The first time I went for a walk wearing the GoRuck Weighed Vest, I thought I had made a huge mistake. (Insert your favorite “that was when he knew he had f***ed up” meme here.)
There was a time when I believed that curiosity was finally going to kill this cat.
(That’s literally killing by the way, not figuratively.)
Before we get to that, let’s back up to where this adventure began.
MyGolfSpy is the leading independent authority on golf equipment testing and performance data. Our reviews combine real testing, player evaluations, and lab analysis to help golfers make smarter buying decisions.
It started at Costco
One Thursday afternoon, I was minding my own business at the local Costco and I came across a weighted vest sitting next to the golf equipment. Faster than one could scarf down a $1.50 hotdog, I connected the disconnected and came up with a simple hypothesis.
If I train off the course wearing a weighted vest, it will improve my performance on the course when I carry my bag.
Seemed logical to my free sample-addled mind.
Naturally, I couldn’t just buy the weighted vest at Costco. I had to first go home to my computer and research every weighted vest ever created to make sure I was getting the “right” weighted vest.
(Need for data collection > need for impulse purchase.)
Ultimately, I ended up with the GoRuck Rucking Weight Vest.
What led me to the GoRuck vest?
If you Google “weighted vest”, you will find hundreds of options. It’s overwhelming to sift through all of the features and variations. Who knew that there were so many options for strapping weights to your chest and back?
I decided the GoRuck Weighted Vest was for me for a couple of reasons.
First, the weight range of the vest was comparable to a loaded-up carry golf bag. The Rucking Weight Vest can be ordered in 14-, 20- or 30-pound configurations. The ruck plates are easily swappable should you find that you need to go up or down in weight.
The shape of the weights also drew me in. Unlike other ruck systems where the weights are sandbags or flat steel plates, the GoRuck plates are curved and hollow.
The curve allows the rigid weight to better fit your curved body and the open center reduces direct pressure on your diaphragm. The second aspect really hooked me as I was apprehensive about breathing with 20 pounds strapped to my ribcage.
Curiosity and anxiety are frequent bedfellows.
The Rucker is available in two sizes with a broadly adjustable torso strap. Since my torso is “broad” these days, this checked a box for me.
The material is strong CORDURA@ nylon with the body and straps generously padded. There is a phone-sized pocket on the front side as well as Velcro attachment points where you (or your “funny” wife) can add Velcro patches.
Finally, the fact that GoRuck products are made in the U.S.A. and have lifetime guarantees sealed the deal for me.
And then the vest arrived and shit got real
We’ve all had those situations where we wonder if we’ve made the wrong decision. For me, that situation was about a mile and a half into my first walk wearing the GoRuck Rucking Weight Vest.
I couldn’t help but think I had overestimated my fitness.
For reference, I walk about three miles almost every day. I started that about 10 years ago and, most weeks, I walk at least four out of seven days. Some days, there is even some running in there but, at 57, protecting my knees is more important than burning those extra calories.
In addition to delaying dying, I train off the course to be fitter for golf.
Since last summer, most of my walking rounds are with my bag on my back. Taking all my activity into account, I thought taking my usual walk with the extra 20 pounds would be a snap.
Wrong.
There was a point during that first walk when I wondered if I would be able to get home wearing the vest. I even contemplated taking the vest off, hiding it somewhere and then driving back to pick it up.
Ultimately, I made it home but the burning in my calves and hamstrings let me know that this was not my normal walk.
Walking becomes strength training
For some reason, I thought wearing the vest would strengthen my core and shoulders. In retrospect, that is a silly thought. In my defense, I was very new to this whole practice.
What I found was that walking with the vest on increased my endurance and leg strength. Yes, that does mean that I went out with it again after the traumatic first time.
I’ve been out with it lots of times since then. Each time I wear the Rucker Weighted Vest on a walk, I feel a little more confident about my strength and endurance.
(Don’t tell anyone but I have run a little with the GoRuck vest on as well.)
Can I tell that it makes a difference on the course?
The whole purpose of this experiment was to see if training with the Rucker Weighted Vest made it easier to carry my bag on the course. My feeling is that it has.
My stamina for walking the course has definitely improved over the past few months but I’m hesitant to give the vest all of the credit since I’ve also increased my bag-on-back rounds during the same time period.
Though subjective, I feel like it is easier to carry this summer than last summer. As those of you in your 50s know, physical things do not get easier as the years pass.
The big difference between this summer and last summer is the use of the GoRuck vest.
How committed are you to walking the course?
I’ve reviewed a bunch of training aids for MyGolfSpy. Only a select few make the transition from test subject to everyday use. The GoRuck Rucker Weighted Vest falls into the second category.
I’m still using my GoRuck Rucker Weighted Vest. In fact, every time I walk my near-daily three miles, I wear the vest.
Ignoring golf, I know my usual walking loop delivers a better workout when I wear the GoRuck vest. Surprisingly, I now walk at the same pace with the vest that I used to walk without it. To me, this must mean that I am getting stronger.
I’ve even started to think that I need to upgrade to the 30-pound configuration.
(You’d think that I’d learn my lesson about these “good ideas.”)
Naturally, my golf game still has its issues. Unfortunately, the GoRuck vest can’t fix my tendency to swing way over the top in high-pressure situations. What training with the vest does do is make my rounds carrying less physically strenuous which reduces my on-course mental stress.
I don’t stress about shooting 78 versus 88. Naturally, I’d like to shoot the first score but what I really want is to play this silly game for another couple of decades.
Ideally, I’ll be walking as many of those future rounds as possible. If wearing the GoRuck Rucker Weighted Vest helps that to happen, it may prove to be the best “golf” training aid of my playing career.
Find out about the Rucker Weighted Vest and other options at GoRuck.com
Leave A Reply