GORUCK GR1 21 vs. Briggs & Riley - Convertible Duffle Backpack
Two carry-on travel backpacks, compared spec for spec.
Feature by feature
| GORUCK GR1 21 | Feature | Briggs & Riley - Convertible Duffle Backpack |
|---|---|---|
| Storage | ||
| N | Compression | N |
| None | Expanded Capacity | None |
| 1 | Opening | 1 |
| top | Passport | Y |
| N | Passthrough | Y |
| Carry | ||
| Y | Backpack | Y |
| N | Hip Belt | N |
| N | Sternum Strap | N |
| Inside | ||
| 15in | Laptop | 15in |
| 3 | Main Compartments | 3 |
| N | Organizer | N |
| Outside | ||
| × | Hard Shell | × |
| N | Rain-fly | N |
| N | Water Bottle Holder | N |
| Y | Water Resistant | N |
| Material | |
| Dyneema Composite Fabric (CT9Hw6/blkwov6) | 1680D ballistic nylon |
Briggs & Riley - Convertible Duffle Backpack
| Capacity | 39 L |
| Weight | 1.8 kg |
| Dimensions | 54×34×21 cm |
| Airline fit | 70% |
| Price | $149 |
Key differences between the GORUCK GR1 21 and Briggs & Riley - Convertible Duffle Backpack
- Passport pocket: Top on the GORUCK GR1 21; Yes on the Briggs & Riley - Convertible Duffle Backpack.
- Luggage passthrough: No on the GORUCK GR1 21; Yes on the Briggs & Riley - Convertible Duffle Backpack.
- Water resistant: Yes on the GORUCK GR1 21; No on the Briggs & Riley - Convertible Duffle Backpack.
Both have: backpack straps, laptop sleeve.
Which airlines take each bag as a carry-on
We checked both bags against the carry-on size limits of 189 airlines. 133 accept both. 45 accept only the GORUCK GR1 21, and 0 accept only the Briggs & Riley - Convertible Duffle Backpack.
Only the GORUCK GR1 21 fits
Air Baltic, Air China, Air Malta, Air Niugini, Air Serbia, Air Seychelles, American Eagle, Asiana Airlines, ATA Airlines, Belavia, Blue Air, Bulgaria Air, China Eastern, easyJet, Emirates Airlines, Enter Air, Etihad Airways, flybe, Icelandair, InselAir, Juneyao Airlines, Luxair, Meridiana Fly, Nordwind Airlines, Oman Air, Qatar Airways, Ravn Alaska, Regional Express, Royal Brunei Airlines, Royal Jordanian, Ryanair, S7, Shandong Airlines, Shenzhen Airlines, Sun Express, TAP Air Portugal, TAROM, Tianjin Airlines (A320 & E190), TUI, Ukraine International, VIM Airlines (Closed), Virgin Australia, Volotea, WestJet, Xiamen.
GORUCK GR1 21 vs. Briggs & Riley - Convertible Duffle Backpack: which should you pack?
The Briggs & Riley - Convertible Duffle Backpack carries 18L more than the GORUCK GR1 21 (21L vs. 39L), while the GORUCK GR1 21 is the lighter pack at 0.9kg (vs. 1.8kg). For carry-on flexibility, the GORUCK GR1 21 fits 94% of the airlines we track — the higher of the two. If you prioritise packing volume, choose the Briggs & Riley - Convertible Duffle Backpack; if you want to travel lighter, the GORUCK GR1 21 is the better call.