A quick clarification: knitted stockings did exist during medieval times, they were just much less common than wool hose (which are made with fabric cut on the bias). Thank you so much for watching! If you'd like to support the making of future videos like this one, then please consider joining my Patreon for just €4.00 per month ☺✨ www.patreon.com/c/vbirchwood
Maybe medieval people didn't hike, but they did go on long pilgrimages to holy sites on occasion. This would have been great for carrying your things on such a trek.
Exactly, they also had to walk long distances to market or visit friends and family or just to go to another farm for work. Walking 5 to 10 miles or so would have been a normal thing.
@@jonstfrancisDepends on when you are and what class. During most of the Middle Ages, serfdom meant that people would usually sleep and live where they worked. Unless of course you belonged to the newly established merchant or patrician classes, which would grant more freedoms and movement. All villages and cities were walkable. In fact, in comparison to today, most medieval people would have travelled alot LESS for daily work and shopping than we do today. The concept of "commuting" didn't really exist yet. Traveling long distances happened between cities and villages, and for pilgrimages, and those treks, in comparison, were MUCH longer and more laborious than anything we do today, so they'd need a good backpack.
As a modern hiker, I'd suggest putting it over the other shoulder and using the belt to hold it to have both sides under the opposite shoulder. (like a bandoleer) It would make it easy to switch shoulders when it got heavy and hold it closer to the body so it wasn't swaying. Swaying of anything on your pack will cause your body to have to adjust to it and spend more energy. Closer to the body is always best.
Excepting a few astringents or scraps of cleanish cloth, probably nothing practical. There are parts of plants (and other things, like cobwebs) which are useful for packing wounds or treating sores or stings, but they need to be fresh (not that that stops anyone from picking a dock leaf every morning just in case, if they grow in the area and it's not winter). Most of medieval medicine was mumbo-jumbo about something being good or bad for an organ because its leaves or tubers looked like that organ, or were the right colour, or other such claims of sympathetic magic. Willow bark is usually the first thing people think of as a valid herbal medicine, but the concentration of salicylic acid in that varies wildly throughout the year and even in its powdered form deteriorates noticeably in a few weeks, however carefully it's stored. There's a reason why we've been synthesizing these things since the 1920s and putting use-by dates even on shelf-stable forms.
Salt, for electrolytes, cleaning wounds or making eye wash(or if you're unlucky enough to have leeches). Honey for healing. I cut the end off my finger last week and it's already healed up; I put manuka honey on it. Chamomile oil is great for burns. Arnica is great for bruising and sprains. Comfrey is great for bones. There's a lot that isn't just folklore. I always carry activated charcoal for upset stomach or stings when hiking. Campfire charcoal isn't as effective but still useful, but of course you need to be really careful that it's not from a toxic tree.
I feel obliged to point out that a piece of cloth and a short sturdy stick make a much better tourniquet than a belt. Wrapping a cloth around the affected area and using a spoon/stick/etc to twist it is usually your best option in a pinch. Only an extremely strong person could make use of a belt as a tourniquet and even then there’s not a good way to secure it. th-cam.com/video/de5g1OqLlJo/w-d-xo.html
Came for the martebo bag, stayed for the fascinating excurse into female 18th century hikers and the amazing poetry of Dorothy Wordsworth (okay, and the martebo bag, again). This video was a pleasure from start to finish. Thank you so much for your hard work!
Maybe it's just me, but somehow I have the impression that V. Birchwood has been a little more vivid and joyful in the last few videos, and in turn that makes me enjoy the video more! I've always liked them, but a good mood is always infectious
She talks about this in one of her previous videos, where she mentions the benefits of therapy. I agree though, it's quite nice to see. When Vasi is really enjoying what she's doing, she has a charm I find very rarely in other people, let alone on TH-cam. Just another reason I rather enjoy her channel.
I found that too, and I'm so glad that she's feeling that way. I'm here for so long that I've really seen the change and I hope she'll only feel better and better.
Funnily enough, I had a few hard weeks, but I think due to my ongoing PTSD therapy and recovery process, my baseline of mental health is so much higher than it’s been before in my life, that the difficult times don’t linger like they used to ☺️
I'm sure you're well aware of how small discomforts can amplify over the course of a hike, so you might find it interesting to look back at the footage of when you're wearing the pack on one shoulder vs the middle or unburdened. Your kirtle lacing actually makes for a perfect visual of how much you're leaning when you carry weight. Comfortable enough in a room for a little while, but on a hike you're definitely gonna be switching shoulders a lot and feeling it in your spine!
Yep, this will get unbearable after just a short while. It already happens when one carries just some modern bits and bobs in a tote, let alone the amount of things packed in the video. Same with the mentioned carrying in case the shoulders get tired. In practice, your arms will get tired really quickly, too. Been there with totes, too.
I picked a Roman style furca for my ancient hiking pack, based loosely on the ones carried by Marius’ mules. I made mine with a larger walking stick than most historical examples and it makes resting as easy as setting the stick in the ground, and the longer counter balance makes it really comfortable to walk with.
In Greek this implement is called double sack- "δισάκι" (dhisakki stressed on the "a" would be a reasonable transliteration in the Latin alphabet) and was a staple of ancient comedy, since from the side the person carrying it looks like he/she's carrying a pair of b@llocks. Also the versions I've seen in museums have two flaps for each of the two sack compartments. One flap is longer and larger and it overlaps the other. Only the larger flap is secured with buttons etc and keeps closed both of them. Also, rainwater cannot easily penetrate an opening since the only opening faces sideways and downwards. But backpacks existed since the Copper age at the latest. Otzi the Iceman carried a backpack when he died.
@@RichWoods23 If the initial dimensions are correct the "snowshoe frame" would be huge much bigger than the ones in use. Might be useful on melting snow but too large to walk comfortably. And if it were a snowshoe there should be a pair, not just one. He may have lost one of course. Besides, many reenactors have recreated a working pack frame using the initial dimensions. Historically recorded European/Old World snowshoes have circular/oval frames (you can see them in a woodcut of Alpine chamois hunters by Duhrer), not tennis racket frames like those of the Americas.
I'm unable to drive, so when I go out somewhere, I have to be able to carry everything with me. Switching to a hiking pack 10 years ago changed the game for me! I bought a newer one recently due to the straps on mine starting to fail (the layers are so thick that even with a heavy duty sewing needle, my hands aren't strong enough to repair them. I love seeing this hiking pack! I go to Renaissance Faires multiple times a year, and this year I finally invested in a large basket that has shoulder straps, thus I can use it for a backpack or a handheld basket. The martebo bag looks really cool for somewhere less crowded, though!
Have you looked into the australian swag method ? It has a bedroll on the back and is counterbalanced by a sack in the front, achieving balance just like the martebo bag, allowing you to walk straight.
Fold your blankets a bit longer and be sure to put them into the bag so the loose edges point upwards, then put all the small items into the multiple "pockets" between the folds that this makes. The part of the blanket consisting of several layers that cannot be accessed goes next to your back. Buckle the belt around this folded blanket and this will make a "package" containing all those bits and pieces that can possibly be slid in and out of the bag as a single unit.
The similar pouches were made that were narrower and shorter with both side edges sewn up and the ends hemmed and overlapped at the center for a perpendicular opening not parallel. You'd pull back the overlap to fill but in use it would stay closed by itself.
Being in the fantasy RPG community, I've always thought it was funny that the 1970s creators of these games imagined that people in a society of medieval level technology and culture would carry goods in backpacks. "Adventuring" through the countryside was not something people did for a variety of logistical reasons, not least of which was feudal landownership in an agrarian society, but very importantly, cooking vessels of the time did not lend themselves to portability, until the Bessemer Process for making steel was discoverd in the 1850s, making steel ubiquitous and it became possible for affordable, durable, relatively lightweight cooking vessels to become common outside the military. People before that time would have travelled-if they travelled at all-by horse or by cart, and most people would not have travelled, at all, because of the constant demands of agriculture and feudalism. Outside of the occasional religious pilgrimage, foot travel over any considerable distance was simply not a thing that people regularly did. And even if they did, there was a vast network of roadside inns that would alleviate the need to carry cooking equipment and bedding. While load carriers of various types did exist, but they were nothing like the modern backpacks that eventually grew out of 18th century military knapsacks and rucksacks for a soldier's personal combat load. Even in the late 19th Century, when modern backpacking began to take shape, carried loads were often much lighter than they are today because wilderness travellers were carrying rifles, not food, using those rifles to procure food along the way, and building fires for warmth and cooking, rather than carrying highly insulative bedding and portable stoves.
Hammered copper pots for over the fire (boiling more popular than frying), skewers for game, and wooden bowls/spoons didn't need the invention of steel. Pilgrimages were popular, people banding together for travel, so it was not so bleak. Although few had hard currency to afford inns and more would have camped in the rough.
I have to wonder if that was, in part, influenced by the wargaming side of the hobby. While there are numerous eras to set wargames in, the Napoleonic was, and still is, very popular, and many models of Napoleonic era soldiers have backpacks of a sort. You have an example of an individual soldier/fighter, with his own kit. That, and the fact that while D&D is set in a quasi medieval setting, it certainly has other influences as well, and was never intended to be an accurate approximation of medieval culture. After all, you have dragons and magic.
@@jvin248 Don't forget, hospitality wasn't limited to for-profit businesses in this period. Monasteries were more common, and most of the monastic orders were required to give travelers room and board for a specified number of days, hypothetically free of charge. (Of course in practice, if the guesthouse was full and a nobleman showed up offering a donation, the abbot would turn out his poorest guest -- with many apologies.) And if you found yourself in some remote village, one of the better-off inhabitants might offer to let you stay the night, simply for news of the world and a change of company.
Years and years ago there was a TH-cam video of a Swedish group of re-enactors (not my friends at Albrecht Bössor, great to see them linked here, also look for the Medieval Hunt which is two of them doing more outdoors stuff in historic garb) experimenting with these kinds on horses. One difference I seem to recall was that their bags had a double hole, that is when you carried it as a human you could put bag across your head, that is having one half hanging in front of you and the other on your back. That would I expect be more comfortable to carry and also be practical on horse back. I'm not sure that video is still up on TH-cam today or what search terms to use to try and find it.
@@VBirchwood Always nice to see Dorothy get some attention. I wrote this little poem some years ago: 'I wandered lonely as a cloud' Indeed? Well, Brother, I was there I wrote about those blooming daffs You.never noticed when we passed Until the deadline - then 'Mary! A phrase for scenes recalled?' you cried. 'The inward eye?' your wife replied. The rest was from my journals - yet again.
Oooh, that purple pack is so pretty! It looks well loved and cared for! You could do a waxed fabric rain fly type set up over your pack to make it look more in character...
Conciddering that that this back is mostly user outside I would consider using something like oil cloth or waxes fabric to make the fabric watertight I don't know how common this was in medieval tomes but I know that the uniforms of the British royal navy were made that way and that the tecneaque existed at least since the 17th century
The stories of the Fianna in Ireland have them out wandering the wilds and hiking, camping, and training for as long as the weather would let them. They were a mixed-sex group as well. :)
It turned out v cute and medieval! I would def be wearing it around the neck like that, looks comfy. Thank you for sharing your experience of living in your car. Many many of us have had that time in our lives (me too), but those who haven't usually need to hear that someone they know went through being unhoused. Helps ppl be more compassionate. Any of us could become unhoused with a bit of bad luck and we have to take care of each other!
Thank you for your comment! I’m sorry you went through it as well. I think unfortunately the reality is many people are just one accident or emergency away from being houseless, in particular those living in countries where there isn’t much support for people who might be financially struggling.
I thought people walked about with a stick over their shoulder with a wrapped bundle tied to its end, well that's what was depicted in all the storybooks I read as a kid.
just want to say a quick thank you for using such a sweet little "ding" for masking a swear word and not an agressive one. I always get triggered by the very loud ones that echo a lot, so thank you for that
While they may not have hiked in the sense we know it as - for recreational purposes alone - we do have to remember most medieval people got to point A from point B on foot so ... Hiking with a purpose!
These style bags have fascinated me since I first saw them in a picture! Thank you for gathering those resources, and showing the process of how you made one! (That Osprey bag for $3 is an absolute steal! One thing I do when packing for cycling holidays, is individual plastic bags for things that go together - like underwear, or clean shirts - so you're not dealing with lose items when needing to get to the bottom of a bag!)
I loved your Wordsworth info dump!! I'm a music historian and my specialization is women's music history which has a lot of similar stories: little-known or unknown female composers who had immense talent but nobody knows about them. It's always lovely hearing those stories from other fields of history! I hope the more we tell them, it will make a difference. 😊
I also enjoy camping and hiking and I too dress in medieval fashion everyday and I do medieval reenactment and go to many medieval camping events throughout the year. I also am a member of two medieval reenactment groups and I reenact the executioner. Plus i always am more comfortable looking as accurate as possible to a guy in the Middle Ages. So I understand
This is the kind of thing I would be curious to try on. At first glance I think one shoulder will get tired, but you can easily switch whenever you want. And as far as I can see, the weight is still well distributed, so maybe the weight is more on the back than on the shoulder? I'm interested to see how you feel after hours of hiking! The only thing I think could get annoying would maybe be if the bag is moving a lot while walking. Maybe using something simple to strap it to the body would help? It reminds me when people see me carrying my 2 yo son with a sling (baby-carrying stuff have been around for centuries and more, so that's an appropriate comparison... don't know how old slings are but probably very very old!), they think it should be hard on my shoulder because of the assymetry, but actually the weight is so well distributed that it makes it easy. And by the way a good old baby wrap (a long piece of woven fabric) is better for carrying my kid on long distances that modern baby-wearing stuff.
one of my earliest hyperfixations/special interests was survivalist guides and i distinctly remember reading about a pack basically like this but made out of tarp/plastic sheet and tied
As a Swede I was really confused by your pronunciation of "Martebo". Not a critique, by the way, because it makes perfect sense that you wouldn't necessarily know. I saw the article on it in the video and could figure it out from there. I didn't know this kind of sack was from this church in Gotland actually, and I thank you for putting my attention towards this fact. I've wanted to make one for a while and now I've found several sources on it. So thank you!
@@arieldanielle23 i know that lmao, obviously. I'm just not that great at writing a pronunciation guide, and as such I recommend that. Me saying "I would pronounce it as it is spelled", or, "as it is supposed to be" seems less useful than that recommendation.
@@arieldanielle23 As a Norwegian, I would say it with the first two vowels short, the first syllable stressed and the rest of the word “half-stressed” (tone 2).
Now I have another reason not to go camping. “My medieval ancestors didn’t do it. Sorry.” Seriously though, I’m sorry you found yourself homeless at such a young age. I’m glad you’ve been able to turn your life around.
Loved the video! Really enjoyed all the little factoids too :) I am curious, how practical would it be to somehow waterproof the bag? (I think I remember they had methods back then?) and how likely would it be for the general population to be able to waterproof such a thing? Just thinking in terms of like a modern backpack, you wouldn't want your sleeping blankets to get wet while you walked!
I LOVE that you found that Osprey pack before people figured out they last so well, and resale value shot up. I have a green Osprey daypack that has been on so many adventures with me. Hope your new 'pack' takes to some interesting places! ❤🏔️
I wonder if there was anyway they would try and waterproof that because a downpour would soak the blankets. Over both shoulders will even the weight which is important over a longer distance.
I made one of these types of market bags out of a remnant of outdoor canvas with a palm frond print. It took me much longer than a day or two of handsewing, and I keep forgetting to actually use it whenever I pack up to go someplace. 😂
External frame backpacks have been used since the ice age. Most of these have been lost to time because they were made out of organic materials. But we know for a fact that "hiking backpacks" were used in Europe 5000 years ago because of Ötzi, who died in the alps with his backpack, and was perfectly preserved. These are called "Mes" in Swedish, "Meis" in Norwegian, "Kraxe" in German. (There's also "Näverkont", which is a backpack made out of woven strips of birch bark.) They are also known to have been used in Russia, but idk the Russian name. I'm guessing that especially in snowy and/or hilly terrain you really need your hands free and your load evenly distributed, so these things got invented as soon as humans learned how to shape wood. So if you want to go on a historically accurate hike you can just make your own 100% legit pack frame. The easiest way is to just get some saplings, bend them into shape and tie them together. Search for "bushcraft pack frame" right here on TH-cam for ideas.
Very interesting post. I shared it to my Facebook page 😊 If you were to make a smaller Martebo bag there is a painting of a person wearing one that has tie on opposite corners so when the bag sits over your shoulders you can tie them together one from the front and one from the back to secure the bag on your body. Great video! Really nice job!
I would be really interested in a fusion version of this: instead of the seam going all the way along the middle, you could put two zippers there that meet in the middle. That would make (un-)packing much easier. Don't know about the comfort, though. :) Loved this medieval what's in my bag. :D
That looks like it would work really well for short distances but I wonder how it would feel after a full day or multiple days. I know when backpacking, the weight mostly rest on my hips so having the bag on a single shoulder seems like it would get painful. But the weight on the shoulder is distributed across with width of the bag and most of the weight of the bag is near your center of gravity so it might work better than I imagine!
i’ve thoroughly been enjoying all your more unique historical archaeology videos!! such fun to see little pieces of how people’s physicality played into things. and i’m very excited to see you hiking sometime in the future!!!!! eeeeee!!!!💞💞💞
Look up some details on the First Lady of the Appalachian Trail. Known fondly as Grandma Gatewood. She used a similar setup to hike thousands of miles on the AT.
Bags like that were also used up past the civil war, and hobos used similar bags up to and beyond WWII. They also used horseshoe blanket rolls. You may find some more inspiration on Waypoint Survival's channel.
The bag is great. I keep thinking about making myself a.purse-sized bag like this to carry around instead of a regular handbag. Good luck.hiking with it!
Huh! I have some unbleached cotton coming, maybe some of it will be one of these. I've been using a pillowcase as a garb bag for medieval events, this looks like a much more sensible option!
I love this ! For some time now, i was thinking of doing a medieval type of hiking. I definitively have to check that type of bag ! I really like the amount of research you put in your content, from getting sources to trying the result :)
13:10, try that with more of the fabric around your shoulders and less on the neck? so it wraps around your biceps a bit, it should sit nicely on the shoulders!
Like a market wallet on steroids. There are many images of the period showing traveling craftsmen etc. with cartoonishly high stacked "backpack" styled/carried bundles. The concept was known. With well over three decades experience in using "period" style packs in primitive wilderness settings, I favor smaller, lighter, packs, with a separate bedroll. The bedroll is only accessed once a day, and doesn't interfere with random searches for incidentals throughout the day (don't forget to pack food). Overclothes (coat, cloak, etc.) should be quickly accessible without having to unpack given the capricious nature of weather and temperatures. With this in mind, think of when said overgarment is unneeded it shouldn't require yet another un/repacking; a particular day of walking and stopping may include covering/uncovering several times. If a bedroll, or even just a sleeping bundle, is chosen, lay out your bedding as in use. Roll your dry spare clothes up tightly in this. If you get wet in the course of the day, and hypothermia isn't a risk, as the night cools off those dry clothes will be very welcome. If you shuck wet/damp clothes midday and put on dry they will, in turn, likely also get damp. Two sets of non-dry clothes make for a miserable night if you're not of the proper mindset. Wear a dry set while drying the other at the evening fire. Finally, the more wet clothes you have, the heavier your load. A slung (one shoulder) load doesn't bear evenly. As the day progresses, the time spent on one shoulder grows shorter, and switching shoulders more frequent (a tumpline is a very effective alternative). The tendency of slung or loose loads to swing or bump with every step have a surprisingly exhausting effect. A walking stick can help mitigate the negative effects of packing a load. Baby steps at first to test your gear and yourself. Don't walk away from your start, but rather in ever growing circles so you're never too far out to safely stop. When "training", put a rock or two in your load to build strength. It will make game day easier. I applaud and encourage your endeavours at period style travel, and look forward to updates. Great job.
I'm curious how you'd do with several more kilos in it, if you were doing a long trek you might have to pack food and water as well. For journies that can get food and drink at stops you'd be able to avoid the extra weight and I think I need to make one of these for LARP.
I believe if you go back to the Martebo bag pictures from the time, they are much shorter and smaller. You would be able to put in as much stuff, but the stuff wouldn't sway as much around and basically annoy you while walking.
Clothing moths! I have a super old video from the beginnings of my channel on the topic ☺️ though it’s a bit outdated. The main way I protect my stuff from them now is with parasitic wasps (they don’t sting and you can hardly see them). Most of my stuff is safe from moths, but this is one of the few items that wasn’t 😭
I wonder about the ergonomics - carrying it over 1 shoulder only makes you very quickly asymmetric. Having an extra pair of hose/stockings was just as crucial back then as now. And keeping them dry, too, until you needed them.
What about a pack basket? I carried one for American Colonial re-enactments, and evidence suggests that they have been around since before Christ popped down for a quick visit. Mine was super-comfy and held a TON of stuff!
interesting how many things we take for granted just didn't exist until pretty recently. I guess if you were a 14th century peasant no one really cared if you had a sore back.
That is exactly like tudor bags I have seen used to carry wheat and other goods slung over a horse, donkey, mule etc. So I wonder if it was multi use or if she was carrying it to/from the horse?
Your shoulders are squarer than many people have. I think for a lot of people an added strap to the other side of the chest would be needed to keep the thing from sliding off. I have fairly uneven shoulders so I can carry a 2x4 on one side much easier than the other. I imagine the bag would be the same. On a long walk you would want to switch sides from time to time.
I could be wrong, but would imagine that most of the pleasantly on pilgrimage would be equipped with one of these, which would be be a long distance foot travel adventure
4:03 Yes... because most people were too busy working and raising their children and trying to survive. But Dorothy Wordsworth was rad. 11:31 And yes, you look medieval and very cute.
Whan that Aprille with his shoures soote, The droghte of March hath perced to the roote, And bathed every veyne in swich licóur Of which vertú engendred is the flour; Whan Zephirus eek with his swete breeth Inspired hath in every holt and heeth The tendre croppes, and the yonge sonne Hath in the Ram his halfe cours y-ronne, And smale foweles maken melodye, That slepen al the nyght with open ye, So priketh hem Natúre in hir corages, Thanne longen folk to goon on pilgrimages
I'm actually surprised, they didn't have something similar to a modern hiking backpack. Especially for soldiers. It seems like something, that would have developed kinda hand in hand with the saddle and saddle packs for horses.
Ancient armies tended to have baggage trains with them. Things they needed carried were transported by some kind of pack animal, or a cart, pulled by an animal, or people. They also didn't have standing armies, as we think of them. As she pointed out, this bag could also easily be slung over the back of an animal.
A quick clarification: knitted stockings did exist during medieval times, they were just much less common than wool hose (which are made with fabric cut on the bias).
Thank you so much for watching! If you'd like to support the making of future videos like this one, then please consider joining my Patreon for just €4.00 per month ☺✨ www.patreon.com/c/vbirchwood
Maybe medieval people didn't hike, but they did go on long pilgrimages to holy sites on occasion. This would have been great for carrying your things on such a trek.
Exactly, they also had to walk long distances to market or visit friends and family or just to go to another farm for work. Walking 5 to 10 miles or so would have been a normal thing.
@@jonstfrancisDepends on when you are and what class. During most of the Middle Ages, serfdom meant that people would usually sleep and live where they worked. Unless of course you belonged to the newly established merchant or patrician classes, which would grant more freedoms and movement. All villages and cities were walkable. In fact, in comparison to today, most medieval people would have travelled alot LESS for daily work and shopping than we do today. The concept of "commuting" didn't really exist yet.
Traveling long distances happened between cities and villages, and for pilgrimages, and those treks, in comparison, were MUCH longer and more laborious than anything we do today, so they'd need a good backpack.
Well pilgrimage was not for leisure but for penance and sacrifice, but we cant exlude that they had a good time anyways.
Somebody wrote a book about that - some Chaucer guy.
@@F-Man canterbury tales
As a modern hiker, I'd suggest putting it over the other shoulder and using the belt to hold it to have both sides under the opposite shoulder. (like a bandoleer) It would make it easy to switch shoulders when it got heavy and hold it closer to the body so it wasn't swaying. Swaying of anything on your pack will cause your body to have to adjust to it and spend more energy. Closer to the body is always best.
Thanks for the interesting tip!
LOL, I love that you pointed out how the belt could be used "if things go wrong." I wonder what else would be put in a medieval first aid kit.
Excepting a few astringents or scraps of cleanish cloth, probably nothing practical. There are parts of plants (and other things, like cobwebs) which are useful for packing wounds or treating sores or stings, but they need to be fresh (not that that stops anyone from picking a dock leaf every morning just in case, if they grow in the area and it's not winter). Most of medieval medicine was mumbo-jumbo about something being good or bad for an organ because its leaves or tubers looked like that organ, or were the right colour, or other such claims of sympathetic magic. Willow bark is usually the first thing people think of as a valid herbal medicine, but the concentration of salicylic acid in that varies wildly throughout the year and even in its powdered form deteriorates noticeably in a few weeks, however carefully it's stored. There's a reason why we've been synthesizing these things since the 1920s and putting use-by dates even on shelf-stable forms.
Salt, for electrolytes, cleaning wounds or making eye wash(or if you're unlucky enough to have leeches). Honey for healing. I cut the end off my finger last week and it's already healed up; I put manuka honey on it.
Chamomile oil is great for burns. Arnica is great for bruising and sprains. Comfrey is great for bones. There's a lot that isn't just folklore. I always carry activated charcoal for upset stomach or stings when hiking. Campfire charcoal isn't as effective but still useful, but of course you need to be really careful that it's not from a toxic tree.
Hahaha it’s always nice when everyday items have a life-saving second purpose! 😄
…leeches… (See Black Adder II ).
I feel obliged to point out that a piece of cloth and a short sturdy stick make a much better tourniquet than a belt. Wrapping a cloth around the affected area and using a spoon/stick/etc to twist it is usually your best option in a pinch. Only an extremely strong person could make use of a belt as a tourniquet and even then there’s not a good way to secure it.
th-cam.com/video/de5g1OqLlJo/w-d-xo.html
Came for the martebo bag, stayed for the fascinating excurse into female 18th century hikers and the amazing poetry of Dorothy Wordsworth (okay, and the martebo bag, again). This video was a pleasure from start to finish. Thank you so much for your hard work!
Thank you!! 😁
Maybe it's just me, but somehow I have the impression that V. Birchwood has been a little more vivid and joyful in the last few videos, and in turn that makes me enjoy the video more! I've always liked them, but a good mood is always infectious
She talks about this in one of her previous videos, where she mentions the benefits of therapy. I agree though, it's quite nice to see. When Vasi is really enjoying what she's doing, she has a charm I find very rarely in other people, let alone on TH-cam. Just another reason I rather enjoy her channel.
I found that too, and I'm so glad that she's feeling that way. I'm here for so long that I've really seen the change and I hope she'll only feel better and better.
Funnily enough, I had a few hard weeks, but I think due to my ongoing PTSD therapy and recovery process, my baseline of mental health is so much higher than it’s been before in my life, that the difficult times don’t linger like they used to ☺️
@@VBirchwood❤
@@VBirchwood 💚💚💚
I'm sure you're well aware of how small discomforts can amplify over the course of a hike, so you might find it interesting to look back at the footage of when you're wearing the pack on one shoulder vs the middle or unburdened. Your kirtle lacing actually makes for a perfect visual of how much you're leaning when you carry weight. Comfortable enough in a room for a little while, but on a hike you're definitely gonna be switching shoulders a lot and feeling it in your spine!
Yep, this will get unbearable after just a short while. It already happens when one carries just some modern bits and bobs in a tote, let alone the amount of things packed in the video. Same with the mentioned carrying in case the shoulders get tired. In practice, your arms will get tired really quickly, too. Been there with totes, too.
It will have to be tested!!! ❤❤❤😊😊😊
I just made a small version of this sack a week ago ! And I just used it for camping ! This is quite the coincidence.
I picked a Roman style furca for my ancient hiking pack, based loosely on the ones carried by Marius’ mules. I made mine with a larger walking stick than most historical examples and it makes resting as easy as setting the stick in the ground, and the longer counter balance makes it really comfortable to walk with.
In Greek this implement is called double sack- "δισάκι" (dhisakki stressed on the "a" would be a reasonable transliteration in the Latin alphabet) and was a staple of ancient comedy, since from the side the person carrying it looks like he/she's carrying a pair of b@llocks. Also the versions I've seen in museums have two flaps for each of the two sack compartments. One flap is longer and larger and it overlaps the other. Only the larger flap is secured with buttons etc and keeps closed both of them. Also, rainwater cannot easily penetrate an opening since the only opening faces sideways and downwards.
But backpacks existed since the Copper age at the latest. Otzi the Iceman carried a backpack when he died.
What was initially thought to have been part of a backpack frame is now thought to have been wood from one of Otzi's snowshoes.
@@RichWoods23 If the initial dimensions are correct the "snowshoe frame" would be huge much bigger than the ones in use. Might be useful on melting snow but too large to walk comfortably. And if it were a snowshoe there should be a pair, not just one. He may have lost one of course.
Besides, many reenactors have recreated a working pack frame using the initial dimensions.
Historically recorded European/Old World snowshoes have circular/oval frames (you can see them in a woodcut of Alpine chamois hunters by Duhrer), not tennis racket frames like those of the Americas.
@@ΕρνέστοςΣμίθ I thought some people concluded the "backpack" was actually some kind of shelter/tent he carried with him?
What is the etymology of disaki because it looks like it could be something like two-sacks.
I'm unable to drive, so when I go out somewhere, I have to be able to carry everything with me. Switching to a hiking pack 10 years ago changed the game for me! I bought a newer one recently due to the straps on mine starting to fail (the layers are so thick that even with a heavy duty sewing needle, my hands aren't strong enough to repair them. I love seeing this hiking pack! I go to Renaissance Faires multiple times a year, and this year I finally invested in a large basket that has shoulder straps, thus I can use it for a backpack or a handheld basket. The martebo bag looks really cool for somewhere less crowded, though!
Have you looked into the australian swag method ? It has a bedroll on the back and is counterbalanced by a sack in the front, achieving balance just like the martebo bag, allowing you to walk straight.
In Sweden it is called Fässing and it was used by wanderibg salesmen all into the mid 20's century. And i have sewn a couple of them.
I don’t hike, but i still appreciate your historical videos!
Thank you!!
Fold your blankets a bit longer and be sure to put them into the bag so the loose edges point upwards, then put all the small items into the multiple "pockets" between the folds that this makes.
The part of the blanket consisting of several layers that cannot be accessed goes next to your back. Buckle the belt around this folded blanket and this will make a "package" containing all those bits and pieces that can possibly be slid in and out of the bag as a single unit.
The similar pouches were made that were narrower and shorter with both side edges sewn up and the ends hemmed and overlapped at the center for a perpendicular opening not parallel. You'd pull back the overlap to fill but in use it would stay closed by itself.
Being in the fantasy RPG community, I've always thought it was funny that the 1970s creators of these games imagined that people in a society of medieval level technology and culture would carry goods in backpacks. "Adventuring" through the countryside was not something people did for a variety of logistical reasons, not least of which was feudal landownership in an agrarian society, but very importantly, cooking vessels of the time did not lend themselves to portability, until the Bessemer Process for making steel was discoverd in the 1850s, making steel ubiquitous and it became possible for affordable, durable, relatively lightweight cooking vessels to become common outside the military. People before that time would have travelled-if they travelled at all-by horse or by cart, and most people would not have travelled, at all, because of the constant demands of agriculture and feudalism. Outside of the occasional religious pilgrimage, foot travel over any considerable distance was simply not a thing that people regularly did. And even if they did, there was a vast network of roadside inns that would alleviate the need to carry cooking equipment and bedding. While load carriers of various types did exist, but they were nothing like the modern backpacks that eventually grew out of 18th century military knapsacks and rucksacks for a soldier's personal combat load. Even in the late 19th Century, when modern backpacking began to take shape, carried loads were often much lighter than they are today because wilderness travellers were carrying rifles, not food, using those rifles to procure food along the way, and building fires for warmth and cooking, rather than carrying highly insulative bedding and portable stoves.
Hammered copper pots for over the fire (boiling more popular than frying), skewers for game, and wooden bowls/spoons didn't need the invention of steel. Pilgrimages were popular, people banding together for travel, so it was not so bleak. Although few had hard currency to afford inns and more would have camped in the rough.
I have to wonder if that was, in part, influenced by the wargaming side of the hobby. While there are numerous eras to set wargames in, the Napoleonic was, and still is, very popular, and many models of Napoleonic era soldiers have backpacks of a sort. You have an example of an individual soldier/fighter, with his own kit. That, and the fact that while D&D is set in a quasi medieval setting, it certainly has other influences as well, and was never intended to be an accurate approximation of medieval culture. After all, you have dragons and magic.
@@jvin248 Don't forget, hospitality wasn't limited to for-profit businesses in this period. Monasteries were more common, and most of the monastic orders were required to give travelers room and board for a specified number of days, hypothetically free of charge. (Of course in practice, if the guesthouse was full and a nobleman showed up offering a donation, the abbot would turn out his poorest guest -- with many apologies.) And if you found yourself in some remote village, one of the better-off inhabitants might offer to let you stay the night, simply for news of the world and a change of company.
If you're staying at some manner of guest house you wouldn't need to carry cookware. Or even large amounts of food if you could supply at each stop.
Years and years ago there was a TH-cam video of a Swedish group of re-enactors (not my friends at Albrecht Bössor, great to see them linked here, also look for the Medieval Hunt which is two of them doing more outdoors stuff in historic garb) experimenting with these kinds on horses. One difference I seem to recall was that their bags had a double hole, that is when you carried it as a human you could put bag across your head, that is having one half hanging in front of you and the other on your back. That would I expect be more comfortable to carry and also be practical on horse back. I'm not sure that video is still up on TH-cam today or what search terms to use to try and find it.
DOROTHY WORDSWORTH!!! NOBODY EVER MENTIONS DOROTHY WORDSWORTH; THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU
Right?! Why don’t more people mention her! Haha
@@VBirchwood
Always nice to see Dorothy get some attention.
I wrote this little poem some years ago:
'I wandered lonely as a cloud'
Indeed? Well, Brother, I was there
I wrote about those blooming daffs
You.never noticed when we passed
Until the deadline - then
'Mary! A phrase for scenes recalled?' you cried.
'The inward eye?' your wife replied.
The rest was from my journals - yet again.
Oooh, that purple pack is so pretty! It looks well loved and cared for! You could do a waxed fabric rain fly type set up over your pack to make it look more in character...
Conciddering that that this back is mostly user outside I would consider using something like oil cloth or waxes fabric to make the fabric watertight I don't know how common this was in medieval tomes but I know that the uniforms of the British royal navy were made that way and that the tecneaque existed at least since the 17th century
I was wondering about water-proofing as well. A wet bag full of wet items would get heavy really quickly.
Love the videos
The stories of the Fianna in Ireland have them out wandering the wilds and hiking, camping, and training for as long as the weather would let them. They were a mixed-sex group as well. :)
All of this is my favourite! The info, the community, the stories. Thank you :)
Thank you!!
It turned out v cute and medieval! I would def be wearing it around the neck like that, looks comfy. Thank you for sharing your experience of living in your car. Many many of us have had that time in our lives (me too), but those who haven't usually need to hear that someone they know went through being unhoused. Helps ppl be more compassionate. Any of us could become unhoused with a bit of bad luck and we have to take care of each other!
Thank you for your comment! I’m sorry you went through it as well. I think unfortunately the reality is many people are just one accident or emergency away from being houseless, in particular those living in countries where there isn’t much support for people who might be financially struggling.
I thought people walked about with a stick over their shoulder with a wrapped bundle tied to its end, well that's what was depicted in all the storybooks I read as a kid.
Yes, they did. I think that was used when you had fewer things to carry. Also perhaps depending on the country and time period.
love your historical outfit
I found this channel because of an interest in turning sheets into oil-cloth tarps for camping. Glad to see this video, thank you!
just want to say a quick thank you for using such a sweet little "ding" for masking a swear word and not an agressive one. I always get triggered by the very loud ones that echo a lot, so thank you for that
While they may not have hiked in the sense we know it as - for recreational purposes alone - we do have to remember most medieval people got to point A from point B on foot so ... Hiking with a purpose!
These style bags have fascinated me since I first saw them in a picture! Thank you for gathering those resources, and showing the process of how you made one! (That Osprey bag for $3 is an absolute steal! One thing I do when packing for cycling holidays, is individual plastic bags for things that go together - like underwear, or clean shirts - so you're not dealing with lose items when needing to get to the bottom of a bag!)
I loved your Wordsworth info dump!! I'm a music historian and my specialization is women's music history which has a lot of similar stories: little-known or unknown female composers who had immense talent but nobody knows about them. It's always lovely hearing those stories from other fields of history! I hope the more we tell them, it will make a difference. 😊
I also enjoy camping and hiking and I too dress in medieval fashion everyday and I do medieval reenactment and go to many medieval camping events throughout the year. I also am a member of two medieval reenactment groups and I reenact the executioner. Plus i always am more comfortable looking as accurate as possible to a guy in the Middle Ages. So I understand
You should check out Skill Tree's video on a backpack tent. You where it to carry your stuff and then unpack and it sets up as a tent.
This is the kind of thing I would be curious to try on. At first glance I think one shoulder will get tired, but you can easily switch whenever you want. And as far as I can see, the weight is still well distributed, so maybe the weight is more on the back than on the shoulder? I'm interested to see how you feel after hours of hiking!
The only thing I think could get annoying would maybe be if the bag is moving a lot while walking. Maybe using something simple to strap it to the body would help?
It reminds me when people see me carrying my 2 yo son with a sling (baby-carrying stuff have been around for centuries and more, so that's an appropriate comparison... don't know how old slings are but probably very very old!), they think it should be hard on my shoulder because of the assymetry, but actually the weight is so well distributed that it makes it easy.
And by the way a good old baby wrap (a long piece of woven fabric) is better for carrying my kid on long distances that modern baby-wearing stuff.
one of my earliest hyperfixations/special interests was survivalist guides and i distinctly remember reading about a pack basically like this but made out of tarp/plastic sheet and tied
Wow, its such a simple solution. I would love to try one of these, especially since it seems fairly easy to make
As a Swede I was really confused by your pronunciation of "Martebo". Not a critique, by the way, because it makes perfect sense that you wouldn't necessarily know. I saw the article on it in the video and could figure it out from there.
I didn't know this kind of sack was from this church in Gotland actually, and I thank you for putting my attention towards this fact. I've wanted to make one for a while and now I've found several sources on it. So thank you!
How would you say it?
@arieldanielle23 my best tip is to look on English Wikipedia. It has a pronunciation guide for it.
@sunnasmilieu lol I asked how YOU say it.
I know how Google works.
@@arieldanielle23 i know that lmao, obviously. I'm just not that great at writing a pronunciation guide, and as such I recommend that. Me saying "I would pronounce it as it is spelled", or, "as it is supposed to be" seems less useful than that recommendation.
@@arieldanielle23
As a Norwegian, I would say it with the first two vowels short, the first syllable stressed and the rest of the word “half-stressed” (tone 2).
Now I have another reason not to go camping. “My medieval ancestors didn’t do it. Sorry.”
Seriously though, I’m sorry you found yourself homeless at such a young age. I’m glad you’ve been able to turn your life around.
That's similar to the "bag" that Grandma Gatewood carried on the Appalachian Trail. 🙂
Loved the video! Really enjoyed all the little factoids too :) I am curious, how practical would it be to somehow waterproof the bag? (I think I remember they had methods back then?) and how likely would it be for the general population to be able to waterproof such a thing? Just thinking in terms of like a modern backpack, you wouldn't want your sleeping blankets to get wet while you walked!
skill tree made larping tents/bags/clothes waterproofed with wax!!
I LOVE that you found that Osprey pack before people figured out they last so well, and resale value shot up.
I have a green Osprey daypack that has been on so many adventures with me.
Hope your new 'pack' takes to some interesting places! ❤🏔️
Love it! Plus, instant camping pillows!
I wonder if there was anyway they would try and waterproof that because a downpour would soak the blankets. Over both shoulders will even the weight which is important over a longer distance.
I made one of these types of market bags out of a remnant of outdoor canvas with a palm frond print. It took me much longer than a day or two of handsewing, and I keep forgetting to actually use it whenever I pack up to go someplace. 😂
Excellent video.
If you are looking for inspiration for a future medieval hike, may I suggest the Pilgrim Way in West Wales?
I love watching your videos. Love real honest history.
Love it! You are very skilled.
External frame backpacks have been used since the ice age. Most of these have been lost to time because they were made out of organic materials. But we know for a fact that "hiking backpacks" were used in Europe 5000 years ago because of Ötzi, who died in the alps with his backpack, and was perfectly preserved.
These are called "Mes" in Swedish, "Meis" in Norwegian, "Kraxe" in German. (There's also "Näverkont", which is a backpack made out of woven strips of birch bark.) They are also known to have been used in Russia, but idk the Russian name. I'm guessing that especially in snowy and/or hilly terrain you really need your hands free and your load evenly distributed, so these things got invented as soon as humans learned how to shape wood.
So if you want to go on a historically accurate hike you can just make your own 100% legit pack frame. The easiest way is to just get some saplings, bend them into shape and tie them together. Search for "bushcraft pack frame" right here on TH-cam for ideas.
Excellent as always, as well as, very informative...
Very interesting post. I shared it to my Facebook page 😊
If you were to make a smaller Martebo bag there is a painting of a person wearing one that has tie on opposite corners so when the bag sits over your shoulders you can tie them together one from the front and one from the back to secure the bag on your body.
Great video! Really nice job!
This video is lovely to watch. It's nice and calm, informative and practical. It's good, and you present it very well, so thank you for that.
I would be really interested in a fusion version of this: instead of the seam going all the way along the middle, you could put two zippers there that meet in the middle. That would make (un-)packing much easier. Don't know about the comfort, though. :)
Loved this medieval what's in my bag. :D
That looks like it would work really well for short distances but I wonder how it would feel after a full day or multiple days. I know when backpacking, the weight mostly rest on my hips so having the bag on a single shoulder seems like it would get painful. But the weight on the shoulder is distributed across with width of the bag and most of the weight of the bag is near your center of gravity so it might work better than I imagine!
I love the fuchsia dress you’re wearing in the packing portion! Do you have a video about that dress?
Thank you! I do :) th-cam.com/video/avdUBg4m68w/w-d-xo.htmlsi=arXFDX8_1mSbaax2
@@VBirchwood Awesome, that's next up then!
i’ve thoroughly been enjoying all your more unique historical archaeology videos!! such fun to see little pieces of how people’s physicality played into things. and i’m very excited to see you hiking sometime in the future!!!!! eeeeee!!!!💞💞💞
Thanks Jae!! ❤️
Look up some details on the First Lady of the Appalachian Trail. Known fondly as Grandma Gatewood. She used a similar setup to hike thousands of miles on the AT.
Bags like that were also used up past the civil war, and hobos used similar bags up to and beyond WWII. They also used horseshoe blanket rolls. You may find some more inspiration on Waypoint Survival's channel.
The bag is great. I keep thinking about making myself a.purse-sized bag like this to carry around instead of a regular handbag. Good luck.hiking with it!
When I did Celtic Iron Age living history I made a Bronze age (440 AD?) Three Stick Backpack with a canvas bag.
Instant subscribe for me❤❤ and yesss very cute and very medieval. Time to bingewatch my way through your stuff!!
Huh! I have some unbleached cotton coming, maybe some of it will be one of these. I've been using a pillowcase as a garb bag for medieval events, this looks like a much more sensible option!
I love this !
For some time now, i was thinking of doing a medieval type of hiking. I definitively have to check that type of bag !
I really like the amount of research you put in your content, from getting sources to trying the result :)
Thank you!!
That's a wonderful shade of purple
Reminds me of victorian coin purse design a lot.
That bag looks ridiculously comfortable. I think I need one just to make moving easier, especially for moving bedding.
13:10, try that with more of the fabric around your shoulders and less on the neck? so it wraps around your biceps a bit, it should sit nicely on the shoulders!
i ADORE every single one of your videos
Wise lass! As they say, "never leave home without a tourniquet!"
Like a market wallet on steroids.
There are many images of the period showing traveling craftsmen etc. with cartoonishly high stacked "backpack" styled/carried bundles. The concept was known.
With well over three decades experience in using "period" style packs in primitive wilderness settings, I favor smaller, lighter, packs, with a separate bedroll. The bedroll is only accessed once a day, and doesn't interfere with random searches for incidentals throughout the day (don't forget to pack food).
Overclothes (coat, cloak, etc.) should be quickly accessible without having to unpack given the capricious nature of weather and temperatures. With this in mind, think of when said overgarment is unneeded it shouldn't require yet another un/repacking; a particular day of walking and stopping may include covering/uncovering several times.
If a bedroll, or even just a sleeping bundle, is chosen, lay out your bedding as in use. Roll your dry spare clothes up tightly in this. If you get wet in the course of the day, and hypothermia isn't a risk, as the night cools off those dry clothes will be very welcome. If you shuck wet/damp clothes midday and put on dry they will, in turn, likely also get damp. Two sets of non-dry clothes make for a miserable night if you're not of the proper mindset. Wear a dry set while drying the other at the evening fire. Finally, the more wet clothes you have, the heavier your load.
A slung (one shoulder) load doesn't bear evenly. As the day progresses, the time spent on one shoulder grows shorter, and switching shoulders more frequent (a tumpline is a very effective alternative). The tendency of slung or loose loads to swing or bump with every step have a surprisingly exhausting effect. A walking stick can help mitigate the negative effects of packing a load.
Baby steps at first to test your gear and yourself. Don't walk away from your start, but rather in ever growing circles so you're never too far out to safely stop. When "training", put a rock or two in your load to build strength. It will make game day easier.
I applaud and encourage your endeavours at period style travel, and look forward to updates.
Great job.
I'm curious how you'd do with several more kilos in it, if you were doing a long trek you might have to pack food and water as well. For journies that can get food and drink at stops you'd be able to avoid the extra weight and I think I need to make one of these for LARP.
This is such a great idea for a laundrybag! Truly inspired haha for the modern times 🎉
I believe if you go back to the Martebo bag pictures from the time, they are much shorter and smaller. You would be able to put in as much stuff, but the stuff wouldn't sway as much around and basically annoy you while walking.
8:44 a cloak that is very “moth eaten”?? o_0 it would be cool if could explain that more in a future post or video
Clothing moths! I have a super old video from the beginnings of my channel on the topic ☺️ though it’s a bit outdated. The main way I protect my stuff from them now is with parasitic wasps (they don’t sting and you can hardly see them). Most of my stuff is safe from moths, but this is one of the few items that wasn’t 😭
this will actually be a perfect christmasgift for my partner! great video to, thanks
I wonder about the ergonomics - carrying it over 1 shoulder only makes you very quickly asymmetric.
Having an extra pair of hose/stockings was just as crucial back then as now. And keeping them dry, too, until you needed them.
What about a pack basket? I carried one for American Colonial re-enactments, and evidence suggests that they have been around since before Christ popped down for a quick visit. Mine was super-comfy and held a TON of stuff!
Wow! I like it! Thank you❤😊.
interesting how many things we take for granted just didn't exist until pretty recently. I guess if you were a 14th century peasant no one really cared if you had a sore back.
That is exactly like tudor bags I have seen used to carry wheat and other goods slung over a horse, donkey, mule etc. So I wonder if it was multi use or if she was carrying it to/from the horse?
Your shoulders are squarer than many people have. I think for a lot of people an added strap to the other side of the chest would be needed to keep the thing from sliding off. I have fairly uneven shoulders so I can carry a 2x4 on one side much easier than the other. I imagine the bag would be the same. On a long walk you would want to switch sides from time to time.
That came out pretty cool, I bet you could just put your whole purple pack in one side of it and use the front side as a purse or something!
I could be wrong, but would imagine that most of the pleasantly on pilgrimage would be equipped with one of these, which would be be a long distance foot travel adventure
I am going to make this for my LARP character. Thanks for the video!
Did traders and other long haul travellers not camp along roads regularly? Some of them might have had some decent camping kit.
Osprey has a really good warranty and will likely fix your pack for free.
Over one shoulder you are leaning to the side which would be tiring on a long hike. The symmetrical carry looks more sustainable.
I think you would love medieval reenactment. You might want to see if there is any reenactment groups in your area.
I love hiking. Could do it all day. Running not so much.
Very pretty 😀
Sadly, one of my main personal hurdles to going hiking more is how much I dread my modern camping gear nowadays.
4:03 Yes... because most people were too busy working and raising their children and trying to survive. But Dorothy Wordsworth was rad. 11:31 And yes, you look medieval and very cute.
Last month, Vasi decided to "dip her toes" into shoemaking, and now she is shouldering the burden of making a medieval pack. 🙂
Whan that Aprille with his shoures soote,
The droghte of March hath perced to the roote,
And bathed every veyne in swich licóur
Of which vertú engendred is the flour;
Whan Zephirus eek with his swete breeth
Inspired hath in every holt and heeth
The tendre croppes, and the yonge sonne
Hath in the Ram his halfe cours y-ronne,
And smale foweles maken melodye,
That slepen al the nyght with open ye,
So priketh hem Natúre in hir corages,
Thanne longen folk to goon on pilgrimages
Every time I watch one of your videos I get to thinking how I could possibly incorporate daily-wearing men's historical clothing.
Yes! Make the world a little bit more interesting :)
Whoahhhhh
just a note: scafell is traditionally pronounced 'scaw-fell'. Also its not generally that snowy!
I'm actually surprised, they didn't have something similar to a modern hiking backpack. Especially for soldiers. It seems like something, that would have developed kinda hand in hand with the saddle and saddle packs for horses.
I think, folks just didn't travel much back then. There is a lot more options for soldiers and nobles, etc. but not for 'normal' ( = most) people.
Ancient armies tended to have baggage trains with them. Things they needed carried were transported by some kind of pack animal, or a cart, pulled by an animal, or people. They also didn't have standing armies, as we think of them. As she pointed out, this bag could also easily be slung over the back of an animal.
oh i am so making these for larp
Petition for a collab with sir Jason Kingsley from @ModernKnight