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Here's an example. The Duluth Pack (https://www.duluthpack.com/products/2-original-59l https://www.duluthpack.com/products/2-original-59l) includes a tumpline.

Here's an example. The Duluth Pack (https://www.duluthpack.com/products/2-original-59l https://www.duluthpack.com/products/2-original-59l) includes a tumpline. The pack was designed over a century ago, for wilderness canoeing. Here's an picture of someone using it with a tumpline: https://archive.org/details/beyondpaddlecano0000cono/page/66/mode/2up?q=%22Duluth+pack%22+tumpline https://archive.org/details/beyondpaddlecano0000cono/page/66... . This fits your description because it's used when portaging. The goal is to get to the next navigable stretch of water, not take in the view, while carrying 100+ pounds of gear in the bag and a canoe over one's head. In canoeing they are used for relatively short stretches. The various sources say it's not that comfortable. I found a backpacking guide from 1971 which explains the issue: "If you can stand the abuse, a tumpline surpasses all devices for toting heavy, bulky, or awkward loads. A 100-pound burden is routine among the few who understand the tumpline. During its heyday, 200-pound loads were commonplace among voyageurs in the fur trade ... The packer must lean forward abnormally. It is not a rig for amateur packers or for occasional weekend trips. In fact, the tumpline must be approached with respect. It will handle tremendous loads but only after your neck muscles have been developed. No packing device depends more upon sheer bull strength, but it does the job." - https://archive.org/details/backcountrycampi00rivi/page/16/mode/2up?q=%22Duluth+pack%22+tumpline https://archive.org/details/backcountrycampi00rivi/page/16/m... I expect that if you're part of a culture where people need to to carry heavy loads often, then you'll start young and build up the neck muscles which will make it more comfortable. Someone going backpacking a few weeks every year is not going to have the same specific training.

eesmith 4y ago
> Someone going backpacking a few weeks every year is not going to have the same specific training. In fact, the paper goes into details about the specific strength training program carried out for this Chaco Canyon research. From https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jasrep.2023.103876 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jasrep.2023.103876 : "Author JC, a certified strength and conditioning specialist (CSCS), designed the training protocol. Subjects trained 6 or 7 days per week for 10 to 60 + minutes per day. Subjects initially alternated daily between training for a short duration (15–30 min) versus a longer duration (30–60 + min of carriage). For approximately the first half of the training program, the longer duration training sessions used lighter loads and the shorter duration training sessions used heavier loads. This allowed for subjects to become accustomed to both heavier loads and longer duration carries separately. By ∼Day 45 of training, subjects had become comfortable with heavier loads (∼25 kg) and henceforth kept the loads fairly constant while increasing session durations. By varying the loads and durations, subjects progressed in their training program with minimal soreness and no pain. Note that for safety, when donning and doffing the tumpline, the training logs were supported by a bench or table, at the approximate height of the lower back. By the end of the training phase, subjects JW and RK were able to comfortably carry 30 kg for 60 min solo without pain."
alexpotato 4y ago
I have the original hardcover version of this book! This whole thread reminded me of reading about tumplines but I couldn't remember where and this was it.

eesmith 4y ago

> Someone going backpacking a few weeks every year is not going to have the same specific training. In fact, the paper goes into details about the specific strength training program carried out for this Chaco Canyon research. From https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jasrep.2023.103876 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jasrep.2023.103876 : "Author JC, a certified strength and conditioning specialist (CSCS), designed the training protocol. Subjects trained 6 or 7 days per week for 10 to 60 + minutes per day. Subjects initially alternated daily between training for a short duration (15–30 min) versus a longer duration (30–60 + min of carriage). For approximately the first half of the training program, the longer duration training sessions used lighter loads and the shorter duration training sessions used heavier loads. This allowed for subjects to become accustomed to both heavier loads and longer duration carries separately. By ∼Day 45 of training, subjects had become comfortable with heavier loads (∼25 kg) and henceforth kept the loads fairly constant while increasing session durations. By varying the loads and durations, subjects progressed in their training program with minimal soreness and no pain. Note that for safety, when donning and doffing the tumpline, the training logs were supported by a bench or table, at the approximate height of the lower back. By the end of the training phase, subjects JW and RK were able to comfortably carry 30 kg for 60 min solo without pain."

alexpotato 4y ago

I have the original hardcover version of this book! This whole thread reminded me of reading about tumplines but I couldn't remember where and this was it.