Load meat high or low in pack??

[searle7]

I read the other thread about packing out elk and have heard that it's best to keep the meat high on the pack... Is that true?
Does it make that big of a difference if the meat is higher? If so how do you do it.
I was looking at the kelty cache hauler with the shelf and was thinking of just removing the shelf for some weight savings. I would just need some way to keep the meat from sliding down.

What do you guys think?

[buglmin]

I always try to keep the meat low so the hips and legs carry the load, and as close to the back as possible. Putting meat high would change the center of gravity, making you top heavy, and putting a lot of strain on the shoulders and neck.

[mtnmutt]

For backpacking: I put my sleeping bag on the bottom and then start loading heavy items close to my back. I have a short torso, so I have more strain on my shoulders than people with longer torsos. For hiking on trails, most men have there heavier loads higher than women. It was news to me that men should carry their weight lower for off-trail.

Remember to always tighten the hip belt first so your hips are carrying the most weight.

The below excerpt was shamelessly stolen from: http://adventure.howstuffworks.com/outd ... kpack1.htm

When you're packing a backpack for a trip where you'll cover moderate terrain and remain on the trail, it's best to pack the lighter items in the bottom of the pack and heavier items toward the top. This keeps your center of gravity relatively high, which many people find makes the weight easier to manage. The heavier items should be packed closest to your back.

If you plan to hike rough terrain or off-trail, try arranging some of your heavier items in the bottom of your backpack. This lowers your center of gravity, which will improve your balance. Because women naturally have a lower center of gravity, they often prefer to pack their backpacks this way for all trips.

[ST52V]

Last year, I trained on a steep hill about 400 feet strait up. I used 2-40lb bags of softener salt. I used a cabelas frame and a j107. You will learn real fast how to position it. The salt will move south and you will know what 80 lbs hanging off your butt feels like. Every pack and person is different so figure it out before you go.

[CrazyElkHunter]

I try to get the bulk of the weight on the shelf of the frame that sits at the waist. On a good frame, the heavy pads will rest on your hips when you cinch up the strap and your hips carry the load. Secure shoulder straps and pads for a solid waist to shoulder load. Anything above the shoulders will be top heavy and your going fall, get hurt, or both. Horns can be higher but can be awkward going under tree limbs. Tying orange ribbon on horns carried high is recommended during any gun season. Better to turn them down. 1st picture I have not buckled straps on hips and shoulders yet, but load is still balanced.

[dotman]

What I meant as high for me is the highest part at the top of my shoulders then going down but I don't want it at the bottom of the pack.

[PHELPS GAME CALLS]

I want the weight between my shoulder blades

[WapitiTalk1]

A combination of both the hips and the shoulder weight dispersion works for me. I've packed out elk with old school wooden pack boards, Army Alice packs, frame/packsacks like the Cabelas Alaskan, etc., and it's all rough. There is nothing comfortable about hauling out meat on your back. When I ruck to get into elk shape, I put a large rock on the top of a an old, very large, hollow fill sleeping back in my Alice pack. I do this purposely to get used to having a ton of weight both on my shoulders and hips to get used somewhat to unstable loads. When I finally have to use my hunting pack (not the old Army pack BTW) to haul out chunks of meat, my shoulders are in pretty good shape and I try to find a happy medium between shoulders and hips when packing. Reality sets in when Bullwinkle is upside down on a steep slope in 80 degree weather and I know I've got to bone him out quick, get the meat in game bags and to some semblance of shade, and get to hauling quick so I save the meat so I don't worry too much about if the weight his really high or low, just trying to get the elk packed out and down the road to the processor. Just my opinion.

[RockChucker30]

Its a balance. If the weight is too low then the pack wants to topple you over backwards the whole time which will destroy your abs.

If you get it too high then you become top heavy and unstable, so it can get dangerous when crossing logs because the pack wants to take you to the ground. In a mess of deadfall that is a bad thing.

ImageUploadedByTapatalk1370348659.215743.jpg (77.73 KiB) Viewed 12556 times

That pic is a Kelty CH with 105 lbs ratchet strapped on. It's one of my go to training packs. The weight distribution there works pretty well. If I would improve the distribution I'd probably have 70% of the weight right behind my shoulder blades, 20% below that, and 10% above.

On the question of carrying weight on the hips vs the shoulders....well, it's kind of weight and distance dependent for me. Below 70 lbs I like the majority of the weight on my hips and the shoulder straps and load lifters serve only to snug the pack to my back. Above 80 lbs it's really distance dependent. I carried 85 lbs for 5 miles a couple weeks ago and I alternated between all the weight on my hips and then when my hips needed a break I'd tighten the shoulder straps and put a higher percentage there for a while. I did 105 lbs for 2 miles last week and did the same thing. The problem with guys saying that ALL the weight should be on your hips is that with those kind of loads for anything over 1 or 2 miles your hips get compressed pretty badly and it's nice to give them a breather every now and then by taking more of the load with your shoulders.

[one_elk]

I have always gone with the theory of heavier weight goes low and close to your back….

[wideangle]

I use a Cabela's Alaska Pack Frame and put the boned out meat(quarter)on the bottom rack.
If its a bull I might put the head on top of the meat if its a short pack to camp or the rig.

[PHELPS GAME CALLS]

http://www.rokslide.com/easyblog/entry/ ... -pack-load

[Vanish]

Heavy weight goes as close to between my shoulders as I can get it. Not always possible with a lump of meat.

[BrentLaBere]

http://www.rokslide.com/easyblog/entry/stone-glacier-understanding-the-physics-of-pack-load

Thanks for the link. That was an interesting read. Might help just trying to practice that my next time out on a hike with a weighted pack.
I think you should also consider where that Center Of Gravity is for the type of terrain you will be crossing.

[sreekers]

Close to the body, between the shoulder blades is my preference.

Don't want it too high to throw off center of gravity