To get the most out of your workout, you should get a fitness tracker, which can record your progress and provide important metrics like your heart rate and calories burned. It’s also useful for measuring distance traveled, which is important if you’re trying to keep your rucks consistent or gradually increasing how far you go in a given session.
Any quality fitness tracker, like a Fitbit Inspire 3, will enhance your rucking experience, but the Apple Watch is perhaps your best option. In addition to being a top-of-the-line fitness tracker, the Apple Watch comes with a ton of other uses, including calls and messages, navigation, and listening to podcasts or music. Plus, if it has its own wireless connection, it allows you to leave your phone at home. I use the Apple Watch Series 5 for my rucks, and even after four years, it works great — though the battery is not what it used to be. After our hands-on testing, SlashGear gave the current-generation Apple Watch Series 9 a stellar review, rating it nine out of 10.
One drawback to using an Apple Watch for rucking is that the activity is currently not included on the Workout app, which is frustrating. However, I use the Hiking activity during my rucks, which still gives a rough estimate of calories burned while providing an accurate heart rate and distance traveled. If you’re using the Series 9, another unfortunate downside is the current lack of a blood oxygen reader. If you don’t own an iPhone, you may also be better off with a Fitbit or Galaxy Watch. However, Apple users who want to ruck should invest in an Apple Watch, which is available from Amazon for $429.
