How much are women able to carry?
- Thread starter Erbswurst
- Start date
Handbags and especially shopping bags don't count in this thread!
;0)
Here we discuss about long distance trekking...
;0)
Here we discuss about long distance trekking...
I bet you arm wrestle Chuck Norris until he cries during your lunch break and can urinate all the way to the top of a 5000 year old sequoia but sadly without a video proving it, this is a bit like:
Baden Powell had not much experience of females carrying stuff.
No women in the British ( or any) Army in those days that had to perform the same physical work as the males.
As far as I know, the first women doing the same as men were in the WW2 Soviet Army.
But they did not carry much going West.
Going back East, that is a different story!
Peasausage, if you plan to trek with an physically unknown lady, do what I did.
A test run. I had to teach my GF ( now wife of 3 decades) basically everything. Stockholm girl.
No women in the British ( or any) Army in those days that had to perform the same physical work as the males.
As far as I know, the first women doing the same as men were in the WW2 Soviet Army.
But they did not carry much going West.
Going back East, that is a different story!
Peasausage, if you plan to trek with an physically unknown lady, do what I did.
A test run. I had to teach my GF ( now wife of 3 decades) basically everything. Stockholm girl.
Well I always take my handbag when long distance trecking. One is simply not properly turned out without one.
The Soviet army used a high percentage of female snipers during WW2, apparently because they were ideally suited for the task.
Plus tank drivers, pilots, drivers ( in general).
Plus the usual medical roles.
Not many people these days know that a front line medic had to carry the wounded back into safety, after securing his wound.
They selected prople for the task. Med and women, just like it should be done today.
Tank drivers should be tiny, so a woman is perfect.
Same with pilots.
Snipers need a steady psyche.
BTW, when I say woman/lady/ female I am using the outdated, archaic meaning..
Plus the usual medical roles.
Not many people these days know that a front line medic had to carry the wounded back into safety, after securing his wound.
They selected prople for the task. Med and women, just like it should be done today.
Tank drivers should be tiny, so a woman is perfect.
Same with pilots.
Snipers need a steady psyche.
BTW, when I say woman/lady/ female I am using the outdated, archaic meaning..
Perhaps it's a good idea to rent a tank instead of walking...
But I was mainly interested in hiking.
Fortunately now a days very lightweight equipment becomes cheaper and cheaper.
It doesn't really help my brother because in the Austrian mountains ultra light trekking equipment would be a bit risky. But that is in my opinion a very good option for solo trekking women , two women, or even the mixed couple.
In the nineties I changed my equipment from old school stuff to lightweight equipment, because it made possible to carry a two persons equipment nearly alone. It had the same weight like my old solo equipment.
Now a days it's possible to buy pretty cheap a summer solo trekking equipment for woodland with a rucksack base weight of round about 6 kg (Without food, water, fuel and soap), so that even young ladies who usually sit around in offices or universities are able to go for trekking without training or donkey.
But now it becomes interesting which weight experienced trekking ladies and her males really recommend for which age and size.
Of course a 20 years old young woman who is 180 tall can carry far more than a 60 years old lady who is only 160 cm small.
But I was mainly interested in hiking.
Fortunately now a days very lightweight equipment becomes cheaper and cheaper.
It doesn't really help my brother because in the Austrian mountains ultra light trekking equipment would be a bit risky. But that is in my opinion a very good option for solo trekking women , two women, or even the mixed couple.
In the nineties I changed my equipment from old school stuff to lightweight equipment, because it made possible to carry a two persons equipment nearly alone. It had the same weight like my old solo equipment.
Now a days it's possible to buy pretty cheap a summer solo trekking equipment for woodland with a rucksack base weight of round about 6 kg (Without food, water, fuel and soap), so that even young ladies who usually sit around in offices or universities are able to go for trekking without training or donkey.
But now it becomes interesting which weight experienced trekking ladies and her males really recommend for which age and size.
Of course a 20 years old young woman who is 180 tall can carry far more than a 60 years old lady who is only 160 cm small.
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Outside the Army, before I hit 30, I was happy with 30 kilos. Then progressibly less and less, now I can not take more than 10.
And that only for a few kilometers. I am not a good example of a male though, trauma induced arthritis in my lower back and surgically semi fixed knee ( another trauma) prevents me from carrying much.
Of those youthful 30 kilos, most was food that had to last 2-3 weeks.
And that only for a few kilometers. I am not a good example of a male though, trauma induced arthritis in my lower back and surgically semi fixed knee ( another trauma) prevents me from carrying much.
Of those youthful 30 kilos, most was food that had to last 2-3 weeks.
There are so many variables affecting this topic is is almost impossible to answer, if an answer is really necessary in the first place. There is no "law" as to what weight you must carry, and in my case, that will greatly vary depending on the environment, climate and terrain, that I am travelling. In areas I know that water may be a problem, then the bulk of weight carried may well be fluid. If I'm "bothying" or using " howffs" then I can cut down on carrying shelter. A fat unfit male, will never carry the same weight over a distance as a physically fit and able female, and Baden Powell comes from an age when women weren't allowed to vote, and he is best left there. The best Cub Scout leader I ever had was a woman, and that was in the 1960's.
Why do people bring in political correctness all the time?
Baden Powell was a person that brought incredible amount of knowledge and happiness to generations of young people all over the word, and should certainly not be ‘left there’.
He brought what we call ‘bushcraft’ to hundreds of thousands of city youngsters.
Of course the age, strength, fitness level plus the outside factors ( temp, terrain, time and distance) will affect.
But if you read Erbstwurtses posts you will get more info.
Average woman, long distsnce.
I say between 10 and 12 kilos. With a correctly fitting backpack, proper well worn shoes or better - boots, and in a normally good health.
Of course they can carry more. But will their enjoyment be as great?
Baden Powell was a person that brought incredible amount of knowledge and happiness to generations of young people all over the word, and should certainly not be ‘left there’.
He brought what we call ‘bushcraft’ to hundreds of thousands of city youngsters.
Of course the age, strength, fitness level plus the outside factors ( temp, terrain, time and distance) will affect.
But if you read Erbstwurtses posts you will get more info.
Average woman, long distsnce.
I say between 10 and 12 kilos. With a correctly fitting backpack, proper well worn shoes or better - boots, and in a normally good health.
Of course they can carry more. But will their enjoyment be as great?
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Nothing to do with political correctness. I disposed of my rose tinted spectacles, and instead of looking backwards, started looking forwards positively, and learning from "yesterday's" mistakes.
Well being of the female variety of human this is my experience.
Years ago, fit healthy and full of life I could carry a big and very heavy rucksack that would make chaps ask me how on earth could I carry all that? as they struggled to lift it. I could lift double my 8 Stone bodyweight. Nowadays, knackered unfit two stone heavier and older I struggle to lift 10kilos. So I'd say lifestyle and fitness have more to do with it than anything else. Back then I had very physical jobs in farming and forestry so I was very fit. If I had had an office job or more sedentary occupation I'm sure I would not have been able to carry such a heavy pack.especially on the cornish coast path.. that was damm hard on the knees with such a heavy pack and must admit to having the wobbles sometimes at the end of the day as I was worn out carting not only full camp set up food and water but wetsuit snorkel flippers and mask for those lovely surfing beaches and rock pool snorkeling days.
I think that formula is a good guide but it's not set in stone.
Years ago, fit healthy and full of life I could carry a big and very heavy rucksack that would make chaps ask me how on earth could I carry all that? as they struggled to lift it. I could lift double my 8 Stone bodyweight. Nowadays, knackered unfit two stone heavier and older I struggle to lift 10kilos. So I'd say lifestyle and fitness have more to do with it than anything else. Back then I had very physical jobs in farming and forestry so I was very fit. If I had had an office job or more sedentary occupation I'm sure I would not have been able to carry such a heavy pack.especially on the cornish coast path.. that was damm hard on the knees with such a heavy pack and must admit to having the wobbles sometimes at the end of the day as I was worn out carting not only full camp set up food and water but wetsuit snorkel flippers and mask for those lovely surfing beaches and rock pool snorkeling days.
I think that formula is a good guide but it's not set in stone.
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I do not know what your yesterdays misstakes are, Deekin, but I wish I was allowed to continue to do mine today and in the future!
I think we are making a HUGE misstake today.
( no, nothing about politics or sexes...)
That is that we accept backpacks with internal frames.
A well designed external frame/ bag/ external other bits - could be adjusted very finely to suit your body.
Male or female, short or tall, skinny or morbidly obese.
Two different frames, two different hip belts, three different axel straps.
Covered everybody, every body.
I think we are making a HUGE misstake today.
( no, nothing about politics or sexes...)
That is that we accept backpacks with internal frames.
A well designed external frame/ bag/ external other bits - could be adjusted very finely to suit your body.
Male or female, short or tall, skinny or morbidly obese.
Two different frames, two different hip belts, three different axel straps.
Covered everybody, every body.
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Would you say your previous life has damaged your body?
I am damaged. And when I do carry a backpack, I am very careful with mivements, steps and so on. A misstep 20 years ago was fine, today it can mean my knee replacement has to be brought forward.
Agreed, GIs are generally younger and healthier than the general population; but the ratios are similar, particularly the in the non-combatant fields.
While their overall abilities are definitely higher than the general population, the gap between the physical ability of male soldiers and female soldiers remains despite the training and relative youth.
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My BS meter says we need to pay attention to fitness levels for both men and women.
Ranch women are strong enough to tear your arm off (Logger's Sports) and smart enough
to use a pack train. They can tie a diamond hitch in no time flat. Just a phone call away.
I'll guess that UK women, especially country folk, are as tough as they come for bush walking.
I'll guess they are better stock wranglers (goats, mules, etc for long treks, than the guys are.)
We use only exterior frame packs. Off with the bags, each as a supply unit.
Then, we carried outboard motors, mess kit boxes and so on on those frames.
Do 100km by canoe on the Churchill River, no experience needed.
I expect you will need to portage Nistowiak Falls as usual.
Ranch women are strong enough to tear your arm off (Logger's Sports) and smart enough
to use a pack train. They can tie a diamond hitch in no time flat. Just a phone call away.
I'll guess that UK women, especially country folk, are as tough as they come for bush walking.
I'll guess they are better stock wranglers (goats, mules, etc for long treks, than the guys are.)
We use only exterior frame packs. Off with the bags, each as a supply unit.
Then, we carried outboard motors, mess kit boxes and so on on those frames.
Do 100km by canoe on the Churchill River, no experience needed.
I expect you will need to portage Nistowiak Falls as usual.
Reread my post. I said women are smaller than men; I did NOT say they were 20% smaller. What I was saying that 20% of a woman’s body weight will be lighter than 20% of a man’s body weight. How much lighter that load was s depends on how much lighter she is. Or how much heavier if one of them differs from the norm.
That rule of thumb was taught by the Boy Scouts and the Girl Scouts at least as far back as when I was,a Scout in the 1970s and as recently as some of my family members still involved. I really don’t know if it went all the way back to BP or not though. Bear in mind too, that figure was not derived as a “working” load, but as a load that could be sustained for days and still be an enjoyable experience. I presume you’re asking so you can calculate what your female companion can carry and still enjoy the shared experience; particularly f you’re just introducing her to this outdoor activity and want her to enjoy it as much as you do.
Soldiers carry much, much heavier loads but that’s a job for them and they usually suffer permanent back problems thereafter.
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