rucking

1 of 2

noun

ruck·​ing ˈrə-kiŋ 

: the practice or activity of walking or running while wearing supplementary weight (such as a weighted backpack or vest or wrist weights) for exercise : the act of one who rucks

Rucking burns significantly more calories than normal walking—or even running in some cases—without the high-impact joint stress.

—Dan Fahey, quoted in Men's Journal

… rucking is the deceptively simple act of walking with a weighted rucksack. It delivers cardiovascular benefits and builds strength in your legs, glutes and back, and can be a worthy substitute to running or sprints.

—Ed Cooper

—often used before another noun

a rucking vest

Fancy rucking backpacks start at around $100, but you can achieve the same thing by just putting a few books or water bottles in whatever backpack you already have.

—Erik Vance

rucking

2 of 2

present participle of ruck entry 2, ruck entry 3

Examples of rucking in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Fieri tackles the hills around his estate a few times a week with rucking sessions, which is walking while carrying a weighted vest or backpack. — Samantha Agate, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 19 Aug. 2026

The trend sits at the intersection of rucking culture, midlife menopause wellness, osteoporosis concerns and the broader shift toward ambient wellness routines. — Samantha Agate, Miami Herald, 18 Aug. 2026

That simplicity may be one reason rucking is gaining attention. — Jeff Fromm, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026

The rucking vest has moved from military training grounds into mainstream fitness gear, and 2026 has delivered a wave of new options built for people who want to add strength and stamina to a simple walk. — Samantha Agate, Sacbee.com, 2 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

probably from ruck- (in rucksack) + -ing entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

2014, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for rucking

• bucking
• chucking
• clucking
• ducking
• mucking
• plucking
• shucking
• sucking
• trucking
• tucking