We’re going to look at the best budget ruck plates available via Amazon: the Yes4All Cast Iron Ruck Plate (Buy on Amazon) and the Titan Fitness Ruck Plate (Buy on Amazon).
What is a Ruck Plate?
Ruck Plates (also called Ruck Weights) let you add compact, heavy weight to your rucksack.
They provide a significant weight in a compact form factor.
Ruck plates fit conveniently in the laptop compartment, hydration pocket, or ruck plate sleeve ( for rucksacks equipped as such) and ensure your other gear doesn’t get dinged up too much.
GORUCK makes some expensive ruck plates – but these are much cheaper.
Titan Fitness started selling them first, then Yes4All created a line as well.
What is a Ruck Plate For?
The compact form factor ensures you aren’t wasting space for other items you really need on the ruck march.
Why add weight to ruck march?
For the training effect. Build up your stamina and endurance of your upper body in preparation for the real deal.
Rucking is walking (or marching) with a loaded rucksack. Rucksack is military slang for a backpack. Carrying a heavy load for a long distance is a great endurance exercise – and when the load is high on your back, it’s even better. Because that really helps stress the upper back, traps, and more.
Rucking with plates significantly ups the calorie burn and helps build endurance. It’s not easy, but it is lower impact than jogging or running.
And quite frankly, when it’s so convenient and easy to add weight in the form of a ruck plate, you may find yourself using weight rucks a lot more – and that means better fitness and endurance.
Yes4All Cast Iron Ruck Plate 10 lb, 20 lb, 30lb, and 45 lb Ruck Plate Weight
Yes4All is a budget fitness equipment maker – they take proven designs and make them available dirt cheap.
The Yes4All ruck plates come in these sizes (check Amazon link below to see what’s in stock at the moment):
- Yes4all 10 Lb Ruck Plate (5.7 x 8.9 x 0.9 inch)
- Titan Fitness 20 Lb Ruck Plate (14.8 x 6.9 x 0.9 inch)
- Titan Fitness 30 Lb Ruck Plate (14.8 x 9.4 x 1 inch)
- Titan Fitness 45 Lb Ruck Plate (14.9 x 9.5 x 1.4)
These are made from cast iron and painted black.
The Yes4All logo is embossed, which is nice. This means less chance of this item damaging anything it comes in contact with (after all, ruck plates are HEAVY).
- HEAVY-DUTY CAST IRON RUCK WEIGHT: Constructed of heavy-gauge cast iron and covered with a Black paint coating finish, Yes4All ruck weight stands for years without corrosion or breaking apart.
- WIDE, SMOOTH HANDLE: Our plate features a wide grip handle to easily add and remove it from your ruck. The smooth, high-quality handle of the Ruck Weight provides a comfortable and secure grip during your workout.
- ERGONOMIC, ROUNDED EDGE: Each Ruck Weight is specially designed with four rounded edges to fit into standard laptop compartments or elastic interior pockets. Plus, the smooth-edge design protects the floor and surrounding equipment from damage.
- GREAT FOR RUCKING AND MILITARY TRAINING: Adding ruck weights to your jogging or hiking is a great way to burn calories, improve aerobic endurance, build up strength and muscle mass, making you less injury prone.
- STRENGTHEN YOUR HIP AND POSTURE STABILITY: The weight of the backpack pulls your shoulders and back into a proper alignment. As your upper body adapts to rucking, it becomes more comfortable to maintain that proper posture in your daily life.
Titan Fitness 10lb, 20 Lb, 30 Lb and 45 Lb Ruck Plate
Titan Fitness is a market disruptor in the fitness industry. They provide budget alternatives to high priced gear.
Is the quality the same as premium products? Not always.
But, in a lot of situations you just need something cheap and affordable.
Let’s face it – weight is weight.
The Titan Fitness ruck plates come in these sizes (check Amazon link below to see what’s in stock at the moment):
- Titan Fitness 10 Lb Ruck Plate
- Titan Fitness 20 Lb Ruck Plate (13.5 in x 7 in)
- Titan Fitness 30 Lb Ruck Plate (14.5” x 8.75”)
- Titan Fitness 45 Lb Ruck Plate
- GREAT FOR RUCKING: Add ruck weights to your jog or hike to build strength and endurance and improve your posture with the added weight of the backpack pulling your shoulders and back into alignment.
- FITS IN LAPTOP COMPARTMENT BACKPACKS: Designed to fit into standard laptop compartments of everyday backpacks or elastic interior pockets.
- WIDE GRIP HANDLE: Our plate features dual 5" x 1.5" smooth wide grip handles to easily add and remove it from your ruck or perform multiple bodyweight exercises like squats, lunges, crunches, presses, and more.
- DURABLE CONSTRUCTION: Crafted from heavy-gauge cast iron with rounded edges and finished with a powder-coated black coating for increased toughness and durability.
- DIMENSIONS: Weighing 20 LB, this rectangular plate is 13.5" long x 7" wide x 0.99" thick.
The Titan Fitness 20 Lb Ruck Plate (Buy on Amazon) is a budget alternative to other name brand ruck plates.
It’s the right shape and form to fit in most ruck sacks.
It’s made from cast iron with black powder coating, and has rounded edges to avoid damage to your pack, or your other gear.
It’s got hand holds at either end – for easy pick up.
That also means these can be used as a hand held weight as well.
Overall users rate these plates as pretty good. There are occasionally some variance in the weight, but remember that these are cheaper for a reason.
Where are these made? Not in the USA.
But, keep in mind the reduced manufacturing cost is what allows Titan Fitness to offer these so much more cheaper than the other name brand plates.
The only real complaint about these is that sometimes they run a bit under weight – but usually less than a full pound.
Secondly the logo is not embossed, so some users have noted damage if you lay this heavy weight on a flat surface. In my opinion, I don’t see this as a big issue.
I take care to not set 20 lb and 30 lb weights on top of delicate items.
And, these are so cheap – why not get both a 20 lb and a 30 lb plate?
When you are ready to move up to a 30lb plate, you can throw it in your ruck. It’s better than having two separate weights – that’s too much wasted space, not to mention too much chance for annoying clanking everywhere you go.
Where To Buy Ruck Plates
The easiest place to get these is at Amazon.
What Size Ruck Plate For Rucking?
For a beginner, I’d recommend a 20 lb plate.
For an advanced rucker – you’ll want a 30 lb plate.
I do not recommend using a 20 lb and a 10 lb for a combined total of 30 lb.
While that might seem reasonable, it’s too much clanking and having 2 plates takes up too much room.
Please note for GORUCK events you should check the specific event requirements to ensure you have the required weight.
Where to Put Your Ruck Plate
In the GR1, GR2: in the elastic inner pocket , or the laptop compartment.
In the Rucker – These will not fit, as the Rucker backpack is meant for “expert” sized ruck plates only.
5.11 Tactical Rush12, Rush24, and Rush72: Place them in the hydration bladder pocket/laptop compartment.
Expert Ruck Plate vs Standard Ruck Plate
The “Expert” ruck plates are a different form factor, and are meant mostly for the GORUCK “Rucker” rucksack.
The Titan Fitness ruck plates are closer to the “Standard” ruck plate size, they are not expert sized.
Ruck Sack compatibility
The Titan Fitness 20 Lb Ruck Plate fits perfectly in the hydration bladder pocket of the 5.11 Tactical Rush12 Back Pack (Buy on Amazon).
The Rush12 backpack is our pick for a budget ruck sack. It’s usually well under $100.
- Tactical Backpack featuring 16 individual compartments, a roomy main storage area, and a hydration pocket. Equipped with an adjustable height sternum strap, two external compression straps and contoured yoke shoulder strap system.
- Made from durable 1050D nylon (Multicam: 1000D nylon), this military backpack is water-resistant and features self-repairing YKK zippers and 5.11â€s signature centerline design.
- Molle compatible with the wrap-around molle/5.11 slick stick web platform, internal multi-slot admin compartment and a zippered fleece-lined eyewear pocket.
- Our Military backpack has hook and loop nametape, flag patches and glove-friendly pull tabs; perfect for patrol, outdoor hiking, trekking and camping, survival expedition, or day pack.
- The Rush12 backpack can be used as a multipurpose pack, bug out bag, range bag, hunting backpack, survival backpack, hiking Rucksack, or everyday outdoor backpack. This assault pack is ready for any rescue or adventure for all of your gear and equipment.
If you want to find out more about this backpack, we explain why it has the features you need for rucking.
Please note that these Ruck Weights don’t really come in “Expert” or “Standard” sizes like the GORUCK ruck plates do.
In general, the GORUCK rucksacks that will fit a standard GORUCK Plate will work with these.
Ruck Plate Alternatives
Can’t you just tape up a few bricks and throw them in your backpack?
Sure, you can.
But you’ll waste space and risk damaging your other gear.
Why not throw a dumbbell plate or two in ? Because they fit odd, they tend to be a pain in the back, and they’ll clank together and make too much annoying sound.
Filled plastic water bottles won’t make noise, can’t damage your gear, but can leak. They also are not an efficient density for adding weight.
You’ll waste too much space.
Ruck Weights for Business Travel
Need to take your ruck gear with you for business travel?
Flying with Ruck Plates isn’t super practical – they are heavy and TSA may not let you take them in your carry on.
Don’t forfeit your expensive ruck plate at the metal detector – use this instead.
The No products found. is a tough PVC water bladder.
But this is better than a hydration bladder because it holds a LOT of water – up to 20 lbs.
![Water Weight [Holds Up to 20 Pounds], Made from Strong Flexible PVC, Packs Flat for Exercising When Traveling, Fits in Backpacks for Outdoor Fitness Hiking Backpacking Rucking and Crossfit](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/417o%2B%2BE4IoL.jpg "Water Weight [Holds Up to 20 Pounds], Made from Strong Flexible PVC, Packs Flat for Exercising When Traveling, Fits in Backpacks for Outdoor Fitness Hiking Backpacking Rucking and Crossfit")
And when filled to the 20 lb mark, it will fit in the main compartment of the GORUCK GR1 21L or bigger and the Rucker 20L.
It would be a tight fit in the GORUCK Bullet 15L.
When empty it packs flat. Fill it up anywhere you have water. Empty it out when done, and you’re off to the airport with no problems.
The other benefit of this item? It’s dirt cheap.
![Water Weight [Holds Up to 20 Pounds], Made from Strong Flexible PVC, Packs Flat for Exercising When Traveling, Fits in Backpacks for Outdoor Fitness Hiking Backpacking Rucking and Crossfit](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/61agJvFTPOL.jpg "Water Weight [Holds Up to 20 Pounds], Made from Strong Flexible PVC, Packs Flat for Exercising When Traveling, Fits in Backpacks for Outdoor Fitness Hiking Backpacking Rucking and Crossfit")
The downside of this item – you won’t fit much else in your rucksack. But, it is what it is.
It’s a cheap way to load up your ruck for fitness on the road.
This is the best portable ruck weight for business travel.
Cheap Ruck Plates – In Summary
Ruck plates make rucking more efficient.
They let you carry weight in a convenient, efficient format. This will help you build greater endurance.
Titan Fitness and Yes4All plates are so affordable it makes sense to simply buy both a 20 lb ruck plate, which is great for a beginner, and grab a 30 lb weight as well which is good for a more experienced ruck marcher.
Now that you’ve picked out a ruck plate – pick out a cheap but effective rucking backpack.
If you are ruck beginner, you may also want to check out beginner rucking gear.
Photo Credits
- Some product photos are provided by Titan Fitness, and are property of Titan Fitness.
- Some product photos are provided by Yes4All, and are property of Yes4All.
Last update on 2024-07-27 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
