Rucking

Climberman

Climberman

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I am looking at doing a ruck challenge in three weeks. I have never done one of these before. Can someone explain to me the difference between a ruck back and my normal daypack for hiking?

can I use my osprey daypack or do I need to get something else? All the go ruck type packs look chunky and clumsy but I guess there must be a reason for it.

someone clue me in?
 
Op,
I get it. I didn't understand GoRucks either. Why do they all look so simple? Why are they so darn expensive? Then I handled one and I was enlightened.
Its the quality and ergonomics- they just flat out work and are flat out the best laid out ruck I have ever seen.

You can use whatever you want, but if your Osprey doesn't have a frame or stiff sheet in it, you will be less comfortable.
The basic difference is that a ruck is meant to carry a large/heavy load for long distances.
This includes the frame/sheet, the way the straps fit, where in the ruck the heaviest weight is stored or carried when wearing the ruck (Higher up for higher weight=more comfort for you), water/weather resistance, durability, etc.
 
I have a GoRuck pack. Biggest difference is there is a sleeve that holds their weight plates. So it fits and there is no moving or bouncing around. Plus the pqck holds it tight and higher up on the back. Depending on how you plan on weighting your pack it probably doesn’t matter. Depends on how tough you are and how long you are hiking. One thing I do notice is I get less rubbing and irritation under my shirt.

There is another thread on rucking. A few of us are going to meet for a little stroll on the 14th. Nothing serious, since we’ll have different ages and abilities. I’ve still got To pin down the location but we were discussing a place in Durham near the Eno River.
 
CZfool68 said:
I have a GoRuck pack. Biggest difference is there is a sleeve that holds their weight plates. So it fits and there is no moving or bouncing around. Plus the pqck holds it tight and higher up on the back. Depending on how you plan on weighting your pack it probably doesn’t matter. Depends on how tough you are and how long you are hiking. One thing I do notice is I get less rubbing and irritation under my shirt.

There is another thread on rucking. A few of us are going to meet for a little stroll on the 14th. Nothing serious, since we’ll have different ages and abilities. I’ve still got To pin down the location but we were discussing a place in Durham near the Eno River.
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Sweet! Sounds like a plan.... In 6 more weeks once I am all healed up
 
Spartan01 said:
Sweet! Sounds like a plan.... In 6 more weeks once I am all healed up
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I am planning on organizing one per month. They won‘t be brutal events unless everybody can handle. More an excuse to get some exercise and meet some like minded people. Maybe even eat a greasy meal together afterwards.
 
I like GR packs (no difference between 'pack' and 'ruck'). But they are expensive, and they act like they have the market because they are better. They are just another option. What des make them very good is the pocket for weight plates, but you can use plates, you can tape bricks together, you can you dumbell plates, kettlebell, etc.

Check them out (there are also some GR on ebay), London Bridge Trading, Eagle Industries, Tactical Tailor. You don't want a big pack/ruck for exercise, keep to relative minimal size, about 16L-21L. That's a great range for 'rucking events'.

Before GR and Rogue went to ruck plates, they taped simple bricks, aiming for 20# if you are under 150#, 30# of you are > 150#. Then of course, and snacks, water bladder, etc.

If you don't want to spend a ton of dough, just buy once/cry once with a GR Rucker or GR1 and be done with it. If you want to save a bit, ebay is your friend.
 
Mystery Ranch is also good.

I do love GoRuck, but their frame sheets are not usually stiff enough, so I recommend upgrading to a thicker, stiffer kydex sheet. Just google it, there are several companies out there that make these.
 
Spartan01 said:
Mystery Ranch is also good.

I do love GoRuck, but their frame sheets are not usually stiff enough, so I recommend upgrading to a thicker, stiffer kydex sheet. Just google it, there are several companies out there that make these.
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For recreational/workout rucking I don't care about a frame sheet. Same for a belt. But yeah, if you need one a kydex sheet is awesome.
 
Y'all can't go unless you wear this t-shirt.

Ruck Up Like A

Sometimes you just gotta do it
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I’ve been thinking about getting a go ruck pack. Wanted to see if I would like it so I threw a 35lb kettlebell into my backpack with some towels to pad and stabilize the weight. The wife and I walked to the beer store (it’s become a weekend outing to get some sum) which is a 5 mile round trip with a few hills.

Just got back and I am hungry. I would run 8 miles on an empty stomach and would never be this hungry when I got back. Did some digging and I guess you burn around 2.5x more calories than walking.

It was enjoyable and it made me feel like I was working out while taking a walk with my wife. I’ll probably be ordering a Rucker 4.0 as a result. From what I’ve read it should be more comfortable than my 21 year old college backpack.
 
That kettlebell had to be uncomfortable as hell. Go Ruck packs are probably over priced, but carry the weight very well.
 
CZfool68 said:
That kettlebell had to be uncomfortable as hell. Go Ruck packs are probably over priced, but carry the weight very well.
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I did a recent job wrapping it in a couple towels to secure the weight and pad it against my back. From my only excursion out with this much my weight I think the chest strap would be helpful to keep your posture upright.
 
Goruck is a cult. They make an awesome bag. They were made for their challenges and events, but they are good general purpose packs. Built like the proverbial brick shi* house, but overpriced. That said, I have one and have had as many as three. But there are other packs just as good and cheaper.

The problem with rucking with a kettle bell is weight distribution and 'how it carries.' If you are fine with it, then go for it. No need for anything any different. Nowadays the 'in' thing are weight plates. Goruck has some in their brand, so does Rogue and some others. Aside from dimensions they are largely the same: weight is weight. Goruck packs and some others have 'sleeve'-type pockets designed for such plates (or hydration bladders like Source of Camelbak); the dimensions matter if you are wanting to use these sleeves for the plates. Otherwise, toss weight in a pack and go.

Before weight plates, for GR events, they said to use regular bricks duct taped together to make 30 pounds (6 bricks; I did two tape bundles of three bricks). Still the cheapest way to do it.

People overthink this stuff. I mean, people have been throwing heavy stuff on their backs for millennia. No one cared about ergonomically-designed packs and weight when we were carrying 120 pounds in and on an ALICE pack just a couple decades ago.

FWIW my first GR event was 6 years ago now, I have done a handful. I am past that now. I have not done any rucking since my cancer BS, but will get back into it. I have been out with my plate carrier (20 pounds).

For rucking start at 30 pounds (or your KB). Don't progress more than that for a month or two. It takes that long to build your hips and knees. I would never, ever go more than 40, 45 pounds for fitness purposes. That just invites injury.
 
Thanks [mention]Chuckman [/mention] Goruck does seem like a cult. Buying their pack my hope is the weight distribution is better and the pack more comfortable.

The only thing that is sore this morning are my hips/glute medius.
 
matttahoe53 said:
Thanks [mention]Chuckman [/mention] Goruck does seem like a cult. Buying their pack my hope is the weight distribution is better and the pack more comfortable.

The only thing that is sore this morning are my hips/glute medius.
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If you are investing in their pack, invest in the weight plates. Which model are you getting?
 
matttahoe53 said:
Probably the new Rucker 4.0 25L in tropic multicam. I’d like to use this as a hiking day pack as well, is the inside functional enough for that?
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Yep, plenty good for day hiking, and can fit just about any size plate if you choose to buy plates. If you want plates, shop around. GR is expensive, Rogue makes great plates, and some other vendors you will find them half or 2/3 the cost. That's a good pack.
 
Chuckman said:
Yep, plenty good for day hiking, and can fit just about any size plate if you choose to buy plates. If you want plates, shop around. GR is expensive, Rogue makes great plates, and some other vendors you will find them half or 2/3 the cost. That's a good pack.
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Thanks for the info. Seems like this will work great for my needs. There are many great day hikes near me. I’m not ready to invest in the gear needed for overnight trips.
 
matttahoe53 said:
Thanks for the info. Seems like this will work great for my needs. There are many great day hikes near me. I’m not ready to invest in the gear needed for overnight trips.
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I think 25l is perfect for day hikes and even for light overnight trips (for straight-up hiking I use a Kelty Raven 2500, 41l, and it's good for overnights without overpacking). For exercising and ruck PT, the Rucker is excellent. GR packs are bullet-proof, you'll keep it forever.

Reach out if you have any more questions, also @CZfool68 has a lot of experience, too.
 
I really appreciate the insight [mention]Chuckman [/mention] Order has been placed with a mid March delivery estimate. Also thank you for the Rogue heads up, they sell the same plates for a bit less. Who knew Rogue would ever be cheaper on anything?
 
matttahoe53 said:
I really appreciate the insight [mention]Chuckman [/mention] Order has been placed with a mid March delivery estimate. Also thank you for the Rogue heads up, they sell the same plates for a bit less. Who knew Rogue would ever be cheaper on anything?
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Right??
 
If you're in Raleigh just follow the other ruck thread on here I try to post ruck events and workouts on there. A majority of those are in the triangle area
 
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