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
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.
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.
IF pack is fitted and worn correctly it would be the same as putting hands in pockets? Arms dangling tire shoulder muscles. Playing football we held on to our shoulder pad straps to take tension off shoulder muscles.
IF pack is fitted and worn correctly it would be the same as putting hands in pockets? Arms dangling tire shoulder muscles. Playing football we held on to our shoulder pad straps to take tension off shoulder muscles.
IF pack is fitted and worn correctly it would be the same as putting hands in pockets? Arms dangling tire shoulder muscles. Playing football we held on to our shoulder pad straps to take tension off shoulder muscles.
Hands get tired of swinging at the sides and want some variety, but there aren’t all that many places to put them. Can’t really put them in your pockets, so on the straps they go.
Hands get tired of swinging at the sides and want some variety, but there aren’t all that many places to put them. Can’t really put them in your pockets, so on the straps they go.
Hands get tired of swinging at the sides and want some variety, but there aren’t all that many places to put them. Can’t really put them in your pockets, so on the straps they go.
Yeah lots of people here commenting about backpacks but even when I am hiking without a pack, when I get tired, I find I put my hands on my hips. And I don’t know why!
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