Comfort vs. Weight: Gear Guidance for Aging Backpackers

[HkNewman]

Camping wise think a more luxurious, yet still ultralight sleeping pad, could go a long way considering how much time is spent sleeping (and lounging) in camp.  Camp chairs pop up on other hikers including younger ones.  I am able to use a small foam “sit pad” and try to get in the habit of using it at home on the floor once daily to help stave off any need for a dedicated chair.  I knew a backpacker, who also fished, that used a now discontinued folding “hinged” type 16 oz chair inside the original G40 pack as a frame (along w/TT Contrail, pot with lid that was also a small pan, etc..).   Maybe an integrated design using something similar would have a market?  Of course it’d have to be available for breaks (= outside the pack).

There’s taller doors on shelters too, but ultimately some sort of exercise/physical therapy may need to be adhered to.   In terms of not being able to hike, maybe replace with overnight trips on a bike?

[Ronni L Wilde]

Hi Jerry! Thanks for the nice compliment here. I’ve been out of town so very belated on my responses. I’m glad you enjoyed the article. I am toying with incorporating some strength-training exercises with my routine to help keep my muscles and bones stronger. Happy hiking and thanks again!

[Ronni L Wilde]

Hi Terran,

Thanks for your nice comments and compliment on the article! I’ve been out of town so very belated on my responses to comments here. I love my Exped too! I was recently diagnosed with “severe” osteoporosis, so I will definitely be continuing my quest to find ways to make backpacking possible into older age. Happy hiking and best wishes to you! Keep up the great work!

[Ronni L Wilde]

Hi Naomi,

Thanks for your awesome comments and encouragement regarding my article about aging hikers! I have been out of town so I’m very belated on my responses. That is SO encouraging to me that you are in your 70s and still out there. I just turned 64 last Friday, and I was also just diagnosed with “severe” osteoporosis! This came as a shock to me, as all my other vitals and levels have been so healthy thus far. But I will definitely keep up with the hiking, and my doctor gives his blessing on it too. I’ll continue to find ways to shave off weight while sleeping well, and utilize these great tips you’ve shared. Thanks again and happy trails!

[Ronni L Wilde]

Hi Megan!

Thank you for your terrific comments and encouragement regarding my article on aging hikers. I so appreciate them, and you! I just turned 64, and also just received a diagnosis of “severe” osteoporosis! I was shocked, as I’ve been so healthy for so long. But I will continue to hike/backpack, and continue to find ways to keep myself safe while doing so. Keep up the great work… you are doing fabulously well! Thanks again and happy trails to you!

[Ronni L Wilde]

Hello AK!

Thanks for your sweet compliment and comments about my article on aging hikers. I’ve been out of town so I’m very behind in my responses! As for my food stuff sack, no, it isn’t waterproof, so what I did when there was a threat of rain is I put my food in a plastic bag inside the stuff sack, so that it would stay dry even if the sack got wet. That seemed to work just fine.

And yes, the stolen backpack was a wake up call! I was happy the young man got help from the town, but I guess we do have to consider theft as a possibility when leaving our packs unattended. Yikes!

Thanks for the tip about yoga… I too am looking into supplementing my hiking/running with yoga, Pilates or strength-training exercises. I just turned 64… definitely longer recovery time and harder to keep up with the fitness level!

Thanks again AK! Happy trails!

[Ronni L Wilde]

Hi Michael! Thanks for your nice compliment and comments about my article. I’ve been out of town so I’m very behind on responding to everyone. Good idea to chip away at honing in on the best gear for you now… it does take time and money, so good to start early. Keep up the great work, and happy hiking! I will continue to share what I learn on my journey as an older hiker.

[Ronni L Wilde]

Hi Mike!

Thanks for your comments on my article about aging backpackers. It is an interesting process to observe how our bodies change with age, isn’t it?!? I get colder now much more easily as well. It’s definitely a balancing act to stay comfortable out there without getting the pack too weighed down. I am thankful for the new lightweight gear that continues to evolve. I will continue my quest to learn how to successfully hike into old age, and share any valuable information I learn. I was just diagnosed with “severe” osteoporosis, so I will be working very hard to balance the comfort/safety/ultralight scales! Thanks again and keep on trekkin’!

[Ronni L Wilde]

Hi Jane! Wow, you are my hero! I sure hope I’m able to hike and backpack at 82! Good for you! Hiking with a 15-pound daypack as training is a great idea. I have done that before as well. And yes, there is a huge difference between 50, 60, 70 and 80. I just turned 64 last Friday, and I am amazed how much my body changes with each passing year now, especially since turning 60! I really enjoy watching the older YouTubers who thru-hike as well. There are some great creators out there, and I always appreciate the tips they offer on how to hike long distances as an older backpacker. Thanks again Jane!

[Ronni L Wilde]

Hi John,

Thanks for your very valid comments on the backpacking for older hikers article. I’m just back from being out of town so am just now able to respond to the comments. Your points and suggestions are all great! Safety and preparedness are definitely key to longevity! I tend toward over-preparedness myself, and my motto is that I’d rather have it and not need it than need it and not have it, particularly where safety items are concerned. Thanks again and happy trails!

[Ronni L Wilde]

Hi Daniel! Thanks for your comments and suggestions about my article. I have actually thought about downsizing my pack from 60 to 40. It seems the more space I have, the more inclined I am to fill it! LOL! I am still experimenting with everything, and will share my discoveries as I go about this process. Thanks again and best wishes to you!

[Ronni L Wilde]

Hello Regina! Thanks so much for all your awesome tips and for sharing your journey! I just turned 64, so I am encouraged that you are still out there in the Sierras!! I really want to get out into the Sierras as well. I totally understand what you mean about stuffing the pockets and pouches… yep! Me too! And what I learned this summer is that while I love the Durston XMid Pro 2, it is huge! A 1-person XMid Pro would have been a wiser choice for me. I like the tent, but like you, I struggle to get the little bathtub walls to stand up straight. I also feel a bit more “exposed” in this tent than my old Big Agnes Fly Creek, since the Dyneema fabric is a bit transparent. But I sure love the weight savings! Thanks again for sharing, and I’ll continue to share what I learn here on BL. Happy trails!

[Ronni L Wilde]

Hi Jim! Thanks for your comments and questions pertaining to my article on older backpackers. Wow, you made your own pack… I’m impressed! Sounds like your changes over the years have proven beneficial. I switched to a quilt a couple of years ago as well, and I love it! It’s so much lighter weight than my old sleeping bag was, and it’s cozy and warm. On warmer nights, I use it like a blanket and it’s perfect. As for switching to a dcf tent, I’d say that is totally up to you. If your existing tent is still working for you, I’d say use it until it falls apart! LOL! Not sure about that blue tarp… Thanks again and happy trails!

[Ronni L Wilde]

Thanks Megan! At 64, I am now hoping and envisioning hiking in my 70s too, and the newer lightweight gear is definitely a contributing factor in that. Keep up the great work… and I agree, a wallaby encounter is probably preferable over being chased by a bear! LOL! You go girl!

[Ronni L Wilde]

Hi Rob,

I agree wholeheartedly! We def need to hike our own hikes. Gear fidgeting is part of the process, and it evolves from year to year! Keep up the great work, and happy trails to you!

[Ronni L Wilde]

Hi there! Thanks for your comments and thoughts about the backpacking for older hikers article. The idea of a chair built into the backpack is an intriguing idea! Hmmm…

I am considering adding a stretching routine and perhaps some strength-training to my exercise regimen in hopes that it will keep me out there as long as possible. Physical therapy is always a good idea too!

Thanks again and happy trails!

[John “Jay” Menna]

Just turned 62 last week. (52 years on trail)  I tried everything over the last 6 or 7 years to avoid knee replacement.

Long story short, I found myself lying in the mud on the side of a trail, staring up at the sky, dealing with the pain for the second time. I finally decided to get the knee replacements.

At least the implants are titanium, which is ultra-light (and expensive), right?

[Jerry Adams]

John, are you able to get back to hiking and backpacking with your new knees?

I know of a couple people with new knees that are doing fairly well, although not hiking and backpacking

[Ronni L Wilde]

Hi John!

So sorry to hear about the pain you endure with your knees. My 90-year-old cousin used to always say aging isn’t for wimps, and boy was he right! I just turned 64, and I am struggling to accept how my body feels on some days. BL has contracted me to write about my experiences as an older hiker, and now, with a brand-spanking-new “severe osteoporosis” diagnosis, I will be happy to share with you all what I learn, what I do, and how it goes with the backpacking endeavors.

I hope that the knee replacements eliminate your pain, AND that you are able to return to hiking and backpacking once you recover!

All the best to you! — Ronni

[AK Granola]

Maybe Ronni, we need an osteoporosis backpackers’ forum! Wouldn’t it be cool to know if carrying a heavier, rather than a lighter pack, made a difference in our bones?! Research needed.

The yoga helps, as does the pharmaceuticals. I’m saving the legal pot for when it gets really bad. If I have to crawl, I will. Maybe I’ll learn how to use alpacas or donkeys or something to carry my stuff.

[Terran Terran]

https://photos.app.goo.gl/Rer4CkReezCGm2TC7

[sbennett3705]

I’m 66 with 67 in sight. Is anyone else reducing the daily milage/vert as a way to stay fresh? Since I’m a planner, I’m using a spreadsheet to plan each day by using a “hiking difficulty” index. This helps determine what I can do without exhausting myself. Too bad the formula ignores elevation effects, something to also consider. Thoughts?

https://www.nps.gov/shen/planyourvisit/how-to-determine-hiking-difficulty.htm

 

[David D]

I use Petzoldt’s energy mile theory to estimate the difficulty.  Multiply elevation gain by 10 and add it to the distance.  Works ok for me in planning my food carry and in estimating effort over a variety of terrain but if doing really hard alpine, the multiplier would need to go up.

The theory was proven on average studying caloric burn (but with high variability between individuals depending on weight and fitness) which isn’t quite the same as perceived effort.

[Jerry Adams]

I figure each 1000 feet elevation gain = 1 mile

I forget where I got that from

[Ken Larson]

Both David & Jerry’s numbers come from NOLS teachings.

[Author]

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