Welcome
I’m Preston Shamblen — a builder, rucker, pool professional, entrepreneur, and creator of the Rucking App. I build products, apps, and businesses around things I actually use — from rucking software and carbon-fiber pool equipment to a West Texas pool service business — and document the projects, fitness, and outdoor adventures along the way.
After losing 90 pounds, quitting alcohol, and rebuilding my strength from the ground up, I committed my life to real-world fitness, building independent businesses, spending more time outdoors, and exposing the scams that most people ignore.
This site is my personal hub for the things I’m building, testing, learning, and doing in the real world:
- Real work that lasts
- Adventure and nature appreciation
- Building businesses with integrity
- Exposing frauds and financial lies
- Living free and moving forward
Whether I’m rucking through a state park, paddling in a clear kayak, building new projects, or calling out the phonies — I believe in doing things the hard way, because it’s the way that actually matters.
One of my biggest current projects is the Rucking App for iPhone and Android, with live ruck tracking, weighted calorie estimates, route tracking, and health-platform integration.
What I’m Building
Here are the projects and businesses I’m actively building, improving, or experimenting with:
🥾 Rucking.Pro
Home of my Rucking App for iPhone and Android, plus tools and resources for weighted walking, calorie tracking, endurance, and real-world fitness.
Built around the 26-foot carbon fiber pool pole I developed for my own service route — longer, lighter, and stronger than the aluminum poles I was tired of fighting every day.
My West Texas pool service business — maintenance, repairs, inspections, and the real-world testing ground behind a lot of the pool tools I build and use.
A broader home for better pool poles and pool tools, especially longer, lighter, stronger equipment built for real service work.
Fitness supplements, gear, deals, and experiments around training and performance.
👕 SHAWTAYYYY.com
A flexible brand for carbon-fiber tools, products, apparel, and whatever else makes sense to build under it.
🛒 ThePerfectPacking.com
An e-commerce project for outdoor gear, tech accessories, and other products I find useful or interesting.
Clear-kayak and outdoor-adventure project — still an experiment, but one I’d like to revisit when the economics make sense.
Latest Posts
Catch a glimpse of what I’ve been up to!
- I Built the Rucking App I Wish I Had When I Started
I finally built the rucking app I wish I had when I started my 90-lb weight loss journey. It tracks real ruck calories using your bodyweight, pack weight, distance, effort level, and pack type—things most fitness trackers ignore. Watch the demo, see it in action on the trail, and grab it now on Google Play. Continue reading - Why I Bought a Trap Bar and Two Sets of CAP Bumper Plates During Prime Day
I picked up a CAP trap bar and two sets of bumper plates during Prime Day — about 70¢ per pound with free shipping. Here’s why it’s the best move I’ve made for counteracting desk life. Continue reading - My Custom 26-Foot Carbon Fiber Pool Pole
I always wanted a pool pole that could handle the biggest jobs. This custom 26-foot carbon fiber pole is stronger, lighter, and longer than aluminum — with quick releases that make it fast and fun to use. Continue reading - Daily Prompt — What Life Without a Computer Looks Like
Life without a computer wouldn’t change much for me—I already spend hours outdoors rucking and working in the Texas sun. The real difference is economic: computers help me connect, grow my pool business, and share projects like Rucking.pro. For me, the key isn’t abandoning technology, but finding balance between time outside and intentional time online. Continue reading - Why I Made the Rocket Equation Calculator (and What It Means for Space Travel)
The rocket equation doesn’t lie. Starship can’t reach Mars, can’t land, and can’t even reach orbit properly. This post breaks down why I built TheRocketEquation.com — to bring physics back into the space race. Continue reading
Why This Site Exists
PrestonShamblen.com isn’t just another blog.
It’s a platform about building something real — body, mind, business, and life.
It’s about:
- Choosing strength over shortcuts
- Choosing nature over screens
- Choosing truth over hype
- Choosing independence over dependency
Whether it’s hiking a state park, lifting heavy, paddling crystal-clear water, or calling out financial scams — I’m here to prove that real effort still wins.
