Alright, decided to actually try that tank walk carrying some weight today. Wasn’t sure what to expect, just wanted to get a feel for it myself.
First thing, I needed something to carry. Didn’t have fancy gear. Just grabbed my old hiking backpack. Found a couple of old weight plates I wasn’t using, maybe 10 kilos total? Wrapped ’em in a towel so they wouldn’t slide around inside and threw ’em in the pack. Cinched all the straps down tight on my back and shoulders. Didn’t want the thing flopping about.
Getting Started
Stepped out into the backyard. The plan was just to walk back and forth across the lawn, nice and controlled. First few steps, yeah, you feel that extra load immediately. Makes you plant your feet a bit harder, I guess.
Tried to keep my posture upright, chest out, shoulders back, like they say. But honestly, the weight naturally pulls you forward a bit. Had to really focus on keeping my core engaged so I wasn’t just leaning into it.
The Actual Walk
Started moving. Slow, deliberate steps. Trying to make it smooth, less like stomping. Left foot, right foot. Kept my arms loose, not swinging wildly. Breathing was key. Tried to keep it steady, in through the nose, out through the mouth. Definitely got my heart rate up quicker than a normal walk.
The main thing I noticed? Balance. The weight wants to shift you, especially when you turn. Made the turns real slow and wide at first. Felt kinda clumsy, like learning to walk again, almost.
- Felt the strain mostly in my shoulders and upper back.
- Legs felt it too, especially the quads pushing off each step.
- Had to constantly correct my posture. Easy to slump forward.
Kept going for about 15 minutes. Just pacing back and forth. Found a sort of rhythm after a while. It wasn’t hard like sprinting, but it was work. A constant, steady effort.
Wrapping Up
Decided 15 minutes was enough for the first try. Didn’t want to overdo it. Slipped the backpack off. Wow, instant relief on the shoulders. Felt way lighter all of a sudden, kinda floaty.
Muscles felt warm, worked. Got a decent sweat going too. Felt pretty good, actually. Solid. Like I’d done something useful.
So yeah, that was my little experiment with the weighted tank walk. Simple stuff, really. Just walking with extra weight, focusing on form. Seems like a decent way to build some functional strength and stability without needing much equipment. Probably do it again sometime, maybe go for longer or add a tiny bit more weight next time. See how it goes.
