Today (I wrote this text on the 7th of January, 2026), I was rucking in -10 degrees Celsius (14 degrees Fahrenheit). Was it exciting?
Yes, of course. Rucking in -10 degrees Celsius was truly exciting. Was I afraid of it? Yes, I was. I was truly frightened before I went out of the office on that day, to feel not only the almost 30 kg (66 lbs) on my back and shoulders, but also because I thought I wouldn’t manage to walk for almost an hour in a t-shirt (I had jeans, sneakers, a winter cap, and gloves). Was I cheating anyhow? Compared to my previous walking in summer clothes in frigid temperatures, I was cheating a little bit (but not that much, to not state that I was not rucking in -10 degrees Celsius). So what was the difference compared to previous winter walks?
I had a softshell in my hands.
I did not put it on myself. Still, I had something warming my hands. I believe that having a softshell helped me mentally to overcome the fear. After all, I could always stop and quickly put this softshell on myself. Luckily, I did not have to do it. Also, I shortened a little bit (by ~600 steps) the length of my walking. I did, because I was afraid of the cold, even though I felt I could do a normal distance. Nevertheless, I did not take a risk. Over the next few days, freezing temperatures will remain. I do not know what the future holds. I hope to ruck in frigid temperatures again.
Still, if the temperatures are like today, and I want to do street photography (today, it was too dark to do street photography), I will have to consider my priorities.
If street photography is my priority, I would have to put warm clothes on and take the softshell off, for example, while returning home. I am only human, not a demigod. Like all other people, I have my limitations. I think that -10 degrees Celsius is truly close to my limit.
