I understand proper packing and weight distribution is key, but how exactly are you supposed to march? I've heard that you need to lock your knees on every step, but to me (either I'm doing it wrong or this piece of information is false) it puts more strain on my knees and makes me want to walk normally.
My time so far is under 14 minutes per mile. It's a very fast walk, like you would walk normally with no knee-locking technique.
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
DON’T lock your knees. Whoever told you that was jerking your leg (bad pun, sorry)
when you’re rucking, just walk easy. If they make you walk in step, FINE… but there’s not a special technique that involves locking your knees.
When you’re marching, if anything, you DON’T want to lock your knees. You’ll injure yourself, bounce all over the place and look like an idiot… basically stand out from the crowd. You actually want to ROLL your feet as you walk so that your head doesn’t bounce… but try not to sashay your hips like a lady, that won’t impress either. A good "marching step" is freaking hard, no doubt, but that knees bit… haha… it’s the LAST thing you want.
I’ve spent my time in uniform in the Navy, so I’ve never been on on any of those humps. However, locking your knees with a 75 lb. pack sounds like a good way to do some damage to them. Then again, I’ve heard of weirder stuff.
I was in the Air Force, so I only really did this in basic training, but we marched at ease, in formation, when we had our ruck sacks on. That means walking however you feel comfortable doing it, your hands dont have to be at your side, you dont have to be in a unison step. You dont lock your knees when you march any how. Marching is JUST walking in step…people make it harder than it is. If you try to lock your knees when you are marching 1. its going to screw up your knees and 2. it can make you pass out. Dont over think these things and if you are going into the Army, I am sure you will have plenty of practice to get it right, they will show you how to do it.
I have never heard of locking your knees. Just walk with a normal stride and you knees unlocked because you might be walking on uneven ground.
Who told you that you should lock your knees on a hump?
In my experience, locking your knees is the fastest way to hurt yourself in one way or another (pass out, hurt your knees, etc.). You may move your knee to the range where you ‘could’ lock it, but actually locking your knees is a fast-track to injury.
You just put your ruck on so it is comfortable grab your weapon and walk like normal while keeping your distance between the guy in front of you and every so often look behind you to make sure you have not broken contact with the men behind. Nothing more nothing less.