Ground Truth RIKR 38L Hybrid Duffle Backpack Review

There are no shortage of backpacks on the market, however, with sustainability at the forefront of consumers minds, marketing is often engineered to oversell their commitments. Many popular brands are moving towards recycled materials, however every part of Ground Truth's range of gear is meticulously thought about with sustainability and longevity at the forefront.

While I already own a duffel bag from a well-known brand, the downside of this style of bag is comfort. Typically, I use a duffel bag as a mode to transport items from inside, to the car and vice versa. But when I was given a school trip to a residential for a few nights, I wanted a bag that would be comfortable and a rucksack. This would help keep my hands free to move children's belongings and avoid any problems with stairs. Plus, as someone who seeks pleasure in the one bag travel community, a bag that would last a lifetime was a consideration as well.

The RIKR 38L duffel bag was my first purchase from Groundtruth and was grateful for it, being able to carry everything I needed with room to spare. Here is what I packed and the features of this remarkable bag offers.

Read on to find out.

Who it suits

• Anyone looking for a minimal appearance bag, that offers a range of carry options, which is designed to preform in heavy downpours.
• A bag that is a comfortable rucksack and duffel bag, with a luggage pass-through for foreign trips and offers a range of places to store your gear, without being over the top.
• If you are looking for a bag that focuses on sustainability and durability at the heart of their business model.

Who It Doesn’t

• Anyone looking for a range of colour options to add a pop of colour to their carry
• If you want your laptop in a compartment that can be locked when travelling.

About The Bag

• Price: £320 ($427)
• Height: 550 mm
• Width: 330 mm
• Depth: 250 mm
• Weight: 1.6 KG
• Volume: 38 L

Upon opening the postage bag, I struggled to hold my excitement, and delved straight in and was able to notice the small details that had been considered to make the bag user-friendly. Albeit subtle, but the majority of the bag features triangular ripstop weave. The rear has two reflective strips and minimal branding, which I, personally, approve of. The exterior of the bag also has lash points to add accessories and two large 1L bottle pockets, with elasticated loops to keep the bottles secure. Finally, the zips into the main compartment are all lockable.

Carry Options

The RIKR 38L Hybrid Duffle Backpack offers a range of carry options. The main two being a duffel bag, which utilises the padded belt, which can be clipped onto the bag. The second main carry option is the rucksack mode, which utilises the padded belt, two rucksack straps can be pulled from within a dedicated compartment and clipped into place, a sternum strap helps keep the gear balanced. A further 3 grab handles, left, right and top of the bag, offer a range of carry options. Finally, a luggage pass-through allows you to fly abroad with your bag.

Ground Truth RIKR 38L Hybrid Duffle Backpack Product Videos

Ground Truth made the following 60-second video showcasing the main features the bag offers.

A second video showcases Ed Stafford taking you on a tour of the bag, with some contents packed inside. The video lasts 3 minutes.

Currently, the final video Ground Truth made is just over 2 minutes. This video acts as a promo video featuring Ed Stafford and the team who made the bag.

Comfort

So far through using the bag I have fully loaded it and with the straps properly adjusted, I was able to manage the weight comfortably when walking, going upstairs, standing still and bending over to tie a shoelace. While the padding on the straps may not feel squishy, they never dug into me or felt sore at any point, likewise the padded belt strap felt snug and comfortable. The addition of a magnetic sternum strap helps secure the bag in position and distribute the weight.

Unlike some of their other backpacks, the back panel has no mesh or foam, and therefore I felt my shoes at one point from within the bag. It is worth considering where to place items inside, especially against the bag panel. However, despite feeling the shoes, it was not massively uncomfortable.

Design & Features

The size of 38L duffel hybrid bag is not massively bulky in my opinion, and offers a range of features to help separate your gear and make accessing it easier:

• Side grab handles on each side and one of the top
• Dedicated fleece lined external laptop compartment, allowing you to get through customs easier or work without unpacking the whole bag.
• Rear zips open into one of the two main compartments, allowing you quick access to some items
• Quick access top pocket with a keyring to hold your keys
• Clamshell opening
• Two 1 litre external water bottle pockets
• Removable waist strap, which acts as the sling for the duffel
• Lockable zips into the main compartment
• Luggage passthrough
• Both internal compartments are zipped, with one side featuring two zips for smaller items.

Groundtruth's team was good at making the bag feel complete and ready to handle anything. They didn't just put too much stuff in it. Each feature added value and worked well together.

Materials & Organisation

Groundtruth focuses on utilising materials that have already been made, and while GT-PC-RK-01-CO2 TRISTOP Ballistic 600D is not the easiest material to say, it excels in pushing the industry’s limit of sustainability. Additionally, it performs exceptionally well in the harshest conditions, like the deserts in Africa or the vast cold emptiness of Antarctica, as the company promotes. 

Apart from the sustainable Tripstop weave Groundtruth developed, the bag also uses Ballistic 1200D recycled PET for the side panels. Recycled materials are also featured in the laptop fleece, padding, webbing, interior lining, exterior base and trimmings.

Despite being made from recycled materials, everything about the bag feels premium and meets the highest industry standards. Groundtruth has combined both a unique futuristic style with excellent performance, durability, and sustainability.

While there are lighter bags of a similar size, the choice of materials, ethics, and features in my opinion are worthwhile as part of my contribution to fight the climate change and unhealthy consumption.

The organisation of RIKR 38L hybrid duffel bag is top-notch. The bag has finely balanced internal compartments, a without taking up prime packing space.

• Quick Access pocket on top of the bag
• Access to the bag from the opening 'beaver tail'
• External lash points for accessories.
• Two deep useful water bottle pockets

The bag's interior features two separate packable spaces which are both covered, one with mesh and the other has a recycled fishing net closure, featuring two zip-compartments.

Overall, I am satisfied with the organisation and access to RIKR 38L hybrid duffel, I was able to use every compartment; however, the zipped areas do not take up much space making you feel less compelled to fill every space.

What Did I Pack in RIKR 38L Hybrid Duffle Backpack?

The first trip with this backpack was for a 3 day (2 night) stay as part of a residential trip with the school I work in. Below is everything I took, however, I may have missed a few things as I had to take a lot, as we had to pack for rain, and sun, as well as be self-sufficient with providing our towels and toiletries.

Below, I have broken down each section to roughly show what you can pack.

Top Opening Pocket

• Orbitkey desk pouch which stored a few cables

Internal Compartment One

• Medium packing cube holding: 2 Tops, 1 pair of walking pants, 1 pair of waterproof pants, pyjama top and shorts, hiking socks and 3 pairs of socks and boxer briefs.
• Peak Design Shoe Packing cube: One pair of AllBirds SWT
• Hunu collapsible cup

Internal Compartment Two

• OneNine5 Wash Bag
• Rab Borealis jacket (compressed)
• One pair of jeans
• One Rab Power Stretch Hoodie
• Bellroy small Lite Pouch Duo holding a few extra toiletries
• Dry Bag
• Collapsible laundry bag

Internal Compartment Zips

• Two plug sockets
• One Airtag
• Some vegan sweets

Pros

• YKK storm proof AquaGuard® zips
• 3 carry handles
• Very smooth fleece lined laptop compartment
• Keyloop (that is not in the way)
• Clamshell design
• Ability to be used as a rucksack or duffel bag
• Ten-year warranty
• Product removes 123 plastic bottles

Cons

• Only two colour options
• External laptop compartment is not lockable
• Changing from rucksack to duffel takes some time (I wouldn't want to change between modes on the go)

Verdict

The RIKR 38L hybrid duffel bag is Groundtruth’s solution to unsustainable consumption and negative impact on the environment, by utilising recycled materials and ensuring the bag is durable enough for your next adventure.

The hybrid bag is heavier than other bags, but the comfortable harness helps reduce the weight. In addition, make sure to pull in the bag straps to keep the bag from pulling away from your back.

Groundtruth's commitment to the environment is evident as they work exclusively with bluesign®-certified and Global Recycled Standard manufacturers. Additionally, the bespoke tristop textile main body material to the padding, linings, buckles, binding, webbing, GT-OCO-CO2® zips, hardware, and even the thread that holds everything together are all made from 100% recycled materials.

I strongly recommend the RIKR 38L Hybrid Duffle Backpack as your travel bag with its unique look that can withstand any environment, carry all your stuff comfortably, and potential conversation starter about the environment. It will serve you well for years to come.