> Just curious: What's wrong with carrying a weighted backpack for training? It seems that doing so kills two birds with one stone (NOT THAT I GO AROUND KILLING BIRDS).?
> Doesn't carrying the backpack one plans to use for the actual hike get the body used to the weight and the feel of it??
> And really, who cares what people think if they see you walking with the pack down the main street in broad daylight? Maybe they'll think you are homeless and throw you a few coins - whilst telling you to keep moving. ;-)
> Ken.
?
I'll give one possible response to this.? My big Osprey pack cost a lot more than a rucking pack, and they do wear out.? A couple of years ago, the shoulder strap pulled out of the base of the pack going up Kearsarge Pass, I was able to do an improvised repair with some paracord, made it up Whitney a few days later, but that was it for that pack. (Fortunately, Osprey replaced, free of charge). Better for me to have some sort of training pack, take just a few training hikes with my actual backpacking rig.
?
Charles Fannin