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
The straps support your arms, so they can rest a little. Also a change of body position, even a small one, can be relaxing too. Raising your arms to grip your shoulder straps slightly changes the positions or your arms, shoulders, and back.
Could it also be that we instinctively want to pull the weight closer to our center axis, which would make it feel lighter?
Could it also be that we instinctively want to pull the weight closer to our center axis, which would make it feel lighter?
Could it also be that we instinctively want to pull the weight closer to our center axis, which would make it feel lighter?
Theres alot of great reasons here but PERSONALLY i do it cause my hands get bored of just swaying by my side
Theres alot of great reasons here but PERSONALLY i do it cause my hands get bored of just swaying by my side
Theres alot of great reasons here but PERSONALLY i do it cause my hands get bored of just swaying by my side
When you pull on the straps, you shift weight forward a bit, sliding the center of mass closer to the center of your vertical axis. Lever rule idea. Make the angle between vertical center and the mass become smaller to reduce the sideward (backward) pull from the backpack. People also tend to hunch forward to offset that lateral pull.
Learned that lesson about being careful with weight distribution (and total) in the pack, a long time ago. Constantly fighting that backward pull is very tiring. Surprisingly so.
Every good backpack I’ve used has had some lifter straps above the shoulders that pull some weight off the shoulders. Pulls the pack closer to your neck, helping the shoulders.
When you pull on the straps, you shift weight forward a bit, sliding the center of mass closer to the center of your vertical axis. Lever rule idea. Make the angle between vertical center and the mass become smaller to reduce the sideward (backward) pull from the backpack. People also tend to hunch forward to offset that lateral pull.
Learned that lesson about being careful with weight distribution (and total) in the pack, a long time ago. Constantly fighting that backward pull is very tiring. Surprisingly so.
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