When GORUCK began in 2008, Jason McCarthy was in the Special Forces and Emily McCarthy was in the CIA. The two co-founders started their gear company out of Emily’s house in West Africa. Their goal was to build an indestructible rucksack. Now, GORUCK offers several types of bags, plus shoes and apparel. All are backed by the Scars Lifetime Guarantee. If there’s a defect or if you manage to wear something out, GORUCK will fix or replace it. This is a hardcore brand for hardcore people.
GORUCK sent me a pair of its Rough Runner shoes to try out. Out of the box, they felt stiffer and tighter than other shoes I’ve reviewed recently. The last few pairs of running shoes I’ve reviewed have been wider and maybe even a little longer in the toe box, making me wonder if my feet are shrinking with age. Not these. I could feel the fronts and tops of my toes and heel as they made contact with the outside of the shoe. Here’s how they held up on a test run.
Testing the Rough Runners
As I set off for a three-mile run, I had my doubts. I wondered if I’d get blisters on my toes and heels and have to pack it in after a few blocks. I was more conscious of my feet than usual for the first mile or so. After a while, my feet and the Rough Runners got used to each other, and I stopped thinking about it. I ran farther than I planned and went faster than usual. Was it because of the shoes? Or maybe because it was one of my first sunny, pleasant runs of the year? Either way, everything was working fine.
Then, when I walked for my cooldown, I became more conscious of the shoes feeling tight again. These were more comfortable for me to run in than to walk. After trying out these shoes for three runs and a trip to the gym, I looked up some other reviews. There weren’t many mentions of the Rough Runners run small. Still, if you have a wider foot, I recommend ordering the wide shoe to avoid smooshing your toes into the regular.
GORUCK tried to solve two problems with these shoes. First, they built them for lateral stability. They are designed for weight training and rucking, as well as running. Second, the company claims to include “0% marshmallow foam for better support.” That’s why the Rough Runners feel built up through the midsole without being cushy. The GORUCK website describes typical running shoe foam as “squishy and soft. Like a waterbed, it might feel good for a bit, but it’s terrible for your body.”
Rough Runner aesthetics
As for the aesthetics, the Rough Runners come mostly in serious colors like black, olive, gray, and white, sometimes with more colorful trim. I requested the flashiest pair, an electric blue with white trim and a bright orange sole. They have clean, unfussy lines. The most fun thing about them is the placement of the brand’s horizontal spearhead logo. It’s a Special Forces symbol inspired by Native American spearheads. A spearhead decorates the side of the shoe towards the heel. If you look closely, you can also find spearheads on the tongue, in the footbed, and, my favorite, a little one hidden in the tread of the sole.
Giving back
In line with the McCarthys’ Special Forces past, GORUCK donates 1% of its gross sales to non-profit partners that support the military. From 2015 to 2020, GORUCK donated almost a million dollars to organizations serving veterans, first responders, military spouses, and other related communities.
Rucking for tough people
GORUCK leads the rucking trend. If you’re not familiar with rucking, it means walking (or running) with weight on your back. The more, the better. GORUCK leads regular challenges in different cities to give average people the experience of a day in the life of Special Forces training. What started as a quality control program to test out gear has developed into a way for people with relatively cushy lives to test their mettle.
After watching GORUCK videos of people running on the crowded streets of New York, crawling through mud, and dipping into frigid water — all while wearing brick-filled backpacks, I felt a little inspired. I wasn’t ready for that much weight, so instead I ran to Doe Donuts, Portland’s finest vegan donut shop. I rucked my way home in my Rough Runners (also made of vegan materials) with a box of donuts beneath one arm. This might not win me praise from CrossFit (a GORUCK partner), but the shoes worked pretty well for me. I’m not sure if I’m ready to give up my life of marshmallow foam and donuts, but I’ll keep alternating between Rough Runners and other running shoes while I think it over.
Writer received a free sample from GORUCK for review.