When it comes to fitness trends, few have as low of a barrier to entry as rucking. The popular exercise (which has millions of posts using #rucking on TikTok and Instagram) requires only that you have a backpack, some things to stash in it, and a place to walk. In fact, if you have ever gone on a backpacking trip, taken the long way home from the store with your groceries on your back, or slung your child’s book bag over your shoulders while walking them to and from school, you’ve already rucked.
Like many fitness movements (boot camp classes, CrossFit), this one has its origins in the military. Army recruits embark on long marches with heavy rucksacks as part of their training regimen.
For the rest of us, weighted walking is a low-impact way to build strength and endurance, explains Sean Blinch, a Toronto-based CrossFit coach and gym owner who has been rucking for five years. Both beginner-friendly and scalable for advanced athletes, the combination of cardio and resistance training will primarily work your legs, core, and back.
It’s also something you can do with limited time. “We can find so…
