Backpack for dicky back

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Backpack for dicky back

Postby Vozzie » Wed 28 Mar, 2012 9:22 am

I have a bit of a spine problem, so I'm looking for a better pack solution than the old, heavy canvas one I have.

Within my budget, I'm tossing up between the EPE Pegasus 55L Rucksack ... which is Chiropractically endorsed ... but comes in at about 1.5kg; or the
Black Wolf B-Lite 55L .... which is not endorsed, but comes in at around 0.8kg.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.
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Re: Backpack for dicky back

Postby ULWalkingPhil » Wed 28 Mar, 2012 9:37 am

Aarn body pack with the front pockets especially if its not a lower back problem. Even if it is a lower back problem thr aarn packs will help

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Re: Backpack for dicky back

Postby gayet » Wed 28 Mar, 2012 10:01 am

For a lower back problem, look at the One Planets - they have the best harness system out there. If not into tough scrub off track walking, the lighter weight canvass is OK. I have a WBA, at ~60l, and it is very easy on the spine, neck and shoulders.
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Backpack for dicky back

Postby Ent » Wed 28 Mar, 2012 10:11 am

Hi

I had a compressed disc issue and found One Planet harness system great. The trick is to get the weight off the shoulders and on to the hip. Trouble with many lighter packs this can not be done well due to the transfer system not up to the task as something has to go in saving weight.

Also big issue is more than a few people have the wrong size harness. As good as OP is, get the wrong harness size or adjust the correct size poorly and you will not improve the situation on what you have.

You might find what works for you is a correctly fitted pack so hunt around and if the shop in not willing to load up the pack and allow you to wander around head to another shop.

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Re: Backpack for dicky back

Postby ILUVSWTAS » Wed 28 Mar, 2012 12:17 pm

Definitely OP.

Stay away from Blackwolf. Good entry level gear, but it wont help your back. Like the above poster, i've had some disc issues and since going to OP, my back has felt great!!
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Backpack for dicky back

Postby tasadam » Wed 28 Mar, 2012 12:27 pm

I was also thinking maybe a pack with a better harness system might be more beneficial.

I've got the Macpac Cascade. While the pack isn't the lightest, it's quite adjustable. On my most recent 8 day walk I spent some time tweaking the adjustment of this harness to ensure it was fitting me as best it could. I certainly knew when I got it right. While I thought it was pretty good to start with, there was a significant difference when I nailed its setup.

But I don't have a bad back. Or a dicky one...


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Re: Backpack for dicky back

Postby ILUVSWTAS » Wed 28 Mar, 2012 12:33 pm

Everyone is a different shape/size, only way to find out is to go out and try a heap of different styles on. I also have had the macpac cascades, dont rate them.... dont rate them at all. But as i said, everyone is different.....
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Re: Backpack for dicky back

Postby ULWalkingPhil » Wed 28 Mar, 2012 1:59 pm

I have upper back problems. My Oneplanet McMillan was a nightmare for me, very sore upper back and stiff shoulders. With the same weight in my Aarn Load Limo pack, no problems with my shoulders or upper back, all upper back discomfort totally eliminated, but I did get sore hip joints, I put this down to carrying in excess of 20Kg on my back. I've since dropped my total pack weight down to 12kg including food and water. I'm now using a lighter 50litre conventional pack with no problems.

The oneplanet pack did not work for me, not as well as my Aarn pack with all that weight. But I'm not the norm, most people have lower back issues, I rarely have problems with my lower back. My upper back is another story, Suffering from Scoliosis, which is a abnormal sideways curve on my spine, tends to pinch nerves and causes bad spasms in my back if I'm not careful.

This is the main reason why I have off late invested in all new overnight gear in the lightweight category.
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Re: Backpack for dicky back

Postby Vozzie » Wed 28 Mar, 2012 2:15 pm

Thanks everyone. It's obvious, as most posters have pointed out, we are all built differently ... and we all have different problems.
I think the best bet is to go into a shop, try some on, ensuring I'm setting them up correctly ...then decide.
Even if, later on, I find my choice turns out to be less than perfect ... I can always move to another. i guess we're not talking sheep stations here!
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Re: Backpack for dicky back

Postby Nuts » Wed 28 Mar, 2012 3:53 pm

I'd give one of the smaller aarn packs a go. I was talking to someone who relates carrying 37kgwith ease into the Arthur's. They wouldn't be much good in really steep country and I'd imagine a hassle in scub but the balance thing makes a lot of sense. Whatever, reducing overall weight is probably just as important. I took 16kg with 9 days food and still a bit heavy thou a world apart from the old days. Those you mention are v light but yerprob poorer quality??

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Backpack for dicky back

Postby ULWalkingPhil » Wed 28 Mar, 2012 3:56 pm

:)

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Re: Backpack for dicky back

Postby Nuts » Wed 28 Mar, 2012 4:03 pm

Ran out of bliss this morning :(
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Backpack for dicky back

Postby tasadam » Wed 28 Mar, 2012 4:25 pm

I see this signature thing bothers some, so I fixed it...



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Re: Backpack for dicky back

Postby ULWalkingPhil » Wed 28 Mar, 2012 5:12 pm

tasadam wrote:I see this signature thing bothers some, so I fixed it...



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:lol:

Yeah, it's funny you should say that. This morning I deleted the signature thingy of my iPad.

Getting back to backpacking, I can't wait to go overnight hiking again, it's been a few weeks now since my last overnight hike, way to long. Looking forward to trying out my new $25.00 Jansport Backpack. Will be a good test. I've got a Gold Coast Hinterland Great Walk coming up just after easter.

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Re: Backpack for dicky back

Postby matagi » Wed 28 Mar, 2012 7:35 pm

Nuts wrote:I'd give one of the smaller aarn packs a go. I was talking to someone who relates carrying 37kgwith ease into the Arthur's.

Sent from tent using grunts n groans...

Yeah, but he also wears Vibram Five Fingers. :P

Vozzie, I reckon you should check out the Aarn packs, they have quite a clever adjustment system on the hip belt and also the shoulder straps, which enables you to set it up more precisely to fit your body.
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Re: Backpack for dicky back

Postby under10kg » Thu 29 Mar, 2012 7:38 am

I would recommend trying an Aarn pack too. The front balance pockets look a bit strange but they really work in taking a lot of the strain off your back compared to a normal pack. Taking off an Aarn pack you feel great after walking even with heavy load with a lot less fatigue.

Another idea is to go to the latest light weight gear with a super light pack. It costs a bit to set yourself up but your gear could will weigh under 6 kg total for Tasi walking (with no scrub bashing) and under 4kg for walking in the rest of australia.
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Re: Backpack for dicky back

Postby skibug » Thu 29 Mar, 2012 1:52 pm

I use the Blackwolf B-Lite 55 litre pack, and have a bad back as well. It's delightfully light (~800g) and reasonably practical, though the construction is not tough and I suspect it's probably only got 50 to 100 working days in it - using reasonable care. Having gone down the light-weight camping path, I find I can usually keep the weight below 12kg, and with that the pack works well - I've used it succesfully on 4 day hikes. Over 12kg, and you may find stitching starts giving way, and so forth. Harness length is not adjustable and probably only works for heights around 160 - 180cm.

What I did find was the lighter weight pays great dividends in avoiding back pain, and I am greatly rejuvenated since dropping from pack weights over 15kg. Even though the waist belt is not padded, it works well (for me), and the internal aluminium support stays seem to provide good load stability. The other problem with the pack is the stupid zipper which supposedly allows access to the main compartment - a design idea built for failure, and which I never use - if Blackwolf got rid of it entirely, they'd save another 50 grams and have a much better pack. Furthermore the price - under $100 - is very good, and so the limited life span is not so bad.

All in all I'd recommend the B-lite as a good "bad back" solution - but be awarethat it's construction quality matches the price, and that it would not suit heavy use such as sustained scrub bashes and so on.

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Re: Backpack for dicky back

Postby Ent » Thu 29 Mar, 2012 2:36 pm

Personally I would be a bit wary of a Blackwolf as saw a hiker on day one of the OLT carrying the pack in his arms as the harness had failed. True he had a reasonable load but the previous posters comments about the need for care are on the money. Best avoid the problem and go for another brand, Lowe and Go-lite packs appear to be well constructed and light along with Osprey. Personally still think saving too much weight in a pack at the expense of the harness not a good idea but at the end of the long day it depends on the individual's uniqueness what works or does not work.

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Re: Backpack for dicky back

Postby MartyGwynne » Fri 30 Mar, 2012 1:33 am

Vozzie I also have a back problem with the lower part being a bit squashed, I now am back at walking and can do it now with the aid of trekking poles and have shed 5 or 6 kgs out of my pack. I am not sure where your back problems are but the following is working for me.
I last walked the south coast track for 7 days caring food and all my creature comforts for 9 days and used my old heavyweight macpac torre pack (about 10 or so years old - 3.5 kgs). The first day the harness broke down and I patched it up with cable ties (that lasted the next 6 days no problem). Total pack weight was 22 kg.
I had no issues with a sore back at all even with a compromised harness.
I think the key to it all is to keep the weight down.
With a lighter pack weight you can use a lighter duty pack as you are not trying to carry 25kgs plus in it so it should not fall apart on you.
I now have purchased a new Aarn pack Peak Aspiration (http://www.aarnpacks.com/products/peak_aspiration.html) I have not used it yet but have to work a bit first to pay some bills :)
I loaded it up with 18 kgs in the shop and it felt like about 12 kgs (I purchased the two front pockets too) It cost about $355 all up and have now shed another 2 kgs of my total pack weight without going too ultra light and expensive.
Hope this helps you.
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Re: Backpack for dicky back

Postby Vozzie » Fri 30 Mar, 2012 6:23 am

Thanks again.
My problem is collapsed discs in the lower back. With virtually no padding, my vertabrae are squeezing my leg nerves, so too much downward force on my spine can be "problematic".
I'm currently carrying 10kgs and under, and using poles. This combination seems to work well ... and I made it through an Everest Base Camp trek without being crippled.
However, you can't get too far on 10kgs ... hence the need for a good load sharing solution ... within my budget.
I've looked at the Aarns and they certainly seem to be the best solution(for me) around, but outside my budget at the moment. I think I will buy a lightweight "cheapie" at the moment, and see if that helps with larger weights. If that's relatively successful, then that means longer trips should be a long term reality, so I'll move up to a more longer term solution.

I mean, anything with a frame and hip belts has got to be better than the old clunker I have now.
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Re: Backpack for dicky back

Postby Marwood » Fri 30 Mar, 2012 6:35 am

Have you looked at the Dixon roller pack?
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Backpack for dicky back

Postby tasadam » Fri 30 Mar, 2012 7:02 am

Vozzie wrote:My problem is collapsed discs in the lower back. With virtually no padding, my vertabrae are squeezing my leg nerves, so too much downward force on my spine can be "problematic".
after reading that, I wonder if you can do more with your existing pack (for now) by getting the hip belt right. I have, as an experiment, tweaked the adjustments and had most of the weight carried by the hips, with the shoulder straps tight enough to bring the pack snugly into the body with little load.
Just a thought.



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Re: Backpack for dicky back

Postby Vozzie » Fri 30 Mar, 2012 7:25 am

Ah! .. therin lies the problem. I have no hip belts! That's why even a cheapy with some decent strapping will be an improvement.
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Backpack for dicky back

Postby tasadam » Fri 30 Mar, 2012 7:40 am

No hip belts?????
Crikey mate, get a pack with a harness, you won't know yourself.
Seriously, is there anyone near you that you know that can lend you one so that you can experiment with adjusents & see what they do for you?

Sometimes I might get to a location, dump the pack for a while and when I pick it up after say finding a campsite, I might be lazy & not do the waist belt up. I wouldn't want to go too far like that, and my back is ok...

Where are you located? (on the phone again & can't pause posting while I see your profile).

Failing the opportunity to borrow a pack, or possibly even beforehand, you could do some tyre kicking at a bushwalk store or two, learn how to adjust it properly while you're there.

Good luck.


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Re: Backpack for dicky back

Postby Taurë-rana » Fri 30 Mar, 2012 9:07 am

I'll add my voice to those recommending Aarn packs, I have one and it makes everything so much easier, other than putting it on which takes a bit of getting used to.
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Re: Backpack for dicky back

Postby Vozzie » Mon 02 Apr, 2012 9:10 am

Well, I spent the weekend looking at and trying on packs. Most of the retailers, despite being told my budget, insisted that I "need" to buy this mega-priced pack. They didn't get my money.
I eventually bought from a retailer who was happy to work within my budget and I purchased a Black Wolf 65L. It's a compromise on weight versus price, but with an adjustable frame, hip belts and load lifters ... it's 100 times better than my current one. I gave it a test out up in the mountains and, after my 20k hike, the only parts of my body not aching were my shoulders and back. I'm a happy camper.
Hopefully, later down the track I'll be able to move up to something like the Aarn.
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Backpack for dicky back

Postby tasadam » Mon 02 Apr, 2012 10:02 am

Well done, a great outcome.
I'm glad you have found your solution.

Sad that a number of retailers wanted to dollar drive you rather than cater to your needs.
It would be fun if you had the will and the time, to treat these sales staff a tad differently...
Ask for the manager,
Explain that you told the sales person you wanted to spend X but all they are interested in doing is trying to get me to look at more expensive products, sure they might be better but I can only afford X, do you have anyone in this store that can cater to my request?

I haven't had that problem myself, but my approach to shopping is different, if I am interested in buying something I will ask to start at the top of the range and work down.
Then I get the royal tour through the best stuff on offer, learn all the features and comfort of a product, then work your way down to get to a product that suits your budget and isn't too much a compromise when it comes to what it's supposed to do / how it fits / what features it has, whatever.
I will also learn for myself if I have to adjust my price point, rather than being told I need to by a cocky sales person.
My thoughts.


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Re: Backpack for dicky back

Postby clarence » Tue 19 Jun, 2012 11:34 pm

A friend of mine had all sorts of trouble finding a suitable pack that didn't cause back issues on overnight walks. She tried so many models and nothing worked.

Eventually went to Summit Gear in Katoomba, got her all measured up, and had a customised pack made up. She has never had a problem since, including a nine day trip in Snowy Mts. Before the Summit Gear pack I would regularly carry her pack AND mine out on the second day of an overnight walk.

The Summit Gear packs will be at the upper end of the price range (but comparable to good imported off-the-shelf product). However, if it works and lasts for years AND solves the pain issue it is probably worth it. I agree with a former posting- decreasing pack weight is good as long as it doesn't mean a flimsy/poorly structured harness.

The Summit Gear packs will not have a length adjsutable harness. It can be made to fit your back exactly. However, if it used for one person all the time that is probably a good thing.

(And NO, I don't work for Summit Gear. I have made most of my own packs myself. Summit Gear are one of the few brands I'd buy if I couldn't be bothered making one myself).

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Backpack for dicky back

Postby Ent » Wed 20 Jun, 2012 6:03 pm

Hi Clarence

Good to read a custom made option exists.

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