Can you walk long distances with a heavy pack?

Romanriff

Romanriff

New member
I usually have no problem walking long distances, in fact I kinda like the satisfaction I get from walking town to town. I got a new pack that holds a lot more stuff but I don't know if i'll be able to walk long distances lugging it around. I don't know how much it weighs but the pack is almost full and is about 70L.
 
You can do it, if you practice an train and master the craft whatever it be, you want to carry a heavy pack and have it not bother you? practice walking with weights in a back pack and make it more heavy over time till you can handle it.. you want to handle the cold better? spend nights sitting in cold places like forests on mountains in winter and in the rain, you want tough feet, walk barefoot more, want to learn to sail a boat go to a boat school, want to lose fear of or be more comfortable with the idea of death, sleep in cemeteries, be unstoppable & master the game.
 
Romanriff said:
I usually have no problem walking long distances, in fact I kinda like the satisfaction I get from walking town to town. I got a new pack that holds a lot more stuff but I don't know if i'll be able to walk long distances lugging it around. I don't know how much it weighs but the pack is almost full and is about 70L.
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i dont know what kinda gear you have, but a 70l pack thats almost full is most likely going to be heavy as hell. i like to stick to 45-55l packs and i cant ever recall thinking i needed much more space.

with that being said over the years iv learned what to bring and what not to bring and also have invested some decent money into lighter weight and smaller gear which helps a ton.
 
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I like walking long distances but my back/shoulders ALWAYS start to hurt. I've broke both sides of my collarbone so I'm kind of sensitive. Maybe it's my pack, I don't know. Usually I try to find a shopping cart and throw my shit in there.
 
I was once told by a military vet that you will never be comfortable humping a Ruck. It's a matter of becoming comfortable with being uncomfortable. I've humped 60 70 lb rucks for miles and miles and miles... You'll get used to it depends on how bad you need what's in it I had calluses on my shoulders and the top of my back on my shoulder blades on my kidney where my straps rubbed you'll get tough...
 
I have an 85L pack which I love, and it gets real uncomfortable to carry long distances fully loaded. The larger packs do carry moderate weight (30 lbs or so) more comfortably than a fully loaded medium sized hiking pack though, due to the more sophisticated frame and strap rigging. I like having the extra cargo capacity for the warmer time of the day when I take my coat off or when I've just picked up food, but I generally don't keep the bag full, and if hiking is how I'm getting where I'm going, a full bag is out of the question.
 
Just had shoulder surgery and it didn't heal well. Biggest downside is I think it limits me on weight for a pack. Sucks. I might be able to work through it but we will see.
 
I really think it matters on what kind of 65-70 liter pack you are carrying. If you are rocking an Alice pack, that shit is going to hurt after a while.

I have a 70L Osprey Aether, which is specifically designed to carry heavy/awkward loads for long distances over multiple days, and I have loaded that thing down for long hop outs. Like 2 gals of water, a 12 pack of beer, handle of vodka, and premade foods. I think at one point I was carrying like 80 lbs across portland/eugene. I had problems with my thighs and knees, but not anywhere where the pack was contacting me. Lots of padding and adjustable straps.

But then again, I've been firefighting and backpacking long distances in the wild for a long time before that, so it does have a lot to do with physical conditioning.

My first hitching trip I carried a 75L that was over 80 lbs. I soon learned, as others have pointed out, to drop shit along the way that I didnt need.

Seriously though. Invest in a good pack, it could be the difference between you doing this for a long, or very short, time.

I wish I could carry less gear, but I travel through multiple different elevations/ecosystems in the winter, so most of my weight is cold weather gear and liquids.
 
Also, and I know I'm going to get hated on here, but if you ever get a chance, try using a lightweight pair of trekking poles. They make a WORLD of difference. Especially being able to move faster, and taking a huge load off of your lower body.

They are not practical in all situations, like in hoping trains, but hitching and walking, hell ya.
 
Right now..no probably not too far. When i wasnt so lazy..hell yes. Walked somewhere between 25-30 miles with about 50lbs on my back a few times. That was 10 yrs ago and i aint getting any younger..haha
 
Coywolf said:
Also, and I know I'm going to get hated on here, but if you ever get a chance, try using a lightweight pair of trekking poles. They make a WORLD of difference. Especially being able to move faster, and taking a huge load off of your lower body.

They are not practical in all situations, like in hoping trains, but hitching and walking, hell ya.
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TREKKING POLES!!

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'd love to see a video of someone trying to board a train with trekking poles though.
 
Brodiesel710 said:
TREKKING POLES!!

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'd love to see a video of someone trying to board a train with trekking poles though.
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I've done it more than once.....they telescope down to about 2 feet in length and can be strapped to your pack.

I was expecting to get shit for that, but damn. That was a bit much.

(Me not understanding sarcasm)
 
Coywolf said:
I have a 70L Osprey Aether, which is specifically designed to carry heavy/awkward loads for long distances over multiple days, and I have loaded that thing down for long hop outs. Like 2 gals of water, a 12 pack of beer, handle of vodka, and premade foods. I think at one point I was carrying like 80 lbs across portland/eugene. I had problems with my thighs and knees, but not anywhere where the pack was contacting me. Lots of padding and adjustable straps.

But then again, I've been firefighting and backpacking long distances in the wild for a long time before that, so it does have a lot to do with physical conditioning.

My first hitching trip I carried a 75L that was over 80 lbs. I soon learned, as others have pointed out, to drop shit along the way that I didnt need.
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Coywolf, there's no way you were hitching around with 80 lbs on your back. My REI 85L hiking pack is only rated for 40 lbs. I've put 52 lbs exactly (6.5 gallons) in it when I was hauling water for my squat and my shoulders were killing me after a couple blocks. My bag also has a great strap and padding arrangement. It doesn't matter how strong you are or how you condition yourself, the shoulder straps chafe and bruise your skin if you carry that kind of weight for much time. For reference, a gallon of water weighs 8 lbs. 2 gal water-16 lbs, 12 pack of 12 oz cans of beer-8 lbs, half gallon of vodka-4 lbs, that's 28 lbs of liquid. Idk how much food and clothing you had but my 85L pack weighs about 40 lbs when completely filled with just cloths and a person eats about 3 lbs of food per day. But you're right about one thing, those Alice packs are shit.
 
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Walked about 35 miles one day, mostly concrete, 50lb on my back, flat shoes not meant for hiking. Not a good feeling afterwards. But it is possible, very possible actually. If the pack is too big think about putting wheels on it and make it a sort of suitcase thing.
 
depends, i got a 70l pack with the hip hugger things, the shoulder straps aren't really necessary when i use em, they help A LOT. aside from that it depends just how heavy your pack is (full of clothes or bowling balls?), your current fitness whether or not you're in a flat or hilly area are definitely gonna factor into it
 
50 lbs I could believe. It's a lot and like Shaggy Rodgers said, it hurts, but 80 lbs, there's just no way. It doesn't matter how strong you are, it's not the muscles that reach their threshold. Its the skin on the shoulders and the knee joints that give out. Also, just by volume, unless you packed a set of dumbbells, a 75L pack doesn't fit that much, aside from whether or not you can carry it. Most of the volume you travel with is clothing and bedding, which isn't that heavy for it's size. Again, 80 lbs=10 gallons of water.
 
@Stiv Rhodes oh, I'm sorry, let me bow down to your obviously all knowing and superior backpacking experience.

What a fucking entitled response, jesus. Try to consider someone may be just a bit stronger than you.

10L dromadary, filled. 20 lbs
Half gallon. 4 lbs
12 pack. 8 lbs
Pack. 4 lbs.
Sleeping bag. 5 lbs
Pad. 3 lbs.
Smiley. 3 lbs
Food. 7 lbs
Fire boots. 7 lbs
Sandals. 3 lbs
Clothes. 8 lbs
Guitar/case/books. 8 lbs
Random other stuff. 5 lbs.

That's 85 fucking pounds. So unless you were there. And watched me NOT hitchhike the entire length of CA with an 80 lb pack. You can take your opinions and shove them. Especially if they are wrong. Like this:

Stiv Rhodes said:
My REI 85L hiking pack is only rated for 40 lbs.
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That is a reccommend operating weight. Not a max, or something you have to follow.

MY 75 L pack is rated for 55 lbs, but I exceed that on the regular.

It sounds like you really dont know too much about what you are talking about here. Especially saying that a 75 liter pack doesnt hold alot. That's ridiculous.
 
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