Getting Ready for Your First Backpack Trip

FINE TUNING YOUR BACKPACK BEFORE YOUR FIRST TRIP

CONGRATULATIONS! By purchasing a backpack, you have entered a world known to few but envied by many. It is a world filled with new adventures, challenges and rewards!

When you get your backpack home:

• Put in at least 9 kilos (about 20 pounds) of weight in the pack to mimic the weight you would normally carry on a weekend getaway.
• Loosen ALL the buckles and straps before you put on the pack.
  

Drawing courtesy of Deuter 2007

FIRST: pull your arms through the shoulder straps (like you would put on a jacket), but do not tighten the shoulder straps yet! Always begin the snugging-in process at the bottom when putting on a larger pack!

SECOND: find your hip bone and place the padded part of the belt directly across the hip bone. Snap the hip belt buckle and snug it up first.

1. The belt should hug the hip bones and should not ride up around the waist.
2. After the hip belt has been tightened, look down at the front of the hip belt.
3. The hip belt pads should have a gap of approximately 13 centimeters (5 inches) between them in the front (which prevents the belt from slidding up to your waist).
4. A majority of the pack's weight should ride on your hips comfortably without pulling the shoulder straps uncomfortably tight.
   

THIRD: pull the BOTTOM of the shoulder straps until the pack snugs in comfortably against your back.

FOURTH: pull the TOP of the shoulder straps until they are taunt, BUT NOT TIGHT!

Warning: do not pull the top of the shoulder straps too tight; if you pull them in too much, the top of the shoulder harness will lift off the top of your shoulders, thereby increasing pressure on your collarbones.

FIFTH: locate any small adjustment straps connecting the hip belt to the bottom part of the pack. Pull those straps in until the pack feels snug against your low back.

LAST: adjust the sternum strap until it is approximately 4 centimeters (1.5 inches) below the hallow found between your collarbone.

Shrug your shoulders while drawing them toward each other in the front, clip in the sternum strap, and relax your shoulders. Adjust the sternum strap until it is comfortable.

LOADING YOUR BACKPACK

In larger packs, how you load the pack is as important as the fit of the pack. To avoid a top heavy pack, load to maximize the features of your particular pack. Beginning at the bottom of the pack:

(1) Store the sleeping bag and any sleeping pad in the bottom compartment of the pack. It is also a good spot to stuff extra socks, raingear and other lightweight materials.

(2) In the main compartment, place the heaviest materials closest to your back and use lighter and bulky materials to fill in the space toward the outside of the pack.

(3) The top compartment is meant to carry small items which you will want readily at hand. Avoid placing heavy objects in the top compartment of a pack; if you tilt forward for any reason, you may end up banging yourself in the head or neck with the heavy object as it slides forward in the top compartment!

HAPPY TRAILS TO YOU!

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