Backpack training - how much weight?

[Moldrupj]

I mostly train with a 40 LB bag of corn strapped to my pack frame - a few decent trails with some elevation but I tend to get the more consistent workouts in going up and down the stairs at the high school football stadium nearby. I've been using the training mask the past few years as well to help strain my lungs more and at least pretend to prepare for altitude.

 

[Drakester]

I use one to two 25 pound bags of dog food depending on fitness level, terrain and time of the year. Plus, if I get peckish on the hike it’s cheaper than trail mix.

 

[whereisfredbeckey]

About 50 lbs.

 

[welpro222]

50lb bag of concrete during off season once a week for 3-6 miles on rough trail up/down hills. Bump it up to 80lb bag of gravel for the last 2x weeks before hunting trip. Combine this with 2-3 days of walking/jogging for 3 miles during week.

 

[Lochtsa71]

I use 25 and up to 45 lb. sandbags for uphill climbs or elevation gains up to 3000 feet.

 

[Randonee]

Thanks for the tip on the goruck plates. Seems like a great solution and easier storage at home.

 

[huntfish207]

I have 25, 35,45 & 55 pound sand bags that I use depending on my workout for the day.

 

[ThinkLeicaBuck]

What do you use for your backpack cardio / training?

I use the outdoorsmans pack frame and atlas trainer with a 45 pound olympic style weight. Near my house is the Wellsville Wilderness area and it provides a 4 mile climb with 4500 vertical gain. I do this twice a week with the weight and once without.

 

[Pianalto.j]

I use every water bladder I have and then use some scuba weights I have. Usually somewhere between 50-60#

 

[sam hill]

Training for my Stone's sheep hunt this past August , I loaded my brand new Exo 5500 K2 bag with the gear for the hunt. Weight was 50 lbs without rifle and ammo. Did 90 minutes a day for 2 months on the local trails.

 

[Jackal7]

I just did a backpack caribou hunt in the Brooks Range. I started training 18 months prior to leaving. Goal was to put on five pounds of muscle, but ended up losing ten pounds during training. I am over 50 and I mixed in cardio, weights and 2X per week I would walk hills or an inclined treadmill with a 40 pound weight vest from Run Max. Did all this 6X per week with one day off each week for recovery. I started with 30 pounds in the vest and worked my way up. By the time I left for Alaska I was in the best shape I have been in since high school. The tundra was hard but the combo of the training types paid off for me. I wasn't about to carry 90 pounds uphill over tundra for two miles, but I was able to hunt hard and pack out my caribou without feeling like I was going to die.

 

[GeorgeShaw]

I guess I'm just old and broken, lol. I'll be 60 in a month, buggered up both knees a couple years back while elk hunting. Just had the worse of the two scoped in Feb, so it's a little tender yet. I plan on going slow, real slow. Maybe 15-20lb for a while, then work up as I feel safe. Don't want to go backwards in recovery. Second moose hunt isn't until September 2027.

 

[3325]

I guess I'm just old and broken, lol. I'll be 60 in a month, buggered up both knees a couple years back while elk hunting. Just had the worse of the two scoped in Feb, so it's a little tender yet. I plan on going slow, real slow. Maybe 15-20lb for a while, then work up as I feel safe. Don't want to go backwards in recovery. Second moose hunt isn't until September 2027.

Sage

 

[Fireflyfishing]

I'll typically carry the same on training or actual hunts using the gear I'm taking for both. This allows me to check how I'm packing and get a feel for the volume that taken up in the bag. I don't carry sand in the back country so I'm not going to train with it.

This is my mantra as well. I don’t care for workouts that beat you down and possibly injure you before the actual event you’re training for.

I’m limited in diversity of workouts as I travel a lot for work. To combat this, I have a strict diet and I run…a lot. I also strength train when I can. Core work is important for backpacking I’ve found. I’ve worn a pack in the woods a lot over my career…this enables me to train without a pack and still have great success physically come hunting season when I don the pack.

Gear plays a big part too. I have a backpack I know and trust. It’s comfortable…even with weight. I also know when there is just too much in or on my pack and I need to download. I’d rather do another trip than grind it out in pain.

It’s SUPER IMPORTANT to have a pack that fits correctly to your body size and adjusted correctly. I feel many skip over this and leaves them working far harder than needed when the miles start adding up.

 

[GeorgeShaw]

This is my mantra as well. I don’t care for workouts that beat you down and possibly injure you before the actual event you’re training for.

I’m limited in diversity of workouts as I travel a lot for work. To combat this, I have a strict diet and I run…a lot. I also strength train when I can. Core work is important for backpacking I’ve found. I’ve worn a pack in the woods a lot over my career…this enables me to train without a pack and still have great success physically come hunting season when I don the pack.

Gear plays a big part too. I have a backpack I know and trust. It’s comfortable…even with weight. I also know when there is just too much in or on my pack and I need to download. I’d rather do another trip than grind it out in pain.

It’s SUPER IMPORTANT to have a pack that fits correctly to your body size and adjusted correctly. I feel many skip over this and leaves them working far harder than needed when the miles start adding up.

That's kind of a problem for me too driving semi, being at work from early morning until late night. I have 2 days off, but have household responsibilities too. During the summer I'll wear my pack with 20lb while push mowing the lawn. I do need to work on endurance and cardio since I'm sedentary so much through the week. I agree with the backpack fitting as well. My body shape even when I was young and much thinner, I've always had "handles" which make wearing a frame pack difficult. I usually have to stop every few minutes, and hike it back up to keep the weight off the shoulder straps.

 

[rogerdoger]

That's kind of a problem for me too driving semi, being at work from early morning until late night. I have 2 days off, but have household responsibilities too. During the summer I'll wear my pack with 20lb while push mowing the lawn. I do need to work on endurance and cardio since I'm sedentary so much through the week. I agree with the backpack fitting as well. My body shape even when I was young and much thinner, I've always had "handles" which make wearing a frame pack difficult. I usually have to stop every few minutes, and hike it back up to keep the weight off the shoulder straps.

Keep a couple kettle bells in your rig. When you stop you can do kettlebell swings, suitcase carry, squats, etc. I work construction and do not have a lot of time, I will stop when heading project to project and do a quick 15-20 minute workout. I do this 2-3 days a week, the others I will take a 45 minute lunch and there is a small hill by my work. My pack if 50lb's and I will walk up and down as many times as I can. Some days I will do squats and lunges at the top to help strengthen legs.