Anybody here try "rucking" to lose weight?

I’ve not done it for weight loss, but do realize it has benefits whenever I load up a rucksack with kites, their weight bags, and fruit and water, to walk to a park to fly. Seems like a win/win situation to maintain a regular program of it. Best wishes on your journeys.

As an afterthought, the only downside I see is a neck to arm nerve impingement issue I have has sometimes flared up from the straps, but then the kite bags are not as comfortable as a well padded back pack strap is. With some attention to comfort of the bag, and given you advance slowly not having spinal nerve issues, you ought to be good to go.

 

I hope you're planning on adjusting you're diet as well.

 

30 minutes is really not much of a workout. At a walking pace, even with weight, you're not burning many calories. I won't call what I do rucking, but I do throw on a 40lb weight vest (plus camel back and usually a sidearm for wildlife issues) and walked/climb up and down the mountains behind our subdivision for exercise when I cannot get to my gym. When I go, I usually go for 2 hours or so and horizontally cover several miles. If/when I am ever on flat-ish ground, I pick up my pace to a jog or run.

 

Get a peloton bike and hit that up daily for 1-2x 45 min classes and clean your diet up. You'll see far more results than from rucking. I've spent ample time on a great many very very long ruck marches and it delivers plenty but not something for a weightless workout.

 

I think Joker and sct4a are right - I'm sure rucking has some benefits, but the best way to burn fat is to exercise into target heart rate / aerobic state with a mild cut in caloric intake. Gets harder as you get older, metabolism slows.

Where rucking might be of benefit is sustaining or just easing into full on anaerobic and/or aerobic activity.

 

Just do 30 minutes of cardio a day on a stationary bike (300-400 calories burned), drink only water, and eat less food. You'll lose weight in no time.

 

that's my plan in a nutshell...............

 

I've had 3 ACL reconstructions and can't really run anymore, so I walk. A lot. 10-15 miles/day is not unusual and I always have a bag with a laptop, etc in it along with me. I can say with certainty that if you want to lose weight this will certainly help, but won't do much unless you also make a serious (and permanent) change in your diet.

 

Army and marines do it all the time.

It' a good reason all our backs are destroyed.

 

Reminds me of this picture.
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And hips and knees....

 

I've "rucked" 30 lbs on several medium length hikes (7-10 miles) at the local state park. I don't do it regularly enough to say it's a weight loss strategy. It's challenging and taxing. I prefer rucking to running, they are two totally different types of workouts.

Usually, I ruck or hike as a social event with certain buddies and coworkers, or for benefit events. Ruck participants are usually active or former military.