Pack Weight 45% of body weight

[under10kg]

Hi Guys,
There has been some discussion in other posts of heavy packs relating to body weight.
I notice a nols course in australia where you carry 45% of body weight.
Would any guys here do such a course and pay many thousands?
http://www.nols.edu/courses/pdf/pacific ... abc_cd.pdf

[ollster]

Considering that would make the pack weight about 43-44kgs... um, no thanks.

[Taurë-rana]

It would be an amazing trip, but that much weight in that much heat would be scary - I'm not sure why the weight is so high, when I walked in Kakadu the pack weight was so much less than here because you didn't have to have all your cold weather gear. It's the many thousands that would definitely prevent me doing it though.

[Nuts]

Ridiculous! Seems it would teach submission rather than 'leadership'... There's a 'course' for everything and someone for every job
I guess the greed keeps the regulators in work also, what a crazy world this is!
Hey... You also get to practice 'fasting', spose' that'll save a buck

[Taurë-rana]

Hey... You also get to practice 'fasting', spose' that'll save a buck

That seemed a bit weird to me - fasting and carrying a heavy pack? Sounds like a recipe for disaster to me!

[photohiker]

This part of the course builds on the skills you’ve learned and practiced and allows you to travel without instructors for 1 to 5 days. Students are aware of where the instructors and the other student groups are planning to travel and camp. The instructors may be up to 24 hours away from the students.

NOLS does not permit students to use personal cell or satellite phones or other communication devices including personal tracking devices (e.g. SPOT), while in the field. Additionally, students are not permitted to take personal music players (iPods, MP3 players, CD players, etc). Instructors will be carrying sufficient communication equipment (usually a satellite phone) to handle any emergencies that may arise.

By the sound of that, it's only a matter of time before we hear about them in the news.

Apart from the pack weight requirement (maybe they mean maximum, not average - the food resupply is 8-10 days), this looks like a bit of silliness. Are these man vs wild trainees?

Distance is about 155km in 35 days - about 5km per day. I know there's some rough country in the Kimberly but if they are spending all their time in that, then the pack weights look even more out of step.

[Franco]

There are several that boast in the forums about regularly carrying weights like that. To find them just look for a thread on pain killers.
Franco

[Lizzy]

Reminiscent of OBA (Outward Bound Australia).......heavy packs, no technology, solo.

[Macca81]

thats 51kg for me... i could do it (have done so before, for a day), but i wouldnt enjoy it

[Taurë-rana]

There are several that boast in the forums about regularly carrying weights like that. To find them just look for a thread on pain killers.
Franco

It's only 24kg for me, no problems!

[under10kg]

I lost 10 ks over the last month or os.
Drat, I only can carry 30ks now

[CoffeeLover]

Sounds like torture to me. I need to see a clear reason for doing something or it does my head in.

[Lindsay]

45% of body weight? That would be around 46kg for me. As one who was complaining of carrying only around 15% body weight (16kg) I doubt I would be signing up for this.

[Drifting]

57 kg? GET BENT! That's what mules are for!

Actually, I wonder if I could get a mule to carry a bit of my weight, maybe a gut and a cheek?

[CoffeeLover]

I've never been on a walk with a mule, but now I'm thinking i've been missing out. From now on I'm not carrying anything!

[Ent]

Um? 45% of 108 kilograms gives 48.6 kilograms. I love luxury but as they say excess in anything will eventually kill you

What on earth is the purpose? Bit like non-military people paying huge amount of money to have people shout at them as they haul logs around. O'well hopefully participants will not undergo a crystal light bath and be presented with a contact for their house to sign as they collapse into a heap.

Cheers Brett

[Molly-]

i went on a one-night hike, and i got my pack down to 15k, was pritty pleased with that, im a tad scared of what my 2-night pack is going to weigh though

molly-

[Moondog55]

I did a quick read and something sounds wrong, unless that 45% is with 3 days of water supply, I did a walk in the Flinders Ranges once and I had to carry almost 20 liters of water on one 3-day section.

[WarrenH]

When I read something like this, I'm reminded of that classic old saying, "Common sense 'aint that common."

45% of body weight, what is in the pack, a '50s style canvas Scout tent with sturdy ironbark tent poles? I remember going on a scout hike once and I got to carry one ironbark tent pole, both halves of it ... within a week after returning from that hike, I was in the Sea Scouts.

I don't even haul 35% of my body weight on a cycle tour and that includes the weight of the bike, and all the bike bits and essential spares and what I need to haul around to camp comfortably for weeks.

On the nols course they take 35 days to walk 155 kilometres ... WHAT!!! ... at that slack rate, they should up the pack weight to at least 65% and only get to eat gravel.

Warren.

[ILUVSWTAS]

30kg (ish) for me. I have carried 26kg, but will never do it again.

[whiskeylover]

Come on guys, harden up. I am female, weigh 56kgs and can still carry 20-22kg easily although prefer to bring it down to about 15-17kg which is healthier for my older body now. In my youth (read early 20s) I weighed 52kg, and could carry a 26kg pack (= 50%) as long as someone else put it on my back for me. Easily walk 20km in a day or more with this. Big steps up needed a little shove from behind or a hand up, but possible. Pretty funny though if you pushed me over, cause I couldn't get back up. Actually come to think of it, I've had joint problems ever since. Oh well, here's to those who enjoy walking regardless of whether they are ultralighters or comfortable walkers.

[Lindsay]

What is comfortable about carrying around half your body weight? Especially if you need help to stand up? But if that's what you enjoy then good luck to you whiskeylover.

[tasadam]

What is comfortable about carrying around half your body weight?

The pace would be comfortable.
I think I have mentioned before that I started a 16 day walk carrying about half my weight. So long as you take your time, recognize that your load is heavy and act accordingly, it's quite possible and acceptable. Shorter days, slower pace, more rests, be fit to start with... Just using your head.
Mind you, it's not for everyone.

[Liamy77]

Sounds like fun tho... i was going to do it the other day ... but i sooked out and chose to drive large nails through my feet instead
perhaps not my cuppa tea...Maybe if it was a hurt mate. Otherwise maybe if ya threw in a horse!
i'd rather do a few more walks and skip the knee surgery!

[corvus]

Come on guys, harden up. I am female, weigh 56kgs and can still carry 20-22kg easily although prefer to bring it down to about 15-17kg which is healthier for my older body now. In my youth (read early 20s) I weighed 52kg, and could carry a 26kg pack (= 50%) as long as someone else put it on my back for me. Easily walk 20km in a day or more with this. Big steps up needed a little shove from behind or a hand up, but possible. Pretty funny though if you pushed me over, cause I couldn't get back up. Actually come to think of it, I've had joint problems ever since. Oh well, here's to those who enjoy walking regardless of whether they are ultralighters or comfortable walkers.

Get paid on occasions to carry supplies into the Cradle reserve a wee 4.5 to 5 hour stroll ,gung ho and being male I said no worries I can take 14 kg of fresh food sheesh rapid learning exercise my basic pack being around 15 kg I ended up with a burden really more than I should have attempted ,did it but suffered from really sore hips for a few days after .
Did the same thing later and reduced my input to 10kg and ate with the group ,no aches or pains so now know my limitations as we all should .
corvus

[Ent]

Carried 38 kilograms kilograms once as an exercise in seeing if I could. Yes I could but that was the flat way around to Hazard Beach and even then the small climb was massive. Regularly carry 25 to 28 kilograms working on the principle that if I am used to that weight then longer trips are done at the same weight but a lot less luxury. Still at 108 kilograms that is less than 25% of body mass so take my hat off to anyone attempting larger percentage loads. Actually, with modern stuff the need to go above 25 kilograms is rather reduced unless you are a camera buff (like Tasadam) and then those lovely professional all glass lens add up not to mention tripod, etc.

Cheers Brett

[Molly-]

I'm female, and i think my heavyest pack was about 17ks i think i was 13, highfive to the famales

[22F]

I used to do that for work when I was playing soldiers.

Absolutely no freaking way I'd do it again on my time unless I have to.

Why would you inflict that on yourself unless the Zombie Apocalypse has started??

[NickD]

I have carried over 50% of my body weight on occasions. I have already been told that it is ridicolous, so you need not bother, its for work and I enjoy my work. In guiding season I weigh 75Kg (put on some winter weight at the moment ) and my pack hit 40kg, once or twice for the first couple of days of certain trips. Generally its below 35kg for an Overland Track or Walls of Jerusalem, but during an evacuation of a client I carried both hers and my packs bring the weight to a sagging 50kg. Whilst I know that its not a good idea, I am just a young man enjoying the challenge and being outdoors on a daily basis.
The one advantage is, on my personal trips, the pack weighs about 17kg for 2 or 3 nights and it feels wonderfully like a day pack.

Pretty sure the army folk carry even bigger packs...

[ILUVSWTAS]

I have carried over 50% of my body weight on occasions. I have already been told that it is ridicolous, so you need not bother, its for work and I enjoy my work. In guiding season I weigh 75Kg (put on some winter weight at the moment ) and my pack hit 40kg, once or twice for the first couple of days of certain trips. Generally its below 35kg for an Overland Track or Walls of Jerusalem, but during an evacuation of a client I carried both hers and my packs bring the weight to a sagging 50kg. Whilst I know that its not a good idea, I am just a young man enjoying the challenge and being outdoors on a daily basis.
The one advantage is, on my personal trips, the pack weighs about 17kg for 2 or 3 nights and it feels wonderfully like a day pack.

Pretty sure the army folk carry even bigger packs...

Yes, Wifes got a reli in the special forces. They carry 60kg packs and a 20kg ammo belt. Good luck to them......