Plate Rucksacks vs. RUKSAK: Which One’s Better for Everyday Rucking?

RUKSAK vs Plate Rucksacks: What’s the Best Choice?

Rucking, despite its history in military training, is gaining momentum as a great form of exercise for the general population. But as this shift has occurred, has the gear needed for rucking adapted and developed alongside it? 

Original ruck brands like GoRuck have built their brand serving elite military and Crossfit Games athletes and offer plate-based systems designed to carry heavy loads, and new start ups like Australian brands RuckAway and Ruck Australia are following suit.

Are they the best option for rucking beginners, everyday walkers looking to comfortably add weight or those focused on controlled progression and comfort?

RUKSAK created something very unique when we introduced the RUKBRIK system, that allowed for 1kg variations versus a 5kg or 10lb plate as the smallest change.

How does this compare with the normal plate system, given that not all weighted backpacks serve the same audience?

Weight Adjustability: Micro vs. Macro Loading

Plate-Based Rucksacks like those used by GoRuck, RuckAway and Ruck Australia use a fixed plate system of various sizes. 

For GoRuck, being U.S based they offer plates at 10lb (4.5kg), 20lb (9kg), 30lb (13.6kg) and 45lb (20.4kg) weight variants, while the Aussie brands offer 5kg, 10kg and 15kg plates.

This system, while great for seasoned ruckers or strength athletes that can manage a weight variance of 4.5-5kg at a time, is not very suitable for those that may only be starting with a few kg in the pack and looking to slowly increase weight over time. 

Then there is also the cost factor, where each plate purchased costs between $75 and $300 per plate.

Using a brick system on the other hand allows beginners to start with a lighter pack (as light as just 1kg), and progressively add bricks, 1kg at a time up until the maximum of 15 bricks or a 15kg pack.

This supports safe, consistent progressive overload which is ideal for women, older adults, rehab & fitness progressions while also allowing a better fiscal situation as each brick costs less than $15.

Heart Rate Training & Zone 2 Control

Heart rate (HR) zone training has surged in popularity as more people seek efficient, measurable ways to improve their fitness and health. 

Rather than just working out harder, HR zone training encourages working out smarter, by targeting specific heart rate ranges (or “zones”) to unlock different physiological benefits and Zone 2, in particular, has become the star of the show. 

Zone 2 is the range where your heart is working moderately, typically around 60–70% of your maximum heart rate and it’s where your body becomes more efficient at burning fat for fuel, improving mitochondrial function, and building a stronger aerobic base. 

For longevity, weight management, and metabolic health, consistent Zone 2 training is one of the most effective things you can do and one of the best and most enjoyable ways to do it is via rucking on flat terrain.

Staying in a specific heart rate zone, especially Zone 2, however requires precision, the right amount of weight for each person needs to be carried and this is where being able to micro load your ruck is not only a benefit, but a necessity and another benefit that RUKSAK has over GoRuck, RuckAway or Ruck Australia.

With traditional weight plate rucksacks users don't have the ability to make the small changes in weight carried to stay exactly in their desired HR zone, which will vary as their fitness levels change. They either are under or over loaded, making it not at all effective for specific HR zone training.

By being able to make micro-adjustments to the weight they carry, RUKSAK allows them to fine-tune their effort and stay exactly where they need to be, its more of a training dial and less of a guessing game.

That means you can find your HR Zone “sweet spot” and stay there consistently, whether you’re walking flat paths for Zone 2 or maxing out in Zone 5 by adding weight and adding hills. Having more control on the weight you carry will make your HR training sessions more effective (and for Zone 2 its way more enjoyable than a treadmill or bike in a gym).

Comfort & Fit for Purpose

At the end of the day, the best choice of rucksack for you is the one that fits the purpose and is comfortable for what you are buying it for.

If you are taking on a Military style ruck event that requires you to do activities where you remove the plate and use the plate to complete tasks, then a plate carrier rucksack is your only option. 

But if that event requires just using the weight in the bag, RUKSAK has 4 handles positioned on each external surface that makes it perfect for a training tool in these events as the weight is more securely fixed, reducing the bashing effect plate carrier have, particularly in the neck region when trying to navigate tasks like burpees.

For those that want less military style training and just after a comfortable walk, its a matter of finding the option that is the most comfortable so you use it the most often.

Cost & Inclusions

At the time of writing this article, the cost of the rucksacks in Australia are as follows.

RUKSAK 

Standard Inclusions - $299

• 20L Rucksack
• Cordura Construction
• 3 bricks (3kg)
• Chest Strap
• Rain Jacket
• Waist Belt
• Hydration Pack

15kg Version - $399

GoRuck

Standard Inclusion - $464

• 20L Rucksack
• Cordura Construction
• Chest Strap

15kg Version - $689

RuckAway

Standard Inclusion - $229

• 16L Rucksack
• Nylon Construction
• Chest Strap
• Waist Belt

15kg Version - $364

Ruck Australia

Standard Inclusion - $329

• 22L Rucksack
• Cordura Construction
• Chest Strap
• Waist Belt

15kg Version - $529

Final Takeaways

The right rucksack for you will be the one that best meets your needs at the price you are willing to pay for it.

Plate-based systems like GoRuck, RuckAway and Ruck Australia are built with heavy training in mind, which is great for those wanting to ruck heavy, but may be overkill for health-focused users just wanting sustainable, low-impact movement.

RUKSAK offers a more flexible alternative, with the ability to walk at whatever weight works for your training or exercise block (and can still go reasonably heavy at 20kgs). 

Value for money also has to sit with RUKSAK, as the only offering with a 20L Cordura pack with the most inclusions.