How do YOU set up your ruck sack?

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 03 May 2018 10:29:03 -0400

Through my years in the infantry I've seen a lot of different variations on how to assemble a ruck sack for those long walks. Some basic, some sloppy, some efficient, etc.
What I'm trying to get ideas on is how other people set theirs up. For example, I like mine to ride high on the shoulders so I get full use of my hips and thighs instead of burning them out under the weight. I'm always adjusting my equipment though in search of more efficient ways to meet the same end result. If anyone has some recommendations or methods they use, feel free to include pictures. I promise to give you credit when one of my soldiers asks me, "How'd you set yours up like that?"

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made May 3 at 2018 11:03 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 03 May 2018 11:03:19 -0400

The keys are to get the weight to ride as close to the frame as possible and for the weight of the pack to rest on the shoulders more than the hips.
Once you have that, you must strap it in such a way that the pack does not twist or sway - which plays hell on your back.
Balancing a load so that the left and right side of your body is supporting as close to the same weight is also essential.
Awkward items like an AT-4 need to rest on top of the load and lashed down so that it is balanced. Two AT-4s can be strapped to either side of a pack.
Bulky but light items such as a sleep system should be placed away from the body in available space.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made May 3 at 2018 1:15 PM

LCDR Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 03 May 2018 13:15:58 -0400

I'm neither an Infantryman, nor a solider...but I was fortunate enough to experience "rucking" a few times over the course of my career. Here was my strategy:

1. I kept the heaviest weight close to the body and up high.
2. Whenever possible, I'd break down larger items (such as MREs) so they could be distributed more evenly and take max-advantage of space.
3. Always kept my pack high on the shoulders and paid close attention to my belly strap and chest strap.
4. Kept outside loads such as bedding, poncho, Goretex, etc. up high, rather than down low. Where there was both, I'd place the heavier load on top.

For me, the main thing was concentrating the load so that it didn't "shift underway" (ha ha...Navyology) and adjusting the pack's straps so that the weight was carried up as high as possible.

However...to my mind, the big "secret" was in the feet. Good, broken in boots and dry socks-always! I learned that the "hard" way, tearing up the bottom of my feet after a long-distance ruck started with a forced run. Two thirds of the way through the entire march...I was on my knees. My sin? exchanging my "old" boots for "new" ones because there was a uniform inspection prior to the event.

Response by SGT Matthew S. made May 3 at 2018 10:06 PM

SGT Matthew S. — Thu, 03 May 2018 22:06:26 -0400

Being short and smaller in stature, keeping up with the 6 1/2' tall LT that always seemed to lead rucks was a challenge for me. I packed everything light in the bottom and tried to get the bulk of the weight up high and against my back so my shoulders would bear most of the weight. Helped my back, and let me take full strides without having to stay balanced as I walked.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 4 at 2018 3:45 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 04 May 2018 03:45:26 -0400

I feel that the responses I've received so far have been taken out of context from the original question. I'm good with all of the "wear fresh socks, broken in boots, distribute the weight." My question was, how do people strap the ruck, straps, and waist/back pad to the frame so you get the most out of getting all the weight up high? I do appreciate all of the responses though. Always good to receive useful information that I can pass down to my soldiers, whether they use it or not.

Response by GySgt Joe Strong made May 4 at 2018 1:56 PM

GySgt Joe Strong — Fri, 04 May 2018 13:56:25 -0400

I'm backwards to the common knowledge you present of wearing it up high. I like it to ride with as much weight as possible on the belt , just at the top of the hips so that as little of the pack weight as possible is on my upper body, especially if wearing Body armor. Using the shoulder straps more to balance the load than to carry it.

Once that basic set up is achieved I took note of civilian Backpacking strategies and changed my loading along the lines of the terrain I was working. On flatlands, weightier items went up high inside the pack(Makes it feel lighter for some reason although working the same weight), on hillsides & mountains, weight goes down low inside the pack (Increases Stability with the Lower Center of gravity).

Beyond those asides, I really concur with 1st Sgt Healy's post. (upvoting)

Of course I'm at this point an old retired geezer who occasionally hangs out with the Boy Scouts. My take may be outdated.

Response by CW3 Kevin Storm made May 4 at 2018 2:23 PM

CW3 Kevin Storm — Fri, 04 May 2018 14:23:58 -0400

Throw in the back of the truck, because if Chief and Maintenance Section are Walking stuff has gone horribly bad.

Response by SSG Carlos Madden made Jun 21 at 2018 10:47 AM

SSG Carlos Madden — Thu, 21 Jun 2018 10:47:00 -0400

"How do people strap the ruck, straps, and waist/back pad to the frame so you get the most out of getting all the weight up high?"

Which ruck are you using?