The Accurate Reloading Forums THE ACCURATE RELOADING.COM FORUMS Hunting Backpack Hunting Pack chafing questionGo | New | Find | Notify | Tools | Reply | |
| Pack chafing question | Login/Join |
| One of Us |
I bought a pack from Barney's for my upcoming sheep hunts. It is one of their designs. I am training with 60 pounds in the pack. Given the temperature and humidity here, I am training while wearing a t shirt and running shorts. I am managing to get chaffed pretty good on my left front side just underneath the pelvis bone in the top of the fold where the leg and torso meet. It is ALWAYS the left side. What is causing this and how can I cure it? Thanks. | ||
|
| One of Us |
Sounds like your waist band is riding way to low. You don't mention what you are carrying, but it really needs to be a load of real gear, properly stowed, if you just use books or other "ballast the pack won't ride correctly. 60 lbs is also a lot of weight, I would never "train" with that much, its too tough - not that I train anyway but I used to when I was younger, now I just load and go !! Cheers | |||
|
| One of Us |
Larry Have you tried adjusting the pack ? As above, sounds like waist band is too low. As above, what are you carrying, bricks or a properly loaded pack. And if you have just started training, tart with a lower amount of weight and build up, adjusting the pack as your body gets used to it and weight goes up. Good luck. Previously 500N with many thousands of posts ! | |||
|
| One of Us |
I have attempted to adjust the pack. However, I am certainly not an expert. I have been training since January. I started off with 20 pounds or there about. For at least the last 3 months, I have had corn in the pack. I fill zip lock bags and put them in the pack. It is easy to adjust the weight. | |||
|
One of Us |
Sir, I don't know anything about your pack but indeed it sounds like the waist strap is too low. My waist belt on my old packs never get down to the leg interference point. You asked why always the left; you might be a normal person who under load always uses one leg to take the harder, longer or more vertical step, making the knee come up higher and thus you rub that side against the too low waist belt. Almost everybody "limps" to some degree except the highly trained athletes on a track. Older folks or previous injury folks usually limp a lot, they just don't know it. Take a look at an old pair of hiking boots or shoes and you can generally see the wear pattern from the foot fall. You can also take a close look at the leg muscles and compare which side carries the load. One other comment about the heat and clothing if I may. I still wear at least full sturdy cotton pants or shorts and a full BDU type shirt jacket over a T shirt when I am hiking with pack here. It was 98 yesterday and 45% humidity. I sweat a lot but the load in the pack needs something more between it and me or rubbing will occur. However the clothing helps with the bugs and sharp plants etc. so I don't mind. Best regards, "The liberty enjoyed by the people of these states of worshiping Almighty God agreeably to their conscience, is not only among the choicest of their blessings, but also of their rights." ~George Washington - 1789 | |||
|
| one of us |
+1 and maybe a bit loose. | |||
|
| One of Us |
Thanks gentlemen. I am no expert at backpacking. However, I do not see how I could reasonably have the belt any higher. The belt now is slightly above what I would say is the belt line on normal pants. I have it set to where I think it should be based upon my on-line review of instructions for pack fitting. Also, I tighten up the pack repeatedly as I train. I am not capable of getting it any tighter. More than one person has brought up that it may well be the way I normally walk. The people who designed the pack told me this just yesterday. That is a distinct possibility. I think the thin clothes definitely causes issues. We have high temperatures and extremely high humidity right now. I am not willing to torture myself further by wearing even more clothes. I sweated out 6 pounds in my morning training session this morning. I also note that every time I put the pack on, I do so on my left arm first. Perhaps this is causing issues. Also, it is possible that the load is shifting when I put the pack on. Does any of this seem like possibilities to you experts? | |||
|
One of Us |
Hi Larry, Could be any number of things. I too am currently in training (only for a goat hunt) and have just hit 70# in my pack. I also spent about 15 years backpacking the Sierra's when I was a kid and have used all manners of packs. Each one rode differently and each one had it's pro's and con's. Today I'm using a 15 year old ArcTeryx Bora 70 and my training weight also indicates I've hit the limit of what the pack can carry. More weight at the pack just doesn't support correctly. Just a couple thoughts: 1. Did the pack chaffe with lower weight? 2. Where is the weight distributed in the pack? High? Low? Heaviest stuff should be lowest and closest to the hips. 3. Exactly what is causing the chaffing? Is it the materials the pack belt is made of? Is it the materials your shorts are made of? 4. Check your posture when you walk. 70# is a hefty load - are you stooped over when you are walking? Stooping over is going to change the hip angle - that angle change could be a component of the chaffing. 5. Are you using hiking sticks? They made a HUGE difference for me in maintaining proper posture under heavy loads. 6. When does it chaffe? Uphill? Downhill? Flats? Uphill will have the tightest hip angle, downhill will be a bit more open. 7. Is this gait related? Too long a stride or too short a stride? 8. Are your boots supportive enough? Are you getting enough ankle and arch support? If not, you could be compensating with your hips which could in turn be causing you to change your gait... 10: are you wearing a normal belt with your shorts? Is that the issue? I've found I only have one thin nylon belt that works for packing purposes. And finally: the pack just plain might not fit you! Go to REI and ask them to fit you with a pack. Walk around the store and try to make comparisons to your Barney's. If you think it's your clothing, try those tight spandex workout shorts. When I was younger I had about 6-8% bodyfat. I would just plain tear up my hips because I had no cushion for the pack to grab hold of. Those shorts actually made a huge difference in comfort. Today my preferred shorts are extra thin nylon Ex-Officio's or nike micro-fiber/nylon running pants. On, and I hike in sub 40% humidity. The added humidity could well be an issue too. Those are just some ideas to consider. Don't be surprised if you just plain need a different type of pack. My pack is a good old backpacking pack from the 90's. It fits me perfectly and until that changes I'll use it into the ground. Regards, Robert ****************************** H4350! It stays crunchy in milk longer! | |||
|
| One of Us |
Robert: These are hard to answer. I started off with a Badlands pack. I don't remember the model. I concluded that this pack would not work for the rigors of Alaska. I had no chaffing if I recall correctly. I switched to a Sitka pack. I don't remember the model I liked it a lot. I had some chafing in the exact same place but not as much. I may not have been carrying as much weight. I don't recall. The plastic gizmo holding the chest straps in place broke. A new pack was recommended to me. I got a Frontier Gear of Alaska exterior frame pack from Barney's. I like the pack. It is comfortable except for this one thing. I am definitely carrying the highest weight in this pack. I hail from the flatland's in central FL. We don's have much in the way of hills. I have resorted to walking to a man made mound on the golf course and climbing it repeatedly. It is hard for me to say if the chafing starts on uphills or downhills. I use trekking poles occasionally but not all the time. I have good quality Lowa boots. Are they part of the problem? I have no idea. I hit is hard this morning. I placed a pair of thin socks inside my shorts over the problem area. No issue at all this morning. This worst episode by far was this past Friday. I walked 6.5 miles with the full pack and the boots in extreme heat with very high humidity . I got it pretty good that day. Thanks for your help! | |||
|
| One of Us |
This line is telling. I know it sounds strange but...try different shorts? Now that I think about it, I recall wayyy back when I used to chaffe horribly between my legs when the shorts rode up between my thighs (sigh...can't wait to see the comments from you guys later about that line!). I resorted to long pants - problem solved. Another solution: compression shorts like basketball players wear under their uniforms. Regardless, I think you've touched on a worthwhile path of correction. PS: I forgot about this. I know of more than one backpacker who resorted to wearing cut off womens pantyhose to reduce friction. They claimed it worked miracles...of course they could have just been pervs!  Regards, Robert ****************************** H4350! It stays crunchy in milk longer! | |||
|
| One of Us |
Larry, I'm guessing you will be wearing more, and heavier clothing on your upcoming sheep hunt. If the pack is comfortable with the exception of the chaffing and, you think it is reasonably adjusted for your torso length, I wouldn't worry too much about the discomfort when wearing shorts and tee shirt. Sounds like you have a nice pack. Last year I trained during our hot summer months in OK with a 50 to 60 pound pack. At some point or another, I had raw or hot spots in numerous spots on my upper torso. During our CO elk hunt, I had none. The only problem I had was old age. Start young, hunt hard, and enjoy God's bounty. | |||
|
| One of Us |
I suspect you are right. | |||
|
One of Us |
Definitely takes longer to recover when older, even at a peak fitness level. ______________________ DRSS ______________________ Hunt Reports 2015 His & Her Leopards with Derek Littleton of Luwire Safaris - http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/2971090112 2015 Trophy Bull Elephant with CMS http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/1651069012 DIY Brooks Range Sheep Hunt 2013 - http://forums.accuratereloadin...901038191#9901038191 Zambia June/July 2012 with Andrew Baldry - Royal Kafue http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/7971064771 Zambia Sept 2010- Muchinga Safaris http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/4211096141 Namibia Sept 2010 - ARUB Safaris http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/6781076141 | |||
|
| One of Us |
I can attest to that. | |||
|
| one of us |
Larry, Cover the offending area with Body Glide and try some different clothes. I don't agree about less weight. On my last sheep hunt I trained with 85# for a four mile hike 4-5 times a week. It was painful every day I trained and made my thighs numb but I packed the whole sheep and my gear off the mountain in one trip. Mark MARK H. YOUNG MARK'S EXCLUSIVE ADVENTURES 7094 Oakleigh Dr. Las Vegas, NV 89110 Office 702-848-1693 Cell, Whats App, Signal 307-250-1156 PREFERRED E-mail markttc@msn.com Website: myexclusiveadventures.com Skype: markhyhunter Check us out on https://www.facebook.com/pages...ures/627027353990716 | |||
|
One of Us |
I wonder if the advice to put so much weight on the hips works for everyone. There is a tendency to wearing out hips in our family, so I don't push it too much. On one occasion I found the pressure caused my left leg to go numb. Your problem sounds less serious, but you might try varying the strap pressures to alternate the points on your body taking the strain. If you tighten the shoulder straps it might lift the waste band slightly. If that starts to wear your shoulders, tighten the breast strap for a while. If these measures don't help you might invest in another pack brand and/or try carrying less. IIRC authorities often warn against carrying packs of more than one-third your own mass. | |||
|
| One of Us |
I'd be screwed if that was true. I weigh 154 pounds right now. Wait..... Hey Brett.....this means you have to carry my sheep out.   ______________________ DRSS ______________________ Hunt Reports 2015 His & Her Leopards with Derek Littleton of Luwire Safaris - http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/2971090112 2015 Trophy Bull Elephant with CMS http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/1651069012 DIY Brooks Range Sheep Hunt 2013 - http://forums.accuratereloadin...901038191#9901038191 Zambia June/July 2012 with Andrew Baldry - Royal Kafue http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/7971064771 Zambia Sept 2010- Muchinga Safaris http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/4211096141 Namibia Sept 2010 - ARUB Safaris http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/6781076141 | |||
|
| One of Us |
This is certainly true for me. I have had to adjust two of my packs to distribute pack weight more equally between my hips and shoulders. However, I do appreciate packs that have good load lifters to relieve some of the shoulder pressure. Start young, hunt hard, and enjoy God's bounty. | |||
|
| One of Us |
Wish someone had told the Army that ! Weight 82 - 89kg, 50kg Pack and 12kg webbing + 3.2kg rifle  Previously 500N with many thousands of posts ! | |||
|
| One of Us |
I discussed this with Brett. We are both eating as much ice cream, donuts and candy as we can to prepare for the Sheep hunt. That way we might be able to get up to 300 pounds each and thus be able to carry out a sheep and still be close to the 1/3 rule. ______________________ DRSS ______________________ Hunt Reports 2015 His & Her Leopards with Derek Littleton of Luwire Safaris - http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/2971090112 2015 Trophy Bull Elephant with CMS http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/1651069012 DIY Brooks Range Sheep Hunt 2013 - http://forums.accuratereloadin...901038191#9901038191 Zambia June/July 2012 with Andrew Baldry - Royal Kafue http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/7971064771 Zambia Sept 2010- Muchinga Safaris http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/4211096141 Namibia Sept 2010 - ARUB Safaris http://forums.accuratereloadin...6321043/m/6781076141 | |||
|
one of us |
I think that is a common recommendation, but I have never heard it as a warning. Even as a recommendation I think it is of questionable utility. These days most people are already carrying around extra weight above what their body was designed for in the form of fat or muscle. The "one-third rule" doesn't take this into account. Jason "You're not hard-core, unless you live hard-core." _______________________ Hunting in Africa is an adventure. The number of variables involved preclude the possibility of a perfect hunt. Some problems will arise. How you decide to handle them will determine how much you enjoy your hunt. Just tell yourself, "it's all part of the adventure." Remember, if Robert Ruark had gotten upset every time problems with Harry Selby's flat bed truck delayed the safari, Horn of the Hunter would have read like an indictment of Selby. But Ruark rolled with the punches, poured some gin, and enjoyed the adventure. -Jason Brown | |||
|
One of Us |
Not a problem at all if you build up to it. That said I would not recommend 100%. Brett DRSS Life Member SCI Life Member NRA Life Member WSF Rhyme of the Sheep Hunter May fordings never be too deep, And alders not too thick; May rock slides never be too steep And ridges not too slick. And may your bullets shoot as swell As Fred Bear's arrow's flew; And may your nose work just as well As Jack O'Connor's too. May winds be never at your tail When stalking down the steep; May bears be never on your trail When packing out your sheep. May the hundred pounds upon you Not make you break or trip; And may the plane in which you flew Await you at the strip. -Seth Peterson | |||
|
| One of Us |
Perhaps I'm assuming inaccurately, but.......Running shorts have a mesh without using underwear. I would imagine that the waist belt is chaffing your skin on the mesh and/or shorts. I would look to wear synthetic underwear that wicks well under your short/pants while hiking with your pack. That will allow for friction to be transferred to the shorts/pants and underwear interface instead of the skin and shorts/pants interface. Again don't worry about the 60lbs. pack. That is a good weight to train with. You will do will. Relax and have fun!!! Brett PS> Backpack hunting ain't Africa. Be prepared to be a little uncomfortable at times. It's ok. DRSS Life Member SCI Life Member NRA Life Member WSF Rhyme of the Sheep Hunter May fordings never be too deep, And alders not too thick; May rock slides never be too steep And ridges not too slick. And may your bullets shoot as swell As Fred Bear's arrow's flew; And may your nose work just as well As Jack O'Connor's too. May winds be never at your tail When stalking down the steep; May bears be never on your trail When packing out your sheep. May the hundred pounds upon you Not make you break or trip; And may the plane in which you flew Await you at the strip. -Seth Peterson | |||
|
| Powered by Social Strata |
 | Please Wait. Your request is being processed... |
|
Visit our on-line store for AR Memorabilia