There are two ways to think about training outdoors. Some people want to do their normal lifting workouts with a little sunshine; others want to use odd surfaces, open space, and less polished tools for more outdoor-specific training. If you’re in the latter camp, a sandbag is one of the best ways to carry, lift, drag, and shoulder your way through a brutally effective conditioning session.
GoRuck is built around tactical, military-inspired training gear, from rucksacks and weight vests to sand-loaded tools like kettlebells, tombstones, and sandbags. If you’re going to pick one, the GoRuck Simple Training Sandbag is the most versatile and easy-to-use option. It’s available in five weights—20, 40, 60, 80, and 100 pounds—and can be filled with all-purpose sand from a hardware store. Just open the triple-lock Velcro system, load it up, and avoid super-fine sand, like playground sand, which GoRuck says not to use.
The bag has three sewn-on handles: two in the middle, set roughly shoulder-width apart for rows, presses, cleans, and carries, plus one at the top for one-handed carries and upright rows. That setup gives you more exercise options than a basic handled sandbag, but it’s still less precise than training with dumbbells, kettlebells, or a barbell. A 60-pound bag of shifting sand won’t feel like a 60-pound dumbbell, which is both the point and the drawback. GoRuck also specifies that this isn’t a “slam bag,” so even though it’s made with ultra-durable 1000D Cordura nylon, use it like an awkward barbell, shoulder it for carries, drag it when appropriate, and don’t be afraid to get it dirty—just don’t go out of your way to destroy it.
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