How do you put your pack on?

[AK Troutbum]

This method (over the head) did work very well, but like I said, we only had a small pack with about 20 lbs or so that we were doing it with. Next day off I think I will put 50 or 60 lbs in my Kifaru and give 'er a try.

 

[tipsntails7]

someone post a video of this please. put a sand bag in your pack or something. this seems like a bulging disk waiting to happen.

 

[TheRambler]

All of my packs are in storage while moving. I can post a video mid next week if no one beats me to it beforehand.

 

[desertcj]

I go over the head with my ILBE. It has handles between the top and bottom of the shoulder straps that looks like they were made for this. It works well and I've done it up to about 65lbs. It can be a bit of a heav-ho, but geeze...do some pushups or something? I ride a mouse and keyboard all day at work and I can do it...

 

[MattB]

I put my pack on this way all the time, no matter the weight. Its much easier than it sounds. Its also much easier on the pack straps and prevents stitch poping on the straps that can sometimes happen with other methods(typically on lesser quality brand packs with minimal reinforcement).

You place the pack on the ground in front of you, standing up, straps facing away from you. Bend/lean down and put your hands between the shoulder straps and grab the pack frame about in the middle of the pack. Then lift it straight up and over. Its very easy, is an ergonomic action and actually minimizes risk for bodily injury. I have a bad rotator cuff in my right shoulder and have a lower back injury where j broke my back many moons ago. Zero problems for me with this method.

Help me understand, are you talking about jerking a 100+ lb. pack off the ground, over the top of your head (like a clean/jerk/overhead press, but all the way over the top in one motion) and stopping it on your back by the shoulder straps? That is way harder on the pack than Manosteel's method, which is what I have almost universally seen as the way to put on a pack that is heavy but not too heavy to lift off the ground.

 

[slim9300]

The Patrick Smith method.

If I can't get it up to my knee, it's not going on my back. I think 140-150 is the most I can do.

 

[Jpeaston]

For heavy packs...After packing it, I tip it over straps up, wiggle into it like a dog scratchin his back on the ground, strap everything up, roll over to all fours, then use whatever is around to get standing, make final adjustments and I'm off.
For average weight packs I use the school kid method.

 

[AK Troutbum]

The way it was described to me for use in the field is, place the pack either on a hill (up hill of you) or stump, log, etc., then get down on your knees, pack lying in front of you with the shoulder straps up and top facing you. Place your arms thru the straps and grab the pack around the middle and lean forward, pick up the pack and bring it over the top of your head then let it slide down your back in one motion. Make sense?

 

[MattB]

The way it was described to me for use in the field is, place the pack either on a hill (up hill of you) or stump, log, etc., then get down on your knees, pack lying in front of you with the shoulder straps up and top facing you. Place your arms thru the straps and grab the pack around the middle and lean forward, pick up the pack and bring it over the top of your head then let it slide down your back in one motion. Make sense?

Your explanation makes perfect sense, I just can't see why anyone would pitch the pack over one's head when you can get roughly the same effect by lifting the pack up onto your quad. It also begs the question of how you get the pack to a hill or stump in the first place, but I digress....

It would also be interesting to get input from a pack manufacturer (Aron) on the stresses that method places on the shoulder straps. I recall some discussion that it is preferable to lift a loaded pack by the grab handle instead of the shoulder straps as they are not designed to carry as much weight.

 

[Ray]

The way it was described to me for use in the field is, place the pack either on a hill (up hill of you) or stump, log, etc., then get down on your knees, pack lying in front of you with the shoulder straps up and top facing you. Place your arms thru the straps and grab the pack around the middle and lean forward, pick up the pack and bring it over the top of your head then let it slide down your back in one motion. Make sense?

That does. The pack is basically upside down and backwards then you perform a version of a firemans carry over your head and your arms slip through the shoulder straps as it slides over and down your back turning right side up and "front" facing.

Its how many little kids put on heavy winter coats as it allows them to load both arms in the sleeves at one time rather than spend precious recess time looking for the coat sleeve hiding behind them.

 

[Hoot]

I do it over the head, its how they taught us in the Army...it works!

 

[AK Troutbum]

It also begs the question of how you get the pack to a hill or stump in the first place, but I digress....

I had a good laugh at this. There's always a hill where I hunt, and I always seem to be at the bottom of it.

I recall some discussion that it is preferable to lift a loaded pack by the grab handle instead of the shoulder straps as they are not designed to carry as much weight.

There's actually little to no stress on the shoulder straps when doing it this way, at least until it's on your back, than it's the normal stress that the shoulder straps always have to bear.

 

[kodiakfly]

someone post a video of this please. put a sand bag in your pack or something. this seems like a bulging disk waiting to happen.

Keep your lower back arched, chest out and up and your back will hold a freight train. It's standard good form for squats, dead lifts or stiff-legged lifts. Get your back out of it's natural alignment and you'll slip a disc picking up your slippers. Human back is a remarkable structure if it's in it's alignment.

Horrible form.


Proper form. Your muscles will tear before you hurt your back lifting like this.


These are just pics I googled. I have no idea who any of these dudes are.

 

[b.roberts]

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=FemRN3y8Wv4

Fast forward to 25min. They show the overhead way of donning a pack.

 

[MesaHorseCo.]

For a heavy pack, say one loaded down with meat. I usually put arm through both shoulder straps. Lift the pack up to my leg and rest the pack on my quad. From there I swing my arm into it and get the pack on my back. Kinda hard to explain in words.

If I have a buddy I can get a little help that way. Lifting and going to the back. On steep hills I have sat down and put the pack on and then got to my feet that way too.

This.

 

[60x]

Never really thought about it. Usually the really heavy loads like a moose quarter or the heavy of heavy a wet brownbear hide I will have someone there to help. But mostly I just grab one strap put it on my shoulder and turn my body. The 150 plus ish loads unusual have to do a little different so I don't break the ladders on my frame( never have broke any though)

 

[tttoadman]

Pack in pack 50# max, I can usually hold it over head with the top bar or strap and get into it pretty easy. Anything with a pack out, I am with Hunt&Fish all the way. He did leave off the point when you stand up after rolling over like a turtle and go "holy %^&^&".

 

[Hunt'nFish]

Pack in pack 50# max, I can usually hold it over head with the top bar or strap and get into it pretty easy. Anything with a pack out, I am with Hunt&Fish all the way. He did leave off the point when you stand up after rolling over like a turtle and go "holy %^&^&".

Ha, ha, ha.... yeah I think we've all had that experience. Is this before or after I popped a Tylenol ER and asked my brother to pass me the Fireball? he, he, he.
Hunt'nFish

 

[littlebuf]

Patrick has a pretty good video on the kifaru site on how to put on a heavy pack. It's the method I've always used and was kinda glad to see I was doing it the "right" way. Anything that guy suggests you can pretty much bank on

 

[TD1]

littlebuf x2. Check out the Kifaru site and the video is very easy to understand. Can do this with any weight pack i can physically carry on my back. If I can't get it to my leg i probably shouldn't be carrying it. Used to turn turtle and roll over a few years ago, but what Patrick shows is hands down the best I've seen for very heavy loads solo with no logs or rocks.

Can see over the head up to 50 lbs or so, but you get a 100 lbs of boned out meat in motion, or in motion enough to toss it over my head... physics says it will tend to stay in motion.... and tend to put me in motion as well.....