What are Ruck Loops and are they Beneficial?
Ruck loops (also called ruck slings) are simple but game-changing accessories that attach to your rucksack’s MOLLE webbing or top handles, creating soft loop handles for easier pack manipulation. These unassuming pieces of equipment solve one of rucking’s most common challenges: efficiently adjusting and positioning your loaded pack without straining your hands or shoulders.
Enhanced Pack Adjustment and Positioning
The primary benefit of ruck loops is their ability to help you adjust how and where your ruck rests on your shoulders and back. When you’re carrying 20-40 pounds for several miles, even small positional adjustments can significantly impact comfort and performance. Ruck loops provide a secure, comfortable grip point that allows you to shift your pack’s position mid-ruck without awkwardly grabbing at straps or webbing. This becomes especially valuable during longer rucks when you need to redistribute weight to prevent hot spots or relieve pressure on specific muscle groups.
Circulation and Swelling
Yes, ruck loops can help reduce hand and finger swelling while rucking. Hand swelling during rucking occurs primarily because blood flow is redirected to working muscles in your legs, heart, and lungs, causing blood vessels in your hands to dilate and pool fluid in your extremities.
Ruck loops provide a comfortable hand position that allows you to keep your hands elevated and your arm muscles engaged, which promotes better circulation and helps drive fluid back toward your heart. One manufacturer specifically advertises that ruck loops “give your hands a rest/helps reduce finger swelling”. The hand position created by holding ruck loops encourages muscle contractions in your hands and arms, which is the best way to prevent fluid buildup.
This benefit is similar to how trekking poles prevent swelling by keeping your arms moving and muscles actively squeezing, which maintains circulation throughout your entire body. By giving you a natural place to rest your hands at an elevated position during your ruck, ruck loops serve a similar function—keeping your hands active and positioned in a way that reduces the blood pooling and fluid retention that causes uncomfortable “sausage fingers”.
Practical Applications Beyond Rucking
Ruck loops excel in functional, real-world situations where you need to handle your weighted pack efficiently. Whether you’re loading your ruck into a vehicle, hanging it on a hook, or quickly grabbing it for emergency preparedness scenarios, the soft loop handle provides an intuitive grab point. For those who ruck to prepare for emergencies—situations where you might need to trek dozens of miles or quickly load belongings onto your back—having ruck loops installed means faster deployment and better pack control.
Shoulder and Back Health
Given that rucking already engages your back and shoulder muscles to improve posture and build functional strength, ruck loops complement these benefits by reducing awkward gripping and pulling motions that could strain these same muscle groups. The soft loop design distributes force across your hand more evenly than gripping narrow webbing or hard plastic handles, protecting your joints during pack manipulation. This is particularly important for ruckers focused on building durable shoulders and maintaining healthy backs as they age.
Minimal Investment, Maximum Impact
Ruck loops represent a low-cost, lightweight addition to your rucking setup that delivers outsized benefits in pack handling and comfort. They attach easily to existing MOLLE webbing or other areas on your pack without adding significant weight or bulk, making them an accessible upgrade for ruckers at any experience level. For anyone serious about rucking as a regular fitness practice or preparing for real-world load carrying scenarios, ruck loops are a practical investment in both performance and longevity.
Top Places to Purchase Ruck Loops (if you don’t make them yourself)
GORUCK – Ruck loops (name TBD) coming soon.
Wild Gym – Sells padded Ruck Slings that clip into rucks with 2 carabiners and daisy chain loops for easy adjustment. These are specifically designed for the 2025 Wild Gym ruck models and retail for $39, offering increased rucking comfort with their padded design.
Rucks on Parade – Offers USA-made ruck straps with carabiners featuring 333 lb capacity and heavy-duty polyester tie-down webbing. They sell ruck straps in pairs with free shipping, available in 10-inch or 12-inch total strap lengths, plus cadre-approved nylon runners with an impressive 3600 lb capacity.
F3 Gear – Provides custom color ruck loops sold in 2-packs, allowing you to personalize your ruck setup while adding functionality. This is an ideal option for those wanting to match team colors or add visibility with bright colors.