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Knowing your pack straps will make comfort a cinch
By KRISTIN HOSTETTER 
SPECIAL TO THE POST-INTELLIGENCER
If you're into multiday hikes it means you're stuck carrying multiday loads. It's a necessary evil. But carrying a big pack doesn't have to spell pain.
You know all those mysterious black straps, buckles and doo-dads dangling from your pack? They're designed to help adjust your load and improve comfort. Problem is, it can be overwhelming trying to figure out which strap does what.
The key to a comfortable hike is knowing how and when to adjust your pack. When I go on a hike, I'm constantly tightening a strap here and loosening one there. By doing so, I rotate the pressure points on my shoulders, hip and back so that no one area gets overly sore.
If you're stymied by your pack straps, check out this chart, which explains what straps to adjust when a certain area starts to hurt.
Note: As a rule of thumb, you shouldn't carry more than one-third of your body weight. It places too much stress on your joints (knees, ankles, spine, etc.) and taxes your whole body.
| If it hurts here | Do this ... | ||||
| Shoulder Strap | Hipbelt | Load Lifter | Lumbar Strap | Sternum Strap | |
| Hips | Tighten. (Shifts load onto shoulders.) | Loosen, or position it higher or lower on your hips. | Tighten. (Raises the load off your hips and onto your upper back and shoulders.) | Loosen. (Smooths gaps in hipbelt that pinch and chafe.) | |
| Lower back | Alternate loosening and tightening for temporary relief. | Tighten. (Relieves torque that occurs when sagging pack pulls shoulders back.) | Alternate loosening and tightening for temporary relief. | Tighten slightly. | |
| Shoulders | Alternate loosening and tightening for temporary relief. | Position high on hips and yank on it until your guts feel pinched. | Loosen. (Lets load sink onto your hip and lumbar area.) | Tighten. (Loose stabilizers let weight sag.) | Tighten. (Pulls weight away from chafed armpits.) |
| Kristin Hostetter is the equipment editor for Backpacker magazine. She resides in Portland, Ore., but spends most of her time in the wilds testing gear. For more information on equipment, check out Backpacker's Web site at www.bpbasecamp.com. |
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