The Benefits of DIY Rucking Weights

Adding weight to your backpack for walking workouts offers numerous benefits like building muscular endurance, improving cardio capacity, and burning extra calories. But specialized rucksacks and weights can get quite expensive. Luckily, you can make your own using common household items. Getting creative allows you to customize weights to your current fitness level and save money upfront. At Ruckliving, we believe DIY weights empower people to reap all the benefits of these intensive workouts on any budget. Whether you’re just starting out or are an experienced walker looking to up the intensity, crafting your own backpack weights provides an affordable way to take your workouts to the next level.

Sandbags - The Simple and Effective Option

Sandbags provide one of the easiest DIY solutions for adding weight to your ruck. This unstable load engages more muscles throughout your body to improve strength, balance, and coordination. All you need is a duffel bag or backpack and 20-50 pounds of sand. Start with 25 pounds, then increase your weight as your fitness level progresses. Just remember - wet sand weighs more! Consider using multiple smaller bags to distribute weight more evenly. Bags with compartments work great too. Just fill each section with a few pounds of sand so you can remove bags as needed to decrease weight when fatigued.

Alternative Items to Use as Fillers

Many household items can provide weight for your DIY ruck, from rice to nuts and bolts to water softener salt. The availability and low cost of these make them ideal for the budget-conscious rucker. Granular materials like rice and salt conform nicely to bags, distributing weight evenly to avoid uncomfortable pressure points. Bulkier items like tennis balls take up more space which adds size if your goal is increasing pack dimensions along with weight. No matter what filler you use, contain it first in resealable plastic bags or sturdy containers to prevent leaks.

Improvising Weights from Common Objects

With some creativity, you can fashion homemade weights from various everyday items already on hand. For instance, use car tire inner tubes, gallon water jugs, or sand tubes made from pool noodles and duct tape. You can make different-sized weights with these materials by adjusting the amount of filler used. Things like milk and laundry detergent jugs work as well. Just thoroughly clean them and let them air dry before filling. Plastic containers with screw-on lids also allow easy weight adjustments. By reusing these common household items, you save money while keeping them out of landfills.

Build Your Own Kettlebells

Kettlebells provide extremely effective tools for rucking workouts. But buying multiple sizes adds up fast. Making your own lets you create the exact amount of weight needed for your current fitness level while saving substantially. This is something we learned at Ruckliving after spending significant amounts of money, without knowing that the basic process is straightforward – all you need is two frisbees, a quick-setting concrete mix, a balloon, and a stick. First, build a form by taping frisbees together. Insert a balloon then fill the mold with concrete, leaving space at the top for the stick handle. Once the concrete fully cures, remove the form and you’re ready to start swinging your homemade kettlebell!

Crafting Ruck Plates

Standard cast iron plates for barbells can attach to many rucksacks to add weight. But buying multiple sizes to increase your load gradually gets very expensive. A cheaper alternative is to make your own custom plates using concrete. Build a form from scrap wood, or sturdy cardboard, or even reuse a milk jug or storage container. Line the form with a trash bag for easy removal. Fill the mold about one-third full with concrete then insert bolts, washers, or nuts before the concrete starts drying to create attachment points later. Allow a full 24-48 hours for the concrete to completely cure before removing from the form.

Innovative Ideas to Add Weight

Sometimes ordinary ruck weights just won’t cut it if you want to intensify your workout. You can spice things up and get creative by adding unique DIY weights like paint cans filled with sand or pebbles. Chains also make great additions for adding weight. Just secure them tightly to internal backpack frames using carabiners and zip ties so they don’t swing around and alter your center of gravity. You can also carry logs, jerry cans, buckets, or crates filled with water or dirt. Use your imagination and reuse items destined for the dumpster! Just ensure to pad and fasten these well in your ruck.

Safety First When Rucking DIY Weights

While making your own ruck weights saves money upfront, don’t sacrifice safety for your body or backpack’s structural integrity. Carefully pad and secure any homemade items to avoid discomfort and potential injuries. Duct tape and zip ties provide easy securing methods but be mindful of abrasion. Start with lighter weights, slowly increasing over time based on your current fitness level. Listen to warning signs from your body and don’t push too hard too fast. Ensure your backpack fits appropriately for good load distribution and utilize the waist belt. Remember proper rucking form - take shorter strides, maintain good posture, and walk at a steady pace. And above all, have fun getting creative and crafting your own weights on any budget!

The Takeaway

Rucking provides an extremely economical and accessible workout for anyone. DIY weights empower people to reap all the benefits of this intensive exercise without spending excessively. Sandbags offer the simplest approach, while concrete kettlebells and plates take more effort upfront but allow gradually increasing your load. Or get innovative using everyday items like buckets, chains, and jugs. Just focus first on safety - properly secure and pad weights while using proper form and incrementally progressing. Whether you purchase commercial options or make your own, the same training benefits come from moving weight on your back. So why not save money upfront and have fun crafting your own custom ruck weights?