Even on the Moon the Apollo spacesuits were so heavy and bulky that the Apollo astronauts couldn't move quite well in them, except in the Apollo 15-17 missions where they were improved. However on Earth where they weigh about 6 times more I wonder how they could use them for training? I think I've read somewhere that they didn't use them at all on Earth. But what suits did they use as alternatives then?
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$\begingroup$ My answer here answers this question, even though that question is about spacesuit cooling during training. $\endgroup$– DrSheldonCommented Mar 24, 2020 at 16:36
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$\begingroup$ @DrSheldon Thank you. Your answer is very good too. $\endgroup$– user35272Commented Mar 24, 2020 at 19:29
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From Smithsonian museum web page.
This spacesuit was worn by astronaut Alan Shepard, and was used for training purposes prior to the Apollo 14 mission in January/February 1971.
Training suits were identical to those worn during flight, and were designed to familiarize the astronaut to the weight and "feel" of the suits to be used during the mission. As with the flight suits, training suits could be pressurized and worn with relative comfort for up to 115 hours in conjunction with the liquid cooling garment.
"... that they didn't use them at all on Earth." That is wrong!
See also this question with many links to more training photos of astronauts wearing space suits on Earth. Another question about cooling the suits during simulations on Earth.
But they used simulated backpacks for training too:
Image from the book Science Training History of the Apollo Astronauts.
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$\begingroup$ Thank you! My quote you're mentioning is not wrong because I referred to the suits they wore on the Moon. They are not identical to the ones on Earth as you say. Otherwise I wouldn't have asked this question at all. $\endgroup$– user35272Commented Mar 24, 2020 at 11:07
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$\begingroup$ @user30007 Please read the quote from the Smithsonian carefully. I did not say "They are not identical to the ones on Earth". Only the backpacks were modified for training but not the suits. $\endgroup$– UweCommented Mar 24, 2020 at 11:30
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$\begingroup$ That is what I mean, they were redesigned despite being technically the same ones. $\endgroup$– user35272Commented Mar 24, 2020 at 11:37