Hey guys,
I’ve got my old big-ass highschool bag lying around here somewhere. I dont really use it anymore. I thought of loading it up with 20kg first and progress until 40kg. And then walk a x-amount of km per hour. Just for GPP.
Comments?
Sounds like it could be bad for your joints. I may be wrong here, but when walking it seems like your leg muscles dont take much of the stress because your legs are so close to being locked out. I’d imagine there are much more proven options as far as GPP
Eh. Could be tough on your joints if you’re going down hills or running with it. If you’re just walking with it over flat terrain though, I wouldn’t worry. Sounds like a good way to get your GPP in.
What kind of a bag/pack is this? Backpack? Duffle? How long were you thinking of going?
If you’re gonna try rucking (backpacking) you generally need to do it for a somewhat extended periods to get much benefit. If your pack’s not at least halfway decent, you might find it difficult to get in the duration and you may even get injured. People underestimate how uncomfortable it can be to carry even a 40# pack for any length of time if you’re not used to it. All the worse if it’s a crap bag to start with
Your joints shouldn’t be at undue risk if you watch your footing. Just brisk walking though, no running.
Here’s an article about carrying stuff for GPP:
May be of use.
Edited
Weighted vest would be better, because of the weight distribution. When using backpack you need to lean forward a bit when using heavier loads. Using vest you can walk straight up with normal posture, when nothing is pulling you backwards.
Walking with loads is very good way to melt off the fat. Just ask any hiker or infantryman. Just get a good backpack and progressively add time and weight, so that you can get used to them.
I wouldn’t use a school back pack for that. I would only use a hiking backpack for that.
[quote]Fletch1986 wrote:
I wouldn’t use a school back pack for that. I would only use a hiking backpack for that. [/quote]
why?
[quote]Kardash wrote:
[quote]Fletch1986 wrote:
I wouldn’t use a school back pack for that. I would only use a hiking backpack for that. [/quote]
why?
[/quote]
It won’t evenly distribute the load. I don’t think a school bag would even hold the weight you are thinking about using. The straps are narrow and don’t have padding. No lower back support. Not a good idea.
Go buy an external frame pack and progressively load it up.
If you’re not training for anything requiring you to carry a loaded pack, I would highly recommend getting a weighted vest over a pack.
Also, look after your feet.
[quote]WN76 wrote:
[quote]Kardash wrote:
[quote]Fletch1986 wrote:
I wouldn’t use a school back pack for that. I would only use a hiking backpack for that. [/quote]
why?
[/quote]
It won’t evenly distribute the load. I don’t think a school bag would even hold the weight you are thinking about using. The straps are narrow and don’t have padding. No lower back support. Not a good idea.
Go buy an external frame pack and progressively load it up.
If you’re not training for anything requiring you to carry a loaded pack, I would highly recommend getting a weighted vest over a pack. [/quote]
Yeah, if you don’t need to carry a pack for any reason, a vest is definitely better. Of course a decent hiking pack has the added benefit of being a decent hiking pack, if you’re into that sort of thing.
Oh I misread your question. I thought you were talking about a backpacking bag. I wouldn’t do it with a school backpack either. The weight will be way too low on your back. A hiking backpack will keep it much higher and allow for much better conditioning.
[quote]batman730 wrote:
[quote]WN76 wrote:
[quote]Kardash wrote:
[quote]Fletch1986 wrote:
I wouldn’t use a school back pack for that. I would only use a hiking backpack for that. [/quote]
why?
[/quote]
It won’t evenly distribute the load. I don’t think a school bag would even hold the weight you are thinking about using. The straps are narrow and don’t have padding. No lower back support. Not a good idea.
Go buy an external frame pack and progressively load it up.
If you’re not training for anything requiring you to carry a loaded pack, I would highly recommend getting a weighted vest over a pack. [/quote]
Yeah, if you don’t need to carry a pack for any reason, a vest is definitely better. Of course a decent hiking pack has the added benefit of being a decent hiking pack, if you’re into that sort of thing.[/quote]
Agreed. Good weighted vests aren’t cheap, and you can buy a decent pack for what a 40lb vest would cost you. Load up the pack with sandbags and you’re good to go.
Also, if you’re hiking in any sort of wilderness and something happens, you can easily (and cheaply) dump the sandbags and head out.
I think they call this “backpacking.”
It’s not a crazy idea and it’s not a killer on the joints.
I’d prefer to do the camping part too though. That’s just me.
You might find a good used backpack, a new one is not cheap. Progression is the key. Start at 25 pounds 20 minutes and build on. 30 years ago i was hicking in the mountains each weekend with 40-65 pounds with a body weight of 125.
Include some bottles of water, much better than all sand.
All the best !
OP
just get ANYKIND of pack and start training with it. you listen to all these clowns posting here, you’ll be buying only a certain kind, color and with your initials on…
take a look at MOST pro athletes. MOST come from a poor background. all the jamacia sprinters, pro football players, boxers… you think they train with the best equipment growing up?? they grab what the can, make makeshift weights and somehow make it on the top podium step.
get ANYKIND of pack and start!!!
OP
just get ANYKIND of pack and start training with it. you listen to all these clowns posting here, you’ll be buying only a certain kind, color and with your initials on…
take a look at MOST pro athletes. MOST come from a poor background. all the jamacia sprinters, pro football players, boxers… you think they train with the best equipment growing up?? they grab what the can, make makeshift weights and somehow make it on the top podium step.
get ANYKIND of pack and start!!!
I have spent the majority of the last 20 years carrying heavy stuff in a pack on my back. Yes, carrying heavy things on your back for prolonged periods of time for years on end will wreck your back. Carrying something heavy on your back as far and fast as possible over uneven terrain is tough on your joints. If you are planning on going heavy then do NOT just grab something and start. Get something with a frame. You can get Army surplus packs cheap. Start relatively light (35 pounds) and go up. Same goes with distance…start short and get longer.
I have been training extensively with the 84lb XVest and find it to be a grueling workout everytime.
My neighborhood is plentiful in hills, so I do a lot of walking at a solid pace. Then I try to tackle certain hills.
As for your back, there’s really only one way to protect your spine in this case: Intra-abdominal pressure.
You need to learn how to activate those deep core muscles for an extended period of time. Thats why you start light and build up. I actually noticed that heavy XVest walking has improved my core strength and helps me doing (unweighted) sprints.
Not to mention:
-Calorie burn
-Cardiovascular workout
-Bone density benefits (over time)
-Traps/upper back endurance
-Abdominal capacity
The XVest is better for workouts IMO, but when you can walk 6 miles up/down hills with 80+ lbs on your torso it will make a man out of you.
[quote]spk wrote:
OP
just get ANYKIND of pack and start training with it. you listen to all these clowns posting here, you’ll be buying only a certain kind, color and with your initials on…
take a look at MOST pro athletes. MOST come from a poor background. all the jamacia sprinters, pro football players, boxers… you think they train with the best equipment growing up?? they grab what the can, make makeshift weights and somehow make it on the top podium step.
get ANYKIND of pack and start!!![/quote]
I’m afraid these ‘clowns’ (?) have a point. I tested out my highschool-pack. Loaded a 20lbs medicine ball in it and walked for an hour. I’m 190-200lbs myself. So that’s like 10% of my weight. It was a hardening experience, very fun. But I do get their point.
Anything above 35lbs would kill my back right now. I finally understand what ppl mean with backpacking that the weight should ‘rest on your hips’. Because with my normal schoolbag the weight was pulling my back (it’s a lever) all the times.
Im going to progress as much as I can with 20-35lbs with this shitty back, and then try to get my hands on a decent bag with a frame from the Army Reserve.
Just to be clear: a ‘frame’ is the shouldstraps + hipstraps, right??
[quote]Kardash wrote:
I’m afraid these ‘clowns’ (?) have a point. I tested out my highschool-pack. Loaded a 20lbs medicine ball in it and walked for an hour. I’m 190-200lbs myself. So that’s like 10% of my weight. It was a hardening experience, very fun. But I do get their point.
Anything above 35lbs would kill my back right now. I finally understand what ppl mean with backpacking that the weight should ‘rest on your hips’. Because with my normal schoolbag the weight was pulling my back (it’s a lever) all the times.
Im going to progress as much as I can with 20-35lbs with this shitty back, and then try to get my hands on a decent bag with a frame from the Army Reserve.
Just to be clear: a ‘frame’ is the shouldstraps + hipstraps, right??[/quote]
Once you get your pack you want the weight to be carried high and close to the body. That is why the radio compartment in Army ALICE packs are where they are in the pack.
I attached a picture of an ALICE frame. This is what you will be getting if you get something from military surplus or the reserves.