Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Backpack Hunting Weighted pack training VS other?

I ruck about 35lb while mowing the lawn - still use the old GR0 and taped up bricks. My thing is working in a workout while doing something that a person was going to do anyhow. Stacking 2 cord of wood with a ruck is way harder than I thought.

I agree about not overtraining. Just keep working out then maybe ramp up a month prior. As I age I find typical cardio about worthless for real world packing. Much better to actually walk up and down hills or stairs than spend time on an elliptical or stair machine. Those little muscles in your feet and front of your calves just don't get worked out like actually walking on unlevel ground. Train like you hunt..

I hike and backpack year round (and strength train twice a week), but find I benefit from rucking some heavier weight prior to hunting season. The stresses of heavier weight requires the small accessory muscles, tendons and ligaments to be strengthened before hand.

After 20 years or so of messing around with different rucking regimes Ive settled on a routine starting eight weeks out from huntings season. I start with low weight (30 lbs). I ruck every other day (hiking w/o weight the other days) and vary the route- short steep stuff (sometimes multiple times), longer gradual incline stuff and some off trail/sidehilling stuff. I do this for two weeks and then bump the weight up to 45#- again every other day and varied routes as far as steepness and duration (I always shoot for one longer hike of 8-10 miles/week); another two weeks at 60 lbs- again varying distance/terrain; the last two weeks I start pulling the weight back- much like a taper period for a long distance race.

I never (anymore) use more than 60 lbs training- chance of injury goes up and never saw any real benefits from using more than 60 lbs.

Hauling meat loads of 80-90 lbs, while certainly not easy, have never been overly problematic.

Rucking weight I've found is important, but the more important elements are hiking (or running/biking) consistently, building the aerobic base; secondly, consistent, focused strength training.

I overdid it 2 weekends ago, 75 lbs, Thought I’d put the majority of the weight on my waist by really cranking the waist belt,

By the 3.5 mile mark my hip flexors declared a strike, still slightly feel it.

Go easy on the weight and so-so on the waist belt, shoulders can/will carry the weight along with the waist belt.

And if going to the gym, avoid machines you haven’t been on in years,,,,example, Starmaster,,,(miserable SOB)….Again, over did the hip flexors,,

And those flexors will remind you for a while.

I just got back from scouting sheep in a new spot. Climbed about 1000-1200 vertical through an alder jungle heavy with spongy tundra and tons of mosquitos. Broke out into less miserable ridgelines and on up to a peak at about 5050 feet. Maybe 7-8 miles total and 3000 vertical feet gained/lost. Didn't see a damn thing except a curious cow caribou.

It is obvious that I am not in the shape I was last year, but that'll change.

Listen to this guy^^^^^^^^^

I agree with everything he said.

I overdid it 2 weekends ago, 75 lbs, Thought I’d put the majority of the weight on my waist by really cranking the waist belt,

By the 3.5 mile mark my hip flexors declared a strike, still slightly feel it.

Go easy on the weight and so-so on the waist belt, shoulders can/will carry the weight along with the waist belt.

And if going to the gym, avoid machines you haven’t been on in years,,,,example, Starmaster,,,(miserable SOB)….Again, over did the hip flexors,,

And those flexors will remind you for a while.

I hike and backpack year round (and strength train twice a week), but find I benefit from rucking some heavier weight prior to hunting season. The stresses of heavier weight requires the small accessory muscles, tendons and ligaments to be strengthened before hand.

After 20 years or so of messing around with different rucking regimes Ive settled on a routine starting eight weeks out from huntings season. I start with low weight (30 lbs). I ruck every other day (hiking w/o weight the other days) and vary the route- short steep stuff (sometimes multiple times), longer gradual incline stuff and some off trail/sidehilling stuff. I do this for two weeks and then bump the weight up to 45#- again every other day and varied routes as far as steepness and duration (I always shoot for one longer hike of 8-10 miles/week); another two weeks at 60 lbs- again varying distance/terrain; the last two weeks I start pulling the weight back- much like a taper period for a long distance race.

I never (anymore) use more than 60 lbs training- chance of injury goes up and never saw any real benefits from using more than 60 lbs.

Hauling meat loads of 80-90 lbs, while certainly not easy, have never been overly problematic.

Rucking weight I've found is important, but the more important elements are hiking (or running/biking) consistently, building the aerobic base; secondly, consistent, focused strength training.

What do you do for weight training?

Thanks.

Frank

How are you fueling up?

Breakfast. 3 scrambled eggs

Snack. Around a quarter pound of chipped roast beaf.

Lunch. Rolled oats with fruit and milk....protein shake.

Snack: PB on a few Triscuts

Dinner: ????

Workout: Treadmill 30 minutes

Benchpress 4x10....Inclined press 4x10...Barbell curles 4x10...Barbell rows....4x10...Wheel rollouts...2x10...Box stepups...1x10.

I've got a backpack hunt later this year, and am open to training advice. I've backpacked before, and hunted from basecamps, but backpack hunting is not something that I have much experience with.

From what I have heard/read, from supposedly qualified trainers, is that your cardio health should already be established throughout the year (hiking, biking, running, etc.) along with strength training (lifting weights). But supposedly neither replace weighted pack training, for backpack hunting. And not on a treadmill, or flat ground. Instead, carrying a weighted pack uphill and downhill. Especially downhill and uneven ground, since most treadmills and flat ground are not good at exercising the same muscles. Makes sense to me, but is that your opinion as well?

Right now, I do weighted pack training 2-3x per week, along with some body weight exercises. The other days, I do weight training and cardio. Plus easy walks with the dog on flat ground throughout the week.

I can definitely notice a difference with the weighted pack training. Just cardio and weight training didn't prepare me for the load on my shoulders and hips. That wasn't much of a surprise though.

I'm pretty happy with my progress, but am not pretending to be an expert. Any additional advice or pointers?

Thanks,

Jason