On foot

Muddog · 04-22-2008, 10:59 PM

Did a quick search and didn't find any threads on this. If you were forced to move on foot through hilly terrain, what would you keep your weight limit at? For, say 7 days, you have a backpack, rifle, handgun, knife, and anything in your house you can carry and in descent shape, would 50 lbs be too much?

Big Dog · 04-23-2008, 05:28 AM

Depends on one's health and physical shape. Being fifty years old with a bad back and overweight - I wouldn't get far!
But, the VC carried a lot of supplies over the Ho Chi Min Trail by bicycle - up to a few hundred pounds per bike walking alongside guiding it. Also, garden carts could carry a lot of gear.
Think of other alternatives to just hoofing it!

jimkim · 04-23-2008, 05:41 AM

I would build a travois. You can pull a lot of weight with one. If you have a dog he can pull one too. Since it is hilly country you couldn't pull as much so I would keep it around 300 pounds. For the dog keep it to 100lb for him. If you make it longer you can carry more weight.
travois

travois (trăvoi') [key], device used by Native North Americans of the Great Plains for transporting their tepees and household goods. It consisted of two poles, lashed one on either side of a dog or, later, a horse, with one end of each pole dragging on the ground. It had straps or wooden crosspieces between the poles near the open end that served as a carrier. Like the sledge, the travois was used by Native Americans before any use of wheels was known to them.

mos19k · 04-23-2008, 06:37 AM

This is a game hauler, it can carry up to 300 pounds and is designed to be used in rough terrain.

Cabela's Magnum Game Carrier

My days of backpacking with 75#'s are in the pass. I've looked at these as a very effective alternative. Keep an emergency pack on you and the bulk of your gear on the hauler. Just another option.

JMcDonald · 04-23-2008, 08:44 AM

My Bug Out Vest weighs about 30ish pounds fully loaded with water and such. It carries:
-Poncho
-Space blanket
-Food (10 granola bars)
-Flashlight w/ batteries
-2L of water (with 25L worth of purification tablets)
-2'x4' towel
-60yd roll of duct tape
-9mm Ammo (right now only 100rounds with an additional 30 in three magazines, but Im going to add 100 more)
-~3.75" fixed blade strapped to my shoulder
-Compass
and lots of other tools and accessories.

I ride my bike an average of about 5-6 miles a day (and beat my roommate to school when he drives, heh), so I am pretty confident in my ability to carry this.

My GF also has a small backpack and fannypack (maybe 15lbs max) with additional supplies like camping soap, cooking supplies, 50' of 300lb rope, and more of the same things I have, and several hundred rounds of 22LR ammo for her rifle.

With this stuff we could easily survive, without losing much health-wise , for a few days out in the sticks. Very much longer if we found food.

This, however, is just the "we gonna run NOW" gear. I also have a small duffle bag (probably going to be replaced with a backpack) that holds another ~10lbs of food, a canvas blanket, and a 6'x5' pup tent, which I would also try to grab. It would be alot harder to really run with this extra gear, so Id have to assess the situation to determine if I should take it or not.

*edit*

Here's a pic of when I first got the setup (almost) finished:

SwedeSteve · 04-23-2008, 08:45 AM

All good ideas! Definitely food for thought.

sell33 · 04-23-2008, 09:02 AM

Hmm i think with the right backpack 50 would not be too much. I know i wouldn't be doing any extensive running or anything, and i am young and in good shape. i would probably rather try to limit a pack to about 30-40 pounds. Even this would get heavy very fast if you were constantly moving.

Recon 173 · 04-23-2008, 01:38 PM

Have you thought about caching stuff before trouble hits? In other words, put or store supplies somewhere where you will be headed prior to any disaster. That way all you need to carry is food, water, sleeping gear and foul weather gear until you get to your supply point.

Rambo · 04-23-2008, 04:35 PM

Join the Army or Marines, max out their physical fitness test and go into Rangers or Recon. There, you will learn how to survive without alot of gear. The best part? They pay you!

FS00008 · 04-23-2008, 05:06 PM

I would cache supplies in safe areas at 90 Degree segments 5 miles out around my area, that way no matter which direction I run there is a cache near that compass point, and I think I'd probably wind up just carrying my personal weapons and some basic supplies (Grab'N'Go basically).

CrazyIvan · 04-23-2008, 05:51 PM

Lots of places in CO with many Horses. In a SHTF scenario, I wouldn't hesitate borrowing one. Or maybe mule if they had one:

Or....have you all seen the 21st Century Pack Mule designed at MIT?

21st-century pack mule: MIT's 'exoskeleton' lightens the load - MIT News Office

sniper1958 · 04-23-2008, 11:58 PM

McDonald's setup is close to mine. In addition to a backpack (w/ tent attached), I'll take my tac-vest (ammo, 2nd 1911 - primary 1911 in thigh holster) and carry my rifle. My wife has her backpack w/ her spare ammo, food, poncho, etc..., .357 on belt and SKS or 870 on her shoulder. My pack weight (as described) is 40#, with total weight of 50#. I've done well so far on long 6-hour walks to 9000 feet and am in fair shape.

Big Tool · 04-24-2008, 11:53 AM

I would try to keep it to 25-35lbs. Not counting the weight of my rifle which would be about 7-8lbs with scope and all.

Muddog · 04-24-2008, 11:55 AM

Thanks for the replies, they are helpful. Thats a good idea putting the dog to work, I hadn't thought of that. Carts are out, if a creek needed crossed in short order it wouldn't be possible. If I was willing to bury something 5 miles away it sure wouldn't be that important to me. It also sounds like maybe 35 or 40 lb for me, being physically very able, not in good enough shape though. Again, thanks for the help.

04-22-2008, 10:59 PM	#1
Muddog Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Northeast Kansas Posts: 127	On foot Did a quick search and didn't find any threads on this. If you were forced to move on foot through hilly terrain, what would you keep your weight limit at? For, say 7 days, you have a backpack, rifle, handgun, knife, and anything in your house you can carry and in descent shape, would 50 lbs be too much?

04-23-2008, 05:28 AM	#2
Big Dog Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Tallahassee, Florida Posts: 10,213	Depends on one's health and physical shape. Being fifty years old with a bad back and overweight - I wouldn't get far! But, the VC carried a lot of supplies over the Ho Chi Min Trail by bicycle - up to a few hundred pounds per bike walking alongside guiding it. Also, garden carts could carry a lot of gear. Think of other alternatives to just hoofing it! __________________ Moderator of: AR15/M16, M14/M1A, New/Beginning Shooters and Militaria/Collectables.

04-23-2008, 05:41 AM	#3
jimkim Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Near the Little Ocmulgee river in GA Posts: 2,045 Blog Entries: 11	I would build a travois. You can pull a lot of weight with one. If you have a dog he can pull one too. Since it is hilly country you couldn't pull as much so I would keep it around 300 pounds. For the dog keep it to 100lb for him. If you make it longer you can carry more weight. travois travois (trăvoi') [key], device used by Native North Americans of the Great Plains for transporting their tepees and household goods. It consisted of two poles, lashed one on either side of a dog or, later, a horse, with one end of each pole dragging on the ground. It had straps or wooden crosspieces between the poles near the open end that served as a carrier. Like the sledge, the travois was used by Native Americans before any use of wheels was known to them. __________________ Jan. 4, 2007...Gasoline $2.10/gallon HMMM? Jim

04-23-2008, 08:44 AM	#5
JMcDonald Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 547	My Bug Out Vest weighs about 30ish pounds fully loaded with water and such. It carries: -Poncho -Space blanket -Food (10 granola bars) -Flashlight w/ batteries -2L of water (with 25L worth of purification tablets) -2'x4' towel -60yd roll of duct tape -9mm Ammo (right now only 100rounds with an additional 30 in three magazines, but Im going to add 100 more) -~3.75" fixed blade strapped to my shoulder -Compass and lots of other tools and accessories. I ride my bike an average of about 5-6 miles a day (and beat my roommate to school when he drives, heh), so I am pretty confident in my ability to carry this. My GF also has a small backpack and fannypack (maybe 15lbs max) with additional supplies like camping soap, cooking supplies, 50' of 300lb rope, and more of the same things I have, and several hundred rounds of 22LR ammo for her rifle. With this stuff we could easily survive, without losing much health-wise , for a few days out in the sticks. Very much longer if we found food. This, however, is just the "we gonna run NOW" gear. I also have a small duffle bag (probably going to be replaced with a backpack) that holds another ~10lbs of food, a canvas blanket, and a 6'x5' pup tent, which I would also try to grab. It would be alot harder to really run with this extra gear, so Id have to assess the situation to determine if I should take it or not. edit Here's a pic of when I first got the setup (almost) finished: Last edited by JMcDonald; 04-23-2008 at 08:51 AM.

04-23-2008, 08:45 AM	#6
SwedeSteve Thor's Hammer Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Alaska Posts: 10,346 Images: 1	All good ideas! Definitely food for thought. __________________ Thank God we don't get as much Government as we pay for! -Will Rogers

04-23-2008, 06:37 AM	#4
mos19k Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Miami, Fl. Posts: 314	This is a game hauler, it can carry up to 300 pounds and is designed to be used in rough terrain. Cabela's Magnum Game Carrier My days of backpacking with 75#'s are in the pass. I've looked at these as a very effective alternative. Keep an emergency pack on you and the bulk of your gear on the hauler. Just another option.

04-23-2008, 09:02 AM	#7
sell33 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Ohio Posts: 1,194	Hmm i think with the right backpack 50 would not be too much. I know i wouldn't be doing any extensive running or anything, and i am young and in good shape. i would probably rather try to limit a pack to about 30-40 pounds. Even this would get heavy very fast if you were constantly moving.

04-23-2008, 01:38 PM	#8
Recon 173 Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Central Illinois Posts: 27	Have you thought about caching stuff before trouble hits? In other words, put or store supplies somewhere where you will be headed prior to any disaster. That way all you need to carry is food, water, sleeping gear and foul weather gear until you get to your supply point.

04-23-2008, 04:35 PM	#9
Rambo Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Iowa Posts: 752	Join the Army or Marines, max out their physical fitness test and go into Rangers or Recon. There, you will learn how to survive without alot of gear. The best part? They pay you! __________________ If you run, you'll just die tired.

04-23-2008, 05:06 PM	#10
FS00008 Сергей Иванович Мосин Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: California Posts: 966 Blog Entries: 1	I would cache supplies in safe areas at 90 Degree segments 5 miles out around my area, that way no matter which direction I run there is a cache near that compass point, and I think I'd probably wind up just carrying my personal weapons and some basic supplies (Grab'N'Go basically).

04-23-2008, 05:51 PM	#11
CrazyIvan Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Englewood, CO Posts: 2,357	Lots of places in CO with many Horses. In a SHTF scenario, I wouldn't hesitate borrowing one. Or maybe mule if they had one: Or....have you all seen the 21st Century Pack Mule designed at MIT? 21st-century pack mule: MIT's 'exoskeleton' lightens the load - MIT News Office __________________ "Minimum wage, minimum effort." "Never underestimate the power of stupidity." ~Me

04-23-2008, 11:58 PM	#12
sniper1958 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Colorado Posts: 123	McDonald's setup is close to mine. In addition to a backpack (w/ tent attached), I'll take my tac-vest (ammo, 2nd 1911 - primary 1911 in thigh holster) and carry my rifle. My wife has her backpack w/ her spare ammo, food, poncho, etc..., .357 on belt and SKS or 870 on her shoulder. My pack weight (as described) is 40#, with total weight of 50#. I've done well so far on long 6-hour walks to 9000 feet and am in fair shape.

04-24-2008, 11:53 AM	#13
Big Tool Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: MS Posts: 601	I would try to keep it to 25-35lbs. Not counting the weight of my rifle which would be about 7-8lbs with scope and all.

04-24-2008, 11:55 AM	#14
Muddog Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Northeast Kansas Posts: 127	Thanks for the replies, they are helpful. Thats a good idea putting the dog to work, I hadn't thought of that. Carts are out, if a creek needed crossed in short order it wouldn't be possible. If I was willing to bury something 5 miles away it sure wouldn't be that important to me. It also sounds like maybe 35 or 40 lb for me, being physically very able, not in good enough shape though. Again, thanks for the help.