Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Backpack Hunting Load Weight Distribution Demonstration

How weight placement affects center of gravity/mass.

There are more factors that come into play when it comes to packing, from external vs internal, hip belts, suspension, etc.
This video gives a basic demonstration of how meat packers, (as opposed to climbers), may want to load the heaviest weight...IF the pack isn't full of game.
My experience agrees with this man's explanation in general with my external packs.
If anyone disagrees, please explain your reasoning.

Happy Camper

I disagree. The higher the weight the higher your COG, reducing your stability.

Keep heavier items closer to your body.

Example. Strap an extension ladder to your back vertically or horizontally. Which is easier to control?

Interesting demo. I know that when I hiked the AT, 2103 miles at the time, I tried loading my pack every way I could to equalize the load. I found that by putting lighter stuff on the bottom, my heaviest stuff in the middle and the rest on top, my pack seemed lighter. I know that is not scientific, but even today, through hikers say they that they pack the same way for comfort.

Thats the most common recommendation for proper packing.

What was your average base weight and pack?

I carry ladders both ways, but never strapped one on my back.
For that I am going to ask the only two guys that I know have done that. Shug carries ladders with his pack.

I agree. I always load my bag with my lightest items on the bottom and heaviest in the top of my bag. I don’t load heavy items in the lid however I keep them about shoulder height. For me it makes the pack seem lighter and easier to maneuver. With heavy items in the bottom of your bag it seems the pack wants to pull you down or backwards at times especially up hill.

I want to start by saying that this thread is open ended as there are variables. I like the diagram since it shows in an exaggeration how one must lean forward depending upon the placement of the most mass. Everything has tradeoffs, so the guy who is climbing wants more stability. Lower might be better in situations where there's no clear trail and lots of downed trees and low limbs.
I normally hike clear trails and use an external frame pack that allows an upright stance and gate. Like you said, I pack that way too. If I get a whitetail or a load of walnuts, it's more practical to load the main bag and use the pockets for gear.
If backpacking, placement goes back to heavy food and fuel high. The stiff frame and suspension makes the weight go on the pelvic girdle.

That's The trade off. At least one of them.
The center for men is around the waist and women a little lower at the hips. With addition of a pack, weight, need for stability, type of pack are variables that change.
Many prefer internal packs, but I have gone back to using a well designed external that allows me a more upright posture.
Sometimes it's a day hike with a waist belt or without.
A soft ultralight that would not be designed for heavy loads might be what someone would use on a section hike or even scrabbling up a mountain. I would prefer stability for climbing, and ducking under limbs.

I think it all depends what your needs are..
If we look at videos of ladies hauling water in a poor part of India for example, they carry clay pots/ buckets. Where do they put them?

Tag…

It's all BS... the guy would make a good carney shell game operator though. "Low and Close" is the proper way, with the pack laying flat all the heavy items starting from the bottom and as close to the frame as you can get them. Then layer on top of that in layers getting lighter as you go until filling the pack. Water bladder should be outside the pack at the top and above the shoulders, more or less in the position of a pillow would be in. Any really heavy items should be suspended from the waist forward of the center of the legs. Hell, a plumb bob doesn't show you any thing except the point directly below the point its hanging from.

Phil

Nashville,

I'm with you on this, but honestly the highest and heaviest load I've ever carried was a stack of lumber.

I asked world renowned outdoor enthusiast and lecturer, Steve Climber and this was the response.



😄

I like the weight high, just like he states. It does have an effect on my center of gravity, but the positives of having the weight higher totally and then some outweigh the negatives. It just "feels" lighter and better, and most certainly has made a difference in how far I can hike with X weight..

Hey Phil.

Aren't you being a little judgemental about Shug aka Sean Emery?
He demonstrated a ladder in a pack....or a pack on a ladder.
If he carried it horizontally, wouldn't he have a hard time getting between the trees?
Besides, does he look like a carney???

I've been using an external frame pack and to me that makes a difference. However it's not as sensitive to the load placement as my internals. That said, it has a unique aluminum hip hugger that wraps around and distributes the weight better than others I've used. It's a vintage D-series Jansport.
What kind do you use, T?

Kifaru duplex frame.

I've never tried one on, but seriously considered buying one.
Their frames look are an awesome design and they are completely versatile with the packs available. In fact, I like the modularity concept..I've studied some of their designs.
Whoever is their pack designer has come up with some interesting ideas.
How do you like it?

I really like it, but honestly haven't tried too many others so can't really compare.

I am at roughly 15 big game pack outs with it. Packs anywhere from 1/2 to about 8 miles, plus a lot of trapping on foot. I have zero complaints about the system. I think I will try attaching the load shelf higher up on the frame to force the meat to ride higher yet and see how I like it. I have had so much weight on it that I couldn't get the belt tight enough to make my hips take the brunt of the weight....and so my shoulders had to take more than they should have and I still didn't have much back/shoulder fatigue. My feet have absolutely ached the next day but my back/shoulders/core felt like a million bucks.

I would have been dying with body aches all over with 1/2 that weight on my old Elberleestock.

. You picked a top choice after no doubt a lot of research. Lots of guys go through over half a dozen big packs before finding their favorite. You put plenty of milage to know you have it already.
I mulled over a Kifaru, or a Dan McHale and decided to make my own designs. Those guys definitely got it right. I just wanted to implement my own.

No matter how much weight you pack, if its above the waist all of it is going to be on your back... the only other thing that figures in is leverage, and with that the higher the weight is above your hip the worse it gets. You'll find yourself having to hump over forward just to keep your balance to walk. There's a reason people have from childhood always been taught to kneel or squat with legs apart when picking up a load, and that is to keep the weight as close to the body as possible. It's to save your back.


Phil