Was packing my bag for the John Muir Trail and realized my 'heavy stuff on top' method was making my shoulders ache after just 5 miles.

A ranger at the Tuolumne Meadows station saw me adjusting my pack and asked, 'You know the heaviest gear should sit against your mid-back, right?'

4 comments

4 Comments

lucasw841mo ago

Honestly, that's such a classic mistake. Took me way too long to figure it out myself.

ryan7931mo ago

That ranger gave solid advice. Moving the weight closer to my back made a huge difference in comfort on long days. It feels more balanced and way less tiring.

nina_taylor26d ago

Oh man, that shoulder ache is the worst... you don't even notice it at first and then it just builds into this deep burn. Been there, stubbornly carrying my cook kit and bear can up high, thinking it was fine until my neck felt like a rock by lunch. That ranger's tip about the mid-back thing really does help. It just feels more like the pack is part of you instead of something trying to pull you over backwards.

fiona_kim971mo ago

Is this really a game changer or just backpacker nitpicking? I've done plenty of miles with my water bladder and tent up top. It never killed me. Maybe my shoulders got a bit sore, but that's just part of hiking. Lucasw84 calling it a classic mistake feels a bit much. It's not like having your sleeping bag a few inches higher is going to ruin your whole trip.