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Human Interface: Backpack harness innovation

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Re: Human Interface: Backpack harness innovation

#11

Post by climb_stealth »

toomanybeersies wrote: post #9

My father had a custom-fitted backpack made back around 1980, which he gave to me, and it's the best backpack I've ever used. It goes against practically everything in the book about modern backpack design. There's about zero customisability, you can adjust the length of the shoulder straps and hip strap and that's about it, but I'm a very similar build to my old man so it fits me almost perfectly. It's an external a…

This backpack sounds interesting. Do you know where he got it made? Do you have any photos of it? I find modern backpacks awkward at best and having a custom-fitted one sounds great. Also, I basically only use duffel bags to avoid the whole bag sweat issue.

Re: Human Interface: Backpack harness innovation

#12

Post by cool-RR »

toomanybeersies wrote: post #9

My father had a custom-fitted backpack made back around 1980, which he gave to me, and it's the best backpack I've ever used. It goes against practically everything in the book about modern backpack design. There's about zero customisability, you can adjust the length of the shoulder straps and hip strap and that's about it, but I'm a very similar build to my old man so it fits me almost perfectly. It's an external a…

We're gonna need pictures.

Re: Human Interface: Backpack harness innovation

#13

Post by bebna »

toomanybeersies wrote: post #10
throw7337 wrote: post #5

All this innovations, adjustments and frames with joints add extra weight. Going ultralight might be far more beneficial.

Yes, but we also have the benefit of modern materials science. You can make a backpack with a lot more parts/materials and still have it lighter than a backpack made 20 or 30 years ago. Of course the downside is that you can't repair them when they break. You can't weld, glue, or sew broken parts any more, and good luck getting replacement parts or modifying your pack in any way. Some of us like our creature comforts…

You can tape it. Easier to do and to carry on the field.

Re: Human Interface: Backpack harness innovation

#15

Post by andrepd »

toomanybeersies wrote: post #9

My father had a custom-fitted backpack made back around 1980, which he gave to me, and it's the best backpack I've ever used. It goes against practically everything in the book about modern backpack design. There's about zero customisability, you can adjust the length of the shoulder straps and hip strap and that's about it, but I'm a very similar build to my old man so it fits me almost perfectly. It's an external a…

>When the Europeans were exploring and colonising the Americas they did so with nothing but timber, leather, canvas, and a bit of steel. Now we spend a couple of weekends a year in the bush, bringing a plethora of space-age technology just to try and survive: carbon fibre, nylon, and titanium gas cookers that boil water in 30 seconds.

Well we use more technology today than we did before, big surprise. People didn't have sewage in the 1500s, and do now. Vasco da Gama didn't even bring oranges in his ships for a 2 year voyage, and yet today we stock tonnes of food on cruises. Etc x)

Re: Human Interface: Backpack harness innovation

#16

Post by vanderZwan »

telesilla wrote: post #4

Fascinating! The entire time I was absorbing why my Osprey women's backpack is so comfortable, so interesting to get the historical breakdown. Not sure about that floating backpack though..

Funny, to me the physics of that floating backpack immediately check out on an intuitive level: the less energy I put into making the backpack move, the less energy I'll expend.

Re: Human Interface: Backpack harness innovation

#17

Post by Dowwie »

I'm backpacking 8 days into the backcountry this Summer. I was fitted for my pack in 2009 and used it on a few trips, carrying up to 75 pounds for several days. Even with a fitted pack, my shoulders took a beating. I don't know whether upgrading packs will make much of a difference but need to act soon.

Re: Human Interface: Backpack harness innovation

#18

Post by ahaferburg »

vanderZwan wrote: post #16
telesilla wrote: post #4

Fascinating! The entire time I was absorbing why my Osprey women's backpack is so comfortable, so interesting to get the historical breakdown. Not sure about that floating backpack though..

Funny, to me the physics of that floating backpack immediately check out on an intuitive level: the less energy I put into making the backpack move, the less energy I'll expend.

My only worry would be that it swings, and builds up more movement than necessary. In the video at 0:46 the movements look pretty excessive.

Re: Human Interface: Backpack harness innovation

#19

Post by thomaslangston »

Dowwie wrote: post #17

I'm backpacking 8 days into the backcountry this Summer. I was fitted for my pack in 2009 and used it on a few trips, carrying up to 75 pounds for several days. Even with a fitted pack, my shoulders took a beating. I don't know whether upgrading packs will make much of a difference but need to act soon.

Yikes that's a heavy pack.

https://www.rei.com/blog/camp/how-much-should-your-pack-weig...

Almost all of the pack weight should be on your hips, not your shoulders.

Good luck preparing for your next trip.

Re: Human Interface: Backpack harness innovation

#20

Post by Dowwie »

throw7337 wrote: post #5

All this innovations, adjustments and frames with joints add extra weight. Going ultralight might be far more beneficial.

The tradeoffs are substantial. I've come across a lot of through hikers over the years. The featherweight packers are usually the ones who are mentally broken, as if enduring solitary confinement in a cell that has a serious water leak and freezing temperatures. The heavyweight packers are physically broken but still bear a resemblance of a civilized human being.
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