This week brought the presentation of a new Garmin that you probably didn’t hear talk before.
The Garmin Tactix range is a tactical smart watches line with military application in mind. The new Tactix 8 presents an AMOLED screen, a resistant design and a applied ballistic solution technology that offers personalized aiming solutions to shoot a rifle.
As you can see, the Tactix 8 is military in degree and purpose, which also explains the inclusion of a new feature to trace an exercise that is taking the world by assault.
Ruck and roll
Rucking is an exercise trend that is growing in popularity. It implies exercising while wearing a backpack or weighted backpack (hence the name) and naturally has its roots in military training, which explains the Tactix 8 link.
The Goruck enthusiastic team describes it as a basic element of military training. Infantry recruits in the United States Army (and in the military worldwide) must make Ruck marches of hours that transport heavy equipment.
Due to the potential to increase calorie burning and improve aptitude, Rucking is now taking off as a physical conditioning trend beyond military application, and now it is so popular that Garmin feels obliged to offer a dedicated training profile to support it .
Rucking: What are the benefits?
Rucking is an increasingly popular exercise because it is really easy to do. Everything you need is a backpack or a backpack and some heavyweight. You don’t even need to use real weights or Russian weights either, some old books or water will work well.
Multiple studies have highlighted the benefits of load load exercises. This 2019 study found that 10 weeks of rucking training drastically increases the maximum jumping force in a person, flexions, flexions, squats and estimated oxygen absorption. This 2021 study found similar improvements in male and female participants, including a 5.4% increase in aerobic capacity in men.
Even in older participants (65-74 years), home training that implies weighted exercises improved the speed and power of climbing, helping to prolong independence and avoid age-related health conditions.
Rucking on Garmin
We had heard reports at the end of last year that Garmin planned to add support for Rucking, possibly together with the new Garmin Instinct 3. Although he did not materialize with that launch, we now have a touch a few weeks later.
As mentioned, it is currently limited to Tactix 8, but there are many possibilities that Garmin is planning to increase support, leading Rucking to more devices in the future. We have communicated with Garmin to see if we can confirm any future support and we will inform accordingly.
Using rucking activity at Tactix 8 seems simple. The only key metric you need is the weight of the package, which can enter before starting your exercise. Then, Garmin will calculate all the usual metrics of health and physical status as he advances, presumably taking into account the weight he is carrying.
Another rope to Garmin’s arch
It has been an broken beginning for 2025 for Garmin, with the launch of Instinct 3 of the company eclipsed a little by a global interruption that saw thousands of devices made useless by a blue triangle of death.
While the company’s infrastructure has received blows, its commitment to the monitoring of health and physical condition in the industry is undeniable, and this new support for Rucking is another great reason why Garmin always places among the best watches Smart, better watches and beyond.
