Born to Carry — How to Build Strength, Stamina, and Sanity Through Rucking
2/24/202652 min
If you're looking for a way to improve your fitness, boost your mental health, and reconnect with a deeply human activity — all without going to the gym or pounding your knees on a daily run — then rucking may be the practice you've been looking for.
Rucking is simple: throw some weight on your back and start walking. But a little context and a few key tips can make it a safer, more effective, and more satisfying experience. Here to unpack those principles and practicals is Michael Easter, author of Walk With Weight: The Definitive Guide to Rucking. Michael and I first explore the evolutionary and military history of carrying load. We then dive into why rucking is perhaps the most accessible form of training for strength and stamina, and such an effective tool for alleviating back pain, building bone health, and fostering fat loss. We get into using a backpack versus a weighted vest, how much weight you should carry, and how you can get started today with stuff you've probably already got lying around.
Resources Related to the Podcast
- Michael's previous appearances on the AoM podcast:
- Episode #708: Overcome the Comfort Crisis
- Episode #930: Break Your Bad Habits by Escaping the Scarcity Loop
- The Comfort Crisis by Michael Easter
- AoM Article: Cardio for the Man Who Hates Cardio — The Benefits of Rucking
- AoM podcast interview with the founder of GoRuck
- AoM Podcast #682: Get Rucking
- AoM Article: Don’t Just Lift Heavy, Carry Heavy
- AoM Article: How to Take Care of Feet on a Hike or Ruck
- AoM Article: One Weird Trick for Busting Through a Weight-Loss Plateau
- AoM Article: The Benefits of Hanging for Strength and Mobility
- AoM Article: Lessons From the Roman Art of War
- GoRuck
Connect with Michael Easter
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Clips
Transcript preview
First 90 secondsBrett McKay· Host0:00
If you ever started something from scratch, a business, a podcast, a side project, you remember that moment right before you launch when the doubts start stacking up. "Is this a good idea? What if no one buys anything?" I remember that feeling well when I started The Art of Manliness. I didn't have some grand plan. I just decided to take the leap and figure things out as I went, and it turned out to be one of the best decisions I've made. When it comes to actually running a business, especially selling things, the platform that we've used, and I recommend, is Shopify. Shopify is the commerce platform behind millions of businesses around the world and about 10% of all e-commerce in the United States, from big household names to brands just getting started. I've used it myself to run the AOM Store, and it made it possible to build a professional online shop without hiring a developer. Shopify gives you hundreds of great-looking templates, built-in tools to help with product descriptions and photos, and an all-in-one system for payments, inventory, and analytics, so you're not juggling a dozen different platforms. As your business grows, Shopify grows with you. If you've been sitting on an idea, waiting for the right time, this is it. Sign up for your $1 per month trial today at shopify.com/manliness. That's shopify.com/manliness. Brett McKay here, and welcome to another edition of the AOM Podcast, which, since 2008, has featured conversations with the world's best authors, thinkers, and leaders that glean their edifying, life-improving insights without the fluff and filler. The AOM Podcast is just one part of the McKay mission to help individuals practice timeless virtues through thought, word, and deed. Also, be sure to explore our articles on artofmanliness.com, read the deeper dives we do in our Substack newsletter at dyingbreed.net,