Wednesday Apr 22, 2026

576 | Backcountry Insights from the Best Ranger

In this episode of the Hunt Backcountry Podcast, Vince Paikowski, a former Army Ranger and winner of the Best Ranger Competition, joins us to discuss the intersection of elite military conditioning and backcountry hunting.

Vince discusses his work as a coach with Evoke Endurance, where he helps develop specialized training plans for rugged mountain environments.

We discuss…

The Best Ranger Competition: Insights into the grueling 60-hour endurance event that tests the physical and cognitive limits of two-man Ranger teams.
Rucking Mechanics: Why walking fast is more efficient than running under load and how to build "ruck economy" through progressive weight increases.
Shooting Under Fatigue: A breakdown of military studies showing how high aerobic fitness preserves marksmanship and cognitive decision-making during physical stress.
Training Without Mountains: Practical strategies for flat-land athletes, including hill sprints, plyometric complexes, and using "stress inoculation" to prepare for the mental challenges of a hunt.
The Evolution of the Ranger: A historical look at how soldier size and training requirements have shifted from WWII to the modern era, and the potential costs of prioritizing muscle mass over aerobic capacity.

Whether you are preparing for a 10-day mountain hunt or looking to improve your overall resilience, this conversation will provide insights to help you become a more capable backcountry athlete.

THE TRAINING PLANS...

Use code EXO before 04/30/26 to save on the training plans...
20 Week Training Plan: https://evokeendurance.com/training-plans/backcountry-hunting-20-week-training-plan/
28 Week Training Plan: https://evokeendurance.com/training-plans/backcountry-hunting-training-plan/

LINKS FOR THIS EPISODE...

Episode 574 | "Building the Mountain Hunter: Physiology, Foundations, and the 20-Week Training Plan": https://exomtngear.com/blogs/podcast/574
Episode 475 | "Proven Training Methods for the Mountain Hunter": https://the-experience-project.com/proven-training-for-mountain-hunting/
Data on Rucking Fitness & Shooting Ability: https://evokeendurance.com/resources/aerobic-training-for-the-military-athlete/
Additional Free Resources from Evoke: https://evokeendurance.com/resources/

The Hunt Backcountry Podcast is brought to you by Exo Mtn Gear: https://exomtngear.com/