Backpacking with bad back alternatives

“What are ways to get out backpacking?

I'm thinking two ways and await comments on these and any more. This person would be with me, so of course I would be carrying tent gear.

1. Get some huge lumbar/fanny pack. I saw something like this at Cabela's and wondered about it.

Lumbar pack

Larger fanny pack with strap support

Yes, it's hunting gear. But I wondered how either style might work... and you could possibly even hang a sleeping bag and pad underneath it.

2. It seems I've heard of people creating some kind of pull cart thing?? People use sleds in the winter. Do you know of anything available.

Thanks!! :-)”

“How bad we talking here? My back ain't great, but the hipbelt of most packs gives me enough stability to carry it long distances with no trouble, as long as most of the weight is on my hips.”

“Hmmm. Seems like the weight rode more on my hips when I had an external frame pack. Maybe it was just a matter of 'fit'.”

“When my back wasn't so great I used:

1) Back stretches,
2) Strengthening alternative muscles,
3) Ibuprofen,
4) Kept muscle relaxants and stronger pain relievers handy (used some at night a couple times)”

“try swiming, that is a none impact sport....

Biking is good too.”

“dang, that would be one huge freakin' fanny pack! what problem exactly does he have with his back?”

“wiht out the back, you are simply "packing" and packing can be done anywhere.”

“lizs - This person needs to be ultralight.
Going ultralight opens up backpacking to a lot of people with medical/injury problems.”

“Yeah, Lizs... what did you do to his back?”

“If you have a bad back or shoulders then work to strengthen those muscle groups.

I have a "bad" back. Had it from age 13. Scheuermann’s Disease to be precise. As my doctor said; If you have a back problem then exercise to strengthen the back or expect to live in pain that will increase with age.

That being said just keep the weight light. I'd use a frame pack over an internal.

The gear cart seems like a good idea but be sure you know what the rules are concerning wheeled devices. Lots of trail systems outright ban them. Don't want to end up in trouble over that.”

“Oh, and good luck to your friend.”

“Am having trouble posting. Was getting that "time warping" message.

I think it's more shoulders/back. Possibly strained ligaments from a canoeing "incident," where he and a friend tried to tip a canoe back over while hanging onto branches to avoid falling in a river (non swimmers). Something like that. So it might be ligaments, etc. I don't know the full damage report. Plus, this guy is built like a rail, tall and thin.

It's my friend I packed with back on Memorial Day weekend. That experience sent him to the chiropracter countless times after the fact.Hmm. maybe the hipbelt needed to be taken in? He packed a ton of crap, too. I tried to watch, but didn't catch all the stuff he put in.

He also likes a lot of water, which would mean a filter to avoid carrying all that.

For myself, I know the shoulder straps can rub on my shoulder bones running in toward my neck on the front. I just have a really boney area there and the strap rubs it, although it hasn't been tood bad. I would imagine this also would happen to him.

OK, no "bone" jokes (I can see that coming a mile away, but couldn't think of how else to put that)... Thanks for the ideas.”

“If he's really skinny, he might need to go to a smaller hipbelt. Also, guys tend to buy a size "large" pack, when in reality most guys, even some really tall ones, are a "medium".

With a properly fitted pack, most of the weight should be on the hips, not the shoulders.

I carry along one of those "back safety" belts as a just-in-case measure, but I've never needed it.”

“What's a "back safety" belt?”

“One of those things that the people who work at Home Depot pretend to wear because they're required to. It's a back support. I think I need a new one, I seem to have mislaid my old one.”

“If you really liked this guy, you'd carry his stuff for him so he could enjoy the trail.

SheeSh!”

“(btw -- those 'neckbones in the front' are your collarbones, also known as the right and left clavicle)

Maybe you need to ease up on that sternum strap? <G>”

“I was thinking collar bone ... LOL!”

“lizs has bony clavicles, lizs has bony clavicles....”

“Bones, boning etc

Straps, strap ons etc


With such a plethora of opportunity it was hard to choose which response to use . . .but I decided today was subtle day:

Liz -

I think I can offer an exercise, that, over time, may relieve the chafing on your bony clavicles.

Press the palms of your hands together . . .forcefully. Really push one against the other and repeat

"I must, I must, I must increase my bust"”

“Work your fingers to the bone
What do you get?

Boney fingers”

“I'm scheduled for back surgery in October, but I did 68 miles in five days on the AT in N. Ga. and NC in August. A light pack with a good hip belt system is best. I had almost no pain when walking. Good trip.”