When I start a hike, my hands and arms are free and easy. Towards the end I always find them clutching the straps of my backpack. Why?
Edit, for clarity: I always use a waist strap. I’m not talking about using my arms to lift weight off my shoulders. I seem to end up holding my shoulder straps, elbows pointed downwards, almost pulling the backpack downwards onto my shoulders and tighter against my back.
In: 310
Most people out there hike with incorrectly tied backpacks. The pack is supposed to be tightly secured on the hips and only lightly resting on your shoulders. 80% of the weight is meant to be lifted by your legs. People will instead rest a heavy backpack entirely on the shoulders, which causes stress on your torso/spine and hunches your body. Over the course of a long hike your shoulders and back are going to get wrecked.
As to why it is easier to hold the straps up, you are temporarily moving the strain from the muscles in the shoulders and back to your arms. This gives some immediate relief, but isn’t going to last.
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