Helium balloons

[Gregory Petliski]

Has anyone ever thought of attaching helium balloons to their packs to lighten it up? Wouldnt work in a forest of course but for desert, beach, or grassland hiking? Or would you need a whole lot of balloons just to take a pound of weight off your back?

[Nathan Watts]

We joke about this from time to time in my line of work because it's never practical ( for our needs and constraints) and people don't understand the basics of it sometimes. But, that being said, it could work in the environments you describe given sufficient volume of balloons. Of course you'd end up with some aerodynamic drag losses to contend with. Would love to see someone put some real numbers to this.

Now think about dozens or hundreds of little micro machine type thrusters pinned to your pack providing lift. Csn they be worth the weight of fuel carried to power them? Not all that far fetched of a question actually.

[Gregory Petliski]

I would love a pack with jet thrusters. Everyone is so concerned with jetpacks how high and fast they can fly, but I'd be cool with a foot off the ground and 2 or 3 mph, a la hiking but without blisters and busted knees.

Back to reality, fiscally speaking that is.. I didnt give much though to drag. Not such a good idea in high winds I suppose, you might get blown this way and that!

[Jerry Adams]

Just hope that the wind doesn't blow in the wrong direction : )

According to my calculations, density of air = 1.2 kg/m3, Helium = 0.2 kg/m3, if you have a cubic meter of helium it should lift 1 kg = 2.2 pounds.

[Eric Blumensaadt]

With pack stays and tent poles of Unobtainium, fabric of Etherium and insulation of Aerogel we may not need helium balloons – except in camp for laughs when giving "altered voice speeches".

Technology marches on…

Oh, wait, we ALREADY have Unobtainium (carbon fiber) and Etherium (Cuben fabric).
And their prices reflect the unatainability of these items for most of us.

[Author]

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