RUCKING WEIGHTS

For most people starting out, 5kg is the right entry point. It's light enough to maintain good form and build the habit of rucking without overloading your body early. As a general guide, aim for around 5 to 10% of your bodyweight when starting out. For someone weighing 80kg, that's 4 to 8kg, which makes our 5kg plate a natural starting point for most people.

From there, 10kg is a solid intermediate load that most people progress to within a few weeks to a couple of months, depending on how often they ruck and their existing fitness base. The 15kg plate suits experienced ruckers or those with a larger body frame who are ready to work harder from the start.

A useful progression principle: build duration before adding weight. Getting comfortable carrying your starting load for 45 to 60 minutes is a better foundation than jumping up in weight and cutting sessions short. Our beginners guide walks through the full progression.

A good rule of thumb is no more than one-third of your bodyweight. Beyond that, the risk of injury increases and the training benefits start to decline. If you want to make your rucks more challenging without adding more weight, increase distance, pace, or terrain gradient instead. Two 15kg plates gives you the maximum recommended load from our system at 30kg, which suits very experienced ruckers or those doing structured load-bearing training.

Each pocket can fit a weight up to the size of our 15kg plate: 292mm (H) x 229mm (W) x 39mm (D). Our weights are designed to fit these pockets precisely, which keeps them flat against your back rather than shifting around as you walk.

The backpack has two weight pockets. You can configure them as follows:

• 1 x 15kg plate in one pocket
• 1 x 10kg + 1 x 5kg in one pocket
• 3 x 5kg in one pocket

With both pockets combined, the maximum load from plates alone is 30kg. The main compartment also accommodates everyday items alongside your weights, so it doubles as a practical daily carry bag.

The plates are designed for the Ruckaway backpack's weight pockets, which are sized and positioned to hold them flat against your spine. They can physically fit in other backpacks with plate sleeves or rigid compartments, but the load transfer and stability won't match what the Ruckaway system delivers. If using them in a different bag, position the weight as close to your back and as high in the pack as possible for the most comfortable carry.

The plates are cast iron with a matte black powder coat that protects against corrosion and chipping under normal use. Cast iron will rust if left wet for extended periods, so if they get caught in the rain, dry them off before storing. Under normal Australian conditions, including coastal humidity, the powder coat holds up well with basic care.

Yes. The integrated handle makes them practical for farmer's carries, loaded step-ups, and using as an anchor for resistance band work. They're not calibrated gym plates, but they're solid and versatile for functional training beyond rucking. The 5kg and 10kg sizes are the most practical for home training movements.