit a 15” laptop in the padded sleeve, as well as a regular 9.7” tablet in the dedicated sleeve on the other side. This compartment also features two additional pockets that are great for accessories, as well as a pass-through point for a cord. The open pocket is actually designed to hold a power bank, allowing you to charge your phone, tablet, or laptop whenever and wherever you want.
In addition to that, the pack also features a spacious main compartment with several pockets inside, an extra front compartment with an organizer panel, and multiple external pockets. There’s a collapsible shoe pocket on one side, an insulated water bottle pocket on the other side, and crush resistant sunglasses pocket on the top of the bag.
The SwissGear backpack is also very comfortable to wear, thanks to the thick padding and breathable mesh on the back system. One of the shoulder straps features an open pocket, while the other one is equipped with a USB port for charging your devices. I love the placement on the port since it means you can charge your phone and use it at the same time, without taking the backpack off.
Pros
- Comfortable back system
- TSA friendly laptop compartment
- Versatile
Cons
- No hip belt
- Does not fit 17” devices
Product Information
- Dimensions: 18” x 11.5” x 7”
- Weight: Not specified
- Capacity: 31.4 liters
Rucksack Vs. Backpack: What’s The Difference?
Well, that was a lot of bags that look really similar right? But, there were some differences, and the most important ones are only noticeable if you pay attention to every little detail.
Don’t worry, I’m not going to leave it at that. I’m dying to tell you about the (non-)existing differences between backpacks and rucksacks, as well as touching upon the way language makes us perceive things differently.
Semantics Or Something More?
Even though they refer to the same type of bag, rucksack and backpack aren’t really synonymous with each other. All rucksacks are backpacks, but not all backpacks are rucksacks – and here’s why.
The word backpack actually refers to those basic bags that you usually see on kids that are still in elementary school. I’m talking about those flimsy packs that get torn at least once a year, and which wind up in the trash can as soon as the school year ends.
Rucksacks, on the other hand, are military backpacks that are a lot more durable. And even the word alone hints that – rucking is the most common military activity after all. But even more than that, the actual noun is derived from German words der rücken and sack, which translate to back and bag respectively.
Do you realize what that means? Your favorite tactical backpack is actually a rucksack, and you didn’t even know it! And that’s only because the term backpack is more popular among native English speakers. If the word rucksack wasn’t of German origin and was perhaps something not foreign, I’m pretty sure we’d all be using it just as frequently.
In any case, don’t buy a bag just because it says rucksack or backpack in the name. Let’s be real – a lot of brands use those two words synonymously even when they shouldn’t with the sole purpose of attracting a wider audience and selling as much bags as possible.
Unique Features
One thing that makes it easy to distinguish between a rucksack and backpack is the opening of the main compartment. Rucksacks will usually have a drawstring or something at the top, and then a flap that is secured to the body of the bag with buckles.
However, that doesn’t have to be the case at all times. You can have a rucksack that has a zipper opening of the main compartment – a feature that is standard for all plain backpacks – but made from mil-spec materials. It’s the materials that make it a rucksack instead of a backpack, more-so than any other feature.
And you can also have a backpack that features a drawstring closure and buckle belts, but it’s made from such cheap materials that no one dares call it a rucksack. Because of that, you should always be really careful when buying these bags, especially if you’re shopping online.
Always look at what materials a bag is made from if it has a waterproof or weatherproof coating (rucksacks do) and what the seams are like.
Is There Really A Difference?
Honestly, not really. Especially if you’re shopping online – more than half of the bags you can buy on Amazon and similar websites will have backpack/rucksack/shoulder bag and about 15 other synonyms in the title. That allows to show up in the search results even if they’re not exactly what you’re looking for.
In the end, it doesn’t actually matter if you’re getting a backpack, a rucksack, a knapsack, a bagsack, or a bag with two shoulder straps. The thing that matters the most is the overall quality and durability of the pack – if it’s so sturdy that the military wears it, then it’s most certainly a rucksack. If it falls apart within a month, call it a backpack and throw it in the trash.
I encourage you to check out my reviews on the best military backpacks, best survival backpacks, and best backpacks for hiking. And yes, the majority of the bags featured in those posts are in fact rucksacks, even if they don’t have those signature buckles and top opening.
Rucksack Vs. Backpack: Final Thoughts & Favorites
Still not entirely clear on the differences between rucksacks and backpacks? It’s okay – neither am I to be perfectly honest. But I am clear on the basics, so I can help you decide whether you should pick up a backpack or a rucksack!
If you want a really durable bag that is suitable for outdoor adventures, you should go for a rucksack. And the MT Military Rucksack is one of the best options you can get your hands on. It is made from military standard materials, it has multiple laser-cut MOLLE panels, and it comes with a detachable daypack.
This bag is great for long expeditions that require you to carry a lot of gear because it has multiple roomy compartments, an abundance of external attachment points, and a back system that will keep you comfortable regardless of the bag’s weight.
- ILBE Military Rucksack System – Reviving a Classic – This 100+L tactical backpack system is a faithful reproduction of the legendary ILBE loadout, once the most expensive and advanced military carrying system in history.
- Upgraded Laser-Cut MOLLE System for Enhanced Performance – Unlike traditional PALS webbing, this modernized laser-cut MOLLE system offers increased durability, a sleeker look, and superior attachment compatibility.
And if you want a simpler bag that works great for everyday commute or just the office, go with the SwissGear 5358 backpack. It is not made from military standard materials, so it’s not worthy of the ‘rucksack’ title.
But it is a really great backpack with a TSA-friendly laptop compartment, a very spacious main compartment, multiple external pockets and attachment points, and a surprisingly comfortable back system.
- The North Face® lightens the load with the Borealis backpack.
- FlexVent™ injection-molded shoulder straps with a top layer of Atilon foam for added support.
You can see the prices of these bags on Amazon, so head over there if you want to get one of them. And check out our related posts to see even more awesome backpacks and rucksacks!
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