Cheap Ways to Add Weight to Group Workouts

There’s nothing like getting your buddies together for a group workout or ruck. The minutes and miles just seem to go by quicker. The problem is, unless you own a gym, it’s not always feasible to buy enough equipment for everybody. Here are a few easy and affordable ways to add weight to your next group ruck or workout. 

Cinder or Concrete Blocks

This may be the quickest and easiest way to add some legit weight to basic workout. Cinder or concrete blocks can be picked up for next to nothing and are readily available at your local hardware store. The terms are often used interchangeably. You can usually find basic concrete blocks at Lowes or Home Depot for under $2 a block. 

The cool thing about cinder blocks, besides being affordable, is that they’re easily stackable and the large holes that run through them make them easy to grab and handle. 

While blocks aren't a blast to carry around for great distance, you can easily incorporate them into your workouts. 

Log Carry

A staple of group rucks is a log carry. It sounds easy enough, but lifting and carrying a log requires being in sync with your team and everyone doing their part.

Unfortunately there’s no easy way to weigh a log, but you can use this log weight calculator for an accurate estimation.

Kettlebells

For the price of a cheap basketball, some PVC pipe, and quick drying concrete, you can make your own kettlebell. The more you make, the more you save. 

The summary of the project is this. Cut the basketball, fill it up with mixed concrete and PVC handles that you heated for flexibility. When everything dries, you can reseal the basketball and add paint if you want.

We never said these methods would look as good as the store-bought stuff. However, when you’re trying to outfit a large group ruck or workout, you might want to sacrifice appearance for something affordable and functional. Don't sweat it if it’s crude looking - as long as it does the job!