A Compact EDC Backpack Gets a Tried-and-True Vintage Waxed Canvas Upgrade

This modular, tactical-styled bag was already incredibly useful. Now, it has killer old-school styling to match its excellent utility.

GoRuck Bullet Ruck Heritage Waxed Canvas Backpack closeup

By Sean Tirman

Published April 16, 2025

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Updated April 16, 2025

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A few weeks ago, GoRuck launched its lightest packable travel bag ever. Based on the brand’s Bullet pack, it was an immediate hit and sold out extremely quickly.

A little less than two months later, the brand returned to the drawing board again with that very same bag. Only this time, it was to give it a vintage-inspired material swap. With the GoRuck Bullet Ruck Heritage Waxed Canvas backpack, this bag has never looked so good.

GoRuck Bullet Ruck Heritage Waxed Canvas Backpack worn by person outdoors — GoRuck’s Bullet has always been this useful but never looked this good.

Classic, iconic drip

There have been a few different styles of Bullet bags over the years, including those made from 500D Cordura and ripstop Robic nylon. This one, however, is made from waxed canvas.

That itself isn’t entirely novel; there is a 16L version made from black or OD green waxed canvas. This bag shares that same Martexin Wax Canvas — a material that’s been proven over the course of more than 170 years.

However, this one’s two-tone olive and field tan colorway really shows off the beauty of the material in ways the others simply couldn’t. All of the quirks, imperfections and creases that give the fabric its texture and character are on full display.

That’s aided by the inclusion of a leather top strap and a matching removable GoRuck patch. The Bullet has always been a remarkable bag, but this might be the best-looking version yet.

GoRuck Bullet Ruck Heritage Waxed Canvas Backpack straps and laptop sleeve — The brand’s signature bombproof laptop sleeve remains even with the external material swap.

Tactical details

Despite its vintage-inspired styling, this pack is still very much a modern EDC bag with tactical roots. It retains almost everything that made it excellent to begin with; it just looks twice as good as it did before.

This version is actually slightly larger than normal, with an 18L capacity, much of which is made up by its clamshell main compartment. Inside that compartment, the bag also still has its MOLLE webbing for easy auxiliary pack and gear attachment.

Despite its vintage-inspired styling, this pack is still very much a modern EDC bag with tactical roots.

The rest of the storage is spread around its secondary compartment and other various pouches. That includes a handy, small, hidden zipper pocket underneath the handle.

Furthermore, it retains GoRuck’s signature bag feature: a bombproof laptop pouch. Bona fide ballistics experts tested the pouch to ensure it would keep your computer safe, even from explosions (yes, really).

It also boasts YKK AquaGuard zippers, adding to the exterior material’s weatherproofing, as well as padded straps, lumbar support, an internal frame sheet for added support and structure and more.

GoRuck Bullet Ruck Heritage Waxed Canvas Backpack clamshell interior — The pack’s 18L interior includes MOLLE webbing on the back panel for easy auxiliary pack and gear attachments.

Available now (but for how long?)

GoRuck’s Bullet Ruck Heritage Waxed Canvas backpack is now available on the brand’s site for $235. However, special edition releases like this tend to sell out very quickly, even with high pricing. There’s no telling how long this one will remain in stock, so grab it while you can.