Okay, so I saw this “rucking” thing all over the internet, and I was like, “What the heck is that?” Turns out, it’s just walking with a weighted backpack. Sounds simple enough, right? But then I saw all these fancy rucking backpacks, and I’m thinking, “Do I really need to spend a bunch of money on a special backpack?” I decided to put it to the test.
My Rucking Experiment – Day 1
I grabbed my trusty old Jansport backpack – you know, the kind everyone had in high school. I loaded it up with some old textbooks. We are talking, like, 20 pounds of ancient history and algebra. My Initial plan, I’m gonna walk around my neighborhood for like 30 minutes.
- The Start: Felt fine at first. Kinda like I was back in school, only without the pop quizzes.
- 15 Minutes In: Okay, my shoulders are starting to feel this. The straps are digging in a bit. Not the most comfortable situation.
- 30 Minutes In: I’m done. My back is kinda achy, and the straps have left red marks on my shoulders.
Day 2 – Trying a Different Approach
I’m not giving up that easy! I figured maybe the weight distribution was the problem. So, I dug out some towels and wrapped the books to make them more…cushiony? I also loosened the straps a bit.
- Weight Adjustment: Still around 20 pounds, but it felt a little better with the padding.
- Strap Strategy: Looser straps helped with the digging, but the backpack was bouncing around a lot, which was also annoying.
- The Walk: Upped it to 45 minutes. Still felt it in my shoulders and back, but it was slightly more bearable.
Day 3 – Getting Crafty
Today, I decided to get a little creative. I took out the textbooks and replaced them with bags of rice. Sound is weird, but I figured the rice would conform to my back better. I also added a rolled-up yoga mat to the bottom of the backpack to give it more structure.
- Rice Power!: Surprisingly, the rice felt way better than the books. It molded to my back, and the weight felt more evenly distributed.
- Yoga Mat Hack: This helped keep the backpack from sagging and made it feel more stable.
- One Hour Mark: I actually managed to walk for a full hour! My shoulders were still tired, but my lower back felt much better.
The Final Test
After all my backpack trials, I find the rice is the best weight and the straps are key.
- Padding:I added an extra towel, wrapping it around where the straps rest. It made a difference.
- Strap:The strap length and tightness affects how the weight distributes, which can help.
So, can you ruck with a normal backpack? Yeah, you totally can! It might not be as comfy as those fancy rucking backpacks, but with a little tweaking, you can make it work. Just be prepared to experiment a bit to find what works best for you. I start small, listen to your body, and don’t be afraid to get creative with the padding and weight distribution!