Born to Carry — How to Build Strength, Stamina, and Sanity Through Rucking

If you're looking for a way to improve your fitness, boost your mental health, and reconnect with a deeply human activity — all without going to the gym or pounding your knees on a daily run — then rucking may be the practice you've been looking for. Rucking is simple: throw some weight on your back and start walking. But a little context and a few key tips can make it a safer, more effective, and more satisfying experience. Here to unpack those principles and practicals is Michael Easter, author of Walk With Weight: The Definitive Guide to Rucking . Michael and I first explore the evolutionary and military history of carrying load. We then dive into why rucking is perhaps the most accessible form of training for strength and stamina, and such an effective tool for alleviating back pain, building bone health, and fostering fat loss. We get into using a backpack versus a weighted vest, how much weight you should carry, and how you can get started today with stuff you've probably already got lying around. Resources Related to the Podcast Michael's previous appearances on the AoM podcast: Episode : Overcome the Comfort Crisis Episode : Break Your Bad Habits by Escaping the Scarcity Loop The Comfort Crisis by Michael Easter AoM Article: Cardio for the Man Who Hates Cardio — The Benefits of Rucking AoM podcast interview with the founder of GoRuck AoM Podcast : Get Rucking AoM Article: Don’t Just Lift Heavy, Carry Heavy AoM Article: How to Take Care of Feet on a Hike or Ruck AoM Article: One Weird Trick for Busting Through a Weight-Loss Plateau AoM Article: The Benefits of Hanging for Strength and Mobility AoM Article: Lessons From the Roman Art of War GoRuck Connect with Michael Easter Michael's Substack: Two Percent Thanks to This Week’s Podcast Sponsor Incogni. Take your personal data back with Incogni! Use code MANLINESS at the link below and get 60% off an annual plan: See Privacy Policy at and California Privacy Notice at .

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Born to Carry — How to Build Strength, Stamina, and Sanity Through Rucking is an episode from The Art of Manliness by The Art of Manliness.

This episode is 00:51:31 long.

This episode was published on Feb 24, 2026.

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