GROUNDTRUTH RIKR24: REVIEW
FOREWORD
I first came across Groundtruth in one of the ads on IG with a futuristic looking bag that looked like something a character from Blade Runner 2049 or Cyberpunk 2077 would carry. Unlike the dystopian future portrayed in these titles, the world in which Groundtruth exists actually makes me hopeful and optimistic.
You see, many companies adopted sustainability as a marketing ploy to attract a more environmentally conscious audience without rethinking their core business model and products from the ground up. It’s easy to use a recycled fabric (one of a half-dozen needed for an average product) and call it a day. But meticulously analyzing every single component, challenging the supply chain of each element from threads, to buckles and zippers requires a different kind of mindset and, more importantly, a commitment on all levels of your organization to make a truly sustainable product possible.
Because it’s not enough to use a certain percentage of recycled materials in your product (though, it's a good start), the main challenge is creating a green supply chain. Groundtruth pursued exactly this goal: creating a truly sustainable supply chain that would allow the creation of products that would embody the definition of “Sustainability” and push the industry forward.
The RIKR24 is the first backpack from Groundtruth and I was lucky enough to test it for about 8 weeks as my day-to-day bag with the occasional rotation to other review units. Despite being quite compact, the RIKR24 manages to have basically every important feature a bag enthusiast can ask for. How does it fair as a daily driver?
Read on to find out.
WHO IT SUITS
Anyone looking for a forward thinking, futuristic looking backpack that looks unique and performs incredibly well in both urban and harsh outdoor environments.
If you consider yourself as an environmentally conscious individual and you carefully select your gear based on the footprint of the brand, Groundtruth’s RIKR24 could be a real treat.
Those looking for a compact EDC bag that is packed with quality of life features such as external laptop access, side grab handles, hidden pocket, quick access pocket, side access to the main compartment, etc...
WHO IT DOESN’T
Those who are looking for the lightest EDC bag possible. The recycled materials used in the RIKR24 have excellent performance and look badass, but they are far from being the lightest on the market.
The sci-fi look of the RIKR24 might not work for everyone and would look a bit out of place in the office/professional environment.
ABOUT THE BAG
PRICE: $394
DIMENSIONS: 530 x 300 x 170 mm
WEIGHT: 2.1 kg
CAPACITY: 24L
Upon opening the box I was immediately blown away by the quality and the sleek, unique look of the bag. The subtle triangular pattern on the outer fabric is a result of a tripstop weave, Groundtruth's triangular reinterpretation of a ripstop weave. It is somewhat reminiscent of Heimplanet’s patterns used on the inner liner, but taken to the next level. The RIKR24 is definitely a looker and the more I explored the bag, the more surprises and cool little things I discovered.
From hidden compartments over tasteful color matching to deep blue accents underneath the grab handles, these details show just how much love and attention have gone into creating this unique pack.
I found the capacity of 24L to be close to real regarding useful space offered by the RIKR24, but only in the fully extended mode. The regular, non-extended, mode is closer to 20L in my experience, which is still plenty enough for EDC (every day carry).
COMFORT
In my 2 months of testing the bag I found it quite comfortable, the harness system is well thought out and does a pretty good job of distributing the weight evenly when the bag is packed with heavy tech.
The back panel features a nice cushion thanks to the combo of mesh and foam.
The straps are nicely padded and contoured. The magnetic sternum strap helps secure the bag position and distribute the weight.
If I were to point out one gripe related to comfort of the RIKR24, it would be the top grab handle. It is too short and I found myself fighting the back panel to get my hand in and this is with bare hands. Grabbing the bag by the top handle in gloves or mittens will be a bit of a nightmare. I like how subtle the handle is and the padding thickness is great, but Groundtruth should definitely make it longer (especially with the bag being advertised for outdoor use, where you often wear gloves of some sort).
DESIGN & FEATURES
For such a small and compact pack I was mind-blown by how feature packed the RIKR24 is. In fact, it might be the most feature packed bag I have used to date. It basically has anything you can think of:
Side grab handle on each side
Dedicated laptop access making getting your laptop in and out a breeze
Side access to the main compartment
Quick access pocket with mesh bottom, incredible to see what’s inside the pocket without getting into it
Hidden pocket on the back
Semi-clamshell opening (secured by a magnetic buckle!)
External water bottle pockets
Removable waist straps, which also have very nice built-in pockets handy for quick access to a snack, airpods, etc...
Removable pouch that can be carried as a standalone sacoche or snapped inside for additional internal organization
Luggage passthrough
Load lifters and strap keepers for both comfort and a dangle free experience
The talent of Groundtruth’s team was not in cramming as much as possible into the pack, but making each feature add value and complement each other in a way that makes the bag feel complete, ready to tackle anything you can throw at it.
MATERIALS & ORGANIZATION
We all love Xpac. Some of our favorite bags are made using this instantly recognizable diamond shaped fabric. Mystery Ranch x Carryology Assault, Able Carry Max, Remote Equipment Alpha31, Bravo18, Charlie25, ... These are just a few examples of Xpac bags that made headlines and became trusty companions of thousands of people around the globe.
The thing about Xpac is that it is created using virgin materials. Simply put, to create Xpac you have to first create the polyethylene terephthalate (also known as rPET) combined with nylon and polyester. Creating a material requires a whole lot of steps involving extracting fossil fuels to run the factory, forming an entire supply chain and implementing logistics for manufacturing.
What Groundtruth is focused on is using already manufactured, thrown away plastic and repurposing it to avoid the unnecessary waste of limited energy and resources to create virgin materials.
The fabric Groundtruth has invented is called GT-RK-001. Perhaps not the sexiest name, but it made possible the creation of products that will not only push the industry’s limit of sustainability, but also perform exceptionally well in the harshest conditions, like the deserts in Africa or the vast cold emptiness of Antarctica.
Apart from the sustainable Tripstop weave Groundtruth developed, the bag is also built using recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rPET), everything is recycled including zippers, mesh padding, fleece lining, etc...
Despite being built from recycled materials absolutely everything about the bag feels premium and performs to the highest industry standards.
Combining a unique futuristic look with excellent performance, durability and sustainability did come with a tradeoff: a higher than average weight. The RIKR24 has a weight of ~2kg (without the hip belt or inserts) which is not exactly light, but certainly not the heaviest bag in such capacity and size.
In a way, carrying those extra couple of hundred grams on my shoulder was part of my contribution to fight the climate change and unhealthy consumption which, if you ask me, was more than fair.
The organization of RIKR24 is brilliant. Everything I could ever want from an EDC bag is there. Externally there are:
Quick Access pocket on top of the bag
Hidden pocket on the back
Top access to the laptop compartment
Side access to the main compartment
Sleek yet useful water bottle pocket
Internally there are multiple zippered mesh pockets inside the bag and generous main compartment.
The included soft organizer pouch and removable pouch (that can be secured with snaps inside the bag or carried as a standalone sacoche-style bag) are excellent companions that further expand on RIKR24 already rich feature set.
Overall, the organisation and access of RIKR24 have not left me wanting more. Groundtruth knocked it out of the park.
WHAT’S HOT
Durability and build is simply outstanding. The RIKR24 is an embodiment of quality and toughness.
Commitment to sustainability is second to none and differentiates RIKR24 from any other offering on the market.
Incredible amount of features that work together well and don’t overwhelm.
Thoughtful built-in organization allows you to stay neat and tidy while also making it easier to access your things.
External laptop access is brilliant and lined with one of the best quality fleeces I have experienced to date. The very generous size of the compartment will also accommodate even large laptops.
Side access into the main compartment is great and easy to open.
Comfortable harness system makes the bag a joy to carry and mitigates the extra weight of the bag.
Built-in strap keepers ensure a dangle free experience, a small touch but greatly appreciated. The bag always looks neat and tidy.
Magnetic buckles on the main flap and the sternum strap are a nice quality of life addition.
WHAT’S NOT
The bag does not stand on its own. Frankly this is not an issue for me, but I know folks for whom this can be a deal-breaker.
Heavier than most similarly sized bags, though definitely not the heaviest bag in the category.
Lack of high-visibility inner liner makes it a bit difficult to navigate the main compartment, especially in poor lighting conditions.
Depending on your load the bag might collapse into itself and look a bit uneven. This is purely aesthetic and quite common for many bags when not fully packed.
VERDICT
The RIKR24 is not just a product. It is Groundtruth’s solution to unsustainable consumption and negative impact on the environment. It is a vision for a brighter future where products can be 100% sustainable, made from recycled materials and have a positive impact on our now fragile planet.
Of course, the bag is on the heavier side, but a comfortable harness mitigates some of that weight and the thought of me contributing to solving the environmental issues by using this product made my carrying experience, and just using the RIKR24 in general, more than acceptable.
With this commitment to creating green products I am extremely impressed with the RIKR24, especially considering that this is the first backpack by Groundtruth. So many things were done right, so many features are packed in this compact EDC bag that I am excited to see what the future holds for this brand and I can't wait to see other products from this small passionate team. What I am even more excited about is seeing other brands follow in the footsteps of this young company, pushing the boundaries of sustainability as a soft goods industry and beyond.
“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil, is for good men to do nothing.” The situation with climate change and global warming is the same. It’s not enough anymore to simply do nothing, each and everyone of us has to really be proactive about making a positive impact, be the agents of change starting with ourselves. One of the ways to be part of the solution is to rethink what we buy and support the companies that, through hard work, built those carbon-negative supply chains.
The Scott sisters, founders of Groundtruth, embarked on the impossible quest to leave no stone unturned and create a product that can be called 100% sustainable. From my experience using the RIKR24 they came closer than any brand I know.
If you are looking for a unique-looking bag that can withstand any environment, carry all your gear comfortably and don’t mind a bit of extra weight, then I strongly recommend the RIKR24 as your daily companion. It will serve you well for years to come!
Disclaimer
RIKR24 was provided by Groundtruth as a sample for review purposes, the content of this review was not shared with Groundtruth before publishing.
My goal is to share an honest, unbiased review that is not tailored to keep the brand happy.