Posted by: seanadams
Pack recommendation for injured shoulders? - 08/09/09 08:14 AM
I am going to thru-hike the AT next year and looking for advice on a backpack. I have recently had AC joint resection surgery on both sides. They have healed reasonably well and I have full range of motion, but strength is only 80% of before, and I have to be very careful about overworking them or impacting the joint (eg digging, mountain biking).
I do day hikes frequently and am OK with a small pack, but have not worn a fully loaded overnight pack in a few years. Obviously I am concerned about keeping weight on the hips to minimizing vertical load on the shoulders, but also wondering if there are other considerations... for example are there packs that pull more against the chest for front/back stabilization instead of on the shoulders? I feel like I would prefer to meet with an expert and get fitted in person but I'm not sure where to start.
I do day hikes frequently and am OK with a small pack, but have not worn a fully loaded overnight pack in a few years. Obviously I am concerned about keeping weight on the hips to minimizing vertical load on the shoulders, but also wondering if there are other considerations... for example are there packs that pull more against the chest for front/back stabilization instead of on the shoulders? I feel like I would prefer to meet with an expert and get fitted in person but I'm not sure where to start.