So you are planning to do some rucking, but you don’t have the weights? Well, worry no more because I’ve got you covered.
There are tons of choices you can use as rucking weights for your activity, and in this piece, I will take you through the process of how to make all of them.
It is worth noting that it is vital for the weight on the backpack to be well distributed to serve the intended purpose.
Generally, you could buy racking weights and use them. That said, allow me to show you how to create DIY rucking weights.
Ruck Pill
A ruck pill is essentially a sandbag taped well enough to ensure that the sand is well secure and does not cause any discomfort.
Many people creating DIY rucking weights often prefer making a ruck pill because it is easy to make and the materials needed are pretty cheap.
Also, ruck pill popularity has increased by the fact that members of the armed forces often use them for their exercises.
If you are a beginner, it will be beneficial if you make several ruck pills such that you can gradually add more as you go along.
Generally, make sure that the rucking weight is around a third of your body’s weight, and you can add more as you get used to it.
Making a ruck pill is relatively easy. Here is a listicle of the items you will need to create a ruck pill of your own.
- Six plastic sandbags. Preferably, make sure that they are see-through.
- Sixty pounds of sand
- Duct tape and make sure that it is not black. If you can, make sure to get 100 MPH tape.
- Marker pen
- A weighing scale
If you already have a weighing scale at home, you can get all the items for less than fifteen bucks. You can always also borrow a weighing scale from a friend.
I recommend using the 100 MPH duct tape because it is the same used by the military to secure their sand for ruck pill. If the military approves, I don’t see why it shouldn’t work for you.
Below are the steps you will need to follow to make an effective Ruck Pill.
- Choose a peaceful workspace. Keep in mind that you’ll be working with sand, so you will need an open space, preferably outdoors. It will be effortless to sweep or vacuum the space after you’re done if you do it outdoors.
- Fill the sandbags with sand and weigh them. I recommend filling up four sandbags with 15 pounds of sand. However, if 15 pounds are too much for a start, you can fill the six sandbags with ten pounds each.
- Ensure that each bag contains the recommended weight by weighing them all again with the weighing scale.
- Reinforce the sandbags with duct tape by putting them around the sandbags. For the area, you sealed the sandbag, reinforce it with duct tape at least twice. You don’t want the sandbag to rip and spill in your ruck.
- Label the weights with their respective weights.
Water Jugs
Making water jugs is as easy as making ruck pills. All you need is empty containers at home that you can fill with water and pile them inside the ruck.
You can also buy water gallons and use them. The good thing about water jugs is that you’ll be killing two birds with one stone as you can use some of the water to stay hydrated during your activity.
Just buy water gallons, fill them with water, put them in your ruck, and start your activity.
Ruck March
To make a ruck march, you will need at least six bricks. Many people usually have spare bricks in their garages, and if you don’t have any, you can always ask a friend.
You will also need strong tape, something like 100 MPH duct tape. This duct tape is perfect for the job as it is solid and waterproof.
To create the ruck march, here is what you need to do.
- Stack three bricks on top of each other and tape them with the 100 MPH duct tape from top to bottom.
- Continue taping them from top to bottom until the bricks do not move at all.
- Repeat the procedure with the other three bricks.
- Place the two stacks together and tape the sharp edges.
- Tap them horizontally until they become one piece. Continue adding the tape until you’re sure the bond is strong enough, and the bricks will stay together during the activity.
Conclusion
Making DIY rucking weights is relatively easy, and you don’t even need prior experience to make one.
There are many rucking weights you can make, and in this article, I have discussed three of the easiest ones to make.
These weights include:
- Ruck March: Made with bricks and duct tape
- Water jugs: Made with water containers or gallons containing water.
- Ruck Pills: Made with sand, sandbags, and duct tape.
