Backpack Ergonomics

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Backpack Ergonomics
Here is a drawing explaining various ways to distribute weight carried by Humans. I tend to believe one backpack is the worst method of carrying weight, whether a light load, or a heavy load.
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Lima Peru, South America
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Blog of Andy HoboTraveler.com --- Add a Hotel --- Backpack Design Survey
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This is a drawing I made, the world carries weight in many ways, and on top of the head is the most common method. I tend to believe the butt muscles are more equipped to lift, therefore weight on the front is a preference for me, however in the way of seeing the path in front sometimes. There is a problem with width when walking on and off a bus, airplane or train.

I am thinking there are a time when distributing the weight to the top of the head is better. There is a big problem with weight only on the hips as people are fat, people wear belts, the pants have belt loops, the hips are great suppport when very skinny, however not so easy as people get older. However the pants need to be the correct type to not cause pain.

Balance is needed in a design, or the proper distribution of weight.

Side Bags to distribute weight, a very good design.
http://www.backtpack.com/

Lowered Center of Weight Bags, NOTE: I see this as a bad idea, I think on top of the head or high is easier to manage.
http://www.bbpbags.com/

SHOCK ABSORBER BAGS

Inventor or Shock Absorber Bag that Generates Electricity.
Professor of Biology
Ph.D., Harvard University, 1981
http://pesn.com/2005/09/08/9600162_Power-Generating_Backpack/
http://www.bio.upenn.edu/faculty/rome/

Backpack with springs that Generates Electricity
http://www.whatsnextnetwork.com/technology/index.php/2005/09/11/p594#more594

Second Generation Ergonomic Backpack
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2006/12/second_generati_1.php

Lighten the Load Backpack
http://www.physorg.com/news85845840.html

Rubber Bands
http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v444/n7122/abs/4441023a.html

The way the world carries weight:

Young girl carrying on top of head in Africa.

A molded piece of wood or bamboo is used in Asia.

This one distributes the weight on the chest and back, there is a special strap you can purchase in Guatemala for the head, which goes across the forehead.

The weight here of this goat is on the chest of a boy in Africa, whether on the front or on the back the weight is not balanced.

Mad Mick in Iquitos, Peru carrying an Anaconda wrapped around his neck, this show the idea of how wrapping the weight around your whole body is wise.

I took all these photos as I traveled the planet earth, it is clear to me that what is natural makes more sense, on top of the head would be my preferred method. Porters will often in Tibet or Nepal carry three packs; it seems that there is a need for fashion that precludes logic.

Trust me, you carry a backpack around for ten years and you start to think, there may be some better ways to do this job. I live with my backpack, it is my home, it is all the possessions in my world. I truly use my bag, this is not a game, this is my home on the road.

Backpack Ergonomics

Backpack | Backpacking | Gear |

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Reader Submitted Comments | Deleted Comments (0)

Ima Barren said on Thursday June 19th, 2008 03:09:00 PM

if you only made 2 more dollars a day you would hardly ever have to carry a bag except from your bank . Lighten up Andy . It gets to a point where you must say..well younger readers you could have save x amount if I was x years younger but worth paying x amount now that I am 50 x + ...you don't want to become the OLD MAN Blog ?...give options if your stronger or elderly like yourself. joke, but @ 53 you would be surprised how many think your OLD...

Andy HoboTraveler.com said on Thursday June 19th, 2008 04:25:00 PM

I have no idea what this Ima Barren comment means, I think he or she wants me to be younger.This is a well thought out post explaining the distribution of weight of a backpack.This is a blog, I do not even care if you read it or not, young or old, not the point. I find it helpful to write, to think through problems I am trying to solve.However, 90 percent of comments are off topic, so the 1 in 10 is what I am reaching for.OLD MAN, Young Man, no differenct to me, I only give age to allow people to reason what is feasible. The body does start to cause problems, it wears out.