I’ve done some voracious googling with no luck, so I’m throwing this out here on the off chance that someone can help.
I have a Camelbak HAWG backpack that I use for hiking. I’ve also been using it for light load bearing exercises (like 15lbs), and I want to kick things up a notch, but I’m not sure what the limit is on weight.
Does anybody have a good idea of the maximum weight you should put in a Camelbak? And if you don’t, can you recommend a cheapish backpack that will do the job? Ideally I’d like something where I can throw weights in the back and hit the road without having to worry about wear and tear. I’m still a weakling so right now I’m thinking 25 pounds max.
It’s not the CamelBak brand (usually implying a bladder) that gives it strength, it’s the kind of webbing and stitching used in its manufacturing. Why don’t you call the company and ask? Nobody else is liking to have that kind of load testing data.
The backpack comes with a lifetime guarantee and if you tell them it broke from you just carrying something, they’d probably fix it for you. Hard to imagine them not honoring a warranty over an additional 10 lbs. Webbing strength is usually measured in the hundreds of lbs at least, and you’d hope the stitching from such a big brand name would be up to par too.
Also, comfort is likely to become an issue much sooner than breakage is. As you approach 30lbs, you’re entering territory perhaps better served by a framed backpack with a properly-aligned hip belt that takes some of the load off your shoulders and enough upright structural stability that the weight of your cargo isn’t just concentrated in one single part (like the bottom and far away from your hip/butt).
Backpack fit is so personal that you should go to a local REI or outdoor store and try different ones out. The good stores will have sample weights that you can throw in there, probably up to 40 or 50 lbs (or bring your own loads).
Camelbak makes packs designed for different activities and I would assume each might have different specs. My husband has one that can carry his skis and supplies for back country skiing. I would think it has a different composition than the one I carry, which holds my hydration pack, a wallet and not much else. His has a reinforced belt, mine has a dinky chest strap.
What Reply said. Above 25 pounds or so, comfort is the issue. Comfort comes from a hip belt and a frame to transfer weight off the shoulders and on to the hips.
There is a huge range and trying on lots of different backpacks is the only way to find the one that is best for you. Backpacking / hiking / mountaineering outfitter stores will have a wider variety than the local sporting goods store and will put weight in the packs for you to try.
I agree with others that more than 15-20 lbs in that pack will get uncomfortable for strenuous activity because that pack is designed to transfer loads to your shoulders. The hip belt on these small packs are for stability mainly, not load bearing. So if you’re planning on using it for running, walking, stairmaster, etc you’ll feel it on your shoulders. If you plan on doing twisting movements it’ll be worse.
But it’s not only the weight, but the form of the weight that can overload a pack. You’d do best with something like sandbags which will distribute the weight. A 20 lb sandbag that was tall and thin would carry much better than 15 lbs of iron weights which would end up at the bottom of the pack.
But I’m sure you can load it up with 25lbs and see if it’s comfortable. It will eventually do some damage to the pack straps or seams, but packs are meant to be used. What exercises do you have planned?