Sebastien Lagree on His Method & the Future of Fitness
Sebastien Lagree, founder of the Lagree Method, shares how he turned a personal passion into a high-intensity, low-impact fitness phenomenon and what the future of fitness will be Sebastien Lagree didn’t set out to launch a fitness empire. When he moved to Los Angeles in 1998 to pursue acting, he was just looking for a […]
Sebastien Lagree, founder of the Lagree Method, shares how he turned a personal passion into a high-intensity, low-impact fitness phenomenon and what the future of fitness will be
Sebastien Lagree didn’t set out to launch a fitness empire. When he moved to Los Angeles in 1998 to pursue acting, he was just looking for a way to support himself.
“I needed a job to stay afloat,” Lagree told Athletech News. “I was bodybuilding at the time, so a lot of people wanted to train with me. It all started very organically.”
He began working with clients out of a hybrid studio that offered traditional weight training upstairs and Pilates equipment below. “I had no idea what Pilates was until I was asked to start teaching it,” he recalled. “But it didn’t resonate with me. There was too much stopping and starting and it lacked the kind of intensity I loved from bodybuilding.”
What followed was not a tweak to an existing modality, but a reinvention. With the owner’s permission, Lagree began using the equipment in unconventional ways, integrating his knowledge of strength training, time under tension and progressive overload.
“I wasn’t teaching Pilates anymore,” he said. “I was creating something new: on the same equipment, yes, but with completely different intent and execution.”
This idea evolved into the Lagree Method: a high-intensity, low-impact training system that targets every major muscle group while protecting joints and connective tissue. In 2001, Lagree opened his first studio. By 2006, he officially renamed the method, dropping any Pilates association in favor of something more accurate: Lagree Fitness.
The method’s success has attracted loyal clients and increasingly, imitators.
“Right now, I’m dealing with counterfeits and replicas coming in from overseas,” Lagree said. “There are studios using machines that look similar, claiming to teach my method, but it’s not the same. And in some cases, it’s not even safe.”
Lagree’s commitment to innovation is his answer to the copycat problem. With over 200 patents and more on the way, he’s developing a new generation of intelligent, digitally connected machines that will make tracking performance more meaningful.
“When you lift weights, you know you’re getting stronger because you can lift more,” he explained. “But in the Lagree Method, progress is based on time, speed, alignment and range of motion. It’s hard to measure improvement without the right tools. That’s what we’re building.”
By 2030, Lagree envisions machines that are fully computerized and highly personalized. “You’ll upload your data to the machine and it will adjust your workout in real time,” he said. “You’ll be able to see, with precision, how your strength, endurance and control are improving week to week.”
Lagree is also focused on the broader potential of fitness, particularly its connection to spirituality.
“I’m working on a documentary right now about the connection between fitness and spirituality,” he said. “For me, working out is a form of meditation. It’s the most important thing I do each day. It keeps me grounded. It connects me to something bigger.”
This philosophy is shaping the next chapter of Lagree Fitness: an emphasis on reducing inflammation, improving recovery and guiding people toward holistic well-being.
“Most people overtrain, use poor form, or push their bodies in the wrong ways,” he said. “I’m building the next version of the method to be even more anti-inflammatory, using technology to support safe and effective movement.”
To help instructors and studios maintain consistency as the brand scales, Lagree is rolling out a pro version of his Lagree On Demand app. It will allow trainers to build and share custom routines, complete with transitions, spring settings, and timing.
See Also
“It’ll make it easier to deliver high-quality classes, even if you’re new to the method,” he said. “And it ensures that the Lagree experience remains true, no matter where it’s being taught.”
Although the Lagree Method is often compared to Pilates due to the equipment, he’s clear that the two are fundamentally different.
“People see a reformer and assume it’s Pilates,” he said. “But how you use the equipment is everything. It’s like a dumbbell; you can use it to build strength, or you can use it in a totally different context. It’s just a tool.”
Lagree believes the future of fitness lies in personalization, integration and intentionality. “We’re heading toward a new fitness paradigm,” he said. “One where mental health, emotional growth and physical performance are all part of the same journey.”
His next-generation vision includes AI-powered machines, embedded biometric feedback and even the use of specific sound frequencies to enhance focus and mood during class.
“It’s going to be a complete shift,” he said. “Not just how we train, but why.”
At its core, Lagree believes fitness is about transformation, not only of the body, but of the self.
“People are tired. They’re looking for change and not just on the outside,” he said. “They want to feel something. That’s why they show up. That’s the real purpose of fitness: to feel alive.”
Nextdoor’s Next Step; Sports Surge Drives Upfronts
What’s Next? Nextdoor is an interesting case study for the social media age. It has a fairly large logged-in user base and lots of access to hyper-local data on business services, consumer demographics and foot traffic. But its advertising revenue is sluggish, stubbornly stuck in the low hundreds of millions of dollars per year. (Although […]
Nextdoor is an interesting case study for the social media age.
It has a fairly large logged-in user base and lots of access to hyper-local data on business services, consumer demographics and foot traffic.
But its advertising revenue is sluggish, stubbornly stuck in the low hundreds of millions of dollars per year. (Although Nextdoor is a public company, it doesn’t usually disclose specific ad revenue numbers.)
Uber, by comparison, was much later to the ad biz and already has a more than $1 billion dollar annual revenue run rate.
Nextdoor is also reluctant to sign an exclusive “sky bridge”-style data licensing deal with the likes of Google or Amazon.
Social nets like Reddit and Pinterest have made hay of data and advertising deals, which offer large annual checks in exchange for allowing data to be used to train AI models. Reddit, for instance, is getting $60 million a year from Google for that purpose.
Yet “never say never,” Nextdoor CEO Nirav Tolia told Bloomberg during a recent interview regarding possibly signing such a deal down the line.
“But,” he says, “I have a real existential concern that any company that allows its core asset to be surfaced inside another agent is at risk of people not coming to the primary source.”
Getting The Money Upfront
I guess having your ad chief emerge on stage in a suspended bubble during upfronts works for generating ad revenue.
NBCUniversal announced the close of its upfront negotiations cycle on Tuesday, claiming to have achieved its “highest ad sales volume ever” and the largest period for digital sales in the broadcaster’s history.
That includes nearly $1 billion worth of programmatic investments for next year, which is especially notable given that NBCU currently includes sports and live events as part of its programmatic offerings. Meanwhile, just under 60% of investments were transacted against advanced audiences.
Unsurprisingly, upcoming sports content – including the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the 50th annual Super Bowl broadcast and the return of the NBA – contributed greatly to NBCU’s increase in sales.
Per NBCU, the sports side of the business experienced a 20% increase in new clients and a 45% year-over-year increase in ad volume. More than one quarter of NBA advertisers will be new to broadcast television this year.
And then, of course, there’s the Peacock streaming service, which represented one-third of NBCU’s upfront commitments this year.
Since NBCU is the first broadcaster to announce its upfront results, it’s hard to tell whether what it’s seeing will be part of a larger trend. But it dispels the notion that recent talk about economic uncertainty will keep advertiser dollars out of TV this season.
The History Books
Kids publishing giant Scholastic is in a tight spot. For five years, its cash reserves have dwindled while revenue has remained flat.
Being a mission-driven book publisher that gives books away isn’t exactly loaded with profit opportunities.
For one, Scholastic has great data – but not for targeting or data sales, because it’s specifically affiliated with young kids.
Scholastic also profits from book sales, but hasn’t turned its IP into reliable new media revenue. It distributes mega-hit series like “Harry Potter” and “The Hunger Games,” but doesn’t share in lucrative film and TV productions.
Other Scholastic titles, including “The Baby-Sitters Club” and “Clifford the Big Red Dog,” were recently adapted for the screen. But, in general, its programs are being smoked by the likes of Peppa Pig, Ms. Rachel and Bluey, which translate digital-native entertainment success into book sales.
Scholastic also hasn’t made the IP pivot, as have Lego and Hasbro, to monetize millennial nostalgia through media franchises.
But now Scholastic is turning to YouTube to modernize its business by launching series that – hopefully – help promote new books and generate some ad revenue, Elianne Friend, VP of digital and distribution at the Scholastic-owned digital studio 9 Story Media, tells The Wall Street Journal.
“We’re [on YouTube],” Friend says, “because the kids and their parents are there.”
But Wait! There’s More
The Trade Desk will join the S&P 500 on Friday. [Investor’s Business Daily]
Meta’s big plans for a successful AI agent will be one that solves “simpler things” than its rivals. [The Information]
Nearly 90% of buyers are using generative AI to create video ads or plan to do so this year. [IAB] Meanwhile, according to a survey by Raptive, placing ads alongside AI-generated content harms consumer trust. [Adweek]
Scott Messer, aka the AdTech Therapist™, on how to define media quality. [AdMonsters]
WeTransfer updates its terms and conditions to include an automatic “royalty-free license” to all the content being transferred. The company insists that it will not use the content to train AI models, but users (particularly creatives) are outraged anyway. [BBC]
Facebook plans to crack down on users who continually share stolen or reposted content. [The Verge]
Good news! According to xAI, Grok is totally fixed and not going to call itself “MechaHitler” anymore. [TechCrunch]
You’re Hired!
WPP hires Baiju Shah as the global CEO of AKQA. [release]
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Graphjet Technology Provides Update on Current Events
Graphjet Technology KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, July 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Graphjet Technology (“Graphjet” or “the Company”) (Nasdaq:GTI), a leading developer of patented technologies to produce graphite and graphene directly from agricultural waste, has today filed its Form 10-K filing. During the current year, the Company has seen changes to its shareholders whereby the new […]
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, July 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Graphjet Technology (“Graphjet” or “the Company”) (Nasdaq:GTI), a leading developer of patented technologies to produce graphite and graphene directly from agricultural waste, has today filed its Form 10-K filing.
During the current year, the Company has seen changes to its shareholders whereby the new controlling shareholder, Mr. Aiden, Lee has made numerous contributions to the Company, including providing funds to fund the transformation of the Company. With the funds received from Mr. Aiden Lee, the Company was able to complete its audit for the fiscal year September 30, 2024, albeit later than anticipated due to unforeseen circumstances.
The Company has made plans to address the current non-compliances with the Nasdaq listing requirements. The Company has and will continue to engage an experienced accounting services firm, to advise the Company and ensure speedy completion of the Form 10Qs for the December 31, 2024 and March 31, 2025. The completion of the Form 10Qs will allow the Company to take necessary measures to raise funds to further expand the capacity and capabilities of the Company.
A hearing before the Nasdaq Hearings Panel from The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC has been scheduled for July 17, 2025, during which the Company will appeal the delisting determination due to the non-compliances with the Nasdaq listing requirements. However, there can be no assurance that the Company will get a favorable outcome.
The Company will also be holding a shareholders’ meeting on July 30, 2025 for a reverse split exercise. The Company is confident to secure the shareholders’ approval for the reverse split exercise, which is aimed at ensuring that we meet the minimum price bids.
With the minimum price bids met and Form 10Qs filed, the Company will be able to attract new investors which will allow our Company to move towards compliance with the minimum market value of listed securities (MVLS). The Company is currently in discussion with a few parties who has indicated their interest in funding the Company.
“We are confident that our plan to be address the non-compliances with the Nasdaq listing requirements can be implemented. In addition, the Company will make the necessary announcement when the efforts made for the Company’s transformation bears fruit” said Chris Lai, the CEO of the Company.
About Graphjet Technology Sdn. Bhd. Graphjet Technology Sdn. Bhd. (Nasdaq: GTI) was founded in 2019 in Malaysia as an innovative graphene and graphite producer. Graphjet Technology has the world’s first patented technology to recycle palm kernel shells generated in the production of palm seed oil to produce single layer graphene and artificial graphite. Graphjet’s sustainable production methods utilizing palm kernel shells, a waste agricultural product that is common in Malaysia, will set a new shift in graphite and graphene supply chain of the world. For more information, please visit https://www.graphjettech.com/.
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements The information in this press release contains certain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements generally are identified by the words “believe,” “project,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “intend,” “strategy,” “aim,” “future,” “opportunity,” “plan,” “may,” “should,” “will,” “would,” “will be,” “will continue,” “will likely result” and similar expressions, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. Forward-looking statements are predictions, projections and other statements about future events that are based on current expectations and assumptions and, as a result, are subject to risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ from their expectations, estimates and projections and consequently, you should not rely on these forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. Many factors could cause actual future events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements in this press release, including but not limited to: (i) changes in the markets in which Graphjet competes, including with respect to its competitive landscape, technology evolution or regulatory changes; (ii) the risk that Graphjet will need to raise additional capital to execute its business plans, which may not be available on acceptable terms or at all; (iii) Graphjet is beginning the commercialization of its technology and it may not have an accurate estimate of future capital expenditures and future revenue; (iv) statements regarding Graphjet’s industry and market size; (v) financial condition and performance of Graphjet, including the anticipated benefits, the implied enterprise value, the financial condition, liquidity, results of operations, the products, the expected future performance and market opportunities of Graphjet; (vi) Graphjet’s ability to develop and manufacture its graphene and graphite products; and (vii) those factors discussed in our filings with the SEC. You should carefully consider the foregoing factors and the other risks and uncertainties that will be described in the “Risk Factors” section of the documents to be filed by Graphjet from time to time with the SEC. These filings identify and address other important risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events and results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward- looking statements, and while Graphjet may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, they assume no obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless required by applicable law. Graphjet does not give any assurance that Graphjet will achieve its expectations.
The Hottest New Fitness Craze Is One Of The Oldest—Because It Works
Rucking, or walking with a weighted pack, can be done in the city, the country or the woods, and the … More simplicity is one of the reasons it is suddenly so popular. GoRuck With over two million copies sold to date, the health blockbuster Outlive by Peter Attia, MD is currently Number Eight on […]
Rucking, or walking with a weighted pack, can be done in the city, the country or the woods, and the … More simplicity is one of the reasons it is suddenly so popular.
GoRuck
With over two million copies sold to date, the health blockbuster Outlive by Peter Attia, MD is currently Number Eight on the New York Times Non-fiction Bestseller List. But the impressive number is not eight, it’s 107. That is how many weeks the book has been on the list, having already reached the Number One spot and remained a bestseller for more than two years since. Among many other things, Outline helped drive the hottest new fitness craze.
The Hottest “New” Fitness Craze
Many readers of Outlive, including me,made systemic lifestyle changes, from the medical tests they get to what they eat to how much they exercise. But in particular Dr. Attia helped re-popularize one specific form of exercise, “rucking,” or walking around with a weighted pack.
Of course, he was not alone in making one of the oldest forms of exercise hot again. In a single 2-day span last month both the Times and rival Wall Street Journal ran long articles with nearly identical titles on why “weighted vests” are suddenly hot. They both kind of got it wrong as the articles really described rucking, and weighted vests are largely a different thing in the fitness world, but they were both right about it being a hot trend.
You don’t have to enlist or join special forces to benefit from rucking, but there is a reason why … More every major armed force in the world uses this as a primary form of fitness.
getty
Another NY Times bestselling author and former Men’s Health magazine editor, Michael Easter, champions rucking in his book The Comfort Crisis, going so far as to practice the activity, normally associated with hiking or walking, while vacuuming his home and on a treadmill.
Why Try Rucking?
Easter has been rucking regularly for well over a decade and while the pursuit is suddenly hot, he was an early adopter. He told me, “As a health and wellness journalist I always took an evolutionary look at what we do. When you look at modern fitness, a lot of people run, which is something humans evolved to do. But very few people carry, which we also evolved to do, and in my opinion is even more important. So, I started throwing on a backpack with weight, it’s so simple. You burn anywhere from 20-30% more calories than just walking, it’s uniquely good for burning fat and building muscle, and it’s a full-body exercise. When you run you just get cardio but not necessarily strength, with rucking you get both, building muscle while losing weight. And I feel very confident saying it has a much lower injury rate than running, it’s closer to walking.”
“Everyone has tried running, and it works for some people, but others get hurt or just don’t lie it. Rucking is just more approachable and easier.”
Comfort Crisis author Michael Easter and his dog getting ready to ruck.
GoRuck
Easter cites the work of expert Harvard professor Daniel Lieberman, a widely acclaimed evolutionary biologist known for his research on running and walking in humans. It was Lieberman who coined the term “born to run” about barefoot running cultures, later borrowed as the title of yet another big fitness bestseller. In his own fascinating book Exercised, Why Something We Never Evolved To Do is Healthy and Rewarding, Lieberman praised these evolutionary roots of rucking, explaining that the ability to carry weighted loads over long distances voluntarily (without having them strapped to us like a donkey) differentiates humans from every other creature on the planet and is a huge part of our species success and of being human.
Rucking is the act of walking or hiking (or for the devout using a treadmill at the gym) while wearing a weighted pack. It has been the primary fitness exercise of choice for most of the world’s military forces for centuries (or longer), and the term comes from the name from a widely used military backpack, a rucksack. “Rucking is very much a military term,” says Easter, “and some people hear military jargon and think ‘that’s not for me,’ but humans have been carrying weights for thousands of years, and it has always been good for us.”
Michael Easter out on a training ruck.
GoRuck
It differs from backpacking mainly in that it is intentional exercise, not something you have to do to carry the gear needed to camp in the wilderness. People strap on a weighted pack and walk their dogs or stroll around the neighborhood or go on hikes, in order to accomplish two fitness goals: burning more calories in the same duration of walking, and building muscle strength, while in turn improving bone density while becoming generally fitter. There is also a difference from backpacking in the packs and how you bear the weight, but what predominantly makes it rucking is intent, and that intent is to become healthier and stronger.
Finally, A Fitness Routine That’s Easy To Do Regularly and Stick With
But the best thing about it is that it is simple, and thus arguably the easiest new exercise routine to incorporate into your life, something many people struggle to do with all sorts of workouts. If you want to start a new fitness regimen tomorrow, I can’t think of many things that are effective that are easier to do than adding rucking to your life, and ease of adoption is incredibly important in the success of any new plan.
This is especially true if you already walk at all. I’ve always praised the health benefits of owning dogs, which need to be walked every day, and mine don’t care if it’s hot or cold or raining or snowing, they get my wife and I out for an hour or more each day, including many days when we would blow off the walk in bad weather if we didn’t have dogs. After reading Outlive about a year ago, I started rucking almost every day when I walk my dogs, and I was doing that anyway, so I needed to add exactly zero extra time to get a better workout. Rucking is not just good for you, it’s also an incredibly efficient way to exercise. Easter also rucks when he walks his dog.
Pack manufacturer GoRuck has helped develop hundreds of local Ruck Clubs around the country so … More people can work out in social groups.
GoRuck
Many people, even those without dogs, already do some sort of fitness walking, and rucking is a natural addition to this. Of course, if you don’t walk already, you have to add it to ruck, but you should be adding walking anyway (unless you run instead, and most experts do not recommend ruck-running). I also ruck when I hike, within reason, usually on hikes of 90-minutes or less. On longer hikes I am wearing a pack with gear and water anyway. It’s lighter, but still added weight.
Rucking has been an extremely popular form of exercise used by the military, and is currently employed by just about every armed force on earth. The reason it has lasted so long and continues to be so widely used is because the military sees the results, thousands of times each year, and knows it works. Special Operations Forces Prep Coach is a coaching programmed designed to help those trying out for U.S. special forces units (Navy Seals, Delta Force, Green Berets, etc.) make the cut in the highly selective, competitive and rigorous physical training programs required for admission. On its site, the coaches ask “How important is rucking? There are three studies in the past three decades on SFAS [Special Forces Assessment and Selection] and each of them found that rucking performance was the greatest predictor of getting selected, more than any other physical factors like running, pull-ups, or A.P.F.T scores.”
Rucking is so popular with elite special forces soldiers that in his New York Times bestseller Can’t Hurt Me —with over 7 million copies sold—former Navy SEAL David Goggins used heavy load rucking to train for both the SEAL teams and to later become one of the top ultra-endurance race competitors in the world. Goggins remains the only soldier ever to complete the elite training programs of the SEALS, Army Rangers and Air Force Tactical Controller, and was named the “The Fittest (Real) Man in America” by Outside Magazine. Even bestselling fictional SEALS use rucking—in Jack Carr’s hugely popular series of Terminal List novels (turned into a Chris Pratt series on Prime) his ex-Navy SEAL protagonist James Reece gets back into shape by wearing a weighted pack up and down mountains.
Rucking packs come in a variety of sizes depending how much you want to carry.
GoRuck
But you do not have to be a special forces operator to benefit from rucking, and one of the great appeals is that almost anyone can do it, as you can start with small amounts of weight. “The bearded dudes going into Afghanistan carried 120 pounds. I carry 45. My mom goes rucking with me and she uses 10 pounds,” says Jason McCarthy, a former special forces soldier who started GoRuck, the biggest company in the niche field of rucking gear, with his wife Emily (former CIA).
A Simple and Time-Efficient Way to Exercise
I spoke to McCarthy over the phone while he was out rucking around his Florida neighborhood, and it’s how he manages his time to stay hyper-ft and get his workouts in while running a company. “You can train wherever you are, city rucking is just hiking in the city, and while we’ve been talking I just got in 3000 steps. This morning, I rucked while I walked my dog. Now I don’t have to carve out time to go to the gym. It’s about finding time to exercise.”
“Why does it work? It’s always worked, since the beginning of time. I’m trying to create a ‘new’ fitness category that’s actually been around forever. Nike started with running at a time when no one had heard of running, it was just for crazies and weirdos.” To that end, in addition to making rucking gear, GoRuck puts on several hundred public rucking events each year and has helped build a grassroots network of about 700 “ruck clubs” across the country to help newcomers join a community. “People are starving for real world connections, and we have to create alternatives that make it fun and healthy to make those connections. The vibe is inviting and they are free. At first no one in the media wanted to cover it because it isn’t a $2000 piece of gym gear or high-tech. The whole beauty of rucking is that it is simple and it works. If you believe walking is great, getting outside is great, getting stronger is great or having a healthier heart is great, then it is for you. Every form of human movement gets harder when you add resistance, and this adds resistance.”
You can even practice rucking while traveling. This is the GR-1 backpack, the best carry-on bag I … More have ever had and the one I have carried for the past few years.
GoRuck
For someone who sells rucking gear, McCarthy surprisingly recommends starting by not buying any. “When you were in college you probably walked around campus with a backpack full of books. I see people in the airport with these really heavy backpacks. A lot of people are rucking and don’t even know it, because it’s so natural. Don’t go buy a bunch of expensive stuff. Start with what you have and for most people I recommend 20 pounds. If you put a dumbbell in a school backpack it’s going to bounce off your back and you’ll hate it, so maybe start with a bag of rice.” I tell my friends who are starting out to use multiple water bottles, because if the pack proves too heavy once you get out on the trail, you can just pour some out.
Easter seconds this beginning approach. “The beauty is simplicity, and unlike some other fitness and gear programs there is no paralysis by analysis. You own a backpack. You own something that weighs something. You have water bottles. Ideally you want the weight close to your back and higher up, so I tell people to put a yoga block or equivalent in the bottom of their pack and then put the weight on top of that to get it higher. If you use a dumbbell or weight plate, wrap it in a towel for cushioning. Go get started and then if you keep doing it, decide if you want to move on to more specialized gear.”
Gear For Rucking
I have done a lot of backpacking and hiking and gear reviews and probably have more packs than anyone should own, but I got a specific rucking pack from GoRuck, because it does make a difference. Backpacking packs are specifically and technologically designed to use a substantial hip belt and transfer weight to the lower body. That makes it more efficient and easier to carry loads long distances over uneven terrain, but the point of rucking is exercise, and to make your walk harder, not easier. The rucking pack has no waist belt, and is very low profile, so as Easter says, it holds the weight (I use metal plates and tubes of sand) close to your back and high up (Easter also uses GoRuck packs for his rucking).
I was already familiar with the company because I use and write on luggage for all travel and sports, and in my many years of questing to find the perfect carry-on bag for my very frequent travel around the world, I’ve ended up with the GoRuck GR-1. I’ve had this for a few years, longer than I have been rucking, and like all their products it is overbuilt to truly last a lifetime. I put the GR-1 in my 2024 Father’s Day luggage buying guide here at Forbes as the top carry-on and wrote “The GoRuck GR-1 is simply the best carry-on bag for active travel (or any travel) I have found.” NY Times gear testing site Wirecutter also picked the GR-1 as “The Best Buy It For Life Backpack” and wrote, “It isn’t just tough, it’s nearly indestructible.”
It’s bigger and doesn’t have a dedicated metal plate pocket, but you can definitely also use the GR-1 as a rucking pack if you want to buy just one thing. Because I keep my carry-on loaded for flights all the time, I use a separate rucking-specific pack, the GoRuck Rucker 4.0 20-liter. This way I can just leave the weights in it and not move things around daily. All their stuff is made to military grade and practically indestructible. GoRuck makes rucking-specific packs in three capacities (15, 20 and 25 liter) and several sizes for different heights.
Easter says, “I tell people to never go over a third of your body weight, and I carry about 20% of my body weight. I don’t like vests where weight is on your chest because that affects your breathing, I only go on my back. If I’m training for big backcountry trip, I’ll get on a treadmill with a very heavy pack, like 60 pounds, crank up the incline to a steep setting and walk slowly for 45 minutes, that’s a great workout.” I’ve been carrying 21-24% of my body weight.
You can also use the packs to add to your bodyweight exercises such as push-ups and pull-ups.
GoRuck
Just to clarify the misleading verbiage of the recent newspaper articles, there are also weighted vests, as Easter mentions, that carry weight on the front and back. GoRuck makes these as well, as do many fitness gear companies, and these are far more widely available than rucking-specific packs, which may cause the confusion. Weighted vests have traditionally been accessories used at the gym for serious strength training, mainly to add resistance to body weight exercises such as pull-ups and push-ups. With strength training, to increase the workload you can do more repetitions, lift heavier weights or both, but body weight exercise is generally limited by your body weight. Most of us would struggle to do 10 pull-ups, but if you get to the point where you can do, say 30, you can either keep doing more or add weight, and a vest is the way to do that. For rucking, keep it on your back. But you can also use these rucking packs in the gym (or stopping for pushups on your hike) in lieu of a vest for most bodyweight exercises.
Health Benefits
The recent Wall Street Journal article said that carrying 10% of your body weight burned 8.5% more calories, while going to 20-30% jumped that to 19.7 and 32.2%. They also said carrying weight activated muscles in your back, shoulders, abs and lower body. The Journal also cited studies showing that rucking can prevent or reduce bone density loss while ageing.
When you exercise regularly and eat well it is very difficult to break out the effect individual lifestyle elements have on your overall health and performance, which is why anecdotal reports are not a reliable source of training information. In addition to rucking I am also doing regular strength training with weights, hiking, cycling and doing high intensity interval training, plus myriad other activities. Nonetheless, I have been doing most of those things for a long time, and a year after I added rucking to my fitness mix I am at the leanest, fittest state of my adult life, I’ve had no pain or soreness or injuries related to rucking, my tangible performance at endurance events such as long distance cycling and hiking has improved, and I have to believe that my frequent rucking (60-90 minutes 4-5 times a week with 35-40 pounds) has made a difference. Just the fact that over the year I have been able to increase the weight when it gets easier seems to prove that strength and endurance are being built along the way.
For most of my life, the primary focus of health-based exercise was aerobic, but in recent years studies have shown that strength training is much more important to long term health than many people thought, possibly even more important than cardio, and directly related to bone density. But for a well-rounded fitness routine you want cardio and aerobic exercise and full body strength, and most of us want to burn more calories. Rucking does all of this, in a way that is easy, efficient and time effective compared to many other kinds of exercise. But it should not take the place of strength training and other exercise but rather makes a perfect addition to those. It can also be highly social and is fun and easy to do with friends.
“I’m already going to go for a walk or walk the dog, so I might as well throw on the pack and get a lot more benefit from the walk,” says Easter. This simplicity and efficiency is a big part of the reason why rucking is the hottest new fitness craze.
Esports to power up $205bn global gaming market by 2026
Esports is no longer just a niche—it’s a global force shaping the future of entertainment and the digital economy, according to new insights from the Esports World Cup Foundation. Fuelled by rapid advancements in technology, high-speed internet, and a new generation of gaming platforms, esports has emerged as one of the world’s most influential entertainment […]
Esports is no longer just a niche—it’s a global force shaping the future of entertainment and the digital economy, according to new insights from the Esports World Cup Foundation.
Fuelled by rapid advancements in technology, high-speed internet, and a new generation of gaming platforms, esports has emerged as one of the world’s most influential entertainment sectors.
In 2022, the number of esports fans surpassed 530m, while more than 3.4bn people globally engage in video gaming, highlighting the massive cultural footprint of interactive entertainment.
Esports industry growth
The financials tell a compelling story:
The global gaming market exceeded $184bn in revenue in 2023
The esports segment alone is valued at $4.3bn in 2024, with significant headroom for growth
By 2026, total gaming revenues are projected to reach $205.4bn, cementing esports as a major pillar of the digital economy
Live-streaming platforms, professional tournaments, and high-profile sponsorships are helping turn esports into global spectacles. At the same time, rising investment in infrastructure, talent development, and international tournaments is accelerating job creation and new economic opportunities within the sector.
As the world becomes increasingly digitised, esports stands at the intersection of technology, entertainment, and innovation—reshaping how billions engage, compete, and connect online.
gaming gpu market The Gaming Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) market is experiencing unprecedented growth, driven by the surging demand for high-performance visuals, realistic gameplay, and seamless user experiences. As gaming continues to evolve into a mainstream form of entertainment-spanning consoles, PCs, cloud platforms, and virtual reality-the role of powerful GPUs has never been more critical. […]
The Gaming Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) market is experiencing unprecedented growth, driven by the surging demand for high-performance visuals, realistic gameplay, and seamless user experiences. As gaming continues to evolve into a mainstream form of entertainment-spanning consoles, PCs, cloud platforms, and virtual reality-the role of powerful GPUs has never been more critical.
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Key Companies in the Gaming Gpu Market Include:
AMD
MediaTek
Renesas Electronics
Apple
Broadcom
Wolfspeed
Samsung Electronics
Imagination Technologies
Microsoft
Nvidia
Intel
Sony Interactive Entertainment
Google
Qualcomm
IBM
Market Drivers: Gaming Boom and Rising Performance Expectations
One of the primary drivers of the gaming GPU market is the global gaming boom. The number of gamers worldwide has surpassed 3 billion, with significant growth in PC and console gaming communities. The rise of esports, online multiplayer platforms, and game streaming services has further accelerated the need for high-end graphics performance.
Gamers increasingly demand ultra-realistic visuals, high frame rates, 4K resolution, and support for ray tracing and real-time rendering. This demand puts pressure on GPU manufacturers to continuously innovate and deliver faster, more efficient, and feature-rich solutions.
In addition, the proliferation of AAA games with advanced graphics engines, along with growing adoption of VR and AR in gaming, is driving the need for next-generation gaming GPUs that can handle complex computational tasks and deliver immersive experiences.
Technological Advancements: AI, Ray Tracing, and Cloud Gaming
The gaming GPU landscape is being transformed by rapid technological advancements. Leading companies like NVIDIA, AMD, and Intel are pushing the boundaries of GPU architecture and performance.
One of the most significant innovations is the integration of real-time ray tracing and AI-based rendering. Technologies like NVIDIA’s DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling) use AI to upscale image quality without compromising performance, allowing mid-range GPUs to deliver near-4K quality.
Additionally, the rise of cloud gaming platforms such as NVIDIA GeForce NOW, Xbox Cloud Gaming, and Google Stadia is changing how GPUs are used. Rather than relying solely on local hardware, cloud gaming depends on powerful GPUs housed in data centers-expanding the scope of the GPU market beyond individual consumers.
Energy efficiency and thermal management have also seen significant improvements, enabling more compact, powerful gaming laptops and desktops.
Regional Insights: Asia-Pacific Leads, North America and Europe Follow
Asia-Pacific dominates the gaming GPU market due to its massive gaming population, especially in countries like China, South Korea, Japan, and India. The region’s thriving mobile and PC gaming industries, along with strong esports ecosystems, drive high GPU consumption.
North America remains a key market due to its mature gaming culture, strong console and PC gaming base, and early adoption of advanced graphics technologies. The U.S. is home to major tech firms, GPU designers, and game developers, creating a robust ecosystem.
Europe also contributes significantly to the market, especially in countries like Germany, the UK, and France, where gaming hardware demand continues to grow alongside interest in VR and immersive tech.
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Market Outlook: Sustained Growth with New Frontiers
The global Gaming GPU market is expected to grow at a CAGR of over 9.84% through 2034. With ongoing innovations, the introduction of new GPU generations, and expanding applications in cloud gaming, virtual reality, and content creation, the market is set for a dynamic decade.
As gaming continues to intersect with technology, art, and social engagement, GPUs will remain the heart of this revolution-powering the immersive worlds of tomorrow.
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Tim Cook was hand-picked to lead Apple. Some say it’s time for him to go – NORTHEAST
Walter Piecyk and Joe Galone of LightShed Partners, a New York-based technology, media and telecommunications research firm, are questioning whether Cook is still the right person to lead one of the world’s most valuable companies amid concerns that it’s fallen behind in AI — a technology that’s already disrupting work, education and other facets of […]
Walter Piecyk and Joe Galone of LightShed Partners, a New York-based technology, media and telecommunications research firm, are questioning whether Cook is still the right person to lead one of the world’s most valuable companies amid concerns that it’s fallen behind in AI — a technology that’s already disrupting work, education and other facets of everyday life. Apple has already faced pressure to come up with a new hit product as sales of smartphones, Apple’s biggest revenue driver, have slowed across the industry.