| Backpacking is a fun and exciting adventure that | | | | backpack off of the top of your shoulders and |
| the whole family can enjoy. But it can also be a | | | | more toward the front. This will improve your |
| very physically demanding activity, especially if | | | | balance and save your back some unnecessary |
| you choose a challenging trek. Northwest | | | | fatigue. |
| Backpack has several tips that can help you | | | | Pull the load lifter straps until they are taut. If |
| maximize your enjoyment. | | | | done properly, the shoulder straps will no longer |
| Before setting out, you might want to consider | | | | be in complete contact with your shoulders near |
| picking up a set of hiking poles and checking out | | | | where they anchor to the pack. You will feel the |
| our article on how to pack a backpack. Then | | | | pack’s pressure shift off of the top of your |
| follow the tips below to learn how to properly | | | | shoulders to the upper part of the chest, just |
| adjust your backpack. If you haven’t | | | | below the collarbone. |
| purchased a backpack yet, you might also want | | | | If necessary, loosen the shoulder straps from the |
| to check out our tip on how to choose a | | | | bottom by about a half an inch and then pull the |
| backpack. | | | | load lifter straps taut again. Repeat until you feel |
| A properly fitted backpack will greatly reduce the | | | | the pressure properly distributed as described |
| amount of stress placed on your body during | | | | above. |
| your hiking, backpacking, or camping adventure. | | | | Adjusting the Sternum Strap |
| Adjusting the various straps and stays will help | | | | The sternum strap connects your two shoulder |
| distribute the weight more evenly over your | | | | straps together and prevents them from slipping |
| entire frame. This will help prevent specific | | | | off your shoulders. Through it’s placement |
| muscles from tiring too quickly, and will also let | | | | and tightening, it also helps reduce the pressure |
| your skeletal structure carry more of the load. | | | | on the shoulders. |
| Trust us, your body will thank you! | | | | On many packs this strap is adjustable up or |
| This tip will cover adjusting an internal frame | | | | down. You should try to position it about three to |
| backpack, but external frame backpacks are | | | | four inches below your collarbone, resting squarely |
| relatively similar in terms of adjustment. Most | | | | across your sternum. If the strap is adjustable |
| backpacks have five features that can be | | | | across your chest, make sure it’s tight |
| adjusted: shoulder straps, hip belt, load lifters, | | | | enough so that the shoulder pads and shoulder |
| sternum strap, and the frame (in this case, the | | | | strap do not slip towards the outside of your |
| internal stays). Each feature can be tweaked to | | | | body and cause unnecessary friction against your |
| fit your body and provide you more comofortable | | | | arms or armpits. But also make sure the strap is |
| backpacking experience. | | | | not so tight that the shoulder pads start to twist |
| Adjusting Shoulder Straps | | | | or bind against your neck as this will cause |
| Shoulder straps are the primary feature keeping | | | | discomfort and muscle strain after long periods of |
| the backpacking on your back. As such, they are | | | | hiking. |
| responsible for much of the weight of the pack | | | | Adjusting Internal Stays |
| resting on your frame. It is important that you | | | | For an internal frame backpack, the internal stays |
| properly adjust these straps to maximize your | | | | serve as the backpack’s frame. Internal |
| balance and comfort. | | | | stays have a slight curvature to them in order to |
| Tighten the straps up so that they are snug but | | | | contour to your back. Most of the time the |
| not tight. Be sure there is 4 or 5 inches (about a | | | | default curve will be fine, however, if you’ve |
| hand’s width) of room between your armpit | | | | followed the steps above and your pack still |
| at the bottom of the strap, or else the strap is | | | | isn’t comfortable enough, adjusting the |
| likely to ride up and pinch you. Ideally, the strap | | | | internal stays might do the trick. |
| will anchor to the pack just below the crest of | | | | The stays are located inside of pockets on the |
| your shoulders. | | | | back of the pack, as indicated in the figure. You |
| Adjusting the Hip Belt | | | | will probably have to pull down or remove the |
| The hip belt allows weight to be tranferred | | | | lumbar pad to find the openings for the stays. |
| straight from your backpack to your skeletal | | | | Once you have found them, remove them from |
| structure, reducing strain and fatigue on your | | | | the pack. |
| back and shoulders. A properly adjusted hip belt | | | | Get a friend to help for this next step. Assume a |
| can be a saviour on long backpacking or hiking | | | | posture similar to how you would be standing if |
| outings. | | | | you were carrying your backpack on your back. |
| To adjust, make sure the pack is centered to | | | | Have your friend hold the stay against your back |
| your back and resting comfortably on your | | | | over one of your hips, taking care to ensure that |
| shoulders. Your hip belt should ride on your hips | | | | the bottom of the stay rests as close as possible |
| with the horizontal stich line on the inside of the | | | | to where it would actually be if it were inside the |
| belt lining up over your hip bones. The pads will | | | | pack against your back. Then have your friend |
| wrap around your hips towards the front of your | | | | use a piece of masking tape or a pencil to mark |
| body. Make sure the pads don’t touch in front | | | | the stay at the spot where your spine makes the |
| because you’ll need room to cinch the belt | | | | greatest deviation from the curve of the stay. |
| tight. Buckle the belt and then adjust the tightness | | | | Gently bend the stay to take the desired shape, |
| to a comfortable level. | | | | and re-check it against your back until it is |
| Adjusting Load Lifters | | | | properly fitted. Repeat with the other stay and |
| Load lifters, located at the crest of the shoulder, | | | | replace. Try you pack on again and see if it fits |
| are responsible for shifting the weight of your | | | | better! |