Topic

Do you unbuckle your hip belt when hiking down hill?


Forum Posting

A Membership is required to post in the forums. Login or become a member to post in the member forums!

Home Forums General Forums Philosophy & Technique Do you unbuckle your hip belt when hiking down hill?

  • This topic is empty.
Viewing 12 posts - 1 through 12 (of 12 total)
  • Author
    Posts
  • #1314260
    Matt Dirksen
    BPL Member

    @namelessway

    Locale: Mid Atlantic

    So I was taught this many years ago.

    The "theory" is that by unbucking your hip belt, the shif of the pack's center of gravity up onto the shoulders allows for the legs to have a little more freedom and coordination, reducing the risk of falling (and fatigue.)

    Obviously this technique was recommended for groomed trail hiking.

    I am sure that I'm not the only one who prefers the muscle burning of going uphill to the ligament grinding of going down hill… Sometimes.

    Thoughts?

    (Now that I think about it, do I have this all backwards?)

    :)

    #2081617
    Hiking Malto
    BPL Member

    @gg-man

    Pack is light enough it doesn't matter.

    #2081626
    Bob Gross
    BPL Member

    @b-g-2-2

    Locale: Silicon Valley

    I think that you are better off keeping the hip belt buckled so the pack does not sway too much. You can keep better balance, regardless of weight shift.

    –B.G.–

    #2081630
    John Myers
    BPL Member

    @dallas

    Locale: North Texas

    No, but I do when crossing rivers. :)

    #2081649
    Miner
    BPL Member

    @miner

    Locale: SoCAL

    The only benefit I could see is maybe if you were scrambling down a steep slope with no trail as you'd have better control of your pack balance as you move. But descending on a trail I don't see a benefit as you'd just get sore shoulders. You wouldn't need better balance on a decent trail. So no, I don't unbuckle my hip belt. Never noticed a need for better balance issue even on the vertical mile descent into the Grand Canyon on the Kaibab trail even when I did it several years ago with a 50 pound pack which is a completely different problem that my knees still remember.

    Now fording running water I understand.

    #2081656
    Don A.
    BPL Member

    @amrowinc

    Locale: Southern California

    I'm with Malto on this. My pack is normally light enough that it doesn't matter. For a shorter trips I use a GG Murmer that has a 3/4 belt that good as a hip belt holder and not much else.
    My "big load" back is a Borah Gear Stealth that has a hip belt that I only cinch up when I'm loaded up with a fresh resupply-total of 25lbs or so. But I've never thought of unbuckling to have any positive effect when going downhill.

    #2081732
    Nick Gatel
    BPL Member

    @ngatel

    Locale: Southern California

    No. Never crossed my mind no matter what the pack weight is. However my really small packs don't have hip belts.

    #2081739
    peter vacco
    Member

    @fluffinreach-com

    Locale: no. california

    sure.
    it needs to be buckled on the uphills so the weight is off the shoulders and i can breath deep, so that leaves downhills as the place to loosen it so the leg muscles can "get some air", as well as ventilate the packbelt areas.

    downhill as an acquired taste. is hard to find those really sweet multi k' unbroken downs to work out on. but, as in motorcycle racing, there is ample time to be made up once you dial them in.

    v.

    #2081784
    Matt Dirksen
    BPL Member

    @namelessway

    Locale: Mid Atlantic

    Yeah, I do know I was given the guidance when I was much younger and doing much "heavier" backpacking. I can certainly see it being entirely moot with a light pack.

    I remember that it seemed to offer more "freedom" for my legs to absorb the downhill shock. But nowadays, I don't believe my pack is heavy enough for it to make a difference. I also now use trekking poles.

    I was just curious if others have heard of this.

    I wish I remembered who told me that (might have been a co-worker at HTO or REI), they were a rather skilled backpacker, if I recall.

    #2081797
    Dena Kelley
    BPL Member

    @eagleriverdee

    Locale: Eagle River, Alaska

    No. I've never heard of this practice. I can't say that my legs ever feel confined or like they don't move freely headed downhill. The only time I unbuckle is if I'm doing a water crossing. The rest of the time, I prefer the way my pack carries while buckled up at the hips and sternum.

    #2084851
    Derek M.
    BPL Member

    @dmusashe

    Locale: Southern California

    I unbuckle my hipbelt for about 5 minutes at a time every half hour or so just to give my hips a break and air things out. I do this regardless of whether I happen to being hiking on flat, uphill, or downhill terrain at the time.

    Probably best to not overthink this one. Just do whatever feels best.

    #2084860
    Ian
    BPL Member

    @10-7

    I haven't tried this although sometimes I'll loosen my load lifters going downhill.

Viewing 12 posts - 1 through 12 (of 12 total)
  • You must be logged in to reply to this topic.
Forum Posting

A Membership is required to post in the forums. Login or become a member to post in the member forums!

Get the Newsletter

Get our free Handbook and Receive our weekly newsletter to see what's new at Backpacking Light!

Gear Research & Discovery Tools


Loading...