How to Pack Your Ruck Sack Like a Pro | US Army Soldier Skills

Summary

In this instructional video, the speaker shares essential tips on properly packing a rucksack for military use, emphasizing the importance of organization and weight distribution. Starting with waterproofing the bag, the tutorial progresses through layering items from light to heavy, ensuring easy access to frequently used gear. The speaker also discusses the strategic placement of items for quick retrieval and comfort during marches, concluding with advice on adjusting rucksack straps for a personalized fit and optimal load-bearing.

Takeaways

• 📦 Line your ruck sack with a heavy-duty trash bag to make it waterproof.
• 🔺 Pack the heaviest items first, ensuring they are at the bottom of the ruck sack for better weight distribution.
• 🛌 Place items you won't need often, like a sleeping bag, at the bottom of the ruck for padding and easy access when needed.
• 👢 Pack spare boots along the sides of the ruck for easy access and to maximize space.
• 👕 Keep extra clothes, like uniforms and socks, in a wet weather bag turned inside out for easier access and packed in the middle for balance.
• 🌧 Include wet weather gear at the top of the ruck for an extra layer of waterproofing, unless easily accessible use is anticipated.
• 🛡 The patrol cap and poncho should be at the top of the ruck for quick access and additional comfort or protection.
• 🔫 When packing gear like a helmet or tactical gear, keep it in the center for weight distribution and upside down to prevent water absorption.
• ⚖️ Maintain equal weight distribution, especially with heavy items, to prevent discomfort and potential injury during rucking.
• 🗂 Use ziplock bags for small items that need waterproofing and for organization within the ruck.
• 📐 Adjust shoulder and waist straps according to individual comfort and needs, ensuring they support the weight of the ruck effectively.

Q & A

What is the main topic of the video script?

The main topic of the video script is how to properly pack a ruck sack, which is a fundamental skill for soldiers.

Why is it important to pack a ruck sack properly according to the script?

Properly packing a ruck sack is important because it can save a lot of pain, trouble, and make one a better Ruck marcher by ensuring the load is distributed efficiently.

What is the first tip given in the script for packing a ruck sack?

The first tip given is to line the ruck sack with an industrial garbage bag to make it waterproof.

What items are suggested to be packed at the bottom of the ruck sack and why?

Items that are not immediately needed and are light, such as a sleeping bag, should be packed at the bottom of the ruck sack to provide padding and allow for easy access to heavier items.

What is the purpose of not using the stuff sack for the sleeping bag as mentioned in the script?

Not using the stuff sack for the sleeping bag simplifies access to the different shells and makes it easier to pack and unpack in the field.

How should spare boots be packed in the ruck according to the script?

Spare boots should be packed along the sides of the ruck sack, filled in as tightly and deeply as possible to maximize space utilization.

What is the recommended packing order for items inside the ruck sack?

The recommended packing order is light items at the bottom, medium weight items in the middle, and heavy items at the top.

Why should the wet weather gear be packed towards the middle of the ruck sack?

The wet weather gear should be packed towards the middle to provide an extra layer of waterproofing for the clothes and items packed below it.

What is the best practice for packing the patrol cap and poncho on top of the ruck sack?

The patrol cap should be easily accessible at the very top, and the poncho should be laid across the entire top and stuffed down the sides for an extra layer of waterproofing.

What is the importance of keeping the ruck sack straps tucked away and not flapping during a patrol?

Keeping the ruck sack straps tucked away prevents them from getting caught on trees, vines, and thorns, reduces noise during patrol, and maintains a professional appearance.

Why is it recommended to use Ziploc bags for items that need to be waterproofed or organized?

Ziploc bags are lightweight, easy to use, and provide a simple way to waterproof items or keep small items organized without adding bulk or extra weight.

What is the correct placement for the shoulder straps and waist strap on a ruck sack?

The shoulder straps should be at the top of the ruck sack to help carry heavy loads, and the waist strap should be worn above the hips, around the actual waist, to aid in weight distribution.

Outlines

00:00

🎒 Essential Ruck Sack Packing Techniques

The speaker begins by introducing the topic of the video: proper ruck sack packing for soldiers. Emphasizing its importance as a fundamental skill, they share personal tips and tricks learned over time. The goal is to ensure viewers can pack efficiently, which will save them trouble and make them better ruck marchers. The video promises practical advice on organizing gear, starting with lining the ruck sack with a heavy-duty trash bag for waterproofing and placing the lightest, least frequently used items at the bottom.

05:01

🛌 Packing the Sleeping Bag and Additional Gear

Continuing the ruck packing tutorial, the speaker discusses the placement of the sleeping bag at the bottom of the ruck for its light weight and infrequent use. They detail the components of a sleeping bag system, advising against the use of the included stuff sack due to its impracticality. The video then moves on to the packing of a cold weather sleeping system, which is also placed at the bottom, followed by the lighter Gortex shell, and concludes with the light sleeping bag at the top of the sleeping system for padding and easy access.

10:02

🥾 Stowing Spare Boots and Clothing

The speaker proceeds to explain the organization of spare boots and clothing within the ruck. They suggest placing spare boots along the sides for easy access and maximizing space. For clothing, the speaker recommends packing them in a wet weather bag, turned inside out for easier access, and positioning this in the middle of the ruck due to its moderate weight. The summary highlights the importance of keeping the packing loose for maneuverability during the packing process.

15:03

🌧️ Waterproofing and Packing Wet Weather Gear

This section covers the strategies for packing wet weather gear, depending on the likelihood of needing it. If the environment is expected to be wet, the gear should be packed for easy access; otherwise, it can be placed towards the middle of the ruck for an extra layer of waterproofing. The speaker also discusses the importance of the 'wubby' (a field blanket), which should be easily accessible at the top of the ruck for comfort and warmth during security patrols or rest periods.

20:04

💦 Finalizing the Ruck Pack and Accessory Organization

The speaker wraps up the ruck packing process by discussing the placement of the poncho at the very top for additional waterproofing and quick access. They then move on to the organization of gear such as the Flick light, TAPS, gloves, and canteens, emphasizing the importance of keeping them easily accessible and maintaining equal weight distribution. The summary also touches on the proper way to pack a helmet within the ruck to prevent the padding from getting wet.

25:05

🔄 Maximizing Space and Maintaining Organization

The final paragraph focuses on maximizing the use of space within the ruck and maintaining organization. The speaker advises against over-tightening straps and using ziplock bags for waterproofing and organization of small items. They also highlight the importance of keeping the ruck clean and professional by tucking away loose straps to prevent noise and entanglement during patrols. The video concludes with a reminder to tighten all straps before heading out and a call to action for viewers to like, subscribe, and share their own tips in the comments.

Keywords

💡Ruck Sack

A ruck sack, also known as a backpack, is a type of carrying bag with shoulder straps commonly used by soldiers and hikers. In the video, the ruck sack is the central focus as the speaker discusses how to properly pack it for military use, emphasizing its importance in soldiering skills and its role in ensuring a soldier's gear is organized and easily accessible.

💡Waterproofing

Waterproofing in the context of the video refers to the process of making the ruck sack and its contents resistant to water, which is crucial for protecting gear in wet conditions. The speaker mentions using an industrial trash bag to line the ruck sack, ensuring that even if submerged in water, the contents remain dry.

💡Padding

Padding refers to the soft material used in the construction of the ruck sack to provide comfort and protection to the wearer. The script mentions using a sleeping bag at the bottom of the ruck for padding, which not only adds comfort but also helps in filling out the shape of the ruck sack for better weight distribution.

💡Weight Distribution

Weight distribution is a key concept in the video, which involves arranging the contents of the ruck sack to evenly spread the load across the wearer's body. The speaker advises placing lighter items at the bottom and heavier items towards the top, ensuring that the ruck sack sits correctly and does not cause strain on any one part of the body.

💡Infantry

Infantry refers to the branch of the military that fights on foot. The video's advice is tailored towards infantry soldiers, who often carry heavy loads during operations. The speaker, having experience in the infantry, shares tips based on the specific needs and challenges faced by infantrymen.

💡Ranger School

Ranger School is a leadership course run by the U.S. Army that focuses on small-unit tactics and survival skills. The script mentions Ranger School as a context for the type of conditions and requirements a soldier might face when packing a ruck sack, indicating the ruggedness and practicality needed in the packing strategy.

💡Poncho

A poncho is a large piece of waterproof material, shaped like a cloak, that can be used for protection against the elements. In the video, the speaker discusses the importance of the poncho as an easily accessible item at the top of the ruck sack, which can be used for shelter or additional waterproofing.

💡Wubby

A 'wubby' is a term used in the military to refer to a type of blanket or wrap used for warmth and comfort. The video emphasizes the wubby's role as an essential item to be easily accessible at the top of the ruck sack, for use during rest periods or while on security duty.

💡Load-out

Load-out in a military context refers to the specific arrangement and selection of gear and equipment a soldier carries. The script describes a typical load-out for a basic field problem, including items like mag pouches, canteens, and gloves, which need to be packed in a way that ensures they are readily accessible.

💡Equal Weight Distribution

Equal weight distribution is a principle emphasized in the video for packing the ruck sack, which involves ensuring that the weight of the gear is balanced on both sides of the bag to prevent strain and discomfort. The speaker advises against having uneven weight, which could lead to a skewed ruck and potential injury.

💡Ziplock Bags

Ziplock bags are mentioned in the video as a simple and effective tool for waterproofing and organizing small items within the ruck sack. They are recommended for protecting items that should not get wet, such as electronics or maps, and for keeping small gear organized and easily accessible.

Highlights

The importance of properly packing a rucksack for soldiering skills.

Using an industrial garbage bag to line the rucksack for waterproofing.

Packing light items at the bottom of the rucksack for better weight distribution.

The role of a sleeping bag as padding and its placement in the rucksack.

The unnecessary use of a stuff sack for sleeping bags in the field.

How to pack spare boots within the rucksack for easy access and space efficiency.

The strategy for packing clothes and the use of a wet weather bag.

The placement of wet weather gear based on the likelihood of use.

The function of a wubby as an essential item for field comfort.

The benefits of a Poncho for multiple uses in the field.

The method for packing a helmet within the rucksack for easy access and protection.

Tips on maintaining equal weight distribution when packing a rucksack.

The use of a CamelBak for hydration and its placement in the rucksack.

The importance of securing the rucksack properly before heading out to the field.

Adjusting rucksack straps for comfort and weight distribution.

Encouraging the sharing of personal tips and tricks for rucksack packing.

Transcripts

all right what's going on YouTube so

woke up this morning I had a uh a Ruck

on the schedule for PT for my own PT and

uh since I was going to do that already

I decided to go ahead and make a video

for you guys about how to properly pack

a ruck sack this is one of the most

basic soldiering skills um that you

could have and it really does pay to be

good at it all right it's going to save

you a lot of a lot of pain a lot of

trouble and it's just going to make you

a better Ruck marcher um in the end if

you can just make sure that you pack

your ruck sack uh in the best way

possible so I gathered some basic items

um that you would see on

most uh Army packing lists whether

you're going to the field or you're

going to some special school or

something these are some of the items

that you would normally see on a packing

list and these are some of the most

basic items that I could find basic load

out uh items from CIF that I could find

that every Soldier is going to have um

in their in their Soldier Arsenal right

so I'm going to go ahead and show you

some tips and tricks that I've learned

over the years um some good ttps to pick

up on how to pack a Ruck and some things

that I've learned along the way that are

going to save you some pain in the long

run all right so let's get to

it all right so hopefully you guys can

see that from where I got you first

things first I've got my empty ruck sack

here right nothing's in this it's

completely empty first thing you want to

do a good habit to start getting into is

start lining your ruck sack with an

industrial um garbage bag like this this

is actually a little bit of a thinner

one but it's all I had at the at the

moment but you want to go out and get

those big thick industrial trash bags I

think they're like 10 or 15 gallons and

they'll fit your entire ruck sack so

just go ahead stuff that into your ruck

sack and line the whole thing and that's

now going to waterproof your entire ruck

sack I mean you could once you do this

and pack everything in here and tie it

off at the end you could throw it in a

lake and everything inside your ruck

sack is going to be completely dry so

that's tip number one that's going to

save your life right there right off the

bat all right so you you've lined your

ruck sack

now the one thing you really want to

remember is no matter what you're doing

whether you're just doing a regular uh

ruck march or you're going to like

Ranger school or you're going out to the

field or or whatever the things that you

aren't going to need right away and that

are the lightest should always go to the

bot of the ruck sack okay now being uh

in the Infantry for as long as I um have

been um going to Ranger going to

selections all these sorts of things I

have learned over the years that my

sleeping bag is one of the things that I

won't

need um most often okay that might sound

weird but that's just the way it is you

don't usually use a sleeping bag too

often and if you do it's going to be the

last thing you do during the day and

you'll have like a minute or two to

actually get to it plus it's one of the

lightest things and it's going to give

you padding at the bottom of your Ru um

to allow for it to fill out at the

bottom and have that nice sit when you

put it on the ground okay so you got

your sleeping

bag and as you can see here I have all

the elements of a sleeping bag it's it's

like the old archaic one cuz this just

I've just been in that long and this is

still the only one that I have but uh I

have the old I have the gortex shell

I have the

light um bag and then I have the heavy

winter bag and

then I also have the stuff sack now in

my opinion this stuff sack is completely

useless okay it it it does work it

stuffs your um sleeping bag into a nice

little oddly shaped ball that's fine and

it gives you a little extra work to to

get it there but in reality it doesn't

really serve a lot of purpose the only

thing is a lot of times this will be on

a packing list with required items so

you have to bring it but nobody actually

ever says you have to stuff it right so

this is my advice don't worry about

stuffing the stuff sack I think it's

easier you can get to all the different

shells and everything at the end of the

night when it's dark and you're in your

patrol base or whatever if everything is

just already unpacked okay so just I'm

going to pack this as if it were on a

packing list and it was required to be

on the packing list but it's going to go

on the very bottom of my rck

not never going to use

this so that's down

there all right for right now it's like

almost 100° outside already sweating

balls I already know I'm not going to

need my uh cold weather sleeping system

most likely so that's going to go next

all the way at the bottom probably never

going to see that bad boy the whole time

I'm out in the field or rucking or

whatever that's going all the way to the

bottom and I'm going to leave it

completely Lo like this and it's going

to let me fill out my rock as I'm

packing it see that instead of being in

that cinched up ball that's like hard to

maneuver throughout your rock you guys

know what I'm talking about now I can

stuff it and fit it in all the tight

corners and everything and it's just

loose ready to go if I want to pull it

out next is going to be my gortex shell

cuz I probably won't use that either

most likely unless it starts raining

right so the

chances en shalot is that it doesn't

rain on me um when I want to go to sleep

so that I go next all the way at the

bottom step it down

tight all right and then lastly it's

going to be the only sleeping bag if you

use a sleeping bag that you might use

and that's going to be your your light

sleeping bag

okay again stuff that bad boy fill in

all the air pockets and now you've

got see how it's nice sitting nice on

its bottom a lot of people like try to

figure that out how do you get your ruck

sack to sit so good that that's how all

right so now my sleeping bag's in there

it's all stuff in there as good as

possible for

now and you want to leave when you're

filling out like a a thick ruck sack

anything that's like actually got a

decent amount of gear and and 35 LBS or

more just undo this bottom strap all the

way okay it's okay cuz this is all this

lightweight anyway you're not going to

save yourself any Heartache by

tightening this down and and cutting off

this bottom section leave it leave it

open okay you need the room it's fine um

at the end of it we can cinch it down

and make the Ruck tighter but leave it

open while you're packing it and that

goes for all your tightening straps keep

them when you're initially packing your

ruck keep them all loose okay you don't

do the tightening until you're done

packing your Ru

completely okay next thing that I'm

going to want to pack let's see my spare

pair of boots okay these are pretty

light I want to say these are only a few

ounces these are the garma NFS these are

my favorite boots um but these are spare

boots right so the only time I'm going

to be pulling these bad boys out if is

if something like completely detrimental

happens to the boots that I'm wearing

while I'm out in the field which

typically doesn't happen okay maybe if

they get really wet I got to pull these

out just to have some dry boots but if

that happens I'm going to have a minute

or two to actually get to them and be

able to switch them out so these aren't

crucial okay these are these are just

extra items that I'm bringing just in

case so these are are also going to go

more towards the Bottom now the way you

want to pack these guys you want to

actually pack them inside your rock

along the sides cuz they give you the

most

space like this inside your ruck okay

that's that's how I'm going to go ahead

and pack these bad boys so I'm going to

stuff them in toe first along the

sides and maneuver them

around my sleeping system that's in

there get them as tight as possible and

as deep as possible

and that's kind of what I'm talking

about there how your boots should be

packed okay so they're easily accessible

but they're out of the way at the same

time okay next thing I'm going to want

to pack is going to be your spare um

ocps your spare underwear your spare

your spare clothes essentially

everything that you're going to need um

to change out your uniform now more than

likely that's going to be every few days

if you're like infantryman or combat MOS

or going to Ranger or something you're

not going to be changing clothes every

day you know you're going to be wearing

what you're wearing and there's nothing

wrong with that but that's just the

reality of it

so those can be kind of towards the

middle of the rck okay your clothes bag

is going to be a little heavier than

like your sleep system so it makes sense

for it to be in the middle of the rock

okay so remember it's going to go light

medium heavy stuff okay light stuff at

the bottom medium stuff in the middle

heavy at the most top all right so I

didn't like get out a whole bunch of my

clothes or anything for this because

it's all you know I'm I'm at home I'm

not actually in the field and I just

didn't feel like doing that all right so

let's just pretend I have all my uh

let's say I have like two extra

ocps and like five extra socks and five

extra um tan t-shirts and yes I always

bring in underwear I don't do the free

ball thing cuz I chafe and stuff I don't

know how people do that so I have five

extra pairs of underwear okay and it's

all in here and I don't even I don't

wrap it up with rubber bands and stuff

like people do I just stuff everything

in there okay and I always put it in my

wet weather bag because this is usually

on a packing list it's a required item

so I'm like okay well I got a wet

weather bag so I'll use it now one good

trick to do with the wet weather bag

first of all make sure there's no holes

in it like this there your wet weather

bag should have no holes and don't pack

it like this you want to turn it inside

out and pack it that way

because when you put all your clothes in

here this nylon mesh material whatever

it is is much easier to get in and out

of than this rubber material you know

how sometimes your clothes like stick to

that and it just makes it more a pain in

the ass so turn it inside out you know

one easier thing for you to do once you

fill up your clothes to

about the amount of clothes that I've

told you it's usually about maybe that

size right it's like a full wet weather

bag you want to lay that right on on

top and like I said I like to keep

everything a little bit

loose

because if you do do that and you don't

tighten it all up and everything keep it

Loose you're able to maneuver in a way

where you can fill in all those extra

little holes and air pockets

that happen while you're packing okay so

I like to keep everything loose because

of that I think it works out

better all right so now that's packed

away now uh next thing is going to be

your wet weather gear wet weather gear

um there's two different philosophies

here okay if you're going to a field

problem where nobody's going to care

about you pulling out your wet weather

gear if you're in the Infantry or you're

going to some sort of school where the

instructors are just not going to even

let you use your wet weather gear but

it's on the packing list you got to

bring it then this is how you'll pack it

you'll pack it right now okay if you're

able to if you think you're going to be

in an environment where you are going to

have the chance to pull out your wet

weather gear then what I would recommend

is keep your bottoms keep the bottoms

pack the way I'm packing it now towards

the middle and right on top of

everything else is to give you that

extra layer of water proofing protection

and put the top in one of your side side

PES so that it's easily accessible okay

but being an infantry man I know I've

never going to use this [ __ ] so it's

going to go right here on the top and

again that's not for ease of access

that's really just to give me an extra

layer of waterproofing for all my

clothes and everything else that I've

already packed okay so that goes right

there towards the middle of the

rock next is going to be your

wubby again I have the old ACU pattern

because I'm old like that but this is

like your best friend in the field

everybody knows anybody who's ever been

to the field knows this is your best

friend right so this should be at the

very top because when you do go to sleep

or if you do um pull security and patrol

base or whatever and you are you have a

chance to have that extra layer of uh

Comfort it's going to be your wobby that

you use less likely to be your sleeping

bag or anything else really all you need

to do is pull out your wobby put it over

you tuck it around and you can lay there

all night pulling security and be nice

warm and snug okay so this should be at

the top of your rock this should be

something very easy to get to something

you can just you know open up your t top

flap real quick and just yank it out and

be ready to go all right so that's going

to be right on top again you don't have

to fold it up all nicely when you're

packing your ruck when you're packing

stuff away in the middle of the night in

the dark you're not going to be packing

things all nicely so you might as well

just get used to packing this thing how

you're actually going to pack it and

just stuff it man just stuff it in you'd

be amazed how much you

can you'd be amazed how much you can

stuff into

something okay so that's nice and

stuffed last thing is going to be your

Poncho I know this thing's kind of like

disappearing from the Army I don't know

why cuz I think the Poncho is like

awesome you can make a 10 out of this

this thing saved my life like a million

times I I don't really understand why

the Army isn't really issuing it anymore

but maybe it will bring it back I don't

know but that should go at the top of

your ruck so that it's adding that extra

layer of waterproofing protection and

also this is just one of those things

that you can grab out right away um you

can make yourself a hooch you know you

can cover stuff up with it if it starts

raining you can put it over your ruck

real quick this should be at the very

top of your ruck easy accessible

and I can't really say much more than

that so put that right on top lay it

across the entire

top and stuff it down the sides just

again for that extra

layer of

waterproofing and at this point you're

looking something like that with your

Poncho right on top it's covering

everything up that way when you're

rucking or if you just lay your ruck out

and you didn't have time to get your

Poncho out to waterproof it this this

bad boy is completely waterproof if it's

raining the rain is just going to fall

off the sides thing's good to go all

right so we've done all that we're going

to go ahead and cinch up our black bag

and you don't have to actually tie it

off right cuz you don't want end up you

might need to get into this thing while

you're out in the field don't tie it off

or anything a lot of guys like what I

would do in uh Ranger school I don't

have one with me right now but what I

did in Ranger school was I kept a rubber

band around it so like i' would have all

these four sides I would just foil it up

like that and then I'd put rubber band

on it it'd be good to go it's nice and

cinched all right so that's that's a

really good TTP to do I would just start

getting in the habit of doing that and

just keep a black an

industrial um black trash bag in your

ruck at all times cuz that's the you'll

be the one that's not worried about

anything when it starts raining out in

the field you be like whatever man my's

good all right and it's just too

easy much of

space all right of course my neighbor

just started cutting his ass so we're

just going to work through that all

right so but yeah like I

said all that stuff I packed so far and

I still have this much room in my rck

tons of room

left I even have that uh wet weather bag

I put air in it to simulate the size

that it would be still plenty of room

left in the ru all right next thing

we're going to do is our flick or our

Taps all right so the Taps is kind of

like the newer

thing I like to keep all my stuff that I

like even with my PPE all that stuff

that I'm going to have to have uh with

my

gear together so I've got my gloves got

my Taps got my uh cantens this is like a

basic load out for like a basic Fu

problem or like you know if you were to

go to just some you know basic school or

something like that this is typically

how they're going to have you load it

out with your mag pouches you know few M

pouches you got your cantens on the side

you know I'm not saying that you that is

how you load it out but this is how you

typically see it so this is how we're

going to pack it right so that will go

next that's going to be on the top

because this is going to be one of the

first things you're going to need to get

out of here once you once you get to

where you're going if you're not wearing

it already but we're going to pack it as

if you need to pack it away just to show

you that you can still have the space so

I put the cantens on the sides stuff

everything else in the middle so now the

canten are laying right here and

everything

else is right in the

middle like that okay so just like that

right on top everything stuffed to the

sides

and my mag pouches with everything in

them it's still right there in the

center and I'm going to show you why

that's important it's going to be

important because you're going to be

packing your helmet too all right so you

got your helmet and the way you want to

pack

it is this empty side down doesn't

matter if you're ready for Airborne Ops

or not empty side down and you're going

to fill it with the mag pouches like

that or whatever else you have on top

but in this situation I have the mag

pouches and you want to put it right in

the center all right you want to keep in

the center cuz you want to keep equal

weight

distribution and you want to put it so

that it's upside that way if it does

rain and stuff your helmet pads and

everything don't get soak and wet and

all nasty when you time to put your

helmet on

okay so you put it on like that now you

still have extra room see right here and

right here for other other stuff now if

there's other things like maybe your um

your toiletries

bag uh maybe you have like extra little

gear items maybe you want to put like

your extra I proo right there on top or

your tape that you're going to bring out

to the field you put it on this side

just whatever you do end up putting

there I would advise filling that space

with something and make sure that you

keep it equal weight distribution so

whatever you put there whether it's like

extra ammunition magazines stuff it

that's fine but keep everything on top

equalize in weight otherwise if you have

like even like an extra half a pound

more on one side when you start racking

up those miles you're going to start

feeling it on one side and one of your

shoulders is going to get all screwed up

and it's just you're going to end up

having a bad day so always make sure you

have equal weight distribution

especially as you start moving towards

the top with all your heavy stuff so

I've packed that all

up I want to cinch up the Cinch tuck

away the uh

the string

there you can put your knee on your

helmet to cin your ruck up nice and

tight always do it nice and tight

because you don't want everything moving

around on you when you're trying to Ruck

right everything should be nice and

secure and now your ruck is essentially

packed up everything else that you might

need to bring with you can be stored

underneath this uh top flap all right so

for example

your water source okay usually you'll

have your candle back with you

especially if you're doing a long ruck

march just for ease of ease of access to

water your candle back will always go

right on top of everything underneath

the top flap Okay the reason for that is

because it just puts it right on top of

your ruck sack so it's equal weight

distribution and all the weight is right

there on top of your shoulders where it

should be and also if you need to take

it out and refill it real quick it's

just right there you don't have to get

all up in your ruck and everything like

that okay and it's just the cleanest and

it just makes it just makes the most

sense okay so do it that way don't try

to pack this away in your ruck and

everything like that just put it right

there on top underneath your top

flap and also a lot of guys will try to

put it like on top of their Rock like

underneath these straps I would advise

not doing that because it tends to have

it tends to give more of a chance to um

burst the bladder if you're putting a

lot of that pressure on a strap okay at

least when you do it like this under

under the um top flap it creates that

pressure when you tighten it down across

the entirety of the flap and not just

one strap so like bursting the bladder

is much less of an issue if you do it

this way actually I've never had a burst

bladder um doing it like this so it

should be just fine for you but again

nice and easy on top if you need to put

anything else if you were given like an

at4 to carry or you had a spare barrel

for you infantry guys or if you're going

to Ranger school or if you have the

Claymore or anything else is heavy and

that you're going to need without

actually getting into your ruck that all

goes on top if you have extra

762 um you can fold that all up put it

right here on top and just secure it

down just like that okay that again that

makes sure that all the extra heavy

weight is right there on top and it's

easily accessible cuz that's all the

stuff you're going to need um is before

anything else okay spare ammo Claymores

at4 water all that is what you really

need out there in the field during um

patrolling and all this stuff is just

extra okay so everything else underneath

the top

flat can't stress it

enough all right so what I like to do is

have

everything mostly loose but you want to

cinch everything down equally and I

always like to cinch the top first like

that obviously this is going to end up

being different um depending on how much

you have in your rck or how you know all

that but I cinch down the top first then

I cinch the

bottom and you got to do it nice and

tight I the bottom and then that gives

me a little more room to do the tight

again the top again that pulls up the

bottom of the rck now it's all super

nice and

tight nice and clean

looking shit's ready to go

man oh yeah that's a good that's a good

40 lbs easy now you still have these

side pouches

right we can still put stuff in there so

this is all like the extra stuff all

your goodies licky chewes uh things you

just want easily accessible to you you

know if you have your insect repellent

throw that in there um your bungee cords

that you might need for whatever reason

that's going to go in there 550 cord I I

like it I have it still in the pack just

cuz it keeps it all nice and tight for

me plus it's now waterproof but usually

I wouldn't have it in a pack but I just

haven't used this one yet but anyway 550

cord nice in there

um always have a spare um headlamp with

batteries in your waterproofing bag that

can go right in there maybe an extra

pair of

gloves your PT belt man hey who knows

you might need a PT

belt all right and then anything else

look at all this extra room again equal

weight distribution if you have like

MREs that we're issued to you you can

stuff those in here nice and tight but

whatever goes in here try to keep it as

nice and tight as possible now I'll

couple other things where you're talking

about waterproofing or

organization um a lot of people will try

to get these little waterproof um Stow

waste containers these are good I think

more for like I don't know maybe like

things you really don't want to get wet

like maybe a map that hasn't been

laminated or like Electronics something

like that these will be good but they're

kind of bulky and it's just extra weight

so I would try not to use these as much

as possible possible what I do think is

a good idea are quartz size Ziploc bags

um these you should just have tons of

okay like before you leave for any fueld

problem just grab a handful of these bad

boys and just stuff them in your ruck

anything that you think might need to

get waterproof should go in a ziplock

bag you can even put your phone in here

just make sure it's zipped real good you

can double zip lock it put your phone in

here have it in there and it's it's good

to go um they're also really good for

organization so if you have batteries or

you you know other other things that you

like 550 cord uh straps all those types

of things you can put them individually

into the bags and have them organized

like that and then there's just extra

baggies for you later down the road if

you if you do end up needing one so

Ziploc bags man you just can't have

enough Ziplock bags so always bring uh

tons of ziplo bags with you for any fi

problem no matter where you

go okay so this is all packed

up last thing you want to do before you

head out to the field is now you know

this is everything you're going to be

bringing to the field so now you can

tighten up your rck according to what

you're going to bring so everything was

loose now you want to tighten it all up

tighten everything down Tuck away the

straps I try not to tape them too much

if not if possible because if your ruck

does change or if you pack it

differently you don't have want to have

to like be tearing up that tape to get

your straps to be longer so I'll use

like the um the bands that come with the

ru but always make sure your straps are

tied down in some way you don't

necessarily have to like roll them all

up if as long as your leadership's cool

with that but as long as they're tucked

away and not flapping around all over

the place then that's good the reason

why you don't want to you know have

octopus legs all over the place is

because if you're patrolling through the

woods those things are just going to get

caught up all over the trees and the

vines and the thorns and everything and

it's just going to make your life even

harder and it's going to make you more

noisy as you're doing your patrolling

and it just looks severely

unprofessional so just don't do that

okay so have all your stra uh tucked

away and one of the last things you want

to do is tighten down this bottom

part dark away the strap look at that

nice and clean I had all that stuff in

there that I showed you got my water

source easily accessible and this bad

boy is ready to go all right I still I

mean that's not even that's not even

packed that much you can still fit tons

of [ __ ] in that ruck sack to me that's

still a pretty small ruck sack a couple

other quick things that I wanted to

share with you guys is I'm not going to

get into a full Ruck setup video here

but I'll just give you some quick tips

um as far as your waist strap goes um

and your shoulder straps go everybody is

going to be unique there is no one siiz

fits-all um as far as that goes you know

I kind of have a longer torso as a as a

person so I'm set up a certain way as

opposed to somebody who's Maybe 5ot five

they're going to have their Ruck set up

a different way um but what I do want to

say is that your shoulder strap should

be all the way to the top of your rck

that is especially if you're an

infantryman or if you're going to Ranger

school that's because a lot of your

weight you don't see it here on this

Ruck but you're going to be given items

where that that are really heavy that's

going to end up making your ruck about

this High okay so if you can visualize

that all the weight's going to be up

here and you want your shoulders to be

carrying that weight about right here so

if you put the shoulder straps all the

way at the top your shoulders will look

like that and all it will be able to

carry all that weight appropriately you

don't want your shoulders to be all the

way down here plus your rucks just not

going to sit right and it's it's just

it's just going to be weird when every

time you put it down it's going to want

to fall and all that stuff so so keep

the shoulders nice and high waist strap

that really can be some guys like to do

it upside down I like to do it the the

way it's supposed to be but that really

just depends on on what your comfort is

but this should be strapped always rock

with your with your waist straps on by

the way but um because it just helps

with h weight distribution don't be that

guy that doesn't use your waist strap I

don't know why people do that um but

anyway this should be strapped around

your actual waist like above the hips

okay not like where we where our pants

are waist but like your actual waist

right here that's where your waist strap

should be right across your belly button

okay that'll help with equal weight

distribution and you will be less tired

less quickly as you're doing your ruck

march okay so that's that's where that

should be and then this side either keep

it upside down or regular side whatever

is more comfortable for you on your back

you shouldn't have any knots in your

back by the time you're done Ruck

marching I I don't really care how far

you've gone if you set this thing up

correctly and you're actually using the

straps the way they're meant to be used

you'll be able to go for miles and miles

without having too many real issues

besides your legs being tired okay

all right guys well I'm going on my Ruck

now if you guys like this kind of stuff

you're looking for more tips and tricks

um if you're trying to enhance your army

career or looking for advice on Military

Fitness make sure you like And subscribe

um so you don't miss any of my future

videos and if you guys have any tips or

tricks of your own make sure you drop in

the comments just so we can continue out

uh helping out each

other and helping out the uh Army team

as a whole and uh besides that I don't

have anything else I'll see you on the

next one