Questions regarding rucking..

[JTizzle]

Good Morning Rangers, Vets and Civies..


As I've been going through a lot of the older posts, I see a lot of the more seasoned folks, as well as all the Rangers making mention of proper ruck sack loading.. They mention to load the weight high up on the back, and centered..

Although I've never "rucked," I've done a lot of hiking in the past, where I would have ~55-80lbs of gear in a framed backpack, and was always taught to have the weight lower in the bag, near the hip-pad, so that the weight was resting mostly on your hips, so you could handle more weight, without the pressure on your shoulders. This usually gave the individual a better center of gravity, as well as more endurance (since their legs took more of the weight) and less back injuries/issues.

I just wanted to ask this, as I was wondering: Is there a reason why it's best to load up high?? Is it the design of the rucksack itself, that makes it better to load up higher?? I'm hoping to learn from this, since I was planning a ruck this week, ~5miles w/ 35lbs with a standard, medium sized ruck, w/o a frame..

Thanks for any info that could be helpful!!

[Rangerguru]

The reason for putting the weight up high is because the ruck that the Army uses is just like most other things in the Army, produced in bulk by the lowest bidder. A civilian framed pack is probably way better designed. If you put the bulk of the weight low in an Army ruck, you will definitely feel a great deal of pain in your lower back much sooner in your ruck march compared to putting the weight up higher. It will hurt your shoulders a little more, but that will generally just be a muscle pain that a little ice will take care of. Think of it this way, compare the size of the ball and socket joint in your shoulder to the size of an individual vertebra. Which one do you think will take the most abuse.

[JTizzle]

Rangerguru:

Copy all.. I figured it was probably the design.. I am thinking about purchasing a frame for my Med. ruck, but also wanted to source out a large ruck, just for more practice.. I live in a very hilly, mountain-surrounded area, so rucking is always easy to do for me.. Good analogy with regards to the shoulder joint vs. vertabrae..

Is the time for mileage still around <15min/mile?? Also, I'm figuring I should also train in my combat boots as well, to help toughen my feet.. Is this a good idea, or should I train with regular running shoes, to ease the beatings on my joints??



JT

[Silverback]

The problem with all Military rucks?...they are too large and don't force packing discipline for service members or their chain of command.

[JTizzle]

The problem with all Military rucks?...they are too large and don't force packing discipline for service members or their chain of command.

Ranger Silverback:

With regards to packing discipline, this is something I should learn ahead of time, or is it something they'll be teaching?? I ask, since I've never, "rucked," before, nor have I gone to OSUT/Basic for the Army..

[Silverback]

The problem with all Military rucks?...they are too large and don't force packing discipline for service members or their chain of command.

Ranger Silverback:

With regards to packing discipline, this is something I should learn ahead of time, or is it something they'll be teaching?? I ask, since I've never, "rucked," before, nor have I gone to OSUT/Basic for the Army..

Don't worry about packing discipline. It's something that is lacking at every level. Concentrate of conditioning.

[JTizzle]

Ranger Silverback:

Understood.. Thanks for the information..


Ranger Tater Nuts:

I appreciate the link, thanks!! I suppose I've been doing it wrong all along.. I have an external frame pack, and as I mentioned befo,re loaded heavy toward the bottom, and just made sure the hip-belt was tight, and resting on my hips..

[panthersix]

I'd only ruck once a week BTW. No need creating injuries before they arrive while on active duty! Wear whatever boots you'll be issued. You're tootsies will need to toughen up too. Work on two of three things, not all three; pace, distance, load. IOW, start with a light load but go for pace and distance to begin with, then adjust as you get real speedy.

[JTizzle]

Ranger panthersix:

Copy.. The last ruck I did, I averaged about 15min/miles and went for about 3.5miles.. I've also got a couple different pairs of combat boots (desert/standard/BDU), so I'll be running through them all. I thought about getting a basic issue desert boot, since that's probably what I'd wear when going through schools..


Thanks again Rangers for all of the advice, it is much appreciated!!!

[panthersix]

Train up to EIB standards and you should be good to go!

[Nomad]

Ranger panthersix:

Copy.. The last ruck I did, I averaged about 15min/miles and went for about 3.5miles.. I've also got a couple different pairs of combat boots (desert/standard/BDU), so I'll be running through them all. I thought about getting a basic issue desert boot, since that's probably what I'd wear when going through schools..


Thanks again Rangers for all of the advice, it is much appreciated!!!

A 15 min/mile is not bad, but you should strive to get your march down to around a 14min/mile at a minimum. This will allow you to "save up" one minute per mile on any standard ruck march (most I've done centered around a continual 15min/mile (without breaks).

So by that rationale, if you want to do the US Army EIB standard, you should be able to do the first five miles, take a five minute break to stretch, drink water etc and then continue on. You would be able to do two of those breaks and still come in five minutes early. See what I am saying?

Overall, always strive to be well ahead of the final time, but factor in breaks on long marches to powder your feet, stretch and change socks.

[JTizzle]

Ranger Nomad:

Copy all.. That's pretty much been my rationale since I've started training myself up.. I figure, if all goes as hoped for, I'll be in RIP by the time I'm 30y/o.. I like to prove to the naysayers, and some of the younger studs, that age doesn't mean sh-t...

I'm following the same ethos with running too (although I truly hate running).. I'm aiming to have my 2mile down to about 12min, and my 5mile down to about 35min.. So far, it's not going too badly, but my consistency isn't there yet.. My 2mile needs more work than my 5mile for some reason..


Thanks again for the advice!!!

[Silverback]

You know...Jumping rope is a good addendum to any ruck training plan. It fights against those nagging shin problems.

[JTizzle]

Ranger Silverback:

Really?? Now that you mention it, I remember when I was younger in HS, playing sports, and for hockey, the coach had us do jump rope for wrist strength/endurance as well as ankle strength/endurance(I suppose the shins too, since they are all directly connected).

I would also assume (I know, bad to do so), that it's probably a bit easier (less impact) on your body than rucking, is this true??