Getting Older, Getting In Shape, and Rucking.

[BarrelProof]

Ok, I'm getting close to pulling the trigger on a new rucksack and would love some specific input from those in-the-know. Here is my concern, and the reason I keep leaning toward a setup from GoRuck:

GoRuck has plates and a specific compartment for those plates that keep the weight up high in the bag and directly on the back. I know from what's been said here Mystery Ranch makes great bags, and that I can make my own sandbags (etc) and use a MR as a ruck sack: but I'm concerned with there being a lot of dead weight at the bottom of the pack that will be pulling on my shoulders the whole time. It seems like the DESIGN of the GoRuck pack would eliminate this but keep the weight up higher and nearer my back, rather than sitting heavy at the bottom of the bag.

Does this make sense? And is this a legit concern?

If your goal is only weight training and using the bag specifically for that, I think you’d be fine with a GoRuck/plate setup

If your goal is to add weight/resistance to your lunch break walks, I’d actually second the recommendation for a weighted vest. It’s going to shift the center of gravity to within your body vs. hanging off the back, which can cause its own blend of problems if the pack isn’t 100% dialed in and fitted to you, regardless of what brand you choose.

But, don’t overlook the humble pillow. It can be stuffed into any brand of pack to put weight exactly where you want it. That said, smaller/flatter weight is going to move the CoG closer to you, which is what you’re after. A plate setup will be far better suited for this task than a sandbag.

 

[Sam Gamgee]

If your goal is only weight training and using the bag specifically for that, I think you’d be fine with a GoRuck/plate setup

If your goal is to add weight/resistance to your lunch break walks, I’d actually second the recommendation for a weighted vest. It’s going to shift the center of gravity to within your body vs. hanging off the back, which can cause its own blend of problems if the pack isn’t 100% dialed in and fitted to you, regardless of what brand you choose.

But, don’t overlook the humble pillow. It can be stuffed into any brand of pack to put weight exactly where you want it. That said, smaller/flatter weight is going to move the CoG closer to you, which is what you’re after. A plate setup will be far better suited for this task than a sandbag.

Yes, my only goal would be using the sack for weight. I don't need a backpack for carrying stuff around. (To me grown men always look a bit silly carrying around a backpack. This is probably because backpacks became popular when I was a kid and they are associated with the stuff of youth.) GoRuck also makes a pack that only fits plates and it's a lot less money than their packs, but it only goes up to 30lbs, where the backpacks can be weighted down with a lot more weight added to the plates. I looked at those vests and think I'd have to call the Dork Police when I was wearing one of those. Not going to happen.

The pillow thing makes sense because if could be stuffed in the bottom of the bag and some weight placed up higher: this way there isn't a wad of weight tugging solely on the bottom of the bag.

I don't mind spending money on quality stuff, but don't like to do so needlessly. The GoRuck stuff is pretty pricey. The bag and a 30lb plate shipped is right at $320, where I could get a MR basic pack and make my own weights for well under $150.

 

[Sobrbiker]

All the good stuff I’ve mentioned is more about framed packs, rather than book bag/shoulder strap style bags.
When I hear “rucking”, I think of weight. Carrying actual weight is not something I’ll do again by choice in a frameless book bag-been there, done that, lesson learned.

 

[ashdigger]

Proper fit will carry the load on hips/shoulders. Properly designed will get the load closer to frame (and back).
I haven’t looked at GoRuck, because I don’t want to invest in a pack that isn’t transferable to the end use.
If just exercise is the intent, one can use a dry bag or such of size desired and get rubber pellets and loads/compress as you wish.
Then you have a good pack you can load with whatever whenever you go wherever.

Same pack I hunt/scout in I can fill with ammo cans full of whatever heavy stuff I’ve got and replicate any load I can carry.

This is how my brain works. My brain is not everyone’s brain.

I’d buy a pack specific for Rucking

I’d buy a pack specific for hiking

I’d buy a pack specific for hunting.

What I do is I have modular internal “packing cubes” that I transfer from bag to bag, but specific bags for specific needs.

I’ve never, but your mileage may, found a good multi use bag or pack or whatever.

As an example: for fires here in Las Vegas, I have a Patagonia bag that has my gear.

If I have to leave town I take the core packing cube (contains camera, measuring gear, drone, lights, etc.) and put it in larger Patagonia Black Hole that already has clothes and extra gear.

If I work a Wildland fire that large Black Hole gets a boost with the addition of a Mystery Ranch Urban Assault.

My needs are very different than most, but this is an example of one size may not fit all.

 

[BarrelProof]

All the good stuff I’ve mentioned is more about framed packs, rather than book bag/shoulder strap style bags.
When I hear “rucking”, I think of weight. Carrying actual weight is not something I’ll do again by choice in a frameless book bag-been there, done that, lesson learned.

100%.

Adjustability is key in a bag designed for carrying weight. The better the bag fits your hips and torso, the more evenly you can distribute the weight and the more comfortable your experience will be. Rigidity is also an important factor which is why, for a long time, external frame packs were far superior. There have been some pretty substantial improvements in captured, carbon stay technology that have vastly improved the performance of an internal frame pack.

Cost does not associate with quality, either. An expensive bag that fits poorly will result in a piss poor experience. A second hand bag for pennies on the dollar that’s ostensibly tailor made for your frame will carry weight like a dream.

At the end of the day, you just have to pull the trigger on something, start using it, and determine if it works for you or not. If it does, you nailed it. If it doesn’t, isolate the problem areas and find a similar product with design differences in those locations to dial it in.

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

I've been working to improve my golf game. I'm 66 this week and clearly am not the man I used to be. I'd recommend you consider my /stretching along with light weight training. The stuff I'm doing is golf focused but it also is good for quality of life as it focuses on core, shoulders, hips and legs. I'm going to a trainer twice a week, he's been great.

Good luck on your efforts.

 

[kcghost]

For whatever reason I have always hated exercise unless it was associated with a sport. Unfortunately as you get older the only sports available to you are ones like golf. This is just another way of saying a "a good walk spoiled". I try to wander around my neighborhood 5-6 times a week. That's about it.

 

[AroEnglish]

For whatever reason I have always hated exercise unless it was associated with a sport. Unfortunately as you get older the only sports available to you are ones like golf. This is just another way of saying a "a good walk spoiled". I try to wander around my neighborhood 5-6 times a week. That's about it.

Have you tried pickleball? I'm in my 30's and have played with guys in their 70's and even one in his 80's.

 

[Sobrbiker]

Unfortunately as you get older the only sports available to you are ones like golf. This is just another way of saying a "a good walk spoiled".

A golf course is a waste of a perfectly good rifle range.

 

[sablebrush52]

I think I got my fair share of weight lifting in today. I pulled completely filled boxes of LP's off the shelves in the garage to cull through them before getting rid of the collection.

Good lord. They didn't feel that heavy when I shelved them 20 years ago. I could barely handle them. Out of curiosity I did a google search to get an idea what a fully loaded box weighs and it's about 60 to 70 lbs. Pathetic. I used to curl 140 lbs, no sweat. Aging is a bitch, but for now it beats the alternative.

 

[bullet08]

Back when kids were in BSA, used to go on 10 mile hike most Saturdays. Usually took around 3.5 hrs. Now, I'll be lucky if I go to the supermarket in a car. Never really liked walking, running or anything on my legs. But for whatever reason, hiking with my kids were fun. Now boys are grown up, not so much fun. Need to get on my bike. Maybe in spring.

 

[HawkeyeLinus]

I think I got my fair share of weight lifting in today. I pulled completely filled boxes of LP's off the shelves in the garage to cull through them before getting rid of the collection.

Good lord. They didn't feel that heavy when I shelved them 20 years ago. I could barely handle them. Out of curiosity I did a google search to get an idea what a fully loaded box weighs and it's about 60 to 70 lbs. Pathetic. I used to curl 140 lbs, no sweat. Aging is a bitch, but for now it beats the alternative.

No! Keep the albums!

 

[sablebrush52]

No! Keep the albums!

They have little to no value, weigh a ton, and take up a lot of space. I called the major record stores and none of them were interested, unless I donated them, because they're largely classical and jazz, and there's no market for them. They do not sell.

Apparently the only genres people are buying on vinyl are mid '70's rock and earlier, and movie soundtracks. I've pulled my favorites, all of the soundtracks, of which there aren't many, and the nephew of a friend, who is a composer, is going to come by and pick out what he wants. The remainder will go to a charity that wants them. I have way too much stuff to move. All told I'll keep about 100 LPs, which is plenty. Only the LP's that hold special memories for me. Besides, I have hundreds of CD's and I'll be dead before they go bad.

It's like with books. In general, libraries do not want them. I gave 2/3 of my library of art books to the Brand Library, which is a specialized art and music library so those books will do someone else some good. Even then, the Brand wouldn't take any CD's or DVD's, because they're already loaded. And they have no use for LP's. The rest of the Glendale library system didn't want any books, CD, or LP's at all. Burbank will take books, but only 2 boxes as a time, because they use volunteers to process them. The percentage of people who read has dwindled. People get their input from other sources, like the Internet. 50% of supposed adults get their news from social media, which is 99% ignorant garbage. No wonder the country is so screwed.

I want room for my art supplies.

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

A golf course is a waste of a perfectly good rifle range.

Blasphemy. But I also enjoy shooting.

 

[BarrelProof]

Blasphemy. But I also enjoy shooting.

Coincidentally, I was allowed to hunt on the golf course I grew up playing on to keep the geese down. During goose season, of course, with permission from the owners.

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

Coincidentally, I was allowed to hunt on the golf course I grew up playing on to keep the geese down. During goose season, of course, with permission from the owners.

Goose season? Did you get any birdies or eagles?

 

[BarrelProof]

Goose season? Did you get any birdies or eagles?

Had to be off the course by the first tee time, but it was like shooting fish in a barrel.

The bastards got their revenge, though. My favorite pond (to hunt & fish, but definitely hated it when I was playing) was between the green of 2, tee of 3, and the tee of 17. One summer I’m finishing up on 16 and chipped my ball down to the tee of 17. It rolled a little long and when I walked down there to get it, this goose came at me like a missile. They had babies and I’d gotten too close, apparently. It chased me back across to the fairway of 16.

Coincidentally, I was playing 16 one morning early when there was still dew on the fairway. I pulled a tee shot and had to play this little hooded draw back out of the trees on the left. The ball goes skipping down the wet fairway and smoked a goose in the face. DOA (or so I thought). Apparently you can knock a goose out with a Pro V1x and apparently they will not be happy if you try to relocate them while they’re unconscious. Similar result upon recovery.

That’s twice I’ve been chased by a goose at roughly the same spot on those same two holes. And, now that you mention it, 16 & 17 were both par 5’s. I’ve birdied them dozens of times and have eagled both a few times, as well. 16 was long and one of the sprinkler heads in the fairway said “All you got.”

 

[brian64]

A golf course is a waste of a perfectly good rifle range.

 

[Sobrbiker]

 

[Sam Gamgee]

Update:
I got some good info here in this discussion (and via PM), learned a lot, and did a lot of reading and YouTube-ing on this topic. Today I made a decision and went with a GoRuck bag that was on sale for $135. Very basic. I’m going to attempt to make my own weights for it. If that doesn’t work I’ll spring for some plates or sandbags from GoRuck. I almost bought a Mystery Ridge but the ones I was interested in are made in Vietnam and I really wanted something made in America. I know if this bag doesn’t work out I can sell it and recover some of my money and keep looking. I’ll keep you all posted.