Garmin Introduces Pack Weight & Rucking Mode on Tactix 8

Note: some of these details are unconfirmed

I reported on this site in November last year that Garmin was adding support for weighted hiking – commonly called RUCKING (get the spelling right folks!). Garmin has, in fact, expanded this feature more than I expected, now including the ability to add pack weights to certain other sports profiles. Garmin’s Tactix 8 is the first to support these features…here are the details for those of you hoping it will roll across to the Fenix 8, Instinct 3 TACTICAL and other models – you might be in luck!

What Is Rucking, and Why not use the hiking profile?

Rucking is hiking with a weighted backpack or vest, increasing physical demands on the body. While commonly used in military and law enforcement training, it has gained popularity as a functional workout that builds endurance, strength, and cardiovascular fitness. Until now, Garmin users had to rely on general hiking or walking modes, which didn’t account for the added weight’s impact on performance metrics.

With this update, Garmin enables ‘ruckers’ to manually input their pack weight, allowing for more precise tracking of metrics such as:

• Load-adjusted pace – factoring in the extra resistance.
• Calorie burn calculations – making energy expenditure more accurate.
• Endurance and strength impact tracking – providing insights into long-term fitness progress.
• Heart rate analysis – avoiding misleading spikes due to the extra load.

How Garmin’s Rucking Feature Works

The new Rucking profile allows users to enter the weight of their pack, which influences calculations for key fitness metrics. A pack weight setting can also be applied to other activities like trail running, hiking, and walking. Notably, Garmin disables VO2 Max estimates for activities where the user carries 2kg or more, ensuring that fitness assessments remain accurate without skewing long-term trends.

This feature fills a gap in Garmin’s sports profiles, particularly for those who train with added resistance. While weighted training is known to increase intensity and muscular endurance, it wasn’t easy to track how it influenced overall fitness without affecting baseline activity statistics.

WHEN & Where Is Rucking Mode Available?

At the February 2025 launch of this feature, it was only available on Tactix 8. It’s likely to appear on the Fenix 8, fenix 7 Pro &  Epix Pro 2, Enduro 3 and the imminent Forerunner 975. However, it is by no means certain that lower models like Fenix E or Instinct 3 Tactical or older models like Forerunner 965 will get this feature. We should find out in the Q2 2025 update cycle, which will start soon.

Take Out

The timing simply coincides with the Tactix launch.  Considering no other major sports watch brand currently offers a dedicated rucking mode, Garmin continues to position itself as the go-to choice for niche athletes like those in the Tactical space. Niche features make for compelling niche products targeting niche customers. It really is that simple.