[pct-l] Jardine and the Backpack Hip Belt

Tue Feb 15 19:26:25 CST 2011

Dear Mike

I could not understand the word "push-ups", but I searched by Google,
and realized it was a famous physical exercise. I think it will help
to strengthen the muscle of shoulders.

Most of the Japanese dislike hip belt, and they execute the physical
exercise about arms and abdomen. I am the exception.  I dislike that
training. Then, ten times repetition of pus-ups is my upper limit. As
a result, I use a strong hip belt to carry all the pack weight.  I
only need strong legs, because all my pack weight is supported by hip
bone. There is no need to strengthen my upper body.

This might be a good example of the two different strategy.

2011/2/16 Mike Chapman <altathunder76 at gmail.com>:
> Hey Sym, I just read my first jardine(beyond backpacking)yesterday,im
> a heavy truck guy,but jardine has my head spinning(wild
> thoughts,imagine that!). I may end up starting over with my gear and
> such,which is crazy and very late,but possibly very smart. Id say
> bulking up is great,but you will lose that mass in no time without a
> continued program and the diet to keep it solid. Id say lots of
> push-ups,you can do em anywhere(no gym needed),and keep it going on
> the trail. H Walker is a prime example of a guy who bulked up with
> push-ups,pull-ups and sit-ups. He was an NFL legend and never lifted
> weights,hes old as the hills now and still rough and buff enough for
> cage fighting. Yoshi,dont worry about the english,your words are more
> than fine for this list(better than mine) and I like the way you
> think. Hike on.
>
> On 2/15/11, Yoshihiro Murakami <completewalker at gmail.com> wrote:
>> Dear Sym
>>
>> I will write briefly, due to my limited ability of English writing.
>>
>> Generally speaking
>>
>> Ultra Light backpackers only satisfy the light backpack without waist
>> belt, because they can easy carry their load on their shoulders, since
>> total pack weight is very light.  The shoulder is not strong enough
>> for heavy load.
>>
>> Heavy Trucker need strong waist belt, because they cannot carry whole
>> weight by their shoulders only. I can carry heavy load with my special
>> backpack ( Mountainhardwear Solitude ) within 30 Kg, because the total
>> pack weight is supported by the hip bone.  No weight on the spines and
>> shoulders.
>>
>> Ray Jardine's book gave strong influences on the light weight trend,
>> but  his book contains some pseudoscience. So the reader must consider
>> his opinion with precaution.
>>
>> 1. The importance of waist belt cannot be ignored. The waist belt
>> support the half or more pack weight, then the muscles of shoulder and
>> the spines suffer lesser damage. This tendency became prominent when
>> the total pack weight became heavy. Many backpack makers recognize the
>> importance of waist belt, then they maintain their waist belt.
>>
>> 2. The most of his discussion of energy expenditure lacks empirical
>> evidence. His unit "foot-pound" may be one of the typical
>> pseudoscience.  I am not specialized in this field, but I had searched
>> the articles and found that the energy expenditure was measured by
>> Oxygen consumption. The energy consumption do not increase with the
>> pack weight. And I also found the weight of boots has no relation to
>> energy consumption when we were walking about 4-5 Km/hour. Our
>> physical system is tuned very well for walking. Our simple expectation
>> frequently fails.  The boots vs shoes and weight problems are not so
>> important as has expected. The important thing is blister. The
>> footwear should be selected on the blister - free stand point.
>>
>> 3. I cannot agree with his opinion about the sleeping bag. I think the
>> most effective insulation material is down. So, I think the best way
>> is minimize the clothes and maximize the down sleeping bag.
>> Coincidentally, my opinion is the same with Glen K Van Peski. I heard
>> his lecture at Tokyo. He is a ultra light backpacker, I am a heavy
>> trucker. But the lightning technique is almost the same.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> 2011/2/15 Kevin <hikelite at gmail.com>:
>>> I own an ultra light pack, but I put it aside a few years ago in exchange
>>> for a suspension. I love my Gregory Z65. It actually transfers the weigt
>>> to my hips. No matter what I do with my GoLite, I can't get the weight off
>>> my shoulders. With the Gregory, I can pull the top adjustment straps(dunno
>>> what they are called) and the weight comes off my shoulders. It feels like
>>> the pack is sitting on the waist belt and the should straps are just
>>> balancing the weight over me. I feel some pressure against my chest, but
>>> it provides relief for my shoulders. I'm usually good for the first 10
>>> miles or so, the I start shifting the weight back and forth between my
>>> waist and my shoulders.
>>>
>>> Of course my Z65 weighs 4 pounds. This is a lot by ultra light standards.
>>> I considered a new pack, but I'm skeptical any can carry a load as well.
>>> Leaving KM, I'll have 11 days food with me. That's 22 pounds or more.
>>> Granted, my base weight is nearly 20lbs, so YMMV.
>>>
>>> Misspellings and typos brought to you by iPhone.
>>>
>>> On Feb 14, 2011, at 8:09 PM, Sym Blanchard <symbiosis222 at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>
>>>> I just read Ray Jardine's opinion of backpack hip belts on page 44 of his
>>>> book *Trail LIfe*.
>>>>
>>>> He reckons that the hip belt constrains spine motion, and therefore
>>>> increases one's chance of injury from falling. "Crunch!" he says.
>>>>
>>>> Last September, I had fallen while hiking the PCT, breaking my ankle and
>>>> shoulder.  I figured I need to get trekking poles (which I hate), ditch
>>>> my
>>>> umbrella (which I love), and buy high top hiking shoes (which I hate).
>>>>
>>>> Now I am rethinking my strategy.  My base pack weight is about 8-1/2
>>>> pounds
>>>> so I can cut off my hip belt, but the weight still seems tiresome on my
>>>> shoulders (especially when fully loaded with food and water).
>>>>
>>>> I am thinking about working out more at the gym to build up my shoulders
>>>> and
>>>> then carrying the pack on alternate shoulders (a la Jardine).
>>>>
>>>> Anyone else have this experience or have thoughts on this strategy?
>>>>
>>>> Thanks in Advance,
>>>> Symbiosis
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>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> Sincerely
>> --------------- --------------------------------------
>> Hiro    ( Yoshihiro Murakami )
>> Blogs http://completewalker.blogspot.com/
>> Photo http://picasaweb.google.co.jp/CompleteWalker/
>> Backpacking since about 1980 in Japan
>> 2009 JMT, the first America.
>> 2010 JMT, the second America.
>> ------------------------------------------------------
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>

-- 
Sincerely
--------------- --------------------------------------
Hiro    ( Yoshihiro Murakami )
Blogs http://completewalker.blogspot.com/
Photo http://picasaweb.google.co.jp/CompleteWalker/
Backpacking since about 1980 in Japan
2009 JMT, the first America.
2010 JMT, the second America.
------------------------------------------------------