Re: Re: No backpack fits me

Eric's explanation makes sense to me, especially his comment that you
should feel the pull of the shoulder straps as a rearward pressure on the
front surface of the shoulder (almost on the chest), not downward on the
top of the shoulder.

REI's advice on pack adjustment notes this about load lifter straps reads
as follows and suggests that both over-tightening and under tightening the
load lifter straps can be problematic

Step 3: Load Lifters

   - Load-lifter straps are located just below the tops of your shoulders
   (near your collarbones) and should angle back toward the pack body at a 45°
   angle.
   - Gently snug the load-lifter straps to pull weight off your shoulders.
   (Overtightening the load lifters will cause a gap to form between your
   shoulders and the shoulder straps.)

http://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/backpacks-adjusting-fit.html

This picture shows an overtightened strap

[image: Inline image 1]
http://backcountryhunter.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/IMG_0347-300x225.jpg
 This one looks about right

[image: Inline image 2]

http://ems.imageg.net/graphics/corp/load-lifter-straps.jpg
As others have mentioned, external frame packs work well for some people
(me included).


John Curran Ladd
1616 Castro Street
San Francisco, CA  94114-3707
415-648-9279


On Mon, May 6, 2013 at 10:19 PM, Eric Green <[email protected]> wrote:

> **
>
>
> --- In [email protected], "AlinaN" <alinan41@...> wrote:
> > problem. For some reason the shoulder strap does not contour to my
> > shoulder. There is space towards the back under the shoulder strap.
>
> Uhm, that's sort of how it's supposed to work with traditional backpacks
> (whether external or internal frame). The suspensor straps work with the
> hip belt and frame to hold the shoulder strap off the contour of your
> shoulder, so that the majority of the weight is instead carried by your
> hips with the shoulder straps instead merely keeping the backpack from
> falling backwards (that is, oddly enough, most of the pressure is on the
> *front* of your shoulders). Many ultralight packs have sufficient frame
> that they can do some weight transfer of that sort too, though most lack
> the suspensor straps of the "real-frame" packs and thus carry a bit more
> weight on the shoulders.
>
>