HoverGlide floating backpacks

UbiqueContributor - May 26, 2021

Gear

Has anyone tried this backpack? It looks like it would reduce fatigue.

https://www.hoverglidepacks.com/

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In Florida we don’t have a lot of elevation that I can see benefitting from this. And I’m not planning on doing much running with my bug out bag.

The physics look like they will work with this system though. 

For example, with this guy running. Imagine if his pack was securely attached to his back. His body would have to lift and lower that 30-50 pounds with every step. Instead he is able to bounce around and not have the pack’s weight to deal with. 

 

Peter44,

I sure hope I never have to run with mine 🙂

It does look like it would work. I saw it on a tv show the other day and checked it out online.

It looks like it would ease the stress on the back which would help if one had to walk for a long distance in a crisis.

(The clip of the guy running with it on just strikes me as hilarious for some reason – Maybe it’s because if I had to run that hard in a disaster, I clearly waited waaay too long to bug out).

 

How much weight will the glide technology add to your loadout compared to a standard pack? If you are already strapped for weight, it might not be the best to add additional.

It’s like those motorized suitcases that you can ride https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HazWCa3huMY. No one is buying these and travelling seriously. First off it’s $1500! They haven’t even listed the weight of the item on their website, but lets say it’s at least 20 pounds.

Here’s the carry on weight limit for various airlines:

Air Canada-22 pounds

American Airlines-40 pounds

KLM-26 pounds

Lufthansa-17 pounds

While some airlines don’t have weight limits, many do. People aren’t going to use 50-90% of their possible luggage weight on just the suitcase alone.

My second thought on the HoverGlide is what happens when the elastic bands break. Not very good for a prepper right? Will that produce a bag that is just wobbling around everywhere or do you then have the ability to lock it in place and use as a traditional pack?

Neat idea, but I have some questions about it first.

 

Mike,

Those are excellent points. I wondered about the elastic cording and what kind of stress testing they did on it.

It does lock and I found another interesting article on this backpack. The pack was intended to produce electricity for the military.

https://www.outsideonline.com/2353861/lightning-packs-hoverglide-physics

 

Good afternoon Ubique,

Negative here.

At first wasn’t sure if “floating” meant “like on back but “floating in air” or the floating meant like the Israeli packs that actually do float … water-sealed and armored.

Running with a pack means injuries.

I’m with Peter 44 on this.

 

 

What is this blackmagic!?

 

Good afternoon Bob,

I thought it originally meant floating on water when I first heard the name. Then I watched the tv show and saw how they worked.

I wouldn’t run with a pack, but wondered if walking made sense. Now I am wondering if the gliding movement of the pack weight shifting up and down on the spine could be fatiguing or uncomfortable?

If I see a supplier with one, and can get into a sporting goods store when it’s safe, I’ll try one and see how it feels.

This is more curiousity. Also the military wanted to use these for electrical generation (from the second link).

 

Alisa,

It looks like that, doesn’t it? It’s like CGI special effects in a movie.

 

It’s very similar to the stabilizing tech used for professional camera rigs. Gimbals, gyroscopes, accelerometers, etc have become advanced and cheap enough to start being used in all sorts of places, such as your phone!

A recent and very cool example is stabilized utensils for people with disabilities:

 

John,

The Liftware Level is incredible and a much needed tool. I witnessed seniors in a Palliative and Geriatric ward who had trouble feeding themselves. This would make such a difference for them. I am filing this info away.

 

Have never had hands on one. But my immediate concern is how gracefully it fails. ie. if the bouncy mechanism breaks, is it just as usable as a normal backpack or is it worse? Would love to get one so we can beat it up and see.

 

It wouldn’t hurt to ask them for one to test. The worst they can say is no and the best outcome is to turn that “no” into a “yes.”

 

Good morning,

With a little more energy now than yesterday, went through the Hoverglide site.

If the military version generates electricity, the wearer is an easy target. A bicycle tire and generator also works although still a target.

No quick release hardwear on the shoulder straps – like a jet aircraft’s ejection system ? Even the old Alice pack had them.

Running without a pole and helmet w/ goggles says much. Try this at night going through shrubbery. Where is water carried ? the IFAK ? One’s documents in a pouch must be on person to minimize contribution to the polluting floatsam and jetsam – unless using pack in a well-manicured park.

I’d consider the Molly pack with Grandma’s 2 wheel grocery cart attached.

 

Good morning Bob,

I searched and can’t find any confirmation if these packs were ever accepted by the military.

During that search, I did run into some interesting comments on a UK military discussion thread about this pack. I didn’t include the link because I don’t know if it’s allowed, so I am just remembering the points made relevant to the pack.

One person made a good point about using a hip belt to ease the burden on the spine. And further, he described the physics of weight transfer from stable pack to the leg and downward. There were also comments on how in the video the runner doesn’t appear to have much of a load. Positional changes were commented upon also. 

It was basically written off as over engineered and not worthwhile.

It still might work in some cases, but I would want to see how easily it could be locked into place etc. I was interested in it because of the arthritis in my spine, neck and hip, etc…, but I also don’t want to be sold on an item that “looks” good but doesn’t deliver. I believe they are around $599.00, so it is not an inexpensive item.

I pulled some more info on the military involvement with these packs from “The Military Times.” 

In 2018 it was undergoing field testing. One thing I noted in this article was the description “water resistant” and not “waterproof.” 

https://www.militarytimes.com/off-duty/gearscout/2018/09/24/these-floating-backpacks-could-be-a-game-changer-for-grunts/

This next article is from a man who tested it but who also outlines the start up problems (fire in fabric plant, etc.) It was military funded.

https://www.outsideonline.com/2416034/hoverglide-floating-backpack-test

 

Good afternoon Ubique,

Do note that even if this pack was accepted by the US military, this  no longer means “high quality”.

Our forum member, Bill of UK, provided some good insight on packs. Hip belts are important – with their rapid release feature, if any, just as important. Consider if one is to walk across a bridge over water. Don’t be wearing the pack on back.

At one time the “Military Times” was authoritive.  Matters changed along with contracting officers and their technical reps no longer sovereign.

The BIG change here is that special operations units now have their own budgets and no longer need to rely on the traditional contracting arrangements.

The equipment and gear scandals are numerous. The rest is politics.

With arthritic conditions, consider the pack displayed by Josh of Tennessee.  A decent size/weight load can be carried … in safety.