Reebok Delta Weight Vest Review: Walking, made spicier

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I’ve had my fair share of injuries as a martial arts enthusiast, but they’ve never kept me out of the gym for too long… that is, until I started preparing for my first Brazilian Jiu Jitsu competition. The intense training caused my paraspinals to flare up from overuse. For multiple months I couldn’t bend forward, twist, press or pull without pain in my rhomboids and scapulae. MMA and lifting weights—my two preferred ways to exercise—weren’t an option for the foreseeable future, and this set me down a path to find new ways to stay active, fit and, most importantly, pain-free.

That’s how I discovered Reebok’s Delta Weight Vest and the unexpected benefits rucking had on my physical and mental health.

Rucking — derived from military training — simply involves strapping on a weighted vest or a comfortable backpack and going for a walk. You don’t want to start too heavy — try 10% to 15% of your bodyweight to start — and keep a comfortable pace where you’re not so winded that you can’t speak.

At first, I was skeptical— how would walking with a backpack bolster my physical fitness and rehab my injury? But, once I gave it a shot and committed to a routine, I began looking forward to my daily ruck.

I learned firsthand that rucking boasts tremendous health benefits, like improved bone and joint health, a stronger core and improved posture. In my case, Rucking got my heart rate up without me having to perform intense exercise. The increased blood flow helped deliver nutrient rich blood to my overused paraspinals, which helped speed up my recovery. Most importantly, rucking got me outside.

Rehabbing my back started at 5:30am every morning—each day, I would strap on my vest and walk for an hour before starting my workday. I noticed that over time I felt calmer, I started noticing how beautiful the neighborhood is, and my mood improved. I even felt sharper in my day-to-day life. Ultimately, walking made managing my injury a little easier. I even felt gratitude for the injury forcing me to slow down and pay attention to the world around me.

Reebok’s 20-pound vest is comfortable, comes in various weights and is less than $50. It doesn’t require any training to be used. All you do is pick it up, adjust the straps and walk — the simplicity of rucking kept me coming back.

It works for other workouts as well, not just walking. Now that I’ve overcome my injury, I use it for squats, pushups and even burpees.

I’ve learned through rucking that you don’t have to sling heavy weights to feel good. If you’re looking to slow down while adding intensity to your walking routine, grab yourself a Reebok Delta Weight Vest, and add a little spice to your walk.