[at-l] Recycled comments #2 - pack/body weight ratio

[tacombs99@xxxxxxxxxxx (Tab Combs)]

I personally find that at my thru-hiking weight of 105, a 35lb pack is more
than enough to wear me down and make me realize that i don't need much stuff
at all!

-cheeseburger


----- Original Message -----
From: "Phil Heffington" <Phil.Heffington@oc.edu>
To: "AT- L Mailing List" <at-l@backcountry.net>
Sent: Tuesday, January 07, 2003 4:07 PM
Subject: [at-l] Recycled comments #2 - pack/body weight ratio


> I have always thought that the pack weight/body weight percentage
discussion
> was one of the silliest exercizes in mathematics and trail logic that I
have
> ever heard.
>
> Perhaps it is useful to keep thoughtless Boy Scout leaders from
> overburdening 75 lb. youngsters with 40 lb. packs, but it makes no sense
for
> adults whose hiking weight may vary from 100-300 lbs. (or more).
>
> Example - A 240 lb. person with a pack that weighs 25% of their body
weight
> (60 lbs.) has just loaded up their feet with 300 lbs., and their feet
can't
> tell whether they are carrying fat or whopping big hatchets, stoves,
ropes,
> etc.
>
> In other words, you don't have an excuse to carry a lot of weight just
> because you are heavier than the average 165 lb. thru-hiker.  You may need
> more food/calories in your pack to maintain that weight of 240 lbs., but
you
> probably should be losing some of it anyway.
>
> I "normally" weigh about 220 lbs. when I start my long distance hikes.  I
> will weigh about 200 lbs. afterwards.  At 200 lbs., after 400 miles of
> hiking, I am a hunk of muscle, but my feet, body, and attitude still
greatly
> appreciate that my pack does not weigh 50 lbs.
>
> If you don't need it in your pack, then don't carry it.  If you need it,
> then you still need it when you weigh 150 lbs. just as much as you did
when
> you weighed 200 lbs. (with the noted calorie exception).  If you need some
> artificial percentage to motivate you to leave useless items at home, then
> you probably need to have your brain weighed and, the last time I checked,
> air doesn't weigh much.
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