body weight vs pack weight

[PUNKINPUSS11]

not sure how to word this. if u have a 35lb pack but u lose 35lb does it work out like ur not carrying a pack????

[JustaTouron]

Not exactly.......

First lets assume you are 35lbs overweight. You will should be 250lbs but you weigh 285 lbs. It is gonna be at least as hard for you walk the AT without a pack as it would be for you in tip top shape (at 250lbs) to walk the trail with a 35lb pack. In reality when you are carrying a 35lb pack it is as hard on your body as if you were in ideal shape and carrying a 70lb pound back.

[juma]

yes, and good luck.

[10-K]

not sure how to word this. if u have a 35lb pack but u lose 35lb does it work out like ur not carrying a pack????

It would if the your pack weight was distributed over your body the same way your body composition is, but it's not - so the answer is no.

For a crude analogy, gaining 15 lbs of body weight is not the same as walking around with a 15 lb weight in your right hand.

[Pedaling Fool]

not sure how to word this. if u have a 35lb pack but u lose 35lb does it work out like ur not carrying a pack????

Forget the conventional body weight vs pack weight guidelines, it's so flawed not even worth discussing. Just look at the size of most sherpas and what they carry.

[Doctari]

Loosing the 35 lbs will make your hiking easier. It MAY make sleeping on the ground (or worse, in shelters) less comfortable.
IF you are already underweight, you may want to reconsider.

Will it make it feel like you are not carrying a pack? It SEEMS logical, to me at least. In March, you weigh (lets say): 175 Lbs, 4 months later you are down to 140 but are now carrying a 35 Lb pack, there is still 175 Lbs on your legs & feet. It may even be better, because now you have less fat around your heart & other vital organs. I know for a fact that If I lose 35 Lbs I will feel 50 Lbs better. Exercising to help loose the weight will also make the effort of hiking easier.

[sasquatch2014]

If during the day you have eatten 2 lbs out of your food bag but have not visited the priviy do you still take that weight into consideration?

[10-K]

If during the day you have eatten 2 lbs out of your food bag but have not visited the priviy do you still take that weight into consideration?

<nevermind what I was going to say.>

[fredmugs]

It would if the your pack weight was distributed over your body the same way your body composition is, but it's not - so the answer is no.

For a crude analogy, gaining 15 lbs of body weight is not the same as walking around with a 15 lb weight in your right hand.

Great analogy. Over the last two years I have hiked from a body weight anywhere between 195 and 220 pounds. A 35 lb pack is a 35 lb pack. My lower back feels pretty much the same at the end of the day.

However - when I'm slacking with a 3 liter camelbak that probably weighs 10 pounds I can't even tell it's there.

[Don H]

I figure that if I loose 30 pounds and carry a 25 pound pack the end result will be that I am negative 5 pounds and I will float down the trail. I need to go hit the treadmill now

[10-K]

I figure that if I loose 30 pounds and carry a 25 pound pack the end result will be that I am negative 5 pounds and I will float down the trail. I need to go hit the treadmill now

Or you could just take laxatives the night before a big climb.

[jnl82381]

it depends, if you carry it all in your belly and you lose the weight but get a really big fanny pack and keep all of your stuff in there...the weight would be in about the same place on your body. the same could be said if you keep it in your butt and turn the fanny pack around the other way.

who cares though, you'll lose weight on the trail anyways.

I read in an UL backpacking book that your ideal packweight is 25% of your body weight (not that reading it makes it fact but...). so if you have a 35 pound pack and are 140 pounds or heavier, you'll be fine!

Good Luck!

[eric j]

it depends, if you carry it all in your belly and you lose the weight but get a really big fanny pack and keep all of your stuff in there...the weight would be in about the same place on your body. the same could be said if you keep it in your butt and turn the fanny pack around the other way.

who cares though, you'll lose weight on the trail anyways.

I read in an UL backpacking book that your ideal packweight is 25% of your body weight (not that reading it makes it fact but...). so if you have a 35 pound pack and are 140 pounds or heavier, you'll be fine!

Good Luck!

So if your 250 you can go out with a 62.5 lb pack, thats scary!

[JustaTouron]

I read in an UL backpacking book that your ideal packweight is 25% of your body weight (not that reading it makes it fact but...).

What I think folks are missing is if you are overweight that ain't accurate.

A 5 foot 400 lb fat slob that is 250lb overweight isn't gonna be able to to hike the AT with 100 lb backpack. Probably can barely walk from the fridge to the couch in front of the TV carring a pound of junk food.

If you are 10% overweight your ideal packweight is 15% of your ideal body weight.

[sbhikes]

As you hike a long distance, you will lose weight and you'll get so used to your pack that you feel strange hiking without it.

I think the 25% of your body weight is a good place to start, but if you do like I did and try to go well below that, a whole new world will open up. Hiking with a pack so light you barely notice is a joy. Plus if your essentials are really light, you can take more real luxuries like better food, wine and books.

[JAK]

It is the same on your feet and ankles and knees.
It is a little different on your shoulders and back.

Either way, as a pack or as body weight, it is way better than carrying it in your left hand.

[JAK]

Also, as Justatouron said, pack weight guidelines should not be based on body weight.

Take these 3 people:

1. 6' tall. 150 pounds lean mass. 200 pounds total.
2. 6' tall. 175 pounds lean mass. 200 pounds total.
3. 6' tall. 150 pounds lean mass. 175 pounds total.

More than likely, #2 and #3 can carry more than #1.

However, who can carry more? #2 or #3?
Chances are, #2 can probable carry more weight up a flight of stairs.
However, #3 can probably carry a 30 pound pack more miles on the AT.

[10-K]

As you hike a long distance, you will lose weight and you'll get so used to your pack that you feel strange hiking without it.

I keep waiting for that day!

[Old Hiker]

I figure that if I loose 30 pounds and carry a 25 pound pack the end result will be that I am negative 5 pounds and I will float down the trail. I need to go hit the treadmill now

Just add 7 pounds of rocks and you'll be fine. In fact, let your hiking partners (if any) know about your calculations and they will be MORE than helpful with suggestions!

[Doooglas]

I figure that if I loose 30 pounds and carry a 25 pound pack the end result will be that I am negative 5 pounds and I will float down the trail. I need to go hit the treadmill now

Treadmills are useless. Go find some stairs.