Just curious if anyone who trail rides or goes on endurance rides regularly rides with a backpack?
I think it would be neat for a long ride to stick a camel pack bag in a backpack for water and sandwiches in the bag along with a first aid kit or other assorted thangs.
But then it seems like wearing one would be annoying.
I never have a problem with them. I have a Camelbak for hiking that I use for trail rides and the only drawback is that you obviously can’t reach anything in the bag while you are on the horse for the most part.
My neighbor has a smaller camelbak that she uses and loves it. I hate having stuff on my shoulders and I sweat between my should blades too much to be comfortable. I’ve been thinking of trying my small camelbak waist bag but I haven’t managed to get around to it.
I don’t know… something about riding in a backpack seems like it’d be unsafe or something, especially riding in a western saddle. If you fall, one of the shoulder straps could get hooked on the horn or something.
But really I don’t know, I’ve honestly never thought of it! :lol:
That is a good point about the saddle horn. Glad my neighbor goes hornless:)
Even light, a backpack will affect your balance. Possibly restrict your shoulder movement. I would not allow my kids to wear one on a horse. No fanny packs either. They would have to make-do with a cantle bag or saddle bags if they wanted to carry something extra along.
The possibility of snagging straps is why no fanny packs. Their belt is not snug, like a belt on your jeans, would be easy to hook on a saddle horn. Pretty much unbreakable nylon strap and snaps! Heck just hooking your coat or vest on the horn can be interesting! I ride with them unzipped these days or cut high in front to avoid the horn problem.
Just walking, I also have the sweaty back wearing a backpack, which quickly makes them quite uncomfortable.
Creating more hazards or adding to safety.
Thanks for the advice above. I have also read several accounts of “getting
yourself caught” especially on the saddle horn. Almost hurts when I think about it.
But, there are some trade-offs as to different kinds of risks.
Ed Anderson rode the Pacific Crest Trail and he goes into some detail
of his safety advice. Keywords: solo, wilderness
http://www.thelongridersguild.com/pct-advice.htm
Under “Your Safety” Ed wrote:
For your own safety in the wilderness, especially if you ride alone and ever become separated from your horse (realize that this can happen, and you might also be injured and alone for some time), I feel that it is a good idea to always carry a knapsack on your own back containing what you might need to survive in an emergency.
Ed then lists some contents and reasons.
BTW, are there any Western saddles with easily remove/refit saddle-horns?
We Americans have long history of prejudice against carrying stuff on our person while riding. Not all horse cultures did/do.
In many European armies the long arm was carried on the person of the rider. This was the practice in the U.S. and Confederate armies as well. The U.S. did not adopt “carbine boots” until the 1880s. There were some saddle mounted experiments during this period, but the thinking was that if the soldier lost his horse at least he had his weapon, giving him a chance at survival and completing his mission.
The British learned in India and it’s environs that carrying the water bottle on the person was a Very Good Thing. Much of the area the British occupied was desert or very dry and a man without water was a dead man.
So now you’ve got the soldier carrying, on his person, a rifle, a water bottle, a bandolier of ammunition, and a pistol. By the early 20th century add a couple of grenades. And they were quite effective as riders. 
A properly fitted “camelback” is not going to seriously impair rider balance nor will it subject the rider to any significant risk of harm (unless their riding at speed through heavy brush where the risk of a snag is significant).
In preparation for our upcoming military competitions I’ve been wearing a web pistol belt with a canteen, magazine pouch, first aid pouch, and M1911 pistol with a lanyard. I’m not riding in brush country. I don’t find think I’m taking any serious risk. And this is a whole lot more than a “fanny pack.” I don’t they they pose any real risk, either.
Of course risk is not a fixed target, but rather constantly moving. What works in environment A might be a very bad idea in environment B. So the rider has to use their head for something beside a mounting point for their helmet!!! :lol:
G.
When I trail rode in Southern California, I carried a backpack. I never had an issue getting caught by the backpack, but I have by my bra!
For the longer rides, I did carry light snacks (granola and the like) in addition to the camelbak and it worked out well. I didn’t really notice it affecting my balance or riding ability.
I just figured why should I annoy the crap out of my horse more than necessary if I can carry the camelbak and plus, I like drinking (water at least) while riding without having to fiddle with trying to get a water bottle out of a cantle pack.
I have a fanny pack. I have allergy medicine, a small first aid kit, a hoof pick, camera, and cell phone in it. I hang my water bottles off the saddle. I know it looks dorky, but I’m cool with that
Differences in saddle might have a huge effect on safety. Old military forces did not use saddles with horns! There was nothing to snag all those belts and straps as you moved around or dismounted quickly.
As rifles got smaller, 1880s over Civil War and earlier designs, European Army guns of the Napoleonic era, you could change how they were carried on horseback. The newer guns were shorter barreled, much lighter weight. You just can’t put a 6ft, Brown Bess type gun in a sheath on the side of your saddle horse! Some of those types were REALLY heavy too. The later Winchester types, short barrels, lighter weight, did fit in the saddle sheath of the U.S. Cavalry soldiers, easy to carry for hours and miles.
If you want to ride with a backpack it is your choice, no skin off my nose. Maybe backpack weight feels different in an English saddle. I ride Western when going for any mileage. Never heard of any Western saddles with removable horns. Endurance type saddles can have styles that are built Western, front swells, skirts, cantle, but have no horn on them.
But I find it interesting that those folks who were long distance riders in daily life, seldom work back packs. These would be the old Cavalry again, cowboy types, covering miles each day. Not sure I ever saw any male Cossacks or Mongolians pictured with backpacks. The American Indian women might have packs, baby carriers, but they tended to be slower riders, not moving quickly as the men would ride. I have seen plain and decorated bags with a shoulder strap like messenger bags, carried on one side by American Indian men in old paintings, some photos.
This is a lot more info that I expected to get 
I think a camelpak might be a good idea for long rides. I just have never worn a backpack while trail riding and didn’t know what others did/do.
Backpack no, but camelback yes. Don’t find it affects balance in the least. I carry the phone on me, and everything else on the horse. It would take an act of god for her to take off without me on a trail. She has dumped me 9 times in the years I’ve been riding her and 8 of those times she’s stuck to me like glue. The one time she “ran home” was because we were in our own back yard and she went inside the barn. So I keep everything on her except my phone.
I have used a small light backback. Actually it is a camelback type, with extra storage. It worked fine. I ride english and usually catch my bra on western saddles when I use them.
I find using saddle bags/packs to be more efficient. Less safety risk , hold more things. If needed you can reach them and take stuff out while still in the saddle.
[QUOTE=lalahartma1;5106748]
I right english and usually catch my bra on western saddles when I use them.[/QUOTE]
Having troubles visualizing you can get your bra straps hooked on a western saddle…
P.
It’s not the bra strap that hangs you, it’s getting hooked between the tatas when you lean forward in order to swing your right leg over the back of the saddle. Some horns are taller/skinnier and keen you hook you wear ya hold 'em
I generally rely on saddlebags. Sometimes when riding English I’ve used a fanny pack to carry a few essentials, but I flip it around so the pouch is to the front in case I fall off the horse.
I have seen a number of folks use the camelback for trail rides and for foxhunting, never seen any issues.
As for a backpack…I could see using one if I needed just a touch extra stuff say, on a pack trip…but if I did that I’d only put soft stuff in it.
I never used a backpack when riding. Mostly I never carried anything at all, riding out from home as a teen, not even an ID (not smart!) but I used a little sandwich case for a while, and as an adult pommel packs, which are nice and easy to use depending on the style. It’s so much nicer to have a water bottle, snacks, places for stuff besides your pockets. Camelback sounds like a nice idea too.
I used to ride a bike alot and had a heavy backpack, 20 lbs + which went onto a carrier as soon as I had enough money to buy one. REALLY messed up my balance and was uncomfortable on a bike.
[QUOTE=katarine;5107627]
It’s not the bra strap that hangs you, it’s getting hooked between the tatas when you lean forward in order to swing your right leg over the back of the saddle. Some horns are taller/skinnier and keen you hook you wear ya hold 'em :)[/QUOTE]
Yups, and usually when trail riding, going up hill in rough terrain, or speed.
In the past I’ve ridden with a backpack while trailriding. My friends and I would go out mid-morning and pack a picnic lunch. We would bring the horses’ halters with us, and find a tree that we could tie them to so they could graze for a while. We would lunch, relax for a while, usually sun ourselves for a couple hours, then go back and do afternoon chores.
Now? Um… I don’t think my balance would stand another 20lbs strapped to my back.
I might be tempted, if I was going to be riding off the property, to ride with a fanny pack, just so I could carry some ID. But anything else I carry now goes in saddle bags. I picked up a set for less than $20 a couple years ago (normal price). I had to modify them a smidge, but nothing major. They are easy to use, (and now) easy to hook up to my western saddle, and don’t interupt my balance at all.
I carry a bottle of water, hoofpick, rope halter and 12foot lead (so I can tie if I have to), and a small first aid kit (mostly alcohol wipes, tweezers, and bandaids).
By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. You may also receive promotional emails from The Chronicle of the Horse. You can opt out at any time.
For Customers
Company
Terms of Use
