| Too
many beginning backpackers carry their loads on their shoulders.
Here's how to get the weight where it belongs - on your hips.
Load the backpack
Stretch and tighten all the compression straps
to make the load as small and as stable as possible before
putting on the pack.
Loosen the shoulder straps, put your arms
through the shoulder straps and heft the pack to your back.
Snap shut the waist belt.
Shrug up the pack's weight and tighten the
belt until your hips - not your shoulders - support most of
the weight.
Simultaneously tighten both shoulder straps
and then both of the straps on top of your shoulders that
bring the top of the load toward your head until the pack
feels balanced over your hips.
Tighten the straps on the either side of
the hip belt that pull the bottom of the load toward your
hips.
Clip the chest strap shut across your chest.
If the pack is particularly heavy, lunge
one knee forward and lift the pack up so that it rests on
your upper thigh with the straps facing you. Then, lift it
a second time up onto your back while slipping your arms into
the straps.
If your pack is too heavy for you to lift,
have a friend hold it up so that you can slip your arms into
the straps.
Wear pants that do not need a belt to avoid
possible discomfort.
Backpack
| Choose
a Backpacking rucksack | Load
a Backpack | Wear
a karrimor rucksack |
Buy
a Backpack for a Woman | Buy
a Child's Backpack | Buy
an Internal-Frame Backpack |
