Gadling linked to a way-cool story about how the Sherpas of Nepal carry such huge loads. This passage struck me:

A porter’s gear is simple but effective: The load goes into an oversized basket, or doko, which rests against the back. A strap runs underneath the doko and over the crown of the head, which bears most of the weight.

The story says that people all around the world — except us white folks — have long used their heads to haul big loads. Back when I had my first paper route, I was five feet tall and a hundred pounds and had to carry these big bundles of newspapers in these over-the-shoulder bags. I distinctly remember slinging a bag across the top of my head from time to time to rest my shoulders. It was good for hauling, but no good for fetching the papers easily. Still, that’s probably as close as I came to acquiring knowledge others had known for centuries.

How long till the outdoors industry starts hawking over-the-head backpacks?