The CFT Sandbag: How to Train for the Army Combat Field Test Sandbag Lift

We made these for the new Army CFT. 40 LBS. Built to stack, throw, lift, and carry.

The Army's new Combat Field Test puts a 40 lb sandbag in the hands of every combat arms soldier. Sixteen of them, actually, and every one has to end up on a 65-inch platform before you can move on. That is the job we built the Skirmish for. This is the CFT Sandbag.

What Is the Army Combat Field Test?

The Army announced the Combat Field Test (CFT) on April 22, 2026. It is seven events done back to back in the Army Combat Uniform and boots, scored on total time, and you have 30 minutes to finish all of it. The standard is the same regardless of age or sex.

It is required for soldiers in two dozen combat specialties, including infantry, armor, Special Forces, combat engineers, field artillery officers and forward observers, explosive ordnance disposal and Army divers. Once record testing starts, active-duty combat soldiers take both the CFT and the Army Fitness Test every year. Most Reserve and National Guard soldiers alternate between the two.

The first year is diagnostic: the Army says no adverse administrative action will be taken for failing the CFT during the initial 365 days, and record testing starts after that. During that diagnostic period, Soldiers who believe they cannot meet the standard may request voluntary reclassification to a non-combat specialty. Use the window to train.

Add up your own event times against the 30:00 standard with our Army CFT calculator, and train for all seven events with our 8-week Army CFT training plan.

The 7 CFT Events

1. 1-mile run
2. 30 dead-stop push-ups
3. 100-meter sprint
4. Sandbag lift: sixteen 40 lb sandbags onto a 65-inch platform
5. Water can carry: two 40 lb, 5-gallon water cans for 50 meters
6. Movement drill: a 25-meter high crawl into a 25-meter, 3 to 5 second rush
7. 1-mile run

The CFT Sandbag Lift, Explained

Per the Army's CFT testing guidance, the event starts with 16 sandbags weighing 40 lb each, sitting on the ground in front of a 65-inch platform. You can use any method to get them up there, but the event is not over until all 16 are on the platform. If one falls off, you put it back before you move on.

65 inches is 5 feet 5 inches. For many soldiers that is around eye level, so this is not a deadlift. It is a ground-to-high-shelf movement, repeated 16 times, in the middle of a test that already has a mile and a sprint in your legs.

How to Train for the CFT Sandbag Lift

Own the movement

• Hinge and lap. Hips back, grab the bag, and pull it into your thighs.
• Bear hug to chest. Stand tall and drive the bag to your chest with your hips, not just your arms.
• Drive and place. Push it up and onto the platform. Place it, do not toss it. A bag that slides off costs you time.
• Stay close. Work right up against the platform so the bag travels straight up, not out.

CFT sandbag workouts

• 16 for time: sixteen 40 lb bags (or one bag for 16 reps) onto a 65-inch box or ledge. Record your time and beat it every week.
• CFT simulation: 1-mile run, 30 push-ups, 100-meter sprint, 16 sandbag lifts, a 50-meter carry with two 40 lb loads, 25-meter crawl, 25-meter rush, 1-mile run. Finish under 30:00.
• EMOM 10: every minute for 10 minutes, 4 sandbag lifts plus a 25-meter carry.
• Loaded carries: two 40 lb sandbags or jugs, 4 x 100 meters with minimal rest. It builds the grip the water can carry demands.

Why the Skirmish Is the CFT Sandbag

• Fills to 40 lb. Two filler bags let you hit the CFT weight. Fill it and check it on a scale.
• Built to take abuse. 1000D Cordura, made in the USA. Stack it, throw it, lift it, carry it.
• Ships unfilled. Play sand from the hardware store or dirt from the field.
• Four colors. Stealth Black, Coyote Brown, OD Green, and Camo.

Shop the Skirmish CFT Sandbag

Outfitting a Unit? One Lane Takes 16 Bags.

Every CFT lane needs 16 sandbags. We build them for units with government pricing, your unit logo on the label at no charge, and Government Purchase Card payment. Tax exempt, shipped anywhere in the continental U.S. Battle Bunker is an SBA certified Veteran-Owned Small Business.

See CFT Sandbags for units or request a unit quote.

Frequently Asked Questions

How heavy is the Army CFT sandbag?

40 lb. Every sandbag in the CFT sandbag lift weighs 40 lb.

How high is the CFT sandbag platform?

65 inches, or 5 feet 5 inches.

How many sandbags are in the CFT sandbag lift?

16. The event starts with all 16 on the ground and ends when all 16 are on the platform.

Can I train for the CFT with one sandbag?

Yes. Lift one 40 lb bag onto a 65-inch surface, take it down, and repeat for 16 reps. A full set of 16 is the closest match to test day.

Is the Skirmish an official Army sandbag?

No. The Skirmish is a commercial training sandbag that fills to the 40 lb CFT weight. No U.S. Army or Department of Defense endorsement is implied. Units should confirm equipment against current Army testing guidance.

Taking the Army Fitness Test too? Check your score with our AFT Calculator.

Sources: U.S. Army, Combat Field Test announcement (April 22, 2026); Army CFT testing guidance.