Backpack Weight

[Deleted member 397]

I recently purchased a video and book about the via Francigena. I have only watched one of the extras which was a discussion by an orthopaedic surgeon who commented on the unfamiliar weight put on the body by a backpack. She said the pressure on the spine, hips, knees and ankles was such that a person should not carry more than 10% of their weight. I recall that on this forum others have questioned this magical, and seemingly arbitrary, 10% figure. I thought it interesting that an orthopaedic surgeon also recommended this rough figure.
70lt packs with 15-20kgs may seem like a good idea but they could be doing permanent damage.

 

[Anonymous]

I guess in the end one's body and reaction to a backpack is the final determinant re: back weight. BC :arrow: xm 8)

 

[Magnara]

We walked for a couple of days with a heavy-ish pack, then trimmed it down drastically to about 6 kg for me and about 9 for my husband including the pack. It made an incredible difference and it is amazing how little you can travel with - less is more.

 

[William Marques]

That is an interesting DVD on the Via Francigena. The part about the route is OK but the interviews with a variety of doctors etc. are well worth seeing and I wonder why no Camino DVD has thought to do something similar. I also seem to remember something on the video about how to walk!

 

[Anonymous]

Omar & William, can u pass on the DVD's name? BC :arrow: xm 8)

 

[Deleted member 397]

The DVD is called Via Francigena. I bought it, and the book, from Eurovia
http://www.eurovia.tv. It is a very interesting site. The orthopaedic interview has a voice over in English but the last few minutes are not translated at all and one of the other interviews is not translated at all.
It is a well produced DVD though.