The day I figured out I was hiking with my pack straps too loose

I did a 12 mile loop in Shenandoah last spring and my shoulders were killing me by mile 4. I figured I just needed to get stronger or whatever. Then I stopped at a shelter to eat lunch and some older guy walked up and asked why my pack was hanging so low. He showed me how the hip belt should sit right on my hip bones and the shoulder straps should just barely touch. I tightened everything up and the last 8 miles felt totally different. Anyone else go years with a bad pack fit before someone pointed it out?

2 comments

2 Comments

lewis.diana1mo ago

I always cranked my shoulder straps tight thinking that was the right way, but after trying the hip belt properly I felt dumb for all those sore hikes. Did it take a random stranger to fix your setup too?

olivere301mo agoTop Commenter

It took me three separate backpacking trips where my shoulders went numb before a guy at an outfitter walked me through it. He had me loosen those shoulder straps almost all the way and really cinch the hip belt down around my hips instead. Felt totally wrong at first, like the pack was going to slide off. But once I got used to the weight sitting on my pelvis instead of my shoulders, it was a night and day difference. Now I always tell beginners the same thing: if your shoulders hurt, your hip belt is probably too loose.