Load Lifters--What Can You Expect?

[ElkNut1]

With the various pack companies out there today & advanced technology that goes into decisions on the structure of their packs it's a common goal for many of the top pack makers to install "load lifters" these days. But questions arise such as, what can we as hunters expect from these load lifter type packs? Do the load lifters eliminate all shoulder weight or just reduce shoulder weight? Does the amount of weight in ones pack come into play as they get heavier or lighter? Hunters with little Pack carrying experience are unsure what to expect from their packs? Many are led to believe that these load lifters pretty much eliminate all shoulder weight regardless of the weight carried & that all weight is now transferred to ones hips. Is this so? -- I've had the privilege to test many of these top packs out there today as well as lesser brand names, I'm not an authority on all packs by any means but as a hunter like most here I wanted to see what to expect from many of the top companies.

With somewhere in the 150-200 Elk & Deer packouts over the years I've had the privilege of experiencing good packs & no so good packs. (grin) Packs without functioning load lifters are the hardest on ones bodies, sure you can get the meat off the mountain with them but it can beat you up by the time it's said & done. With that said, take into consideration that if you are one to not exceed 60# at any time then about any internal frame pack can suffice with or without load lifters. It's very doable. I've packed out countless elk & deer on a badlands 2200 without load lifters & as long as I stayed under the 60# mark the comfort level was tolerable. (I rarely did though) A good pack with load lifters that worked would make that packout much more comfortable though.

So what should you expect from a pack with very good load lifters installed? You will still experience pressure on your shoulders no matter the pack company chosen. Things that come into play are, is the pack fitted to me OK & how much shoulder pressure should I expect?

If you are using a high quality pack with load lifters & you have 50# in the pack the load will appear to have very minimal wt on your shoulders, that's very nice! As weight increases let's say to 70# you will feel more pressure on your shoulders no matter what you do to pull the straps tighter to lessen shoulder pressure from the shoulder straps.Once you get to the 80#-100# range the weight on your shoulders increase! How much? if you have a 100# load your shoulders will experience 50% of the weight. As you increase in distance & rough terrain you will find yourself readjusting the load lifters tension by pulling on them as you heave the pack up higher with a good thrust of the back & shoulders in an upward motion. If you exceed the 100# mark to 120#+ you will experience much more shoulder tension from your padded shoulder straps, it's inevitable! The weight now on your shoulders can exceed to 60% even though you try very hard to pull your waistbelt very tight to keep as much weight on your hips as possible. Ground pounding packouts in nasty country will have you heaving your pack up & adjusting lifter straps more often, this is normal with heavier loads guys.

I mention these things because so many hunters with less packouts on their bodies are unsure what to expect? You read all over the internet about this pack & that pack so many feel maybe just maybe the grass is greener elsewhere! (grin) If your present pack falls into the categories I've mentioned, it's normal! It doesn't get much better no matter how much its sugar coated. Don't get me wrong here, these higher quality packs with good load lifters are definitely worth the xtra money if you plan on exceeding the 60# mark. If not, there are less expensive packs out there that will perform just fine at 1/2 the cost.

ElkNut1

[wawhitey]

A good pack is the piece of equipment i need the most but man im hesitant to buy one just because of things like this that i havent had the chance to learn about first hand. And the worry about personal fit under load. Trying a pack on in a store vs actually wearing one loaded down could change everything. Good packs are expensive and im worried ill get one that i wont like after the first season. All i have right now us a bare pack frame that i can tie stuff to with small rope, and a small day pack. A good pack system with load lifters is certainly something i need to get soon.

[elkaholic]

Interesting thoughts Paul. Especially since I am considering a new pack for the upcoming season. Currently I am using a Badlands Sacrafice and have been nothing but happy with this pack. I have hauled out half of 3 elk with it and love it. I actually like it more than using my pack frame (Cabelas Guide). But here is my dilemma. I am reluctant to put on a really heavy 100+lb load. Such as 1/2 a small bull elk or a whole deer. I can feel the load lifters being less effective with a quarter on and I think that it would be even worse when I add more weight.

I have been watching the folks at Exo Mountain Gear. Made in Boise means I would be able to actually try on the pack and I have been reading their blog and watching the videos. From what I have seen it could be a pack that does it all. I know there are others out there but since this one is locally made it especially has my attention.

[ElkNut1]

Yes, as I mentioned above about any external frame pack will carry 50#-60# with very little issue, the sacrifice will do this as well. I read several of the reviews sent in by the owners of the sacrifice on badlands site & they mentioned that the pack was good for 40#-60# after that it wasn't so good. This is exactly what I've found in most packs out there today!

You mentioned the Exo pack, very good pack for any weights involved. Have had very close to 100# in it several times, 80#-100# is done with ease & one heck of a well balanced load. The nice thing about the Exo pack is you can load quarters on the bone or boned out meat without putting it in your main bag & having to unload your items & lash on outside, this alone sets it apart & takes other packs out of the equation. Meat laods between main bag & frame, very slick. Seriously, the Exo is the best pack we've used to date that has it all. It's great for all day hunts & packs tight to your body like a day pack but is there ready to load some serious weight on its titanium built frame, it's a very comfortable work horse! Two thumbs up on this pack.

ElkNut1

[twinkieman]

A pack has to fit correctly, even with minimal weight, to be comfortable for the user. If a pack isn't adjustable to the user, way more work. While I haven't tried as many packs as Elknut1, I've been backpacking for 41 years, and what is available to us today, compared to 40 years ago, extreme comfort is now available. Youth overcame discomfort, but as I've grown older, I appreciate comfort more and more. No pack is going to take away the weight you are carrying, but with the good packs, you can carry more, with less wear and tear on your body.

Load lifters are an absolute necessity, IMO, and ease of changing the various load points are important to me, ie, waist belt , shoulder straps, load lifters, chest strap. Just as in most quality equipment, you get what you pay for

[Rizzy]

For me functional load lifters eliminate 95% of the downward force on my shoulders most of the time, especially with the lighter loads. There is still usually pressure pushing back and this is highly contingent on how I load my pack. It's much better to load up and to the sides within reason because this allows the load to remain closer to the plane of your back. Loading the pack outward will start to create a lot more pressure pushing back. This is when leaning forward to counter the torque comes into play. Sometimes there is no way around it, for instance when I put the Elk head on my pack the antlers usually stick out a ways behind me.

Even when my pack is loaded and adjusted good, an 80+ pound load all day still sucks

For long heavy pack outs, it actually works good to transfer the load back and forth between your shoulders and hips. By loosing the shoulder straps and readjusting the load lifters, I can control the amount of load that is on my shoulders versus hips. Sometimes I put the majority of the load on my shoulders for a while to let my hips rest. This is tricky because it can result in a sore back real fast if overdone. It works best on the part of the pack out that is on an established trail or flat ground. I had positive results doing this on my Mtn Goat pack out this past season and will continue to do this more in the future.

[jmez]

Stone Glacier packs have the meat shelf as well.