Rucking, or walking while carrying a load, is growing in popularity. Why? Because it is an incredibly simple yet powerful way to level up your walks. So, how can you add load to your walks? You can throw a few books in your kid’s old school backpack, don a weight vest, or, our favorite, slip on a Jetti Pack.
What’s a Jetti Pack? It’s a fully adjustable weighted pack designed to be comfortable for both women and men. Are there really differences between a weight vest and the Jetti Pack, you might be asking? Yep, sure are. Here are the key differences.
Difference #1: Weight Positioning. Jetti Packs distribute the weight across your back and keep that weight close to your spine. Research by leading back expert, Dr. Stuart McGill has shown that carrying weight in this way helps unload the spine, easing tension on your back muscles and often relieving back pain. With a weight vest, the weight is distributed on both the back and front of the vest, reducing this potential benefit.
Difference #2: Comfort. The reason the Jetti Pack was created was because Jetti Co-founder and CEO, Joyce Shulman, couldn’t find a weight vest that fit her comfortably. The Jetti Pack was designed for not just function, but also form. Though it is great for both men and women, Jetti Pack designers carefully considered the shape and contours of a woman’s body. You’ll find straps that hit at just the right places, with breathable padding on the back cushioning the weight. And since the weight is only in the back, the Jetti Pack doesn’t add any extra pull on a woman’s chest.
Difference #3: Weight Design. The external structure and fit of the Jetti Pack wasn’t the only thing considered. The interchangeable weight panel inside is tapered to help fit the curves of your body and starts at a thoughtful 5.75 pounds. Want more? We’ve got you. Additional plates enable you to build up the resistance as you build up your strength. Most weight vests? Bulky! And some don’t even allow you to change the weights to meet you where you are and level up as you get stronger.
Difference #4: Posture Correction. Many of us spend much of our day in a hunched position. Whether that is from where we carry our weight, too much time at our desk, or lounging on the couch, our posture and alignment suffers. Put on a Jetti Pack and you will immediately notice your core engaged, your back aligned and your shoulders stacked over hips—right where they should be. Wear it regularly, and you’ll begin to train your spine to stand up taller even without the nudge of the pack. A weight vest? Well, that pesky weight in the front counters the benefits of the weight in the back.
Difference #5: Functional Movement. As you go about your day-to-day, you’ll find yourself reaching, squatting, bending and lunging, and moving your body naturally while using core muscles—the abdomen and spine. Wearing a Jetti Pack helps engage your core and takes pressure off your spine so that you can strengthen and maintain your flexibility to perform these movements as you age. Typical weight vests can get in the way of your movement and don’t do the magic for your back that Jetti Packs do!
When you add weight—or what we like to call “load”—to your walks, you’ll increase the caloric burn and build muscle and bone strength.
Plus, there’s nothing better than that feeling when you slip off your Jetti Pack after a walk when you notice how efficiently you worked your body by adding this one piece of equipment. We bet you’ll stand a little taller and feel a little lighter as you go about your day. You may even have a joyous skip in your step. We’re smiling now just thinking about it!