Dividing gear with significant other

Then why do I run into wives and/or husbands every year looking for spouses, frantically?

I carry the stove/pot, he carries the tent unless I decide to hammock. That's it. Because I don't doubt that the unexpected happens – I have searched for separated brothers, sisters, spouses, and entire groups or parts of groups.

I've also carried my pack along with someone else's, because men who think "I am man, I can carry it all" also find out that backpacking 20 years ago doesn't prepare them for this week.

My wife and I backpack a lot together, and decided many years ago it was best to divide pack weight such that our paces during the day and level of fatigue at the end of the day were as similar as possible. She's 30-40 pounds lighter than me and doesn't hike as much or as often, so usually she carried her personal stuff and the tarp, and I carry my personal stuff and all the cooking and food items. Sometimes on the last days of a trip I'll take the tarp and her sleeping bag.

My old man hikes way ahead, especially in grizzly country. But he does carry the bigger load. Does that make me hot or not?! This pattern started when we were dating 20+ years ago and we're still married; I went from being the cursing, muttering spouse to being happy hiking mostly alone. Works for us! I carry everything I need in case I have to solo for the night. We usually have dinner together though. I never go looking for him…

Josh – on the hips rubbing raw on the pack thing. It could be the pack or it could be her waistline. Current fashionable inseams put the waistline of women's pants right under the hip belt- no matter which pack you use. Gotta find old lady pants that rise a bit higher. Feels weird at first but so much better under that hip belt after 5 miles. Columbia brand still makes some higher waisted. I use and love the Granite Gear VC 60, but the pant waist has to come above the belt regardless.