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?'

3 comments

3 Comments

lucasw843d ago

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

ryan7933d 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.

fiona_kim973d 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.