Training Weight Bags

[COlineman78]

I just started doing some pack weight training and was looking to figure out a good cheap way to make a weight bag. I sifted through some ideas and settled on what I think is the best cheapest solution and thought I'd share it.

What you'll need:
1) 40lb Wood Fuel Pellets - $4 - http://www.homedepot.com/p/40-lb-Wood-Pellets-N-A/206392962
2) Military Style Laundry Bag - $8-15 - https://www.rothco.com/product/rothco-gi-type-canvas-barracks-bag
3) 3x 11" Zip Ties - $2 - http://www.harborfreight.com/11-in-black-cable-ties-100-pk-60277.html
4) Duct Tape or 6x 24" Zip Ties - $2 - http://www.harborfreight.com/24-in-heavy-duty-cable-ties-10-pk-62720.html

What to do:
1) Empty the Pellets into the laundry bag

2) Place 3 zip ties approx 6" down from the top. Once as tight as possible I cut them tight and I filed them down to remove any sharp edges.

3) Turn sideways and distribute the weight as much as possible vertically and fold over the excess fabric. Here you have 2 choices: Duct Tape or very large zip ties.Both work fairly well. If you use zip ties repeat the steps above and smooth the rough edges with a file.

Here it is in my Exo 3500:

 

[Cant hit em]

Awesome i did 80 lbs this week , cinched plates inside my pack . It sucked i might try this

 

[tttoadman]

I have the 40# pellet bag for my normal treadmill bag. That works pretty good.

For heavier loading, I got some pretty cheap stuff. I bought a couple of roll top dry bags from Bi-Mart and some pea gravel. 20# of pea gravel is about 1.5X the size of a football. I can fit 2 wide in the packs. Easy way to get lots of adjustable weight.

 

[ezmorningrebel]

i use a 40# bag of water softener salt pellets wrapped in a black trash bag.

 

[mrbillbrown]

I use a 20# and 40# bag of unscented cat litter. They came in a tyvex like bag and super cheap. No need for trash bag wrap the past few hundred miles.

 

[Travis1984]

Just buy sand bags, cover in duct tape. Less then 8$ out the door...

 

[neverquit]

I have been using diferant sized bags of dog food for the last few years to reach the weight I'm looking for Once the bag begins to wear I feed it to my dog.

 

[oldgoat]

I bought a 30# bag of kitty litter, going to wrap it in stretch wrap, I don't want anything that will attract vermin to my pack, already read a post about somebody having mice chew into their bags. If I need more than that ill just add another bag of it or my Dromedary bag full of water.

 

[BroodBuster]

I use 40#s of kitty litter. I keep all of my shrimp and crabbing ropes in those buckets they come in so I feel like I get some value out of the purchase.

I do like the idea of forming the stuff sack with some duct tape as now it's all just a lump at the bottom of the pack.

 

[WoodBow]

I use an 80# bag of sakrete. I just put it in a garbage bag and duct taped it. I prefer it because it holds its shape well.

 

[KDF]

Where I live there are tons (literally) of stones everywhere. I load up some clothes or a sleeping bag in the bottom of the pack and throw a 30 to 50 pound stone in the pack. If I am feeling good I can add another stone along the way, and if I don't have it that day I can jettison the stone along the way.

 

[5MilesBack]

I never was much of a practice guy. I prefer the real thing, so I just wait until it's time to pack meat and then do that. But I have been known to strap a couple 45lb plates to my frame and haul them around in the past. I still prefer the meat loads.

 

[snowcamoman]

I too like the water softener bags. I put them into a contractors bag in case the salt ever leaked out of the factory bag. The overall size of the salt bags is perfect for a pack. It's not a big cylinder, but more of a flatter, rectangular shape similar to my SG Load Cell.

 

[hammer0419]

I use a Stone Glacier load cell. It is made rectangular so whatever filled with the load is not bulging all over. I have 45lbs of corn in it. I throw a 10L bladder in as well. I usually walk at night with 70++ lbs

 

[Dos Perros]

Just buy sand bags, cover in duct tape. Less then 8$ out the door...

This is what I do, the tube sand bags. If you're particular about small amounts of sand getting out just put in a trash sack first. I think I bought two 60# bags for less than 10 bucks.

 

[MattB]

I made a frame out of 4" pipe and some 90 and T connectors that is pretty slick. Filled with sand it is ~30# and has really good structure unlike most other training weights.

 

[goldenarrow]

50# bag of chicken feed in a trash bag wrapped in duct tape. Eventually I will give it to the chickens and get a new one for the pack. Only cost is the trash bag and the tape because I need the chicken feed anyway.

 

[William Hanson (live2hunt)]

Midgets work best, plus you get the added cardio and strength training of wrestling them into a burlap sack. Word of warning though, don't compress them to tight as dead midgets don't keep long and new ones may be difficult to come by.

 

[BroodBuster]

Well damn! That worked well. Thanks for sharing!

I wrapped my kitty litter bag like you showed and once wrapped a few times with duct tape I thought what the hell and just kept wrapping it into the shape I wanted. Damn, that worked well. It just melted into my T1 during tonight's evening walk. Now I've gotta make a 60# version and I'll throw the 40#'s in my Exo.

Thanks again!

 

[_RJ_]

PIG egg. Sand bag, dirt, duct tape. So easy a grunt can do it.