Conversation

Notices

1. Embed this notice
   Tekniquelly correct (tek@freeradical.zone)'s status on Wednesday, 27-Aug-2025 07:20:18 JST Tekniquelly correct

   I see too many people wearing heavy backpacks with the straps loose so that they’re hanging low on their backs.

   Don’t do this. This is how you mess up your back.

   You want to carry weight high up on your back. It puts much less strain on all of you. Tighten the straps as much as possible so that the bulk of the weight is under your shoulder blades. You’ll be amazed how much easier it is to carry the same weight.

   • Linux Walt Alt (@lnxw37a2) {3EB165E0-5BB1-45D2-9E7D-93B31821F864} likes this.
   • Embed this notice
     Tekniquelly correct (tek@freeradical.zone)'s status on Wednesday, 27-Aug-2025 07:21:37 JST Tekniquelly correct

     in reply to

     • d.rift
     • Lord Bowlich

     @feonixrift @lordbowlich It’s going to be custom for everyone, but in general, if you have “real” waist straps, you wanna use them to offload all the wait onto your hips and use the shoulder straps for stability, not load bearing. Making that happen is a big part of a proper fitting.

     My tip for getting that adjustment is to go to REI, find the old scrawny person in the camping section, tell them you’re going on an overnight hike, and stand back. You’ll get a comfy setup out of that process.

     Linux Walt Alt (@lnxw37a2) {3EB165E0-5BB1-45D2-9E7D-93B31821F864} likes this.
   • Embed this notice
     d.rift (feonixrift@x0r.be)'s status on Wednesday, 27-Aug-2025 07:21:38 JST d.rift

     in reply to

     • Lord Bowlich

     @tek @lordbowlich different packs are designed for the waist / hip strap to land at different heights, so... sometimes. Also stinkingly often people get the hip strap but don't USE the hip strap!

   • Embed this notice
     Tekniquelly correct (tek@freeradical.zone)'s status on Wednesday, 27-Aug-2025 07:21:39 JST Tekniquelly correct

     in reply to

     • Lord Bowlich

     @lordbowlich True. With waist straps, the shoulder straps are basically there to balance it and keep it from falling off of you.

     Although I suspect most people who have a bag with real waist straps aren’t the ones sagging them in the first place. I hope.

   • Embed this notice
     Lord Bowlich (lordbowlich@masto.hackers.town)'s status on Wednesday, 27-Aug-2025 07:21:40 JST Lord Bowlich

     in reply to

     @tek

     I would add: unless your bag has a waist belt, in which case you want the weight to be perpendicular to the ground so the weight is distributed off your shoulders and on to your hips. If the straps are too tight, the bag will lean into you when you are climbing a hill, which will make it all the more miserable.