Inspired by CIA field agent experience and engineered for durability, the Spy Ruck empowers women to train smarter, stronger, and longer

GORUCK, the leader of the rucking revolution and maker of the most durable products on planet Earth, today announced the launch of the Spy Ruck, the company's first weighted vest designed specifically for women. Championed by GORUCK co-founder and former CIA Intelligence Officer Emily McCarthy, the Spy Ruck addresses a critical gap in the booming weighted walking market by delivering a female-focused solution built with the legendary durability that has made GORUCK the gold standard in rucking equipment.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251022133282/en/

Championed by GORUCK co-founder and former CIA Intelligence Officer Emily McCarthy, the Spy Ruck (GORUCK's new women's weighted vest) addresses a critical gap in the booming weighted walking market by delivering a female-focused solution built with the legendary durability that has made GORUCK the gold standard in rucking equipment.

This milestone marks a significant evolution for GORUCK as the company continues to lead the rucking phenomenon — a fitness movement which has continued to surge in mass adoption, with weighted walking becoming one of the year's most popular workouts. While rucking has gained mainstream attention as an accessible, effective workout, women have largely been underserved by gear designed with male bodies in mind. The Spy Ruck changes that.

“We’re thrilled to see this unprecedented surge in women getting into rucking, which has led to a surge in demand for weight vests,” said GORUCK Co-Founder Emily McCarthy. “We’ve heard from countless women wearing alternative products that the vests they were using reeked of chemical odors, caused skin irritations and rashes, and that rust from pellets used in the products stained their clothing. We wanted to ensure that when we brought a product to market, we did it right, that it met our standards, and as a brand, we could stand here today being proud of what we built. After thousands of pounds of prototypes and thousands of miles rucked during testing by me and the women who are part of our community, we arrived at the Spy Ruck. It’s built for women who are on a mission - and that’s all of us.”

Long before weighted vests became a social media trend, Emily and her husband, GORUCK co-founder Jason McCarthy, began building GORUCK in West Africa in 2008, where Emily was stationed, transforming rucking from a military training staple into an accessible, empowering fitness movement for people of all backgrounds. Drawing on her experience as a CIA field agent and her nearly two decades building GORUCK alongside Jason, Emily led the development of the Spy Ruck as a growing community of women has embraced rucking as a primary form of fitness. The result is a vest that combines field-tested intelligence with GORUCK's uncompromising build quality.

"Rucking has always worked because it's simple, effective, and inclusive," said Jason McCarthy, GORUCK founder and former Green Beret. "What Emily has championed with the Spy Ruck is ensuring that women have gear that truly serves them. This isn't trend-chasing. This is meeting the needs of a community that's been asking for this for years."

Rucking emerged as 2025's defining fitness trend, combining the accessibility of walking with the strength-building benefits of weighted training. Studies show that carrying weight while walking burns 20-30% more calories than walking alone, increases bone density, supporting longevity, and builds both cardiovascular endurance and full-body strength, with a significantly lower injury rate than running.

GORUCK has fostered a community of hundreds of thousands of active ruckers with over 700 local ruck clubs across the globe, providing free social fitness opportunities that emphasize real-world connection and accessible wellness through over 10,000 events since 2010. With the Spy Ruck, GORUCK ensures that more women can participate in this movement with gear designed specifically for female frames.

The Spy Ruck embodies GORUCK’s signature craftsmanship, refined with design elements tailored for women. Constructed primarily from 420D Robic fabric, the Spy Ruck delivers exceptional durability while maintaining a lightweight feel. Subtle, strategically placed reflective accents enhance visibility and safety in low-light conditions. The streamlined silhouette contours comfortably to the female form, ensuring balanced stability and weight distribution for a steady carry. Padded shoulder straps provide lasting comfort during extended wear, while the steel pellets are both odorless and rust-resistant for long-term use. Thanks to the soft, wicking stretch interior fabric, the Spy Ruck is comfortable enough to wear directly against the skin.

The Spy Ruck is available in Black, Desert Rock, Storm colorways, and in 8lb ($89), 12lb ($99), and 16lb ($109) options to accommodate all fitness levels.

Like all GORUCK products, the Spy Ruck is backed by the company's SCARS Lifetime Guarantee, reflecting a commitment to building gear that lasts. For more information about the Spy Ruck and GORUCK's full line of rucking gear, training resources, and community events, visit goruck.com.

Imagery can be found HERE

About GORUCK

Founded in 2008 by former Green Beret, Jason McCarthy, and CIA field agent Emily McCarthy, GORUCK is headquartered in Jacksonville Beach, FL. Jason’s commitment to the Special Forces way of life, coupled with what he had learned in war, inspired him to build a “go-bag”, or “go-ruck” for his wife, Emily, who was working in French-speaking West Africa. The bag was meant for her to keep in her vehicle and at home, ready to go at all times.

This “go-bag” would serve as the catalyst for what eventually became GORUCK’s original piece of gear, the GR1. It took over two years to design and manufacture the rucksacks and ensure they would thrive in both Baghdad and NYC — Green Berets and spies were the judge and jury of quality and functionality.

GORUCK prides itself on building the toughest rucking & workout gear on the planet backed by its SCARS Lifetime Guarantee, offering rucksacks, footwear, apparel, ruck plates, training gear, and more. The company builds every style from the ground up, working with everyone from Special Forces Soldiers to Intelligence Professionals to World Champion Athletes to test, iterate, and build the best.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251022133282/en/

"After thousands of pounds of prototypes and thousands of miles rucked during testing by me and the women who are part of our community, we arrived at the Spy Ruck. It’s built for women who are on a mission - and that’s all of us.”