Carrying your gear - how often?

[Scythe13]

WHB, I understand the desire to carry more gear. If we could, we'd all be carrying huge loads with everything possible, and the kitchen sink.

But in a SHTF scenario, if you juice up on meds, so that you can carry your bigger pack, you won't feel any pain - awesome, right? No. Far from good. What you're missing out on feeling isn't the pain. It's the amount of damage you're doing. Imagine bugging out with a bigger pack, or just a generally heavy pack, then you put your back out totally. Slipped disk, or something like that.

The technical term for that is, you're royally F'd. Can I make a suggestion that could well save your back, if not your life.

Downsize your bag.

If you reassess your gear and skills, more than anything, this WILL enhance your bug out situation, as well as trial bug out's, and so much more!

With a good skill set, and great quality gear, you'd be surprised how much your pack could drop in weight and size. It's great to have all the stuff you need, but if you're lay there, a burden to those around you, unable to help, only able to hinder, as they need to carry you because you pushed it too hard….not so great.

Drop to a 35 to 40 litre pack, reconsider every item you put in there. Check on here for tips on dropping weight in packs too.

Go Rambo if you want, big gear, go heavy, but if you do, consider the danger you're putting everyone else around you in.