Train for the Pack-Out

Stair Climber Our Pick

A revolving staircase is the closest thing indoors to a steep ascent. Elk hunting guide Corey Jacobsen lists the stair stepper among his low-impact cardio options,³ and climbing stairs under load is a staple of backcountry hunting workouts.⁴

Our pick is the Matrix Endurance ClimbMill. Its extra-deep steps leave room for a hunting boot, and its 400-pound user capacity leaves room for a member and a loaded pack.⁵

Why it wins for hunters

• Extra-deep, wide steps: 10 by 18 inches, with an 8-inch rise like real stairs⁵
• Built for packs: users from 99 to 400 pounds⁵
• Pace from a hike to a sprint: 24 to 162 steps per minute, with 25 resistance levels⁵
• Safe to step on: a locking staircase, perimeter handlebars and an infrared auto-stop⁵
• Built to last: a heavy-duty design and industrial-grade drive, made to stand up to heavy use and easy to service⁵

Space check: about 63.5 by 40.3 inches of floor, and 85.8 inches tall. Plan generous headroom.⁵

High-Incline Treadmill Our Pick

Rucking, walking with a weighted pack, can burn up to three times the calories of an unloaded walk, according to Cleveland Clinic.⁶ A high-incline treadmill lets members ruck and run hills when the trails are under snow.

Our pick is the Matrix Performance Treadmill, with grades up to 18% for steep, mountain-style climbs and a 400-pound user capacity for a member carrying a loaded pack.⁷

Why it wins for hunters

• Steep grades: 0 to 18% incline, lifted by a 1,300-pound thrust-elevation motor⁷
• From a ruck to a run: 0.5 to 15 mph on a 5.0 hp AC drive⁷
• Built for packs: 400-pound maximum user weight⁷
• Easier on joints: the Ultimate Deck cushioning system on a 60 by 22-inch running surface⁷
• Safety built in: continuous multi-grip handlebars and Tread Sense, which stops the belt when no one is on it⁷
• Workouts that feel like the trail: Landmarks, Rolling Hills, Sprint 8 and interval programs⁷

Space check: about 86.7 by 36.5 inches of floor, and a 20-amp dedicated circuit.⁷

Step-Up Boxes Our Pick

Weighted step-ups with a loaded hunting pack are a core elk-season drill, often done in hunting boots to break them in.²

Our pick is the REP 3-in-1 Soft Plyo Box: a wood core wrapped in soft foam, so a missed step means a bump instead of a scraped shin, with three heights in every box.^{8, 9}

Why it wins for hunters

• Three heights in one: flip the box for a lower or higher step. The small box is 16 by 18 by 20 inches, and the large goes up to 30 inches⁸
• Built for a member plus a pack: a 400-pound weight capacity⁸
• Shin-friendly: a soft foam shell over a solid wood core^{8, 9}
• Sure footing: a textured vinyl cover that resists slipping⁸
• Easy to keep clean: a wipeable cover that's gentle on floors and turf⁸

Good to know: use the boxes on rubber flooring or turf, not smooth or slippery floors.⁸ A 16-inch step, the height hunters often train on,² is the lowest setting on the small and medium boxes.

Weight Vests & Ruck Plates Our Pick

Hunters train with real weight: one well-known heavy-pack workout uses a 60-pound sandbag strapped into a pack.⁴ Shared facility vests let members train loaded without bringing their own gear, and Cleveland Clinic advises starting light and building gradually.⁶

Our pick is the GORUCK Rucking Weight Vest, sized for GORUCK's curved Ruck Plates, so a facility can stock vests at 14, 20 and 30 pounds.¹⁰

Why it wins for hunters

• Built to progress: fits curved Ruck Plates for 14, 20 and 30 pounds total¹⁰
• Tough fabric: 500D CORDURA outside and 210D CORDURA inside¹⁰
• Carries like a ruck: rucksack-style shoulder straps and a quick-release cummerbund¹⁰
• Two sizes: S/M and L/XL for different members¹⁰
• Backed for life: GORUCK's SCARS Lifetime Guarantee¹⁰

Facility tip: keep a mix of sizes and plate weights on wall hooks, and add sandbags for members ready to go heavier.

Dumbbells & Kettlebells Our Pick

Weighted lunges with dumbbells are part of a classic heavy-pack workout,⁴ and loaded carries build the grip and core a pack-out demands.

Our pick is Xult by Matrix. One family covers dumbbells, kettlebells and the racks to store them, so the whole free-weight area matches.¹¹

Why it wins for hunters

• Dumbbells for every member: urethane, rubber and neoprene options in round, hex and multi-sided styles¹¹
• Kettlebells: rubber and cast kettlebells from 5 to 90 pounds, for carries and swings¹¹
• Organized storage: saddle, flat and A-frame dumbbell racks and a 2-tier kettlebell rack¹¹

Power Racks, Barbells & Trap Bars Our Pick

Squat and lunge variations are an off-season staple for elk hunters.³ Deadlifts and trap-bar lifts build the back and hips that carry a heavy load downhill.

Our pick for the rack is the Matrix Magnum Power Rack, a fully enclosed rack rated for 900 pounds of training weight. For the heaviest-use rooms, the Magnum MEGA Power Rack steps up to 4 by 4-inch uprights and adds fat-grip chin bars and band pegs.¹²

To load it, our pick is Xult by Matrix: Olympic and power bars, a trap bar for pack-like deadlifts, and urethane bumper plates.^{11, 12}

Why it wins for hunters

• Heavy-duty: 7-gauge, laser-cut steel uprights and a 900-pound training weight rating¹²
• Safe for heavy squats: a fully enclosed design with adjustable safety bars¹²
• Protects your bars: polyethylene J-hooks that won't scratch knurling¹²
• Quick, shared use: a visual height indicator and colored locking pin for fast changes¹²
• Organized: 10 storage horns for bumper and Olympic plates, plus bar and band storage¹²
• Pull-ups built in: a dual-grip chin bar¹²
• Xult bars: 20 kg Olympic and power bars, a 15 kg bar and an Xult Trap Bar^{11, 12}
• Xult bumper plates: premium urethane plates from 10 to 45 pounds, with a one-piece steel core, that won't scuff racks¹²

Space check: about 80.5 by 73.5 inches of floor in the 8-foot model; a 9-foot version is available for high ceilings. Bars and plates are sold separately from the rack.¹²

Core Training Station Our Pick

A strong core keeps a heavy pack stable on steep, uneven ground. Elk hunting guide Corey Jacobsen's top core picks are ab wheel roll-outs and plank variations,³ and pack planks finish a classic hunter's workout.⁴

Our pick is the Total Gym ELEVATE Core ADJ, built around the moves hunters already use: the dynamic plank, plus Total Gym's SCRUNCH and pike, on a gliding board with seven resistance levels.^{13, 14}

Why it wins for hunters

• Plank-based training: works the abdominals, back, hips and shoulders together¹⁴
• Grows with members: seven resistance levels and more than 15 exercises¹³
• Room for everyone: a 400-pound maximum user weight^{13, 14}
• Built for gyms: anodized aluminum rails, steel-reinforced connections and sealed ball-bearing rollers¹³
• Works for classes: suited to personal training and small-group sessions¹⁴

Space check: about 12 square feet, plus clearance to get on and off.¹³ Add ab wheels and mats nearby for roll-outs and pack planks.

Push Sled Our Pick

Pushing and pulling a heavy sled builds the leg drive and grit of a steep haul out, and with a tow strap and harness, members can rehearse the drag itself.

Our pick is the Torque TANK. Instead of weight plates, it uses built-in magnetic resistance that gets harder the harder you push. Its non-marking tires work on rubber, turf, wood or concrete, so a facility doesn't need a dedicated turf lane, just a clear straight path.¹⁵

Choose the right TANK

• TANK M4: Torque's most popular all-rounder and the lightest of the line, for push, pull and tow work¹⁵
• TANK M3: adds a digital console that tracks speed, distance and calories¹⁵
• TANK MX: the most powerful TANK, with a resistance boost lever, for teams and athletes¹⁵
• TANK SX: five resistance levels and swivel wheels for lateral work, built for busy clubs¹⁵
• Complete Kits add a tow strap, harness and rope for pack-out drags¹⁵

Space check: about 52 to 55 inches long and 32 to 33 inches wide, plus a clear straight lane to push.¹⁵

Plate-Loaded Hip Thrust Our Pick

Strong glutes power every step up a steep slope and every rise out of a crouch with a loaded pack. A hip thrust machine trains them directly, without balancing a barbell.

Our pick is the Matrix Magnum Standing Hip Thrust, an upright, plate-loaded glute machine from Matrix's new Magnum range.¹⁶

Why it wins for hunters

• Glute power: built for targeted glute work, the hip drive behind steep climbs¹⁶
• Fits every member: adjustable range of motion and handles at varying heights¹⁶
• Sure footing: an enlarged, textured footplate for stability and easy entry¹⁶
• Compact: an upright design with a small footprint¹⁶