Walking with lumbar pack only

[Joanne P]

Has anyone walked with a lumbar (waist) pack only? If so, what pack did you use and would you recommend it?

I walked the Frances in 2018 with a 6kg backpack but I now have an issue with my shoulder so I'm considering using a lumbar pack next year if I can tweak (reduce) my gear a bit.

 

[dbier]

I used to train for overnight walks with a somewhat large two-bottle variant, but it ended up irritating my lower back.

What country are you in? REI sells what looks like a good one

 

[Anhalter]

This guy did a bunch of caminos with a lumbar pack: http://www.roadwalking.com/
If i remember correctly, he stayed in hotels, so no sleeping bag needed which saves quite some volume.
I am not sure if there are bigger waist packs on the market, but i guess, if you opted for a silk liner instead of a sleeping bag you could make do with something around 10L of volume if you really cut down on the items (I'm talking below 3kg).

 

[trecile]

This guy did a bunch of caminos with a lumbar pack: http://www.roadwalking.com/

He also posted on the forum

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/super-light-camino-gear.41075/

 

[Teddie]

I like to take weight off my shoulders also. I have used a lumbar pack for day hikes and been successful, they offer exterior tie downs for jackets and the like but I have not found one of volume ( 15-25 litres ) usable for the Camino, however there are some military versions that look interesting. You may consider a well fitted, shortened back pack ( a good outdoor store will fit you relative to your upper torso ) With a wide waist belt ( this you can tighten to take weight off the shoulder straps to the point of them being loose-ish ) "Osprey" perhaps. I have had good luck using the wide belt pack.

 

[Jichat]

Has anyone walked with a lumbar (waist) pack only? If so, what pack did you use and would you recommend it?

I walked the Frances in 2018 with a 6kg backpack but I now have an issue with my shoulder so I'm considering using a lumbar pack next year if I can tweak (reduce) my gear a bit.

What about a light(I have a 3 oz. one)backpack for just your sleeping bag, and everything else in a lumbar? Would that work?

 

[Jeff Crawley]

I prepared for my 2018 Ingles with a Mountainsmith 13 litre lumbar pack


Staying in hostals and private accommodation I didn't need any bedding, just clothes (I strapped my Altus underneath - webbing straps are already fitted). Everything went in OK but I found it drooped too much for a long day hike so had to add the additional shoulder straps


which would defeat the purpose as far as you are concerned. In the end I chickened out and took my normal 40l pack.

Might something like a sling pack work for you? Do you have a problem with both shoulders? This one holds 15l (I have a G4Free daysack and it is quite well made)



Sling Pack

Edit, This One is 25 litres

 

[trecile]

There should be very little weight on the shoulders with a well fitting backpack with a good suspension that transfers most of the load to the hips. From this article:

A properly fitting backpack should comfortably transfer approximately 80 percent of its weight to your hips and lower body, 20 percent to the front of your shoulders, and exactly zero to the top of your shoulders.


But perhaps, your shoulder issue makes it difficult to put on/take off a backpack?

 

[Joanne P]

I used to train for overnight walks with a somewhat large two-bottle variant, but it ended up irritating my lower back.

What country are you in? REI sells what looks like a good one

Thanks. I'm in Australia

 

[Joanne P]

This guy did a bunch of caminos with a lumbar pack: http://www.roadwalking.com/
If i remember correctly, he stayed in hotels, so no sleeping bag needed which saves quite some volume.
I am not sure if there are bigger waist packs on the market, but i guess, if you opted for a silk liner instead of a sleeping bag you could make do with something around 10L of volume if you really cut down on the items (I'm talking below 3kg).

Thanks for the link.

 

[Joanne P]

He also posted on the forum

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/super-light-camino-gear.41075/

Thanks for that. Much appreciated.

 

[Joanne P]

What about a light(I have a 3 oz. one)backpack for just your sleeping bag, and everything else in a lumbar? Would that work?

Yes, I've been thinking about that too. The frameless backpack I used in 2018 is very light, and not too big, so spreading the weight across the backpack and a waist pack could work.

 

[Joanne P]

I prepared for my 2018 Ingles with a Mountainsmith 13 litre lumbar pack

View attachment 132254
Staying in hostals and private accommodation I didn't need any bedding, just clothes (I strapped my Altus underneath - webbing straps are already fitted). Everything went in OK but I found it drooped too much for a long day hike so had to add the additional shoulder straps

View attachment 132255
which would defeat the purpose as far as you are concerned. In the end I chickened out and took my normal 40l pack.

Might something like a sling pack work for you? Do you have a problem with both shoulders? This one holds 15l (I have a G4Free daysack and it is quite well made)

View attachment 132256 View attachment 132257

Sling Pack

Edit, This One is 25 litres

Yes, I did wonder about the "droop factor". The sling pack is worth a thought, thank you for that idea. One should is ok, thank goodness!

 

[Joanne P]

There should be very little weight on the shoulders with a well fitting backpack with a good suspension that transfers most of the load to the hips. From this article:

A properly fitting backpack should comfortably transfer approximately 80 percent of its weight to your hips and lower body, 20 percent to the front of your shoulders, and exactly zero to the top of your shoulders.


But perhaps, your shoulder issue makes it difficult to put on/take off a backpack?

Yes, that range of movement (taking a backpack on and off) is becoming problematic.

 

[MinaKamina]

There are some very good threads about hiking trailers on the forum, perhaps a hiking trailer is an option for you?

Background info on the use of hiking trailers versus backpack here:

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/com...-pics-and-making-your-own.54954/#post-1028406

 

[Pafayac]

Thanks. I'm in Australia

Australia ?
I heard that kangaroos used to carry their stuff in a frontpack...

 

[Robo]

Has anyone walked with a lumbar (waist) pack only? If so, what pack did you use and would you recommend it?

I walked the Frances in 2018 with a 6kg backpack but I now have an issue with my shoulder so I'm considering using a lumbar pack next year if I can tweak (reduce) my gear a bit.

I like to take weight off my shoulders also. I have used a lumbar pack for day hikes and been successful, they offer exterior tie downs for jackets and the like but I have not found one of volume ( 15-25 litres ) usable for the Camino, however there are some military versions that look interesting. You may consider a well fitted, shortened back pack ( a good outdoor store will fit you relative to your upper torso ) With a wide waist belt ( this you can tighten to take weight off the shoulder straps to the point of them being loose-ish ) "Osprey" perhaps. I have had good luck using the wide belt pack.

I find this interesting.

I use an Osprey 34 that has an internal frame.

There is zero weight on my shoulders. It is all on my hips.
The shoulder straps, because I cinch in the load lifters, actually lift off my shoulders totally.
You could slip three fingers under them.
So the only purpose the shoulder straps perform, is to stop the pack falling off backwards.......
They carry no weight......

My wife's Osprey 22 is the same.

I wonder if it's an issue of fit?

 

[oaklandgirl]

I did about 5 days last year with the large mountainsmith lumbar pack. It was HORRIBLE!!!! First of all I couldn’t cinch it tight enough (I’m a petite female and the OS that could fit the jolly green giant was too big for me) so I wrapped the sleeves of a t-shirt in an effort to get it closer to my body. Didn’t work. I saw they have the back straps that you can buy separate but as someone already mentioned, that defeats the purpose. Not to mention that by the end of the day the lateral aspects of my hips ached to the point that I could hardly walk without pain. Ahh the lessons of the El Camino. I ended up shipping my bag ahead which I didn’t want to do since I didn’t want to commit to where I was staying at night. It all worked out but I wouldn’t do that again. Despite my issues with upper back pain I’m back on the Camino later this month sporting a back pack.