The Short Ruck: Modern Problems Require Modern Solutions
Our "modern problems" are nothing new. We're taking modern materials and lessons from the best in the business of warfare to bring you the ruck of your dreams.
The Infantryman and the prepared civilian have a lot in common: if (and when) they find themselves in a war, it is up to them to fight their way through it. Nobody is coming to save them. They both must endure the harshest conditions that Mother Nature can throw at them: rain that falls sideways at 34 degrees Fahrenheit, mud that only gets thicker with each step, humidity that you could cut with a knife, and heat that feels like it is zapping the life out of you. Through it all, that Infantryman or prepared civilian will have to carry their kit on their back to sustain them in the fight.
These are the realities of warfare. From the frozen fields and trenches of Ukraine to the rocky mountains of Afghanistan, Infantrymen have had to carry their equipment on their backs to the forward line of troops (FLOT). Light Infantry units are "light" in name only. Carrying (12) magazines of 5.56, (2) gallons of water, extra MBITR batteries, chow for (3) days, a sleep system, a metric ton of socks, and your assigned platoon and squad equipment starts to get really heavy while heading uphill in the heat and the humidity. This line of work is not for the faint of heart.
Photo Credit: Outside Magazine
With these realities at the forefront of our minds, Republic Systems decided that these (not-so-modern) modern problems required a fresh set of eyes to evaluate them and develop solutions for the Infantry. Our team at Republic Systems consists of guys who know what it means to carry one of these heavy rucks up a hill in extreme conditions. We have used legacy systems like the ALICE and MOLLE II. Some of us were issued this equipment, so we know the shortcomings of these systems intimately, much like many of you. So instead of just putting up with the shortcomings, we decided to do something about it.
Our solution: the Pattern 26 line of equipment. The flagship product: the Short Ruck. This rucksack takes the good from the ALICE system, the MOLLE II system, and even the Pattern 70 from the SADF, and brings it all together into the 21st century. It combines the great ideas from these systems with modern materials to create a system that is practical, economical, durable, and user-friendly for the Infantry and prepared civilians alike—all made in the United States, by Americans, for Americans.
The Short Ruck Stripped (SRS) version is a lightweight, modular system designed with simplicity and practicality in mind. Whether you are a special operations guy who is on a LRRP team in the jungles of Panama, a leg Infantryman in 4th ID, or a Boy Scout on the Appalachian Trail, this system has got you covered. It can be plussed up with our Combat Sustainment Duffle (CSD) for extended field operations, or it can be run as is in hot-weather conditions that don't require as much capacity in your ruck. If you like the legacy ALICE frame, you can run the SRS on it. If you like the DEI frame that the Army and USMC are currently using, the SRS can mount to it as well. This is why the Pattern 26 line of equipment is so good: it works in any environment, for any mission, for any end user.
The bottom line for any ruck is this: it "must be stable, so that both energy and situational awareness are not sapped away trying to maintain balance. Yet, the load must be dynamically distributed so that natural, athletic movement and comfort are enhanced" (Frank Howell). The Pattern 26 System does exactly that. It allows the end user to organize and configure their kit based on the mission, it keeps them balanced while under load, and it distributes the weight properly so they can focus less on their gear and more on taking the fight to the enemy.
Photo Credit: U.S. Army Recruiting Command
The Pattern 26 System is the modern solution to the problems that the Infantry and those like them have faced for centuries. The tactical industry has not addressed these problems for the ground pounders who are making it happen in every clime and place, and at Republic Systems we have taken that personally. This system has been designed to address the issues of modularity, moisture management, weight vs. durability, and cost for both the DOW and the modern prepared civilian alike, and we are honored to do it. "This We'll Defend" is not just a motto for those who still wear the uniform. "This We'll Defend" symbolizes a commitment that every Soldier has made to the country, and at Republic Systems that commitment is enduring. Today, tomorrow, and in the days to come, our hearts will always be "For the Infantry."