Does your height impact your walking ability?

[rogo]

I have just finished a couple of e-books by an american who is rather tall(around 210cm). It's his opinion that tall people don't bush walk as well as shorter people.

I was just reading the topic about pack weights and it got me thinking.

As to pack weights, I carry 20 -30% of my body weight with comfort but I'm short. I use a 65ltr bag and it covers a fair amount of me. So if a tall person who weighs the same and is of the same fitness carried the same weight do you think they would find it harder or easier?

[Tortoise]

Don't know - but they only need to take 1/3 of the number of steps. There must be some advantage in that!

[mattmacman]

I think with lots of things average is best, if someone is too small they might have trouble over steep terrain if they are too tall they might have trouble over very dense terrain. These are just some 'half baked' examples.

[Bluegum Mic]

Well as a 5'5 gal married to a 6'1 guy I can certainly tell you who gets up a hill first There's been quite a few hikes I would have killed for his long legs lol

[gentlemanbushwalker]

I'm a little over 6ft and have been of this opinion of late. It seems I'm always trying to get my balance (especially with a full pack on) while the shorter guys are bouncing off rocks like monkeys . However, definitely Fitness and Experience > Height.

[RSD]

I was cursing my height on my last walk - too many low hanging branches right at head height!

[pazzar]

I'm not quite 6ft, and I walked with a couple of friends, one being about my height, the other well over 6ft. Due to the nature of the horizontal on this particular walk, we were waiting at a track junction for almost an hour, even though the latter part of the walk was on a decent track. Part of this was probably due to fitness, but he was most certainly a lot slower through the horizontal. I think if it were boulder hopping, he may have been faster than me.

[Ent]

Of course ignoring fitness and age if height means sturdy frame then yes tall people are not the optimum build for endurance activities. Very few top class log distance runners are tall while the revers applies in the sprints. Also there is the matter of low hanging branches. Height in scrub can be a pain in the forehead while in alpine terrain brilliant as you can high step over the low plants. Also an advantage on creek crossings. There is the small matter of if everything in your pack is XL then you are not going to win in the lowest pack weight competitions either.

Cheers

[Binder]

6 foot six + Horizontal =
6 foot six + open country =

Tipping the scales at 95 kg i still aim at carrying 18-20 kg. Main problem was finding a tent that i fit in...

Cheers

[ollster]

Tad under 190cms. I use anything as an excuse for poor performance, it's usually my girth, but hey why not my height. But seriously I do appear to be more clumsy on boulders. Could just be that I'm a bit of a spaz with no coordination.

[Binder]

High centre of gravity ollster,
high centre of gravity.....

[ollster]

High centre of gravity ollster,
high centre of gravity.....

Maybe I need a pendulum?

[Ent]

There is a line there but I will not use it.

[stew]

I'm 6'3 and find the long legs is great for the scrambling bits over rocks and steep sections. The main downsides are squeezing into the tent and smacking my head on branches every now and then

[DebFar]

i'm 5'2 and hubby is 6'2, hes is very fast on open tracks, which is Ok i'm a quick pace walker, but get some scrub and low branches..(scrub bashing) i'm always waiting for him, he reckon i'm like a rabbit through the scrub, he always has to take off his back pack as even stooped over he gets caught up. ..for rock scrambling, rock hopping with creeks or rivers etc, he wins hands down...so I guess with us, we are always waiting for each other. The other thing is i'm pretty fit , I try to get in about 6 to 12 klms every day, he works week days and hikes only weekends so I find my fitness in no problem with keeping up with his stride.

As for packs he does take the heavy one and mines much lighter, never hear him whinge about weight..only complains when he has to take it off to get threw a squeeze.

[norts]

I have ducks disease and it's a pain getting over logs and trying to step over puddles. I am usually in the lead and I look back at my tall walking mate making light of the obstacle course I have just endured.
Roger

[freemandale]

At only 5'2" I must say the 'up' from scott Kilvert hut to the Cradle Plateau did have me wondering how me and an overnight pack were going to up some of the steps! Although a fast walker with no problems over distance, some heights up (and down) do present 'challenges'.. Its not usually a problem with strength, just leverage!

[north-north-west]

There's an effect, but sheer stubbornness can make up for a lot of defects.
About the only time it really could have been a major issue was in the WArthurs, when I had no choice but to continue after the descent of Capricorn, regardless of conditions or events, because I just don't have the reach to climb back up that route.
Although, now I think of it, that awkward bit on Anne would be a lot easier if I was just a few inches taller . . .

[Tortoise]

now I think of it, that awkward bit on Anne would be a lot easier if I was just a few inches taller . . .

At 5'0" (or a bit less if i've shrunk), i'm a bit worried re that awkward bit I hear about. Mt Anne's been clagged in the 3 times i've tried, so it's still calling my name.

++ on the creek crossings too. I reckon good balance and confidence go a very long way to make up for such... 'defects'. If anybody has some spare of either to share...? Years of 'wobble board' work after fracture / ligament damage to ankle doesn't seem to have helped at all

[RSD]

At 5'0" (or a bit less if i've shrunk), i'm a bit worried re that awkward bit I hear about. Mt Anne's been clagged in the 3 times i've tried, so it's still calling my name.

++ on the creek crossings too. I reckon good balance and confidence go a very long way to make up for such... 'defects'. If anybody has some spare of either to share...? Years of 'wobble board' work after fracture / ligament damage to ankle doesn't seem to have helped at all

My balance is pretty ordinary these days, but at 6'0" I hit the ground from a greater height unfortunately.

[tasadam]

My wife's 5'1" and I'm about a foot taller, we walk together really well. The shorter you are the easier you fit under fallen branches / trees. Or, from my perspective, the taller you are the more likely you will bash your head and end up on your backside again... Wide brimmed hats have their benefits, but they're also good at hiding that fallen tree that's coming up.

[north-north-west]

now I think of it, that awkward bit on Anne would be a lot easier if I was just a few inches taller . . .

At 5'0" (or a bit less if i've shrunk), i'm a bit worried re that awkward bit I hear about. Mt Anne's been clagged in the 3 times i've tried, so it's still calling my name.

Anne's kind of like that. I finally reached the summit after 6 attempts, but still don't know what the view's like because it was clagged in the only time I made it up.

[Tortoise]

Anne's kind of like that. I finally reached the summit after 6 attempts, but still don't know what the view's like because it was clagged in the only time I made it up.

So i've got 3 to go, huh? and a few more if i want the view

[north-north-west]

On the other hand, there's a braggart on this site who has been up three times and had perfect weather each one.

(I suggest we wait for his next visit and tag along).

[Tortoise]

On the other hand, there's a braggart on this site who has been up three times and had perfect weather each one.

(I suggest we wait for his next visit and tag along).

Sounds like a plan!