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Over here, at Ruckr, I’ve been hard at work building (and iterating) the next version of our very own online ruck tracker tool, RuckrTracker (sign up for free at https://tracker.ruckr.me/). Though I am incredibly excited for everyone to try this online service (for free!), as I was building it, I was also curious how it compares to other tools that I’ve used.

As I’ve written about in previous articles, tracking your progress is a great way to hold yourself accountable and feel great about your journey. I know that when I see a chart of my progress over time, I feel a sense of accomplishment…which further drives me to want to ruck even more. 

In this issue, I’ll give you a few wearable apps and online tools that you can use to track your rucks today, as well as my own comparison from tracking the same ruck across three of them. Enjoy!

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Motivation

Ruck Tracking 101

If you’re serious about building strength, endurance, and consistency with your rucking routine, tracking your progress is a game-changer. Whether you’re data-driven or prefer pen and paper, there’s a method for every style of rucker.

Apps for the Tech-Savvy Rucker

There’s no shortage of great fitness-tracking apps that make it easy to log distance, pace, elevation, and even heart rate.

• Strava: Popular among runners and cyclists, Strava is also perfect for ruckers. You can track your route, see your pace split, and join rucking clubs for community motivation.
  

• MapMyWalk or MapMyHike: Both from Under Armour, these apps offer GPS tracking, voice updates, and detailed route data.
  

• Garmin Connect: If you use a Garmin watch, this app integrates seamlessly and provides comprehensive performance metrics.
  

• RuckWell: Designed specifically for the rucking community, RuckWell allows users to track weight, distance, ruck time, elevation, and even includes recovery reminders and community challenges. It’s built with the needs of ruckers in mind.
  

• RuckrTracker: Our very own online app built for you, RuckrTracker allows you to track your rucks over time and uses the well-known Pandolf equation to calculate calorie burn.

Analog Options for the Old-School Rucker

If you like to keep things simple and tactile, analog methods still get the job done:

• Ruck Journal: Keep a dedicated notebook or planner where you log the date, weight carried, distance, time, and how you felt. Over time, it becomes a motivating personal record of your progress.
  

• Wall Calendar or Whiteboard: Hang it near your ruck gear and mark off completed rucks, adding distances or times for a quick visual of consistency.

Whether digital or analog, tracking helps you stay accountable, spot patterns, and celebrate milestones. Remember: what gets measured, gets improved.

Ruck Tracking In-depth

Tracking the Burn: RuckWell vs. GORUCK’s Calorie Calculator vs. RuckrTracker

As rucking grows in popularity, tools for tracking performance and calories burned have followed suit. I have personally tried MANY of these tools, from rucking-specific calculators to simpler online fitness tools. And…I’m here to tell you that while all of them are useful in their own ways, not all tracking tools are created equal. 

Whether you’re aiming to build endurance, lose weight, or improve overall fitness, understanding which tool fits your needs can make a big difference in your progress. Here’s a comparison of RuckWell, GORUCK’s Calorie Calculator, and the newest kid on the block, RuckrTracker, compare.

RuckWell: The All-in-One Companion

RuckWell is a mobile app built specifically for ruckers. It tracks the basics—distance, pace, ruck time, elevation—but goes a step further by allowing you to input your ruck weight as well as a “coupon weight”, which is “any additional weight carried outside of your ruck. I.E. a sandbag, jerry can, kettlebell, etc.” 

Upon testing RuckWell for a specific ruck (see image below), I found the app relatively easy to use. 

Strengths:

• Integrated GPS tracking

• Tracks load, elevation, and pace in one platform

• Built-in recovery and hydration reminders

• Community features and rucking challenges

Limitations:

• Calorie estimates are based on what I believe is the Pandolf equation with some proprietary equations on top. So…it’s hard to know exactly what it’s using for calculations.

• No web interface—mobile only
  

GORUCK’s Calorie Calculator: Fast and Simple

Offered as a free tool on GORUCK’s website, this calculator asks for your weight, pack weight, distance, and duration to give you a quick estimate of calories burned. It’s useful for a ballpark figure post-ruck or for newcomers getting a feel for how intense the workout can be.

As you can see in the image below, though GORUCK makes it easy to enter your exercise information, it’s a little imprecise and you have to scroll to see individual rucking details. And…there’s NO WAY TO SAVE any of the information it gives you.

Strengths:

• Simple and fast

• Good for newcomers

• No login required

Limitations:

• There’s no way to save or see progress over time. Which is a big miss in my humble opinion.

• Though the interface is relatively simple, it makes it a little difficult to dial in all of the numbers and see only one ruck at a time.

• Online only with no app.
  

RuckrTracker: Precision, Powered by Science

RuckrTracker is our very own, brand new online tool that uses the Pandolf equation—developed by the U.S. military—to calculate calories burned with remarkable accuracy. It factors in your body weight, ruck weight, terrain type (flat, sand, incline), speed, and even temperature, giving you a detailed calorie estimate based on military-grade research.

Using the same details from my ruck above (input into both RuckWell and GORUCK), you can see how similar RuckrTracker is to other tools…as well as where it’s different.

Strengths:

• Very accurate calorie burn estimation tool

• Adjusts for terrain, pace, and environmental factors

• Ideal for data-driven users and those training for events

Limitations:

• Requires manual input—no GPS syncing yet

• Best used post-ruck, not during

Bottom Line:

Need a quick estimate? GORUCK’s Calorie Calculator has you covered. If you want an all-around rucking logbook, go with RuckWell. But if precision matters most—especially if you’re training for an event or dialing in nutrition—I’m building RuckrTracker for you.