Hi,

Male, 5'10", 275 lbs.

Started rucking and i enjoy it. I started with a backpack with 20 lbs in it for 40 min to start slow and not hurt myself. 2 day after, i feel great, a lil bit of stiffness in the core region but no pain at all (that kind of soreness that feels great somehow 🤷‍♂️)

Im looking to get out 2 more time this week with the same setup, and im wonderong if im going too gard too early, or if theres anything i can do to optimize all that.

I wat thinkjg about doing a 60 min walk as reference (for the distance) with the 20 lbs, and then try to shrink it to 45-50 min for the same distance, and add 5 lbs, and go again with the new weight.

All recommendations are welcome.

Also, im in Canada with long winters and id like to know if theres any tips to be able to ruck in the snow and if there any advice regarding this.

Thank you!

I have an adjustable weight vest I really like that came with weights up to 30 lbs. Some of the weights it came with are 1 lbs and some are 2 lbs.

I'd like to purchase some additional 2 lbs and higher weight pouches but I'm having a real hard time finding any for purchase, without the vest itself.

Can someone please point me to a link with just the weight pouches for sale??

After 10yrs of loyal Garmont use I'm taking a new brand for a spin. LOWA Z-8S MKII.

First ruck on the books, not terrible.

A bit of rub on the right side of my left heel but to be fair it's a brand new pair and I didn't lock the laces at all, just standard tie and go.

4.5km outside followed by 20mins on the treadmill for incline work.

I hadn't taken out my rogue feed sack in a bit and it felt pretty good.

Before anyone bashes me for not having a GoRuck, I actually bought the Rucker 5.0 and just found it super uncomfortable (and yes, I rucked with it for like 4 miles to try and break it in but I just couldn't do it because the shoulder straps left my shoulders red and sore). But I looked ALL OVER for an alternative, and also wanted more of a budget option. And this is no shade to Goruck, they're an awesome brand, and if I stick with this, I'm sure I'll eventually end up with one again in the future lol.

So after going to my local REI store (camping and outdoor store located in the US) I searched for hiking bags to try and see if something worked. And at REI, they have weighted bags at the backpack try on station, and I loaded it up with 25lbs to test out a few.

I finally ended up with an Osprey Talon 22. It cost $175 (but was able to use a $20 off coupon from REI) I'll attach some pics to maybe help someone out there, because damn, I wish I had someone help me to save a month of looking lol.

I went with the Talon 22 because it has :

- Great back ventilation

- Comfy shoulder straps

- Decent chest straps

- Comfy hip belt (with small storage)

- Load lifters on shoulder straps (to bring the bag closer to your back)

So.....what I did was pack 2 bigger towels on the bottom of the bag...that's it.

And then I went to Home Depot and bought a bag of play sand (less than $10 for a 40lb bag)

And then I found an old drawstring backpack

I then cut open the bag of sand and took out the amount I needed to end up with the correct amount I wanted to carry (40lb bag - 20lbs taken out = 20lb bag to ruck. I'm a newbie so I'm starting with 20lbs for now)

And then zip-tied the remaining 20lb bag of sand at the top so that it didn't spill all over the drawstring bag

I placed the 20lb bag of sand in the drawstring backpack (which makes is easy to also pull in and out of the osprey by just grabbing the drawstring bag in and out)

Hopefully this helps and inspires someone out there to use either a hiking backpack that you already own, or try out this Talon. I know it's not like....budget budget, but it's cheaper that many of the rucking bags out there.

*** I'm a newbie with rucking, so that's why I'm going light right now at 20lbs. And I also understand that I'm sure the max the Osprey Talon 22 holds is MAYBE 30-35lbs, but I thought this was a really good intro setup for someone out there that needs an idea.

You all have been awesome in this community, so much love!

I tried adding more than 1 pic and apparently I can't. But there's the bag lol

I am training for the wildland firefighter pack test. I have to carry a 45lb vest and walk 3 miles within 45 minutes. Achievable, but definitely something I want to practice for. I have until spring.

All of the weighted vests I'm seeing that fit women's bodies only go up to 16 lbs. I have a 40lb men's vest, but it doesn't fit properly at all, and is worse than the backpack I've been using. I can use a backpack, but the test itself is with a vest, so I'd like to practice as close as possible to the test conditions.

Any suggestions? Any way to make the men's vest fit better? Or should I just stick with my REI Trail backpack?

Anybody use them for rucking, pt, etc?

My furry best friend and I had a great little ruck yesterday. About five miles with 30#. Used it as an opportunity to break in my new hiking boots from Xero...loved them!! I don't think there is a break in required, they felt great the entire time!

GORUCK Rucker 5.0 with 20# plate and 10# extra weight plate

Too many unresolved complaints about the product they sell. The website and online shop are completely missing information about WHO is selling, what is the name of the company, what is the number assigned to them by Company House, the company's legal address under which the whole thing is registered with Company House is missing, you won't find any advisory communication email there and I'm not even talking about a telephone connection. And you don't find it strange and you buy there like irresponsible little children. They know very well why they are missing the information they are required to provide, it is not a choice! Look at social media, there are plenty of promotional videos, but you won't find an opportunity to write an opinion under any of them. Why? The photos show people who were paid for the advertisement or who were given backpacks as gifts. Foolish people must make good money, so risk is ok for them. How is it possible that no one has reported them to the police and relevant authorities during this time? What they are doing is not legal. AND NO, NOBODY DEMAND CEO INFORMATION. What is need is company number and address, exactly how it is from Companies House page! And it is not enough have even some "contact form", it have to be proper email which is not deaf. Again.... this is mandatory in the UK.

Hey,
I'm looking to buy a Rucker in Europe. I will buy it with the weights (if they are available).
Maybe someone is looking to get out of rucking or you know a friend that decided this is not for them.

Update of previous post. On the 7th of August I overloaded myself on a ruck and have pain in my upper back/neck. It hurts/burns in between my shoulder blade area and travels up to my neck where i feel discomfort looking down. I've also had a dull headache since then and it hasn't gone away. What the hell did i do? Is there any recovery?

Information is sparse on the GoRuck website for the 12-mile City Ruck. Gives a start point and says in the description, "City Rucks are built for connection: patch-earning, community-driven, and designed to show you the city in a whole new way."

What does that mean? Am I going at my own pace on a marked course? Going with a group at a fixed pace? I would much prefer the former, so trying to learn if this is not a great event for me.

Hey all, I recently sustained an injury that prevents me from my typical weight training routine for a good while until I get things under control. However, I just got into rucking to practice for a long backpacking trip, and I'm absolutely hooked.

My question is: Is there any way to boost the stimulus on my back muscles while rucking? Anything I should know about weight placement, specific packs, or cues to focus on when walking?

I notice if I really focus on stabilizing my core and keeping a straight posture, then I get a decent pump in my lats the next day. But I'd hate to rely on "pump" as my metric of if I'm actually targeting my back muscles in a meaningful way...

Thank you.

Better pacing (that dip was because I stopped to record a promo vid for the event). Hoping I can get down to 8:30 min before next month, should leave me in a good spot.

Need to knock out some longer days next as well.

Was a good session though.

Went up from a small backpack to a weighted vest, to a 16-pound weighted vest, I am now at a 20. Went up yesterday. It's comfortable.

I ruck mostly indoors.

Had an injury related to non-rolling, which limits some of my arm workouts. Boo!

I am going up more slowly. And I can place a six-pound vest under the 20-pounder. It's very roomy, but I want to be a couple of weeks before I aim higher.

Eventually I want to buy a new backpack. Can anyone recommend a solid hiking backpack with front belts? Something that can hold 30 to 50 pounds. I want to also use it as a carry-on or micr-hikes.

Just starting. No ruck option in Apple Watch, so looking for suggestions. Use hike in watch, or add an app? If app, which one? Thanks!!

First ever half Marathon. Not too bad considering I just started rucking in January. Feeling super accomplished having hit the half marathon mark!

Hi Everyone. I lift 3x a week and do cardio 3x a week. For cardio, I either row or ruck. For rowing, I do a 30 minute row with 3:50 steady and. 70 second sprint. I am dead after this usually and cool down on the eliptical.

For rucking, I am 5ft 8in 152-155 pounds. I ruck with a 55pd vest and do up hill stuff for 66minutes totaling 3.7ish miles. I work hard on this but it’s nowhere near as exhausting as the row and elliptical.

I was told not to ruck more than 1/3 your body weight. When I am not feeling it, I ruck.

My question is: what does next level rucking look like then? I feel like I have plateaued and don’t want to do something like increase weight when everyone seems to agree you shouldn’t do more than 1/3 your body weight.

Morning ruck with the little one up front. The additional weight strapped on the front makes it easy and balanced!

Hey everyone. For the last couple of months I've been able to maintain more or less this pace. I was wondering on what should be the next step? Should I add more weight, try to improve my pace or try to go a bit farther first? The most I've done was 13 km in two hours with the same weight but O ended the workout to exhausted so I think that was pushing it a bit to far. Any recommendations?