Knapsack

The British infantry soldier carried all he needed, most of it on his back. The weight he carried was approximately 60 pounds (27kg). Another account: that of Sergeant-Major Murray of the 3rd Foot Guards, puts the load in excess of 75 pounds (34kg) for a private in his regiment in Spain in 1812. This included his weapons, ammunition, equipment, food for two to three days, spare clothes and any personal possessions that he may have. The British were unusual in the fact they issued haversacks so as to enable the troops to carry their food with them in the field which only increased their burdens. Below is a quote from rifleman Harris about what he carried and most importantly what he thought of it.  

"The weight I myself toiled under was tremendous, and I often wonder at the strength I possessed at this period, which enabled me to endure it; indeed, I am convinced that many of our infantry sank and died under the weight of their knapsacks alone. For my own part, being a handicraft, I marched under weight sufficient to impede the free motions of a donkey; for besides my well-filled kit, there was the greatcoat rolled on its top, my blanket and camp kettle, my haversack, stuffed full of leather for repairing the men's shoes together with hammer and other tools (the lapstone I took the liberty of flinging to the devil), ship-biscuit and beef for three days. I also carried my canteen filled with water, my hatchet and rifle, and eighty rounds of ball cartridge in my pouch; this last except the beef and biscuit, being the best thing I owned, and which I always gave the enemy the benefit of, when opportunity offered."

Extracts from 'The Recollection of Rifleman Harris' by Windrush Press

The largest single piece of equipment that a soldier carried  was his knapsack also known as a "Trotter Pack" named after its designer Mr Trotter. The Trotter, introduced in 1805, was made from lacquered canvas (In 1808 all British knapsacks were ordered to be painted black and bear the regimental number) and was supported by a wooden frame so even when empty the packs would look uniformed (There is now some doubt about the wooden frame). The pack was fastened to the back by two shoulder straps which where fixed to the top and bottom. These two straps where then connected by a strap across the front of the body. The pack put so much pressure on the lower spine because of the constricting straps that it caused a medical condition that was known as 'pack palsy', not only that, the straps also constricted movement, blood circulation to the arms and the  breathing of soldiers wearing it. The above quote from rifleman Harris states that he carried both his greatcoat and blanket this would be unusual for most soldiers either carried a greatcoat or blanket rolled and strapped to the top of their knapsack not both.

Below are two more quotes from Rifleman Harris, the quotes refers to the British retreat to Corunna/Vigo 1809

"Our knapsacks, too were a bitter enemy on this prolonged march. Many a man died, I am convinced, who would have borne up well to the end of the retreat but for the infernal load we carried on our backs. My own knapsack was my bitterest enemy; I felt it press me to the earth almost at times, and more than once felt I should die under its deadly embrace".