Paagoworks RUSH 11R Review~12 L, ~340 g, 20 g lighter and 35 mm smaller than before

The RUSH 11R is Paagoworks' 2026 redesign of its long trail race vest. What decides it: about 12 L and about 340 g, enough for mandatory gear up to 50 km. No bottles are included, and poles slide into the holders on the vest. For 100 km races with lots of gear, the 15R, 3 L bigger, is the one.

RUSH 11R weight and capacity: the official numbers (named 11, holds 12 L)

The Paagoworks RUSH 11R is the one to buy if you run 50–70 km trail races with poles and a headlamp. What decides it: about 12 L and about 340 g, 20 g lighter than the previous version.

The pocket on top is for your headlamp. At a night aid station, you can get your light out without taking the pack off.

The six named pocket types are bottle, snack, side, top, bottom and hydration. The right side pocket has a zip, the left a flap. The top pocket has a key hook.

On the same day, all three colors showed as available in the official store.

RUSH 11R vs the 2023 model: 0.5 L more, 35 mm smaller

This generation is billed as a 'full renewal.' I subtracted the same specs from the 'RUSH 11R (2023 model)' page that's still up on the official store.

Weight dropped 5.6% (20 ÷ 360) and price rose 9.1% (2,200 ÷ 24,200). Per liter, it's 3.0 g lighter and only JPY 96 more. The 7R, redesigned the same year, lost capacity and got worse per liter. The 11R went the other way.

The dimensions are what stand out. Reading the three numbers as height, width and depth, height and depth are each 35 mm smaller. Even so, capacity is up 0.5 L. They shrank the bag itself and won the volume back in the pockets.

The design changes are as follows.

• Side adjustment: the 2023 model used a drawcord at the waist. The new one adds a six-point bungee cord
• Chest buckle: Paagoworks' own twist-to-lock design (PGW TWIST LOCK). The official copy says it's meant to work even with tired hands
• Pockets: rearranged based on user feedback, with more capacity in the lower snack pockets
• Fabric: the feature page says the body uses ROBIC 100-denier nylon, with mesh on the back panel and harness, and that the small and large sizes use different materials

One thing that hasn't changed: the high-center-of-gravity design. It moves the load high on your back so the pack's center of gravity sits close to your body's. The 2023 model's page uses the same words. When something heavy bounces around your hips, it pulls you back with every step. Carry it high and that pull gets smaller. That's the logic.

How it compares with the RUSH 15R, 7R and RUSH 20 (sibling models)

Scroll the table sideways →

The 15R is 3 L bigger and 10 g heavier (15 − 12, 350 − 340). It's the 11R's carry and layout, just sized up. Its dimensions are 420×280×170 mm, with the first number 35 mm larger.

The RUSH 20 has the same official price as the 11R. It holds 8 L more and is 140 g heavier (20 − 12, 480 − 340). Officially it's classed as 'a fastpacking model ideal for day hikes,' a different line from the race vests.

• Mostly 50–70 km races, and you want to keep the load compact → 11R
• 100 km or 100 miles, carrying rain jacket, rain pants and an insulating layer → 15R. Only 10 g heavier, and 3 L more room
• More days spent moving fast in the mountains all day than racing → RUSH 20. Same price, 8 L more
• Mostly races up to 30 km, and no night running → skip the 11R. The RUSH 7R is 50 g lighter, and its main compartment opens with a center zip

What I like

The vest has everything you need for nights and long hours built in. Once you're used to it, you can reach the top headlamp pocket while wearing the pack. Poles slide into the holders on both sides of the drawcord. You can carry poles without buying the separate holder.

This is the biggest difference from the 7R. On the 7R's product page, the only pole carry option listed is the separately sold holder. The 11R handles it on the vest itself.

There's also a set use for the hydration pocket on the back. Put a thin shell or rain pants in it and it becomes padding between your back and the load. It gives the mandatory rain pants both a place and a job.

Running about 500 km a month, I've come to care less about how much a pack holds and more about how often I'm getting things in and out. So rather than counting pockets, I look at what each one is meant to hold. In the 11R's description, the headlamp, poles, rain pants, valuables and trash each get their own spot.

By the numbers, it's 28.3 g per liter. In the table in my 12 running packs and vests article, The North Face TR 10 (9 L) came out at 33.9 g. The RUSH 11R holds 3 L more and is 5.6 g lighter per liter (33.9 − 28.3).

Things to watch

No bottles included. The Salomon ADV SKIN 12, also 12 L, is 247 g with flasks in my table. The 11R itself is 93 g heavier (340 − 247), and it costs more too. If you're choosing on low weight and included extras, the Salomon has the edge.

It comes in one size, up to a 100 cm chest. Unlike vests sold in sizes, there's no larger size to move up to.

You could also say it's too close to the 15R: 10 g and 3 L. On light days, the 15R can be cinched down with its cords too. The only reasons to pick the 11R are the 35 mm smaller dimensions and the price gap in the table.

Is the RUSH 11R enough for 100 km? Who is it for?

I checked about 12 L against the items in my mandatory gear for four trail races article.

• Long road runs: enough, with room to spare. On days with just water and a jacket, you'll cinch the back bag down
• Trail up to 50 km: enough. It has room for a rain jacket, two lights, a blanket, food and first aid
• 100 km trail: depends on the race. For races like Mt.FUJI 100, where you carry 19 items including rain jacket and pants, an insulating layer and spare batteries, I'd take the 15R. It's only 10 g more
• Run commuting: the main compartment opens from the top, so a separate bag is easier for documents

It suits runners who do a few 50–70 km races a year with poles and a headlamp, and whose chest is 70–100 cm. If you want the lightest setup with flasks, or your chest is over 100 cm, look elsewhere.

If you're happy with your 2023 11R, you can wait until it wears out. The capacity difference is 0.5 L.

Price and where to buy

Besides the official store, you can buy it from retailers and online shops. You can tell the generation by the color names. The 2026 model comes in Midnight, Sand Storm and Foggy Blue. The 2023 model came in Shadow Gray, Glacier Silver and Alpine Blue.

Since the vest's own holders carry poles, the separate holder isn't urgent. It's an add-on for runners who want to pull poles in and out one-handed on the move. It weighs about 60 g, which brings the total to 340 + 60 = 400 g.

FAQ

How does the RUSH 11R fit?

It comes in one size. The official guide is a 70–100 cm chest. The shoulder straps adjust steplessly with Velcro, and the sides cinch with six bungee-cord points.

There are two fit checks. With your gear packed and the buckles closed, the upper and lower chest straps should be the same length, and the bottom of the harness should sit level. The key is to check it loaded, not empty.

RUSH 11R vs 15R: which one?

Size it for the race on your schedule with the most gear. If rain jacket, rain pants and an insulating layer are mandatory, get the 15R. It's only 10 g heavier and holds 1.25 times as much (15 ÷ 12).

If your races never require more than a rain jacket, get the 11R. Its first dimension is 35 mm smaller, so it covers less of your back.

How much water does the RUSH 11R hold?

1.2 L in the front alone: two soft flasks of up to 600 ml in the front bottle pockets. There's a hydration sleeve on the back, and the hose can run out over the shoulder.

The Hasetsune CUP recommends 2 L or more. The front 1.2 L leaves you 0.8 L short (2 − 1.2), so add a bladder on the back or a spare flask in the main compartment. Bottles and bladder are sold separately.

Gear in this article

Ads and images: Rakuten Ichiba

Paagoworks RUSH 11R (2026 model)Paagoworks RUSH 15RSoft flask 500 mlPaagoworks RUSH 7R (2026 model)

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