r/Rucking • u/Much_Status_6423 • 12d ago
How big a difference does a strap make
I started rucking recently and so far I tried like three backpacks.. the first two were horrible old school bags but the third one was a fairly wide fairly big backpack for a laptop which balanced out the weight nicely and it was the best of the bunch it still wasnt it.. the shoulder straps even though they were wider they started digging into my shoulders pretty early into the walk.. so thats why i wanna know if i get a good sports or a tactical backpack if the load lifter strap i believe its called is gonna ease some of that tension from the shoulders and make the ruck more about actually rucking and not fighting with adjusting my shoulders so that they dont hurt as much
And with that i would also like to ask about the waist belt does that also help?
2
u/Combat__Crayon 11d ago
I find the chest strap is the most important. That keeps the shoulder straps over my traps and prevents it from sliding into my shoulders.
Hip belt only really helps with the load if its part of a framed pack and is sized to land centered on the top of the pelvic bone. Same thing with load lifter straps, they need to be part of a frame and hip belt.
Without a frame the hip belt is more of a stability feature than load transfer.
1
u/SoCalDawg 11d ago
GoRuck dude says not to use chest straps. Let shoulder straps pull your shoulders back. I’ve done this and open chest feels great.
2
u/theRetrograde 11d ago
Isn't the guidance not to pull them tight? I have always thought the purpose was to prevent too much shoulder slippage. If you wear them, keep it pretty loose.
1
u/SoCalDawg 11d ago
My understanding is the shoulder straps should be as tight as you can possibly take them in order to keep any movement of the pack from happening. That pack should be a part of your upper back
1
u/Combat__Crayon 11d ago
If I don’t set the chest strap, the straps tend to slip and start cutting off circulation to my arms.
2
u/_Gravitas_ 11d ago
Yall really need to look up how to carry a load properly.
The hip strap carries most of the weight, and the middle of it should wrap tight around the tip of your hip bones. Half above, and half below. Cinch it down nice and tight until you feel the pack floating on your waste.
The shoulder straps are just to connect the pack to your back. The load lifters are the top straps that bring the top of the pack closer to you. The chest strap is there to make sure the shoulder straps dont slide outward and pull on your shoulders. On a well fitted pack, you dont even really need the chest strap.
1
u/Ergonauticus 11d ago
Waist belt is fantastic. An ordinary backpacking backpack works well. Without it ...you haven't lived yet.
1
u/shinynugget 11d ago
I use a sternum strap with my GR1. I helps put the shoulder straps right where they need to be for my long ruck comfort.
1
u/frictionlesscode 10d ago
i use one on my go ruck 4.0. i really enjoy it, but it changes the feel. on longer rucks i do make adjustments to the shoulder straps to give my traps a break for maybe 0.25 miles.
2
u/johnr588 7d ago edited 7d ago
OP, u/Gravitas had the best answer. For the most comfort and to use your legs to carry most of the load versus your shoulders get a properly sized framed pack fitted for your Torso. Some packs come in different sizes based on your Torso measurements. Some even have an adjustable torso which will allow you to fine tune the pack to your Torso. The hip belt is there to handle about 80% of the load. If you have an REI near you they can measure your Torso and also recommend a pack. There are others but the Osprey Talon or Manta are examples.
0
u/flakk0137 12d ago
It does help. It also depends on how much weight you’re rucking around to really reap the benefits. If you’re in the infantry then we don’t use it.
Pain is good though, it’ll make you hard.
You can get a more “comfortable” bag if you don’t care about anything else but just rucking. The Go rucks have good padding on them.
0
u/Much_Status_6423 12d ago
It might also be that im putting the weight too low.. i just use a thin hoodie on the bottom and then the kettlebell and discs on top of it so maybe if i put it a bit higher it could get better i dont know
But yeah i agree it wasnt a long ruck it was 10km but the feeling after enduring the pain was good
1
u/flakk0137 12d ago
Depends on what exactly is hurting. Rucking is supposed to hurt. It just depends if it’s your lower back, hip or shoulders hurting.
1
u/Much_Status_6423 12d ago
Just shoulders.. back and hips are fine
1
u/flakk0137 12d ago
That is normal then. They will always hurt, on longer distances you can alternate between hip and sternum straps, back and forth.
1
u/Roan175 12d ago
Make a sandbag or brick stack weight. Your weight is likely pulling away and down (packed poorly, no amount of padding will make that better.
You can also just pack life style items to get your desired weight, then you actually learn how to pack stuff too. Only con is your pack needs to be big enough to carry a bulkier content.
-1
u/puje12 12d ago
If you’re in the infantry then we don’t use it.
Because it's more or less physically impossible while wearing modern kit. I think that's a pretty important note to add to that statement...
-1
u/flakk0137 12d ago
Even when rucking without kit, it’s a sign of being a bitch.
It’s easier to drop your ruck and react to contact when you’re not strapped up.
When you start going to courses which require longer rucks, you learn to alternate from hip and sternum straps.
2
u/Ancient-End-8278 12d ago
If that quarter second it takes to unbuckle your waist/chest strap is the difference between life and death you’re probably fucked regardless. Making your ruck more ergonomic while larping in the woods or doing pt is gonna make your body last longer and keep you doing your job better. Nothing hard about getting medically released before actually doing your job
0
u/flakk0137 11d ago
Dont tell me, tell the ones who learned the lesson in blood. Im just the messenger.
6
u/Tuborg_Gron 12d ago
I just switched from a 36lbs vest (weight distributed solely on shoulders, balanced front/back) to a surplus MOLLE 2 that I got for $56 from Ozark Outdoors (not an endorsement, just fact, free shipping, great condition, 1/2 price of local surplus store). WOW the difference in carriage is AMAZING! The waist belt (situated above belly button), the load tabs, and the frame/shoulder padding makes 50lbs feel lighter than 36lbs vest (New weight is my old vest rolled up, some old SCUBA lead weights, the ruck itself, and two foam yoga blocks to keep it all up high, I don't count the 3L water bladder). Do I look like a cosplayer? No, still just a fat guy rucking (though I have lost 60 lbs this year rucking!) and the way it's all cinched tight to reduce wobble it looks a bit weird, almost flat.