Effects of Pack Weight on Endurance of Long-distance Hikers

"Hikers attempting long-distance trails, like the Appalachian trail, load their backpacks down with gear that may exceed ideal limits on pack weight. Hikers pack clothing to deal with changing weather conditions, sleeping bags, tents, tarps, cooking gear, food, water and other accessories to compensate for the lack of comfort in the remote wilderness. These heavy weights may affect hikers' ability to walk in comfort and result in physical injuries such as ankle sprains, knee pain, muscular fatigue, and soft tissue damage. Heavy pack weights can cause injuries and possibly prevent hikers from completing long distance hikes. This study evaluated pack weight to understand the limits of long-term load carriage. The hypotheses that hikers were negatively affected in the number of miles hiked as pack weight increases was supported in the study."--Leaf iv.