The Future of Backpack Design

[PLC]

A UPenn scientist has created a backpack which uses bungee cords to reduce the effective load on the carrier. He claims that a hiker will be able to carry a 62 pound pack, employing his design, while expending only the energy required to normally haul a 50 pound pack.

 

Scientific American article

 

This could be a huge boon to expedition style climbs or long backpacking trips...

[tradclimbguy]

Or slogging my million pound haulbag to the base of some big wall.

 

[Mr_Phil]

Tie those bungy cords to a tree and slingshot your haulbag to the base.

 

Works for me.

 

 

[G-spotter]

I am still waiting for the backpack with "active load reduction technology"™ in the form of helium balloons

[AR_Guy]

While interesting, I doubt this would be very useful for long backpacking trips. The real metric that correlates with energy expenditure is total pack weight. All this claptrap would just add to pack weight. Lighter total weight = easier hiking. A good suspension insures that all the weight is on the hips anyways, not your shoulders and back.

 

I used a Granite Gear Vapor Trail this year while doing the PCT (yeah, all 2600+ miles of it) this summer - 2 pounds with an excellent suspension at a reasonable price. Last thing most other PCT thru hikers would have needed (or wanted) is the extra pounds that a system like this would weigh. Just more dead weight to haul up the hills, more stuff to break.

 

[jport]

Ditto, AR Guy!... keep it simple.

 

I think we should all go back to humping around single-compartment, canvas rucksacks.