Weighted vest vs. back pack?

Tim

Tim

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I’m looking to add weight to my hikes. Is there any appreciable benefit to using a purpose built weighted vest vs loading a backpack with bricks, sand bags, soup cans or what not?
 
@Chuckman

I’ve never used a vest. I used to just add weight plates to a back pack. Now I use a Go Ruck bag with their weights. A little pricey, but it carries very well. Much better when doing long or more vigorous hikes. Plus I can add other things to the pack. Weight vest would be fine if you aren’t out wandering in the woods I would think. But I like having first aid supplies and other gear in the pack.
 
Plate carrier > weight vest, but PC + ruck is best.

I wear my PC for a lot of my exercise, but there's nothing like a 45, 50 lb ruck/pack over long undulating distance.

You can get a ruck with ruck plates @CZfool68 can lend a lot of advice there. Or you can get a ruck/pack and load it with anything you like to make weight.

It depends on how much weight, too. If you only want 20, 25 lb a plate carrier with attached crap is perfect. If you want to go any heavier, get a pack.
 
Here is my "not so educated answer":

If it comes a time you have to didi mau...what will you have? A perfectly weighted vest/pack?

So, my recommendation is to take your "go bag" and make it as awkward as possible/
 
If you go pack I have several old hiking packs that I can let you choose from. 2 decent size day packs and one legit backpack. They are old. They are dirty. They might smell a little. But they are free. Your call. Oh, I've carried nearly 100 lbs in the big pack before.
 
chiefjason said:
If you go pack I have several old hiking packs that I can let you choose from. 2 decent size day packs and one legit backpack. They are old. They are dirty. They might smell a little. But they are free. Your call. Oh, I've carried nearly 100 lbs in the big pack before.
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Hiking packs are great, you don't need to spend a billion dollars on a Goruck ruck to do the job. If you want a PC just for exercise, any will do, you don't need a Crye.
 
B00ger said:
Here is my "not so educated answer":

If it comes a time you have to didi mau...what will you have? A perfectly weighted vest/pack?

So, my recommendation is to take your "go bag" and make it as awkward as possible/
Click to expand...

I have my super awesome cool guy Operator chest rig for social scenarios. The soccer moms and mountain bikers in tight shorts give you funny looks though. I'm looking for something a bit more discreet.
 
chiefjason said:
If you go pack I have several old hiking packs that I can let you choose from. 2 decent size day packs and one legit backpack. They are old. They are dirty. They might smell a little. But they are free. Your call. Oh, I've carried nearly 100 lbs in the big pack before.
Click to expand...

Thanks! I have several as well, from 'book bags' to legit backpacks for multiday adventures. I was trying to decide between loading one of those up vs. going the weighted vest route.
 
I bought a cheap plate carrier and some cheap AR 500 plates. It added about 20# and the weight was better distributed than my old back pack full of sand. Plus I can carry H2O bottles, snacks, and sometimes my CCW in the pouches.
 
Me. said:
modern-problems-require-modern-solutions.gif




View attachment 562380






Get a doll, fill it with sand.
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Or borrow someone’s baby.
 
Tim said:
I have my super awesome cool guy Operator chest rig for social scenarios. The soccer moms and mountain bikers in tight shorts give you funny looks though. I'm looking for something a bit more discreet.
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Thats totally fair
 
Tim said:
I have my super awesome cool guy Operator chest rig for social scenarios. The soccer moms and mountain bikers in tight shorts give you funny looks though. I'm looking for something a bit more discreet.
Click to expand...

I could not care less what people think about what I am wearing; that said, I wear my PC for mostly garage gym stuff and maybe out and back 3 miles or so.

Then skip a weight vest and just get a ruck/pack. You'll get more benefit. Just be careful of heavy weight; at about 75# you go from being healthy to nuking your knees and hips for no reason. Unless you are planning an excursion where you need to carry heavy weight, then train for that.

Or, do both:

CM ruck.jpg
 
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Weighted vest will better distribute the weight across your body. Backpacks place more of the weight across your back and shoulders. Over time I believe the packs will cause more back pain, and causing you to end hikes early.
 
Average Joe said:
Weighted vest will better distribute the weight across your body. Backpacks place more of the weight across your back and shoulders. Over time I believe the packs will cause more back pain, and causing you to end hikes early.
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If you wear a ruck right the weight gets largely distributed to your waist/hips. You can carry more weight in a ruck (pack, whatever) than a vest. It really depends on what your fitness goals are.
 
Chuckman said:
If you wear a ruck right the weight gets largely distributed to your waist/hips. You can carry more weight in a ruck (pack, whatever) than a vest. It really depends on what your fitness goals are.
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I’ve always heard that if you have a good ruck and pack it properly the weight gets spread around. I’ve just never learned the proper way to pack them I guess. Can you give a quick run down on how you pack? I wasn’t in the military, so I lack the experience.
 
Average Joe said:
I’ve always heard that if you have a good ruck and pack it properly the weight gets spread around. I’ve just never learned the proper way to pack them I guess. Can you give a quick run down on how you pack? I wasn’t in the military, so I lack the experience.
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Here a few resources that I have stolen from over the years:



3vgear.com

Get Unbelievably Fit With Rucking (UPDATED 2022)

The term
3vgear.com 3vgear.com

abrotherabroad.com

9 Best Ruck Plates, Weights, & DIY Options for Your Rucksack – A BROTHER ABROAD

Discover the 9 best ruck plates, ruck weights, and DIY Ruck weights for a compact, stable, and seamless fit for your rucking workout
abrotherabroad.com abrotherabroad.com

These encompass most stuff I picked up from the military and with recreational rucking.
 
Tim said:
I have my super awesome cool guy Operator chest rig for social scenarios. The soccer moms and mountain bikers in tight shorts give you funny looks though. I'm looking for something a bit more discreet.
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I saw a guy here in Apex walking down a fairly busy main road with his family wearing a plate carrier the other day. I’d not be surprised if some local Karen called the PD. Except most people probably had no idea what it was.
 
Me. said:
I have a question about “rucking” and carrying weighted packs/vests.


What is the point of carrying weight just to carry weight? Is it to train to be able to carry usable weight at some other time?

Example: Go hiking with weight to get good at that so I can hike with gear in the future.
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It improves cardiovascular health, core strength, lower extremity strength.

But yeah, if you want to go on a long hike on the Appalachian Trail, that's one way to train for it.
 
Me. said:
I have a question about “rucking” and carrying weighted packs/vests.


What is the point of carrying weight just to carry weight? Is it to train to be able to carry usable weight at some other time?

Example: Go hiking with weight to get good at that so I can hike with gear in the future.
Click to expand...

What @Chuckman said or because some of us are too old and out of shape to do triathlons, crossfit comps or WWE events. So we ruck. And carrying heavy shit for a long ways build character too. Maybe not good character, but character nonetheless.
 
Me. said:
Just walk faster. :D
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That doesn‘t replace the added weight. When I first started rucking I felt it in my back, hips, ass etc. You stress some muscles by adding the weight. If you don‘t overdo it it is good for your entire core to carry some extra weight while walking. Faster is better as well. @Fred has been known to time our pace. Typically we try to move at 4 mph while carrying 30-40 lbs. We are not 25 year old Navy Seals or Special Forces soldiers so most of you will do better. 😁
 
Me. said:
I have a question about “rucking” and carrying weighted packs/vests.


What is the point of carrying weight just to carry weight? Is it to train to be able to carry usable weight at some other time?

Example: Go hiking with weight to get good at that so I can hike with gear in the future.
Click to expand...
I do it to train for the Run n Gun matches I enjoy. I’m often times carrying 20ish pounds during these matches.
 
CZfool68 said:
That doesn‘t replace the added weight. When I first started rucking I felt it in my back, hips, ass etc. You stress some muscles by adding the weight. If you don‘t overdo it it is good for your entire core to carry some extra weight while walking. Faster is better as well. @Fred has been known to time our pace. Typically we try to move at 4 mph while carrying 30-40 lbs. We are not 25 year old Navy Seals or Special Forces soldiers so most of you will do better. 😁
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A 15 min pace is legit; that's the schoolhouse pace for ruck marches (12 mi/3 hours).
 
Tim said:
Is that flat ground?
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Depends on location. The schools are in different places, but the standard remains the same. I was lucky, I did basic recon in eastern Virginia, so it was flat. My buddies who did same school on the west coast had to do the same ruck in the mountains of Camp Pendleton. Schools at Ft Bragg, Lejeune, Pendleton, Campbell, Benning, Coronado. The mountains and hills do contribute to the suck.

Edited, not sure if you were asking about mil school standards, or what @CZfool68 does.
 
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Chuckman said:
Depends on location. The schools are in different places, but the standard remains the same. I was lucky, I did basic recon in eastern Virginia, so it was flat. My buddies who did same school on the west coast had to do the same ruck in the mountains of Camp Pendleton. Schools at Ft Bragg, Lejeune, Pendleton, Campbell, Benning, Coronado. The mountains and hills do contribute to the suck.

Edited, not sure if you were asking about mil school standards, or what @CZfool68 does.
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You mean I am not up to military standards? Who knew? 🤣
 
Frack N Cylons said:
Yea that’s a really fast walk or slow jog for me with no weight. Pretty dang quick for 40#.
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That’s what I was thinking. Around here where my “flat” walks have 750ft elevation gains, a 15min mile is a light jog.

@Chuckman I was wondering if the .mil schools adjusted standards for terrain. I.e a 2mile beach run is not the same as 2miles on an indoor track.
 
If you're training for a backpacking trip, you want to train with your pack. If it's just to add resistance to your conditioning the vest keeps the weight closer to your center of gravity.

If you go with the pack, go to a good shop like REI and get it fit. You don't want a badly fit pack of any weight for any length of time.
 
Tim said:
That’s what I was thinking. Around here where my “flat” walks have 750ft elevation gains, a 15min mile is a light jog.

@Chuckman I was wondering if the .mil schools adjusted standards for terrain. I.e a 2mile beach run is not the same as 2miles on an indoor track.
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The only place I 'think' I recall any adjustment was at the mountain and cold weather training center in the Sierra Nevada's, because of altitude. I seem to recall they added time across the board. I also don't recall that the events (ruck, run, etc) were gates; that is, I do not think they were required to complete any of the schools. But that would have been the only one.
 
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Tim said:
That’s what I was thinking. Around here where my “flat” walks have 750ft elevation gains, a 15min mile is a light jog.

@Chuckman I was wondering if the .mil schools adjusted standards for terrain. I.e a 2mile beach run is not the same as 2miles on an indoor track.
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I don’t do that pace in West Jeff I’ll tell you that. The hills make the man.
 
Man…all this talk of 15 minute/mile pace got me
motivated. I couldn’t hit that goal today, but I’ll get there. 16:57pace for 5.48miles. A bit of elevation on this route.

8103FF8A-FC36-4B80-9C54-0DA4D66FF0E1.jpeg35AD5B94-1198-499D-BEE0-9C13DC587B48.jpeg
 
Tim said:
Man…all this talk of 15 minute/mile pace got me
motivated. I couldn’t hit that goal today, but I’ll get there. 16:57pace for 5.48miles. A bit of elevation on this route.

View attachment 563708View attachment 563709
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If you can hit that pace with the elevation you are dealing with and you are not a 25 year old professional athlete you are in the top few %. And damn you are close.
 
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