The Brown Buffalo Conceal 21L and GORUCK GR1 Compared! Two LEGENDS!

[@IgnisMjolnir]

Love these kind of longform comparative reviews! I think most people interested in this have either bag, and it's really helpful to compare the bags in such a balanced way. Looking forward to more of these videos!

[@jtinseoul7041]

Well, I mostly made this because so many people were asking about different aspects that I mentioned here. Not a whole lot out there about the Conceal 21 from what I can tell.

[@mindbendernine]

That Brown Buffalo might be the best looking bag I've ever seen. Would never consider any GoRuck when it's sitting next to the BB Conceal21. Great comprehensive review of both.

[@jtinseoul7041]

It's an absolutely lovely thing. Built with a lot more care than most bags I come across.

[@epretto]

It is awesome to see that GR1 has been facing some competition lately :)

[@jtinseoul7041]

Definitely STRONG competition here.

[@epretto]

@@jtinseoul7041 cant wait for the next top 3 ( or 10 ) 💪💪

[@jtinseoul7041]

Next one will definitely be a top 10 haha.

[@markcrapeau4748]

Thank you for doing the comparison. The overall size differences really seem to be minor. I like the BB bag choices a lot. Both companies should add a quick access pocket on top as standard design. Hopefully they will in the future. I think BB should have made the back pocket a "laptop" compartment with false bottom and some protection. I understand that you can buy and use a pouch, but seems an unnecessary addition for a bag that is designed for EDC. Thanks again.

[@jtinseoul7041]

I think you're pretty spot on. I think the top pocket on the Goruck.. I get why they don't add it. We are on the EDC side but a huge part of their business is people that use the bags in a way that require the passthrough. I suppose they could figure out a way to have both.

[@_The_Mig_]

Awesome video JT, dude you should make a video with all your pouches

[@jtinseoul7041]

Definitely need to. Waiting on a couple to show up first.

[@moichimonji]

Love this video. Great insight on that TBB , seems to be masterfully crafted.

[@jtinseoul7041]

It definitely feels it, too!

[@ianmcdonald7884]

You almost lost me at Gerald. I fuckin laughed and laughed!! Where can I get that patch? I want one big time now.

[@blahblah6346563]

Deciding between 21L and 19L conceal. Which one do you think is better?

[@jhengh]

Awesome video, kinda reinforces why A19 has such a cult following with all those PROPER organisations and clam shell opening.

[@jtinseoul7041]

Haha. I tend to use pouches for most things so that doesn't bother me much. I'd say they TBB could be similar to the A19 but you'd have to purchase a bunch of add ons.

[@markcrapeau4748]

Can you tell me which North Street organizer you have in the front pocket

[@jtinseoul7041]

It is this one: northstbags.com/collections/velcro-in-bag-pocket-options/products/veclroin-internal-organizer-pocket

[@markcrapeau4748]

@@jtinseoul7041 I guess I should have asked if you like the North St. organizer. Also, sorry to be a pest, but I know you often put your laptop in the main compartment but are you using the back pocket on the BB as for your laptop with a sleeve for protection?

[@jtinseoul7041]

I put my laptop in the main compartment when there is a sleeve or somewhere to put it properly. On the TBB there isn't really a place to secure it so I put it in the back compartment. And the North St stuff is all some of my favourite. Works great in here.

[@mattjones1512]

Hey, great review. I’m based in the UK so both of these are quite hard to get hold of. I was fortunate enough to grab a 19l Conceal in phantom grey from eBay and I have to say it’s the best backpack I’ve ever used. I’ve handled a couple of GoRucks and they’re nice, but the Brown Buffalo is on a different level.

[@jtinseoul7041]

The Conceal is really great. I've been more and more happy with it every day.

[@wellsbibo6175]

I have the GR1 Huckberry slick in Coyote and still think it's the best balance of minimalist style and durability on the market. Its primarily a work/gym bag for me, so I dont need a lot of tactical doodads hanging off of it. I do, however, further another poster's comment in saying GR1 needs a quick access pocket by the grab handle standard across all configurations. Leave the slit for hydration bladders for the Rucker series. Otherwise, nearly perfect.

[@markcrapeau4748]

If you could only keep one which would it be and why?

[@jtinseoul7041]

Need more time with the TBB.

[@Chris9170]

@@jtinseoul7041 now that you've had more time, are you able to answer?

[@alexandretestoni]

TBB Conceal 21 or Phoenix? What you prefer?

[@jtinseoul7041]

Conceal 21.

[@alfonz84]

what is your first backpack?

[@jtinseoul7041]

By first do you mean favourite or first as in the first I ever owned? I believe the first I owned was some sort of East Pak. And my favourite is probably the GORUCK GR2 26L.

[@alfonz84]

@@jtinseoul7041 my first serious backpack is TAD litespeed, using for my EDC. Yes Im admiring goruck also, and now thinking to purchase a new ver of GR2 for travel backpack after watching your review. As for Goruck, do you see any significant difference between Viet and USA made in terms of build quality? Thanks

[@jtinseoul7041]

Not a whole lot of difference, no. It wouldn't bother me either way which country my pack was made in from Goruck.

[@LilUmbrellaDance]

@@alfonz84 Not sure if you can get the Vietnam version anymore since Goruck brought its production back into exclusively US only.

[@Misterion25]

TBB bag is awesome looking. Added to the wish list.

[@jtinseoul7041]

Man, definitely deserving of that.

[@raycontego3276]

For some reason I still lean on the CPL 24 V2 design wise.

[@jtinseoul7041]

For me, the issue is, the CPL has all the pockets on the wrong side for how I work daily so in use it drives me absolutely batty. If they were on the other side, I'd probably be with you.

[@Tony16610]

Thank you for the really good comparison. I initially held of on the TBB 19L Conceal hoping Douglas would make something a little bigger and the 21L looked to have been the answer. I think my biggest dealbreaker is the price at $325 plus $55 if you want an additional laptop sleeve (that really should be included) beings this to almost $400 for what is essentially a very simple bag that doesn't do anything extremely well or is built from anything too exciting. Then there are the smaller things like the two pouch pockets just being wide open to where things can fly out if you open them too quickly- having them zippered or velcro'd would have been perfect and for almost $400 it's just not acceptable and almost feels lazy, so does the non-suspended laptop sleeve. Finally, the blaze orange is cool but gets old really quickly from experience. It's loud and attracts attention should you open it at work or on a bus- a light grey or pale yellow/green would have been a much better and subdued choice. For my money I'd probably get the DSPTCH Daypack at half the price and call it a day. USA Made and much easier to overlook the flaws for something that you can get at $150 right now.

[@jtinseoul7041]

Makes sense I suppose. I am a big fan of the TBB and the build quality is second to none for my money. It is a lot of my money, surely. I love the Daypack too. If you see a couple of videos back I even said it was one of my top three bags. Of the things you mentioned the only thing that would really upgrade my experience would be for the rear compartment to be slightly raised. The orange I quite like and don't live in a place where attracting attention matters. I do appreciate the comment! And we surely agree the Daypack is a great bag. My MCB one is one that will never leave my collection.

[@jackchn23]

That Brown Buffalo seems a lot bigger than the 21L claim. Seem on par with the 26L GoRuck.

[@jtinseoul7041]

I would say it's like.. slightly smaller than the Goruck. That's why I compared these two.

[@thatchanguy]

Next up: baby torture test. Spit up resistance. Tear resistance. Can you carry a baby in it as a carry on or personal item? :) Keep up the great work, my friend!

[@jtinseoul7041]

Thanks!! And haha she's been great. No accidents yet.

[@1partgeek]

Battle of the Titans!

[@jtinseoul7041]

That they are!

[@jackchn23]

Probably have to throw a Recycled Fire Fighter pack in here to make things interesting. To me these three companies are trying to reach the same customer, with GoRuck occupying the top spot as it comes to brand/size.

[@ryanrivales8126]

Great Review! Been watching this for more than 10x. :D Thanks to your vids about TBB CP21L, starting to like the silhouette of this pack more than the square-ish GR packs. ;) But I cant decide between TAD Axiom24 and TBB CP21L, price is almost the same and Im leaning more towards the TAD A24 because of of its organization and a lot more features that the TBB CP21L. Do you have any plan to get more of their mods? Whats your thoughts on those? Keeping doing this man. hope to see more vids on this pack. That will really helps TBB in some way. cheers...

[@jtinseoul7041]

Thanks! I have some mods although they weren't in this video. The one I use most is the laptop one. I would say for me personally the things that would make me prefer this over the TAD would be that even though it's 21 vs 24 it's 100% bigger than the Axiom 24. That bag feels TIGHT for 24L. Also, it stands perfectly on its own and the TAD needs a lot of "help" haha. Plus I think the build quality is definitely higher in my opinion on the TBB. At least in my experience.

[@0f556]

Brown Buffalo. No contest. Better bag, better made. Half the cost.

[@jtinseoul7041]

It's really a great bag.