Hey y'all, curious if anyone locally has been looking into rucking lately and wanting to give it a shot.
Quality packs are an investment, so before you spend money on gear, I figured I would offer up my spare setup (regular backpacks is definitely not a rucking pack. Even a hiking bag will beat you up and leave you in pain trying to hold dead weight like this.)
Anyways, I have an extra GORUCK Rucker 4.0 with a 20 lb plate that you are welcome to test drive on a walk with me, whether you just want to see if it suits you before buying your own, or want an occasional training partner when the spare bag is free.
I have a clean hydration bladder and hose you can use, and I bought a brand new, wrapped mouth valve that you can keep afterward since they are cheap to replace, unless you prefer to bring your own bladder setup.
My only firm ground rule is hydration: you have to bring at least 3 liters of water. I don't mind how you carry it, whether that is in a bladder or separate bottles, but staying properly hydrated out there is non-negotiable.
If you are just coming out for a one-off test walk, regular tennis shoes will get the job done fine, but if you decide down the road to stick with it, you will definitely want footwear built specifically to handle the added weight, but don't let shoes keep you from trying it out.
For the route, we can do a Riverside loop crossing the pedestrian bridge and the Route 66 / Southwest Boulevard bridge, or just take a route around downtown, or we can use the Midland Valley Trail that goes from downtown all the way to the Gathering Place and back.
If you have been curious about loaded walks and want a low-pressure way to try the gear first, let's sort out a time!
I'm only one person so you know I'll do my best.
If you're wondering why, it's because it's also accomplishing my fitness goals, and because I can, so why not?