Rucking Clubs: How to Find One or Start Your Own

Rucking Is Built for Community

Most forms of cardio make conversation difficult. You can’t chat during sprints. Swimming is solitary. Cycling at speed requires focus. But rucking? You’re walking. With weight on your back, yes — but still walking.

That means you can talk, laugh, catch up, and solve the world’s problems while burning serious calories and building functional strength. It’s a social event that happens to be excellent exercise.

Why Ruck With Others

Beyond the social side, group rucking has practical advantages:

Safety — especially for early morning or evening rucks, there’s comfort in numbers
Motivation to show up — it’s easy to skip a solo walk, harder when 5 people are meeting at the car park
Shared gear knowledge — experienced ruckers help newcomers avoid mistakes (and lend them weight)
Route variety — other people know trails, parks, and paths you’ve never tried
Pacing discipline — a group naturally settles into a sustainable pace

Where to Find Existing Groups

GORUCK events. The brand that popularised rucking runs events across the US and UK. Their community is welcoming and well-organised. Check goruck.com for events near you.

Facebook groups. Search “rucking [your city]” — there are active groups in most major UK cities and towns now.

Strava clubs. Many rucking groups post routes and meetups through Strava.

PT Tracker club directory. Browse rucking clubs near your location, see upcoming meetups, and join with one tap. Check the clubs feature to find groups in your area.

How to Start Your Own

Can’t find one? Start one. It’s genuinely easy:

1. Pick a route. A 5-8km loop works well. Flat pavement for the first few weeks — you can add hills later.

2. Set a weekly time. Saturday morning is the most popular. 9am gives people time to wake up without losing the whole morning.

3. Post it. Create a club on PT Tracker, share it on local Facebook groups, tell people at your gym.

4. Bring spare weight. Newcomers often show up with an empty backpack thinking they’ll “see how it goes.” Having a couple of spare water bottles or sandbags makes them feel included immediately.

5. Walk and talk. That’s it. No structured workout, no drills, no instructor. Just walk with weight and enjoy the company.

What Beginners Need to Join

If you’re thinking about joining a rucking club for the first time, here’s all you need:

A sturdy backpack — any daypack will do. It doesn’t need to be tactical or expensive.
Some weight — water bottles, books, a bag of rice. Start with 5-8kg.
Comfortable shoes — trail shoes or sturdy trainers. Not flip-flops.
Water — especially in warmer months

That’s it. No special kit, no membership fees, no experience required.

For more on getting started, read our beginner’s guide to rucking. Once you’re hooked, check out our rucking backpack and ruck plate guides.

The Rucking Community Is Growing Fast

Rucking has exploded in the last two years. What started as a military training method has become one of the fastest-growing fitness trends in the UK. The barrier to entry is low, the community is welcoming, and the health benefits are backed by solid research.

Find a group. Or be the one who starts it. Either way, Saturday mornings are about to get a lot better.