News

What is Rucking? Your Questions Answered Here

Published

5 years ago

April 21, 2020

A fortifying physical activity with tons of health benefits that are mental, social, and physical has entered the civilian world from its origins in the United States Army Special Forces, which you’ve probably heard called the Green Berets. Basic training graduates remember (not without some vitriol) the hated ruck march or, as the U.S. Marines call it, the hump. For the uninitiated, a ruck march is a relatively fast-paced march over long distances with a sizeable amount of weight in a rucksack. Ruck marching has come to the civilian world as a toned-down variant of the Green Beret version and on this side of the dividing line, it’s called rucking. The health benefits of rucking are numerous and varied. In addition to providing excellent cardio, rucking can build upper body strength about as effectively as push-ups and work out your glutes as well as lunges ever could.

Because of all these health benefits, rucking is excellent preparation for hiking long distances in the backcountry on a camping trip or backpacking adventure. The improved posture most ruckers gain from rucking for even a short time usually relieves some of the stiffness and lower back pain familiar to many outdoor enthusiasts who are likely puzzling over the source of such pain.

This foundation of Special Forces Training is also a great way to get yourself outside on your training program rather than being stuck inside all the time with treadmills, barbells, and dumbbells. The weighted pack used in rucking can be filled with weight plates or sandbags to match the weight of the pack you actually carry with you when you strike out on a camping trip or hiking excursion.

One of the most appealing benefits of rucking is that the strain required to attain the physical health benefits in your posture, glutes, and upper body is not so strenuous that you won’t be able to carry on a conversation while you’re rucking. In the majority of cases, enthusiasts join together to form small crews or simply go rucking with their friends. Everyone gets to know one another better and improve their fitness level with some spirited physical activity. Additionally, rucking can be done virtually anywhere. If there’s no time to trek out to a proper trailhead, you can treat rucking like urban hiking. Many don their weighted backpack and head out rucking right from their own front door. Read on to discover everything a civilian needs to know to start their rucking training program.

People walking outside with orange leaves.

Rucking is a rejuvenating physical activity that will provide various health benefits to people of all ages.

GORUCK and other rucking equipment

One of the most central companies to rucking as physical activity is GORUCK, one of the originators of rucking which was founded by a former Green Beret. If you take a look at their product line you’ll get a good idea of what kind of gear is important on short rucks, longer rucks, and everything in between. The three things you absolutely cannot be without if you plan to go rucking for any distance at all are the right shoes, plenty of water, and, as the name would imply, a rucksack. Many readers may know all about how to select the right hiking shoes or hiking boots and what kind of rucksack they need for backpacking, but rucking has different requirements that are unique to this particular pastime.

Let’s start off with the rucksack. Perhaps up to now, you’ve been imagining carrying the same rucksack you have for hiking and backpacking excursions along with you when you go rucking. Technically, that is one option, and one of the benefits of rucking is that it can get you acclimated to carrying your normal pack out on a hiking trail, but if you just want to go out on a quick rucking jaunt without having to bother with all your actual gear or carrying around a possibly gangly and awkward full-on camping and hiking rucksack, consider one of the more streamlined rucking rucks from a company like GORUCK.

The GORUCK rucksack is smaller and more streamlined, so it’s much easier to match the weight and balance distribution of your real pack with sandbags, barbells, dumbbells, or ruck plates with the smaller GORUCK bag than it is to deal with the hassle of all your real camping equipment and packing it all into a full-size rucksack just to go out on a simple 4-mile ruck.

Next, let’s talk about the shoes you need for proper rucking. Just like with the rucksack, you may be thinking of your actual hiking boots, and once again that does make some sense, but one thing to consider is that rucking is meant to be a training program, so why not develop the muscles on your feet and ankles while you’re reaping the benefits of rucking on a comparatively easier training program?

If you switch to lightweight, low-cut shoes, then your ankles will have to engage to support your body weight in the way that hiking boots normally do. If you rely too much on your hiking boots you may face some trouble in the event that they aren’t around once when you need them. To keep your whole body at an at least usable fitness level, it’s smart to work out every part of it during controlled physical activity like a rucking training program.

Finally, every rucker will find out after they try rucking for the first time that rucking really makes you thirsty. There are plenty of water bottles available on the market and for this third critical piece of gear, we’ll go off-book and say that yes, you should bring the same water equipment with you rucking that you would take with you hiking or out to a backcountry campsite.

Whether it’s a Nalgene water bottle or a Camelbak, make sure you bring enough with you to get through the whole planned rucking track. This is one of the nicest things about rucking if you are going out for a quick workout with more of an urban hiking vibe: it’s really easy to replenish drinking water if you’re urban hiking, as cafes and shops are either obliging when it comes to refilling water bottles or else sell water refills for fairly cheap.

Man walking across a field with mountains.

For an added challenge, try longer rucks with extra weight and a higher elevation gain.

How much weight can I take rucking?

This is a central question with rucking since the amount of weight you have in the rucking rucksack is what makes rucking such a challenging physical activity with so many health benefits. Logically, you can probably see that it’s most beneficial to work up to the weight of your actual pack if you are using rucking as a training program for real hikes. If you’re using rucking as a training program to raise your overall fitness level, then you may even want to go beyond that and build toward longer rucks. The most important thing to note when you are considering how heavy a weighted backpack should be for you when you go rucking for the first time is your personal fitness level, the amount of physical activity you’re used to, and what particular health benefits you’re trying to gain.

If you aren’t boasting a high fitness level and aren’t that experienced with carrying a loaded rucksack in general and it’s your first time rucking, then it’s probably advisable that you start rucking without even carrying a rucksack at all, much less a weighted backpack. It may sound odd, given its name, to go rucking without a rucksack, but one of the most powerful health benefits of rucking is how it can strengthen and correct your posture, which will save you lower back pain and help you carry a heavier rucksack after some time developing your lower back and upper body strength. Since posture is so critical and developing bad posture can really hold you back out on the trail, every rucker should make sure they’re walking with the correct form before they even start rucking. The process is simple but it will take some getting used to; don’t expect to get it immediately the first time you try rucking.

Correct posture while rucking

When you’re rucking, just like when you’re long-distance hiking and running, you generally want a slight forward lean with your whole body. Don’t imagine you’ll be bending much, the forward lean is very, very slight. It will increase slightly depending on elevation and speed, but it’s not like taking a bow at a theater and shouldn’t be such a severe lean that you can’t keep your eyes straight ahead at a spot about 10 feet ahead of you. Bear in mind that most of the work of walking is done in the glutes and hamstrings and when you lean too far forward with a bend at the hips you are putting your glutes and hamstrings at a disadvantageous position. Your hips should be pushed forward slightly so that your abdomen is ever so slightly concave.

Many people naturally tend to bend forward at the hip when they carry a heavy rucksack, especially when going uphill, but this puts your body in the wrong alignment and risks injury and overuse to the most critical parts of your body for walking. As you go downhill you may feel more of a leaning forward because of gravity’s pull on you, but that’s perfectly natural. The best way to reap the benefits of rucking on your posture development is to make sure that you are not leaning forward too far when you are out rucking, and this is something you can concentrate on perfecting while rucking without a rucksack. When you have the right form, you can get the rucksack and start to steadily increase the amount of weight inside. If you find it extremely difficult to go rucking with a straight posture, you need to work out your core muscles more before you’ll be able to continue.

How to add weight to a rucking training program

If you’ve sufficiently worked out your core muscles and have found it getting increasingly easier and easier to walk with immaculate posture while you’re out rucking, then you’re ready to add the eponymous rucksack to your rucking training program. Just like you started out slow on your first time rucking, you should also take it slow once you start rucking with a weighted backpack for the first time. Don’t immediately add fifty pounds into the rucksack or you’ll possibly injure yourself and not only get behind on your training program but also wreck any progress you’ve made posture-wise if you’re sufficiently laid-out to keep you away from even urban hiking for a long enough period of time. The right amount of weight when you start carrying a weighted backpack for the first time should be enough that you don’t notice it too much and can continue to make sure your posture is correct.

As you increase the amount of weight you’re carrying, you should do it by small increments so you can continue to work on your posture and make sure you’re walking in the right form to continue supporting a heavy rucksack. Don’t add any amount of weight at all to your rucksack until you can reach your own personal top walking speed without any rucksack at all. Don’t increase the amount of weight you’re carrying with you in your rucksack until you’re completely comfortable carrying the previous amount of weight at your own personal top speed. This will ensure that you continue getting the most cardio you can out of your rucking training program. Every now and again, consider going on longer rucks or adding one or two rucks of long distances before you increase the amount of weight you’re carrying. That way, you can add endurance to the cardio, heart rate, and general fitness level improvements you gain from rucking.

Men standing in the middle of the forest.

Rucking is used to train Green Berets but also outside the Special Forces to prepare groups of hikers for heavy rucks on backpacking expeditions.

Weights to use when rucking

Rucking is so versatile because it can be done as urban hiking or out on a backcountry trail. Similarly, what you use to make your weighted backpack can be absolutely anything. Some ruckers use pavers they find on the street while others use old schoolbooks that have taught all the lessons they can. Professional rucking gear is available from manufacturers like GORUCK, including ruck plates, which allow for precise weight to be added to the rucksack. You can also use sandbags, dumbbells, or barbells to increase the amount of weight you have in your rucksack. If everything is going well posture and cardio-wise and you want to increase the amount of weight you’re carrying on your next rucking excursion, you can mix the source of your weighted backpack’s weight. Heavy rucks may be too large an increment, so consider adding a small sandbag or a textbook alongside the ruck plates.

To avoid a complete mess in your rucksack when you get back from your rucking outing and prevent any damage to the rucksack itself, you’ll want to properly wrap your weight plate alternatives if you aren’t using ruck plates specifically constructed for rucking. If you’re using pavers or some other material you found while urban hiking to add extra weight to your rucksack, consider wrapping them up in bubble wrap to prevent them from causing damage to the inside of the weighted backpack. If you’re using sandbags, especially DIY sandbags, wrap them up really tightly in multiple layers of high-grade duct-tape to make sure you don’t have a loose sand disaster in the rucksack when you finish rucking. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can use your favorite beverages to add extra weight to your rucksack. Of course, by the time you get finished rucking you may not have a weighted backpack anymore.

How far should I go on a rucking excursion?

Don’t kill yourself trying to carry the same amount of weight that the Green Berets do, especially if you’re reading this guide in preparation for your first time out rucking. You also don’t have to go the same distance every time you go rucking. Just remain fairly consistent with your rucking training program so you can really reap all the fitness level increases and other health benefits from rucking. For a fine rule of thumb, try to ruck a 15-minute mile. That’s slightly quicker than a normal walking speed, more or less, and if it’s difficult for you you can definitely aim for that time without overly stressing yourself.

Rucking over long distances is certainly the way the Special Forces do it, but if you’re looking for a quick-start physical activity to increase your fitness level without having to dedicate an entire afternoon to it or even something you can easily do on a treadmill in half an hour of free time, then rucking is your best bet. If you have an hour, try rucking 2 miles and then turning around. If you’re going along making 15-minute miles, then that’s a fine pace. Like the other aspects of rucking, the distance you ruck is ultimately up to you and your personal goals, but it’s not something that can be rushed. Rucking is a slow burn but an invigorating one.

Pair of black running shoes and black dumbbells.

The right pair of lightweight shoes and dumbbells or ruck plates for extra weight in the rucksack are integral for proper rucking.

Final Verdict:

Rucking comes to us civilians from the Green Berets and it is one of the foundations of Special Forces training, but it’s not only for those who want to get to that extremely high fitness level. Anyone who carries a weighted backpack for school, camping, hiking, or backpacking will enjoy the many health benefits of rucking that begin to appear fairly quickly after you go rucking for the first time. If you keep up a vigorous rucking training program, you’ll find you have a stronger upper body, less lower back pain, and more developed hamstrings and glutes that will help you next time you’re out with a weight to carry.

Best of all, the posture benefits of rucking will train you to walk with your head held high no matter where you are or where you’re going. It’s not only the cardio and increased fitness level that should draw you into rucking, but also the mental clarity it gives to each individual rucker. Furthermore, you can go rucking with just about anybody. Everyone can add whatever amount of weight they desire to their own rucksack. Some may even tag along without any rucksack at all just because it’s pleasant to take a walk and have a chat. There are many health benefits to be had from rucking but what keeps people rucking is more likely to be the overwhelmingly positive experiences and the growing sense of a personal community that builds up as you go rucking more and more. Now that you’ve been briefed on its various aspects, get out there and go rucking for yourself to reap all of its various health benefits and social appeal.

Bonus tip: Watch this video from GoRuck to find out what essentials you need to start rucking!

News

The Best Snacks to Bring on a Hike

Published

2 years ago

April 30, 2023

rokumedia

Hiking is an enjoyable and rewarding activity, but it can also be physically demanding. To ensure you have the energy to make it to the top of your next peak or trail, you need to bring along snacks that will provide you with sustained energy throughout your hike.

But what are the best snacks for a hike? There are many different factors at play when choosing snacks for a hike: nutritional value, ease of packing and storage, convenience when eating on-the-go, etc.

In this article we’ll discuss what types of snacks are best for a hike, how to choose healthy and nutritious ones that provide energy, ideas for easy-to-pack snacks that don’t require refrigeration or heating, how to store food safely while on a hike as well as tips on when and how often should you eat and drink during your trek. So let’s get started!

How to Choose Healthy Snacks for a Hike

When selecting snacks for a hike, it’s to choose ones that are rich in both carbohydrates and proteins. Carbohydrates will give you energy while proteins help your muscles recover after exercise. Aim to pack snacks that have natural sources of carbohydrates like grains, fruits, vegetables and nuts as well as protein-rich options such as meats, dairy products, beans and legumes. Try to stay away from processed foods with added sugars or artificial ingredients.

Easy-to-Pack Snacks That Don’t Require Refrigeration or Heating

Snacking on the trail doesn’t require any elaborate preparation – there are plenty of delicious snacks that don’t require refrigeration or heating. Here are some great snack ideas for your hike:

Whole wheat sandwiches filled with nut butter and sliced fruits or vegetables, such as apples, carrots or cucumbers.
Nuts and seeds like almonds, walnuts, cashews, peanuts and sunflower seeds.
Fruits like bananas, oranges and grapes are easy to pack and carry along the trail.
Energy bars that contain natural ingredients like oats, honey and dried fruits are a great source of energy when you’re on-the-go.
Trail mix – a combination of nuts, dried fruit and other snacks makes an excellent hiking fuel.

How to Store Food Safely While on a Hike

When you’re out in the wilderness, it’s important to take steps to properly store your food. This will keep animals away and help to prevent contamination. Here are some tips for storing food safely while on a hike:

Pack snacks into sealable plastic bags or containers that can be securely closed.
Hang the bags or containers from a tree branch at least 10 feet above ground.
Keep food away from your sleeping area by at least 200 feet.
When returning home, dispose of any remnants of food in trash receptacles only – never leave them along hiking trails!

When to Eat and Drink During a Hike

In order to stay hydrated and energized on your hike, it’s important to plan ahead. Eating small snacks throughout the day will help keep your energy levels up, so it’s a good idea to pack more than you think you need.

It’s also important to drink plenty of water when out in the wilderness – dehydration can lead to fatigue and impair physical performance. Drink water every 15 minutes while hiking and take regular breaks during the day in order to refuel with food and fluids.

See also: How to Pack for a Day Hike

Benefits of Bringing Good Snacks on a Hike

Having nutritious snacks along your hike has many benefits:

It helps maintain your energy levels by providing sustained fuel throughout the day.
Nourishing snacks can help to prevent fatigue, muscle cramps and headaches caused by dehydration.
Eating regularly helps your body recover quickly after exercise.
It’s a great way to stay motivated and focused while on the trail.

Great Snack Options for Hikers

To recap, some of the best snacks to bring on a hike are ones that are nutritionally balanced and easy to pack and store. Some great snack options include: whole wheat sandwiches, nuts and seeds, fruits, energy bars and trail mix. Remember to drink plenty of water throughout the day in order to stay hydrated!

Conclusion

When it comes to packing snacks for a hike, it’s important to choose ones that provide both carbohydrates and proteins. Aim for snacks that are easy to pack and store, such as sandwiches, nuts and seeds, fruits, energy bars or trail mix. Don’t forget to stay hydrated with plenty of water throughout the day!

FAQs

Q: What types of snacks should I bring on a hike?

A: The best snacks to bring on a hike are ones that have both carbohydrates and proteins. Try packing whole wheat sandwiches, nuts and seeds, fruits, energy bars or trail mix.

Q: How often should I drink while hiking?

A: It’s important to stay hydrated while out in the wilderness – aim to drink water every 15 minutes while hiking. Take regular breaks during the day in order to refuel with food and fluids.

Q: What are some benefits of bringing good snacks on a hike?

A: Eating nutritious snacks while hiking can help maintain your energy levels, prevent fatigue and muscle cramps, and aid in recovery after exercise. It’s also a great way to stay motivated and focused!

Q: How should I store food while on a hike?

A: Pack snacks into sealable plastic bags or containers that can be securely closed. Hang the bags or containers from a tree branch at least 10 feet above ground, and keep food away from your sleeping area by at least 200 feet. When returning home, dispose of any remnants of food in trash receptacles only – never leave them along hiking trails!

Q: What are some easy-to-pack snacks that don’t require refrigeration or heating?

A: Some great snack options for a hike include sandwiches, nuts and seeds, fruits, energy bars or trail mix – all of which can be easily packed without the need for refrigeration or heating.

Q: Are there any special considerations when choosing snacks for a hike?

A: Yes – aim to choose snacks that are nutritionally balanced and easy to pack and store. Try to avoid sugary or processed snacks, as these can cause energy crashes. Also, if you’re planning on eating during the hike, make sure that you have plenty of water available in order to stay hydrated!

Q: When should I eat and drink during a hike?

A: Drink water every 15 minutes while hiking and take regular breaks during the day in order to refuel with food and fluids. Eating regularly helps your body recover quickly after exercise, so try to have snacks available throughout the day.

Q: What are some great snack options for hikers?

A: Some great snack options include: whole wheat sandwiches, nuts and seeds, fruits, energy bars and trail mix. Remember to drink plenty of water throughout the day in order to stay hydrated!

Q: What are the benefits of bringing good snacks on a hike?

Q: What snacks should I avoid packing for a hike?

A: Try to avoid sugary or processed snacks, as these can cause energy crashes. Also, anything that requires refrigeration or heating is best left at home – aim to choose snacks that are easy-to-pack and store, such as sandwiches, nuts and seeds, fruits, energy bars or trail mix.

Q: How do I choose healthy snacks for a hike?

A: Aim to choose snacks that are nutritionally balanced and easy to pack and store. Try to avoid sugary or processed snacks, as these can cause energy crashes. Choose snacks that provide both carbohydrates and proteins, such as sandwiches, nuts and seeds, fruits, energy bars or trail mix – all of which are easy-to-pack and don’t require refrigeration or heating.

Q: What else should I consider when packing snacks for a hike?

A: Make sure that you have plenty of water available in order to stay hydrated. Also, store your food securely while on the trail by hanging it 10 feet above ground and keeping it away from your sleeping area. Finally, dispose of any remnants of food in trash receptacles only – never leave them along hiking trails!

News

What to Consider While Choosing the Right Women’s Motocross Gear?

Published

2 years ago

December 20, 2022

Jonas Muthoni

Buying the right women’s motocross gear is not a cakewalk!

One of the most important aspects of getting the appropriate gear is knowing what to look for and what to shun when buying dirt bike gear.

It can be helpful to choose the correct equipment for you if you are new to motocross or other dirt-biking activities.

So how can you pick the greatest motocross equipment? You can choose the appropriate women’s motocross gear for your trip using the guidelines and recommendations in this post.

Choose the Right Fit

Neither your clothing nor your accessories should ever be excessively tight or too loose. The equipment should be just snug enough to stay on your body and do its job of protecting you in the event of an accident. Look for adjustable items like pants with an adjustable waist so you can get a better fit.

You should sit down and pretend to be riding the bike as you try the gear on. This is important since it guarantees that the equipment is not uncomfortable or restricts your motions. When you sit down in a riding position, the gear may not appear to be too big on you even though it may first appear that way. You don’t want your clothing, such as your sleeves or your jeans, to ride up, exposing your flesh and raising your chance of getting hurt.

Water Resistance

Your ride will be more convenient if your gear has water-resistance qualities. You can buy separate rain gear or purchase waterproof clothing.

Even with removable waterproof linings, external textiles continue to absorb water, and you will still get wet. They may also heat up, feel uncomfortable, and add weight.

Don’t Overlook its Durability

Women’s motocross pants are often constructed from denier, nylon, or polyester fabric. Both nylon and polyester are incredibly comfortable to wear and dry extremely rapidly. This kind of fabric is durable and retains its quality even after multiple washing. High-denier material is designed to make your possible motocross pants more robust.

Price

When selecting the appropriate equipment for you, the cost is yet another important factor. Most people don’t have an endless supply of money to spend on dirt bike equipment. Some items are worth a little bit more money than others, but you can get away with buying some items on a budget. When purchasing crucial items like helmets, for instance, you get what you pay for, therefore spending more on these items can result in safer products.

Consider how much you can afford to spend, then begin looking at the equipment that is within your spending limit. You can get things that suit your demands and budget range.

Ventilation

Ventilation is a factor that is frequently disregarded when purchasing dirt bike equipment. It might be uncomfortable to ride in something that doesn’t have good ventilation and breathability. This is especially true if you ride during the sweltering summer. Air can flow freely through your gear and be wicked away from your body by materials with good ventilation and breathability. By doing so, you’ll be able to be more comfortable even when the outside temperature is higher.

Conclusion

Considering these factors will help you choose the right motocross gear for women that may not only offer maximum protection but perfectly cater to your needs and budget. Always remember to be safe!

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News

Off-Season ATV Maintenance

Published

2 years ago

November 19, 2022

Jonas Muthoni

When dealing with vehicles, proper maintenance goes a long way toward preventing unnecessary expenses and ensuring the vehicle’s longevity; an ATV is no different in this regard. However, knowing how to take care of your ATV is arguably more important for many reasons, including safety. ATV maintenance during “riding” season is relatively easy. Still, things usually take a different turn once the riding season is over.

Unfortunately, most people often forget to undertake proper ATV maintenance during winter, and as you would expect, they mostly end up paying dearly for it once it’s ATV season again, as their quads are usually significantly damaged.

Do you have an ATV? If you do and you’re looking for tips on how to carry out proper off-season ATV maintenance, read on to discover some of the best ways to ensure your ATV remains in perfect condition all season long.

Garages and ATV Covers

The first thing you’ll want to put on your ATV maintenance checklist is shelter and storage location. As you well know, your ATV is as much a vehicle as your car is. Basically, this means that just as your car requires shelter to protect it from weathering, especially during winter, your ATV also requires the same. You could even argue that providing shelter or cover for your ATV is even more important than doing the same for your car. You should also note that shielding your ATV from direct exposure to sunlight during summer is also important because the sun can also damage your ATV when you leave it exposed for too long.

If you have a garage, you should ensure to park your ATV inside it to effectively shield it from weathering damage. However, the fact remains that not everyone has access to a garage, and even if you did, your garage would only protect your ATV from “some” of the effects of weathering, not all. So, if you have an ATV, you should consider getting an ATV cover. ATV covers are designed to effectively shield your ATV from harsh environmental effects, ensuring they’ll remain in excellent condition regardless of the weather.

You may be thinking, “Why can’t I just use a random blanket or cloth from my home to cover my ATV?” The answer is simple; those clothes and blankets are not designed for ATV protection. If you use them, you’ll have water building up under them, eventually leading to mold and mildew growth, causing even more damage. With ATV covers, on the other hand, water under the cover will always evaporate quickly, so you can be sure your quad-wheeler will remain perfectly dry and mold-free. In addition, their unique design means you’ll be able to use ATV covers all year round, indoors and outdoors, to protect your ATV from the effects of weathering effectively.

Check Air Filter

Access to clean air is crucial for your ATV to function properly, and if your ATV’s air system is contaminated, it could lead to ATV engine issues. Therefore, you must ensure to check your ATV air filter system from time to time during your quad maintenance to ensure that no small animals or insects have made nests in your filter system. You’ll also want to ensure no dirt or debris clogs your air filter. To do this, simply locate the air filter cover (you should find it in the back of your ATV, under the bed). Once you’ve seen it, take off the cover and then look inside to be sure it’s clean.

Battery Maintenance

Another ATV maintenance task you’ll want to add to your ATV service checklist is battery evaluation and maintenance. Just like a regular car, ATV batteries become less effective or damaged over time when the ATV isn’t used, especially after exposure to cold or freezing weather. So you should ensure to start your ATV from time to time and just let the battery charge to ensure it doesn’t become dead before spring. In addition, you should know that there are different types of ATV batteries on the market, and some are more suited to cold temperatures than others. So you’ll also want to ensure you get the best cold weather ATV battery you can find if you plan on leaving the battery in the ATV all winter long. On the other hand, you could opt to remove the ATV’s battery and connect it to a trickle charger that will help ensure you don’t end up having a dead battery by spring; which is what will likely happen if you just remove the ATV’s battery and drop it somewhere in your home or garage.

Change Engine Oil

An engine oil change is a regular part of every automobile maintenance and should be part of your ATV maintenance checklist. You should always check your ATV’s engine oil state, especially if you haven’t used the ATV in a long while. This is because debris and dirt might have somehow gotten into your oil filter, and this will make the engine oil sticky and thick. Running your ATV with this oil content will likely result in engine damage, and fixing a damaged ATV engine will undoubtedly cost you a significant amount of money. So instead of dealing with lousy engine problems, simply make sure to swap out the bad oil for quality, fresh engine oil.

Tire Check

If you have a car, you’ll most likely notice that when you leave it parked for an extended period, the tires will tend to lose pressure and go flat. The same applies to an ATV, so proper tire care is essential to proper four-wheeler maintenance. You’ll want to check your tire pressure levels periodically during the off-season. If they’re lower than what they should be, you could opt to use a tire pump to get them back in the proper condition. Also, keep an eye out for damaged or worn-out ATV tires so you can replace them before riding the ATV again.

Other ATV maintenance tips you should add to your ATV maintenance checklist include the following: