Hey League!
Now that I have both an Original (OG) Ruck and a Feather ruck, I have been playing around with what circumstances I want to use each one in. I thought I’d share my journey so far.
When my Feather arrived, I surprisingly found myself a little hesitant to “give up” my OG ruck. I had it adjusted just perfect so I could grab it on my way out without having to think about it. It was broken in and had a few vitals in it like bandaids for the occasional blister, a couple of snacks, even an extra pair of socks.
The first thing I noticed when I tried on the Feather is that it is pickier about having a weight in it to get an ideal fit. I tried to adjust it without a weight and found the shoulder straps sat slightly off my shoulders. I took it off, put a weight in, and readjusted everything which worked out much better. It felt like it hugged my back a little better than the OG ruck. I thought it might feel too long but it felt perfect.
My first rucks with the Feather were great! It was somehow even more comfortable than the OG pack and with a little less coverage across my back it felt a bit more “free.”
Then came fall, when I hike often, and I went back to the OG ruck for its capacity to carry more stuff. I can put in a plate and still carry my little backpacking stove, fuel canister, and a good lunch plus the water reservoir. I am pretty confident that I could pack for a hammock overnight with my OG ruck if I needed to. I also love that it has handles on all 4 sides. If my back gets sweaty, I can take it off and suitcase carry it for a bit to cool off and get in some core work at the same time.
Our fall is winding down already, and soon I’ll switch back to the Feather. I think it will be my daily Ruck. I love the minimalist design, less-bulky profile, and no-fuss kangaroo pouch where I don’t have to remember which pocket I put my keys or snack in.
I also love the Feather as a strength tool! One of the hardest things for me to build back up after my hip replacement last June has been single-leg strength. Just a month or so ago, I couldn’t do Bulgarian Split Squats without having something for support on that side because of how much strength I lost. After just a couple of weeks though, I progressed from needing a support to even attempt the BSS, to having full range of motion with no support. I was ready to add weight but not quite ready to give up having my arms available to assist if I lost my balance. The Feather was perfect for this - it allowed me to add weight to the BSS while keeping my hands clear.
It’s also great for doing stair or hill intervals at home. We have a set of outdoor stairs and our house is on a hill, so when I need a movement break I grab the Feather and do a few rounds up and down our hill and our stairs.
I find the Feather adjustments a bit easier to manage on-the-fly which is great for this time of year where I might need long sleeves one day but not the next. I look forward to those easier adjustments when I need to wear a thicker hoodie in the winter.
If I had to choose between the OG and the Feather, I am not sure I could! They are both excellent for daily Rucking, but have their bonuses in other areas. I love the extra storage capacity of the OG, and the extra pockets make it easier to stay organized when I am carrying more items with me. It’d also be great for people like students or parents who could double it up as a school or even a diaper bag.
But I love the simplicity of the Feather, it’s easy adjustment points, and it’s slightly smaller profile especially for adding it to bodyweight work like lunges and pocket monkii workouts.
In short, I think I will use both of them plenty!
In wildness,
-Kim
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