Thread: Modern Packs

Originally Posted by Southern lite

Just wondering how much weight are people carrying with these external frame packs with a meat shelf? My knees and hips get sore with anything over 35kg after a km or two. Once I'm over 40km I'm really struggling. My limiting factor is me, not the pack and I'm only early 40s. Would any pack stop sore knees with over 40kg? Surely you still have all that weight going through you knees and hip joint with whatever packs on you back? Just wondering ��

I think with the meat sling/carbon frame packs you are getting a good reliable sit of the hip belt high on your hips and with the meat sling the load centred and close to your back. There is very little lateral movement of the pack too and the pack doesn't pull back on your neck and shoulders. When well set up the load feels lighter.
Im 76 so the my loads aren't huge anymore, but I can still carry the bone in legs and shoulders of a deer up a good hill without much stress. I feel well balanced and my legs and back bits don't hurt - although they do in lots of other situations.

Your pack is excellent but the configuration of just the 2 alloy struts for support and less optimal distribution of the load in the bag means that it is unfair to compare it with the carbon frame meat shelf options.
Your packs are a still a revelation of lightness, robustness and utility and I hugely recommend them. Horses for courses.