The thing I hate most about backpacking is carrying that big heavy load. A nice walk in the woods can be ruined by 50 pounds of stuffed pack pulling you down.
Thankfully, researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have stepped in to help out. They’ve designed a new “suspended-load ergonomic” backpack which uses bungee cords to help distribute the weight. The researchers claim that it “reduces the force of a backpack’s load” 86% by keeping the pack the same distance above the ground despite the backpacker moving up and down with every step.
The greatest benefits will be for those who have to run with a pack on, such as soldiers. The design should also help kids with overburdened school backpacks. This helps explain why funding for the project came from both the National Institutes of Health and the Office of Naval Research. I just love it when schoolchildren and soldiers both benefit!