Programs like MTN tough vs hiking with heavy packs

[Jamr]

I currently use Mt Tough and like the programs. They are challenging both physically and mentally, I like that. I do not feel like I get blasted with the owner’s religious/political beliefs. If i am, then i must be doing a pretty good job of ignoring it.

 

[fatlander]

I’ve done the mtn tough no gear programs quite a few times. They’re better than nothing. Hiking in the mountains with a pack on is the best prep for hiking in the mountains with a pack on. I’m lucky to live in an area where I can frequently hike in the mountains. I’ve found that compound movements all year long with an increased amount of rucking in the mountains prior to the season is my best routine.

Stay ready so you never have to get ready.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Bearsears]

Ive done Mtntough for over a year now along with four of my friends. The results for everyone were incredible. I definitely think I was more prepared for my hunts than ever. I really like how Mtntough continues to update programs and add new ones. They arent afraid to make changes when new science supports a different approach to training. I have found that they incorporate alot more into the programs (especially in the full gym stuff) than just strength and cardio. There is a ton of mobility work, a ton of focus on smaller less thought about muscles like abductors for example than a typical workout you would program yourself.

Preseason Prep 2.0 as example is broken down into two phases so that you build more baseline strength in the beginning and then switch to building muscle endurance and better cardio capacity.

The app can be clunky with the video and pdf but honestly I like the separate pdf for quick reference while working out. I also think you still have to use your brain and if the recommended weights are too high for you then just scale back, nobody cares what you lift. The newest Post season program incorporated links in the pdf to very short form videos which has made quick form reference much faster.

The company is really good about customer service, they answer very specific questions via email and even wrote a custom program for my friend so he could stay on track after a hand surgery. They send surveys out to see what new features/programs people want to see I think twice a year which is awesome.

When starting Id suggest starting slow with the more beginner programs and building up. There is nothing easy in Mtntough ever.

In short I was happy to pay the money to continue my subscription for another year and I dont see myself moving away from it for quite sometime.

Somebody else posted about MINDPUMP and I really like those guys too. You can learn a ton from their podcast.

 

[3325]

I bought a program once that was marketed as preseason hunter preparation and ended up modifying and substituting a lot due to age and injury history. If you’re modifying or substituting very much, soon you’re doing something other than the program you paid for.

I’m 58. I’ve had a shoulder replacement, a discectomy, and a knee scope. When I see ballistic exercises in a program, usually touted as developing “power” or “explosiveness” or “athleticism” or “functional fitness,” I reserve the right to be skeptical.

I don’t doubt programs have helped a lot of people. But I’m always cautious. You must decide your own path.

 

[Munch737]

I can’t speak to the programs such as Mt Tough but the free Atomic Athlete available through Hunt Backcountry worked well for me this year. I’m a very average dude who has done traditional strength training movements since high school. But this past year I was going on an archery elk hunt in Colorado and want to train specifically for the mountains. I did a 16 week 1/2 marathon training plan and ran a race in July. After that, I switched my training program up to focus on the hunt. For 2 months I did the following:
- 2 days a week total body strength training
- 1 hike with my pack which was 5 miles and 1,500’ of elevation gain
- 2 days of the atomic program which I modified to combine elements of their program. I’d do the lunge or squat complex, additional walking, and core.

I modified things since I travel for work and had very limited access to equipment so I just did the best I could. I know this isn’t ideal by any means but this was the best I’ve felt hunting. I’ve listened to guys who are much smarter than me talk about ideal programs but don’t let great be the enemy of good. For me doing a more specific workout route helped immensely and it was far from ideal. I’m going to keep building on this plan to hopefully improve my conditioning in years to come.

 

[3325]

I’ve listened to guys who are much smarter than me talk about ideal programs but don’t let great be the enemy of good.

This!

 

[dwhite0622]

As some others have said, there’s no alternative to hiking with a heavy pack. Even if proximity to the mountains is a challenge, walking around the neighborhood at a good clip with a progressively heavier pack for progressively further distances should be a part of any pre-season program.

That being said, I’ve done every program MTNTOUGH has designed and they all have a place. Hiking alone will leave you with deficits, whether it’s strength, mobility, or top end cardio. MTNTOUGH has done a great job providing well rounded programs to follow during different parts of the year. In the strength and conditioning world, this equals specificity and progressive overload. It’s always worth a shot, and you get what you put into it. Follow it for a full program and track the differences.

 

[Southbow]

I just turned 59. Been working out and running for several years and stay in pretty good shape. I just signed up for MTNTOUGH yesterday to get the 50% off sale. I can do workouts on my own but for $10 a month this looks like a great way to keep up my motivation and have a variety of workout options.

Looking forward to trying the 9 week Pre Season Prep 50+ workout with Randy Newberg.

 

[Frontline Defense]

I just turned 59. Been working out and running for several years and stay in pretty good shape. I just signed up for MTNTOUGH yesterday to get the 50% off sale. I can do workouts on my own but for $10 a month this looks like a great way to keep up my motivation and have a variety of workout options.

Looking forward to trying the 9 week Pre Season Prep 50+ workout with Randy Newberg.

Thanks for the feedback. I’m 57 and will be almost 58 by my September MT Elk hunt. Former Army Ranger, I was a fitness stud back in the late 80’s. Not so much now, but that’s changing.

 

[mtnbound]

I have used MTNTOUGH on and off for years, but I quit because I felt there was too much focus on high-intensity work, much like some CrossFit programs. I prefer a more balanced program that doesn't leave me sore for days or so exhausted and fatigued that it affects my performance and makes me a liability as a first responder. I also disliked following a video workout and felt the app was mostly worthless because it didn't offer a good way to track workout results. That being said, it may be better now.

 

[thinhorn_AK]

I’d rather just carry a pack with the items I planned to carry on a hunt than do a bunch of movements that I wasn’t actually going to do in the backcountry and risk getting hurt. I am more into simplicity than anything else.

if you have the time and access then for sure. If I had hiking right out my back door or a mountain/trail a few minutes from my house that's what I would do. In fact, I have friends that only train that way and they have no issues, they also live within walking distance from trails of varying difficulty so that helps a lot.

For me, it's an hour to get to the trails, so that really cuts into training time when the days are short, I don't get off work until mid afternoon etc.

 

[offthebeatenpath]

It's also worth noting that they fully replaced the old app with a new app that adds a lot of features that folks were asking for. It's a definite upgrade from what it was.

I know next to nothing about app development, but what I gathered was that they've chosen to not have their own engineers on staff, partly to keep costs down, but that has come with other compromises along the way, having to choose from a la carte options from app developers instead of fully writing something unique from the ground up.

 

[Steven L]

I come from a sports background, have always worked out in some way, strong and fit but not jacked and the gym is definitely not my identity. I've tried a variety of methods/programs and I think MTN Tough is the best option but I recommend modifying it to match your goals and lifestyle. Primarily because I always found myself slipping into areas of strength that are comforting (deadlift, bench press, pullups, military, jogging) rather than areas of weakness I need to improve on (single leg movements, hip strength, rucking, high intensity cardio).

There is a lot of intensity and I really don't like being super sore while enjoying my sports so I modify. For example, I'm in the Post Season Strength 2.0 program right now. But I'm also an avid skier and want to be mostly fresh going into the weekend so I can ski hard. Rather than following their 5 day program back to back I pick 3 and roll over to the remaining 2 to the following week:
Monday - Strength workout (D1)
Tuesday - Conditioning workout (D2)
Wednesday - Light run, walk, and yoga
Thursday - Strength workout (D3)
Friday - light run and walk
Saturday - ski hard
Sunday - light ski day or rest day

During the summer:
Monday - strength workout
Tuesday - mountain bike (fun cardio)
Wednesday - wade fish (rest day)
Thursday - strength workout
Friday - run and yoga
Saturday - hike and scout
Sunday - golf (preferably walking)

Fwiw, yes they provide daily prayer and mental toughness content but I don't feel like it's pushed on me at all. They also offer mobility, yoga, injury rehab/prehab, and nutrition content...but ya don't have to engage with it just like you don't have to engage with the other stuff.

 

[mad_angler]

Does any one have any alternatives that are comparable? ...

I would recommend a look at Evoke Endurance. It is hard to argue with the science and the success they have had...

Backcountry Hunters

evokeendurance.com

 

[Steven L]

I would recommend a look at Evoke Endurance. It is hard to argue with the science and the success they have had...

Backcountry Hunters

evokeendurance.com

This is the first i've heard of Evoke Endurance and I definitely believe that to be a great option. Ironically I read Training for the Uphill Athlete by Scott Johnston and that started my more mountain-focused training + I've used Training Peaks to track my workouts for the last 4 years. I may give this a go!

 

[thinhorn_AK]

I currently use Mt Tough and like the programs. They are challenging both physically and mentally, I like that. I do not feel like I get blasted with the owner’s religious/political beliefs. If i am, then i must be doing a pretty good job of ignoring it.

I don't like listening to their daily "pep" talks either but once years ago the guy was talking about paddle buddies and how it can relate to real life, jobs, marriages, other relationships and it struck deep, I try to keep that philosophy in mind.

Basically when you're having a bad day, tough time, hard workout, the person next to you (could be a training partner, could be a wife, kid, co worker) could also be at their breaking point so give them encouragement instead of dumping your shit on them, help them get through that next paddle stroke rather than burdening them with your own negativity.

it sounds dumb but I do feel that it has helped my marriage in that when my wife gets home from work, instead of focusing on any negatives from my day, I build her up because maybe she had a bad day too.