Okay, so I’ve been getting into rucking lately. It’s basically just walking with a weighted backpack, and it’s supposed to be a killer workout. But figuring out how much weight to actually put in the dang thing? That’s been a whole journey in itself.
Starting Out Super Light
First, I grabbed my old hiking backpack – you know, the one I used for that one camping trip three years ago? Yeah, that one. I didn’t want to go crazy, so I just tossed in a couple of water bottles and a 10-pound dumbbell. It felt… pretty easy, honestly. I walked around my neighborhood for about an hour, and it barely felt like I was doing anything extra.
Upping the Ante (Slowly!)
Next time, I swapped the dumbbell for a 20-pound bag of rice. That felt a bit more challenging, but still manageable. I stuck with that for a few weeks, gradually increasing my walking distance. I made sure to listen to my body, because, you know, I didn’t want to break myself.
The “Just Right” Feeling
- I tried using some sandbags.
- I tried some more water bottles,
- I even put some books in there.
Finally, I found these rucking-weight metal plates on the internet. I ordered a 30-pounder to see how I feel. I added it in my bag and now I feel like this is it! I can feel the weight, but it’s not killing me, and I can go for a good long ruck without feeling completely destroyed afterward.
So, that’s my rucking weight saga. It’s all about experimenting and figuring out what works for you. Don’t be afraid to start slow and work your way up – that’s what I did!