Enduruc 2.0 - Enduruc Comes to iPhone

by Josh Kuehn

What’s New in Enduruc 2.0

This release brings ruck tracking to your iOS device and improved map styles that bring the terrain to life. You may have noticed that VO₂ max estimates can suffer because the underlying algorithm doesn’t account for ruck weight. That’s now fixed. Going forward, workouts tracked with Enduruc will be excluded when estimating your VO₂ max. Finally, ruck weights now sync across your devices using iCloud, so whether you’re using your phone or watch, your preferred weights are ready to go.

There are also plenty of behind‑the‑scenes enhancements. This release was months in the making with tons of preparation and planning, over 12,000 lines of code updated, and weeks of testing.

iOS Ruck Workouts

Quick start

  1. Open Enduruc on iPhone and tap Ruck.
  2. Choose a synced weight or tap ”+” to create one.
  3. Tap the weight to start tracking on the full‑screen map.

To use this feature, open the iOS app and tap the “Ruck” tab. Choose an existing weight synced from your watch, or add a new one using the “Add” button in the navigation bar. Then tap the weight to begin your workout.

You’ll immediately notice the full-screen map. By default, it uses the street style with vivid shading and topography. For more options, tap the settings icon (gear) and select “Map Style” to choose from three additional styles. Enduruc Plus subscribers can select the “Outdoor” style, which adds trails, mountain peaks, curated terrain data, and relevant points of interest.

During your ruck workout, you’ll see essential information like duration, distance, and average pace. When using a heart rate monitor—such as AirPods Pro 3 or the Polar H10—you’ll also see your current heart rate and heart rate zone duration.

When you finish your workout, you’ll see a route overview and summary. This includes total distance, average pace, average and maximum heart rate, active calories, total duration, elevation gain, top heart rate zone, and an elevation profile of your route. You can always revisit this post ruck workout information in the “Summary” tab.

VO₂ Max Protection

This has been a long-awaited and often-requested feature. For those unfamiliar, Apple automatically uses certain workout categories (outdoor walk, outdoor run, and hiking) to calibrate your estimated VO₂ max. Prior to Enduruc 2.0, all workouts recorded with Enduruc used the “Hike” category. This meant your VO₂ max estimates were being dragged down by workouts where you carried extra weight.

With Enduruc 2.0, workouts now use a custom workout type that delivers the same high-fidelity metrics while protecting your VO₂ max estimate. If you download Enduruc 2.0, you don’t need to do anything. The new VO₂ max protection will automatically apply when you record workouts.

iCloud & Enhanced Maps

Enduruc now uses iCloud to sync your ruck weights across all your devices. Whether you leave your phone behind or your watch isn’t fully charged, your preferred ruck weights will be ready and waiting.

Beyond iOS ruck tracking, the most noticeable change is the map style. Previously, Apple Maps powered route rendering, but Enduruc 2.0 upgrades to Mapbox. This offers enhanced styles—and for Enduruc Plus subscribers, an outdoor-ready option with helpful information and curated terrain data. Mapbox also unlocks future enhancements that folks will really enjoy, especially when going off-grid (more to come).

Micro‑FAQ

  • Does this change past VO₂ max estimates?
    • No. Past estimates aren’t retroactively adjusted. Protection applies to rucks you record after updating to 2.0.
  • Do I need Plus for ruck tracking?
    • No. Core ruck tracking and VO₂‑max protection are included. Plus adds the Outdoor map style and select advanced features.
  • Which heart rate sensors are supported?
    • Any Apple Health–compatible sensor that pairs with iPhone or Apple Watch, including common chest straps. AirPods Pro 3 can report heart rate on supported OS versions.
  • What iOS/watchOS versions do I need?
    • iOS 18+ and watchOS 11+.
  • Will my ruck data still appear in Apple Health?
    • Yes. Workouts and metrics continue to write to Apple Health while excluding ruck sessions from VO₂‑max estimation.

I want to thank everyone who regularly uses Enduruc and especially those who support its development by subscribing. I can’t thank you enough. It’s because of you that I get to continue bringing new improvements and adding value for everyone.

Join the first wave of iOS ruckers using VO₂‑max‑safe workouts. Download Enduruc 2.0 and start your next ruck today. If it helps you train smarter, leave a review to help others find it.