GoRuck
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Sporting goods |
| Founded | 2008 |
| Founder | Jason McCarthy |
| Headquarters | Jacksonville Beach, Florida , United States |
| Products | Rucksacks, apparel, accessories |
Number of employees | 150 |
GORUCK is an American manufacturer of sporting gear established in 2008 and headquartered in Jacksonville Beach, Florida. The firm specializes in producing rucksacks (backpacks) and organizes both public and private team-building activities known as "GORUCK challenges," which are inspired by obstacle racing and military exercises.
History
Jason McCarthy, a former Green Beret, founded GORUCK with the aim of creating rucksacks modeled after those utilized by U.S. Special Forces. He started the business while pursuing an MBA at Georgetown University, supported by benefits from the Post-9/11 GI Bill, completing his degree in 2011.
In addition to rucksacks, GORUCK's product line includes apparel such as hiking boots, pants, shorts, shirts, jackets, and caps, along with accessories like gear cases, weight bags, wallets, patches, carabiners, and water bottles.
The company employs approximately 150 veterans from the U.S. Special Forces and Special Operations community.
Event organizing
To promote its brand, GORUCK hosts "GORUCK challenges," which are events modeled after Special Forces training involving carrying weighted rucksacks through obstacle courses. These challenges come in varying levels of difficulty—"basic," "tough," and "heavy"—and function as team-building exercises for corporate groups. The organization also provides specialized events and firearms training.
GORUCK Selection is an intense solo event lasting more than 48 hours and covering upwards of 80 miles, directly inspired by the Special Forces Selection process.
Since initiating its first endurance event in San Francisco on September 25, 2010, GORUCK has conducted hundreds of challenges nationwide; in 2017 alone, over 900 events took place.
After a fatal incident during a 2014 challenge, GORUCK introduced a safety policy requiring participants to wear high-visibility reflective bands on their rucksacks. Occasionally, these gatherings have been misinterpreted as protest demonstrations.