Backpacking

Hello I love to go backpacking but after a recent trip to isle royal national park I'm afraid I'll never be able to do more than day hikes. I could never get my pack in a comfortable position that didn't irritate my pacemaker site so I ended up wearing the shoulder straps down around by upper arms which was brutal. Has anyone out there found a backpack that's design is pacemaker friendly? I've looked at lumbar packs but haven't found any with a capacity for more than just a day hike.

4 Comments

Hello Bu!

by babyblue71121 - 2007-08-21 01:08:07

Do not know about the backpacks, I thought about gettin gone of the "Softtouch" protectors that they sell on this site, and adding it to my lifejacket when I ride my Seadoo. I wonder if you could do the same? If anyone has a better idea, let us know. God Bless! and Keep Your Sense of HUMOR!

Isle Royale, huh!

by ela-girl - 2007-08-21 01:08:36

Wow! How wonderful and beautiful was that (besides the backpack issue)?! Do you live in one of the surrounding states? I am from Michigan (currently living out of state) and love being able to travel to the UP in the summer but never have been to I.R. Cool!

I have really only done day hikes with a 12 pound pack since being cleared for backpacking and that has been fine. But I am going to try Cathryn's idea when I can. I wonder about the softtouch seatbelt pad...anyone try it for backpacking yet?

Happy packing!
ela-girl

Backpacking

by Blueaustralia - 2007-08-21 08:08:52

I had the same problems with backpacks. I find all one strap shoulder bags are for left side. I did see a bag in a camera shop the other day that was for right side. I use a small back pack for everday and just use the right hand strap. I have another back pack and use the right strap over my shoulder. This pack has a waist strap and I find that using right shoulder strap and waist strap took any weight and discomfort off my left shoulder. Hope you work something out. Happy pacing.

Isle Royale

by Bu - 2007-08-26 04:08:49

Isle Royal is absolutely amazing. I went 8 weeks after getting my pacemaker, perhaps not the best idea but I loved it anyway. I am from Michigan, drove to Houghton and took a seaplane to Windigo which in my opinion is the only way to go. My heart wasn't quite ready for any hikes greater than 5 miles or for carrying 27 lbs in my pack but we adjusted our plans. I wasn't expecting to get so short of breath. Silly me I thought hey I'm 39 y.o. and now that I have a pacemaker so I'm fixed right. Ha! I found my heart and the rest of me had become alot more deconditioned than I realized. The up side is that I survived and I have something to work toward. Thanks for all the advice on how to pad around the pacemaker. I wish the would make a woman's backpack where instead of a chest strap there was a strap going under the bust. seem like it would eliminate a lot of the problems. Anyone have better luck with any particular brand of backpacks?

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So, my advice is to go about your daily routine and forget that you have a pacemaker implanted in your body.