A fitness influencer from eastern China has gained attention on social media after introducing a “lazy man’s mountain climbing method,” using a helium balloon to lighten the load in his backpack during hikes. The blogger, surnamed Pu, who is based in Zhejiang, shared a video on Douyin showing himself hiking with a large white helium balloon attached to his backpack. The video quickly went viral, earning 200,000 likes, according to a report by news site NetEase.
In the video, Pu explained, “I’m carrying the bag, but I don’t feel its weight at all thanks to the balloon.” He added that he felt a slight upward pull, making the hike feel much easier. “This might be the ideal way for lazy people to climb mountains,” he joked.
Pu said he came up with the idea after seeing a foreign blogger use a balloon to lift a bag and make it float in mid-air. He was also inspired by the animated film Up, where a house is lifted into the sky by a cluster of balloons. He specially designed a large balloon and filled it with helium—considered safer than hydrogen—for the hike.
Although the balloon initially lightened his load, Pu noted that it didn’t last the entire journey. It burst midway through the hike after being punctured by tree branches. Despite the setback, Pu was satisfied with the experiment and called it a fun experience.
The video sparked a wide response online, with a chemistry teacher from Heilongjiang province, surnamed Su, offering insights into the potential risks. Su explained that a noticeable lifting effect would require a large amount of helium. He cautioned that such a balloon could cause someone to be lifted off the ground or risk injury from hitting tree branches. Su also warned about the dangers of strong winds or high-altitude balloon explosions, making helium balloons unsuitable for hiking.
Some netizens were amused, with one questioning, “Which lazy person would even bother to climb a mountain?” Another commenter joked about the business potential, suggesting selling similar balloons to other hikers. In a related story from August, a woman and her brother, also from Zhejiang, used two smaller helium balloons to lighten their load during a mountain climb.
