Wild camping/long hikes

[SuperLoudPoppingAction]

Not posting in the camping section as I think I'm asking more about gear/walking.

I'm thinking of going on a long walk (West highland way type distance).
I think I could keep my backpack to around 10kg.

Is it wise to train with a heavy backpack beforehand?

Pre lockdown I wore a backpack most days but today I wore one and my shoulders ache so much! Is this something that would go away if I did it more often?

Is it a proper backpack with a hip belt? ( I e not the shitty ones sold to women,).

You do need to train with what you will be carrying.

I would go for shorter walks and build up a little bit.
I have a backpack that has a front belt too. It makes me focus on my core a bit more and I feel balanced. But hard to keep weight low for me.

Saying that, I always need a LOT of breaks. And why not? It'll be gorgeous!

You need a backpack with a hip belt, and it would be wise to do a few long walks with it beforehand to dial in your kit and so on.

How exciting though. Will you be camping or staying at b&bs?

Are you carrying a tent etc? I would think you need about a 50-60 litre backpack, DofE type with a good waist belt. I'm sure training will be a good idea. Have you read Into the Wild?

Osprey and decathlon if you're on a tighter budget both have good rucksacks for women - shoulder and hip straps sit slightly differently but if you can, go into a shop and get one fitted. You need to be able to walk for 15 miles a day over rough terrain with your pack so if your new find a training plan which starts incrementally. There are some on the WHW pages. Shoes, backpack, tent and waterproof gear. I start the WHW in July and love a long trek - it's great being out in the mountains. Good luck.

Thanks, all.
I have either a 44 or 66l Osprey backpack with hip belt so I could train with the smaller then bigger one. I genuinely just didn't know whether it would help to do it regularly.

I can fit wild camping gear in my 44l one, I think. The tent certainly fits. Dd used it for d of e with my wild camping tent and would have been fine with it but she felt sorry for the girl she was with who seemed to struggle and they swapped packs.

I still feel somewhat achy after yesterday, but I was only wearing a day sack so the hip belt isn't as good.

I'm in Scotland so wild camping is fine in most remote places.

I've not read Into the Wild. I read The Salt Path though. Gaynor Winn writes so well.

I will look for a training plan - thanks, all.

You sound better equipped than Moth and Ray!

Yes, I would train with the pack and weight you intend to use.

Most people have the shoulder straps too long and the pack sitting too low. Keep heaviest items closest to your back. Google backpacking advice as to how to maintain the best centre of gravity.

Fantastic adventure, quite envious!

Sorry this is the reference I meant

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wild:_From_Lost_to_Found_on_the_Pacific_Crest_Trail
Cheryl Strayed's great and inspiring story, it sticks in my mind she christened her (overpacked) rucksack "Monster"
You sound like you're ahead of the game though - brilliant!

I saw the film and winced so hard at the amount/density of the things she wanted to take.

I haven't read it yet, though.

I've started to make a list of what I would need to bring. What shocks me is when I start to list how heavy my clothes are eg my anorak is about 300g, inner jacket 420g. I think on any given day I must be carrying a couple of kilos of pocket-contents and clothing. Plus my leather boots.

So it's hopefully just a question of getting used to the weight being across my back and hips.
My tent is light and long so it goes down the whole middle of the bag on one side but I can try and fit heavier things in towards my back behind it.

I've made a wee schedule alternating between walks carrying a pack and longer walks without one, for the time being. Plus yoga for core strength- will have to get reacquainted with Adrienne.

I don't know if this will be at all helpful but someone I know is into long walks and she wrote about what she took with her

attitude-over-ability.com/c2c-backpacking-gear-list-2017/

Thank you - I will check it out.
I just started reading the ciccerone west highland way book. His solution seems to be to use a baggage transfer service and hotels.