When choosing a good hiking or travel backpack, you need to measure your torso length as a guideline for choosing the size of pack. After that, it’s important to try on different packs and adjust all the belts and straps correctly to find one that fits your body just right. Take your time to find the right fit, and you’ll have a trustworthy, comfortable backpack to hit the trail or the road with for years to come.
Steps
How to Try on a Backpack
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1Have a friend measure your torso with a flexible cloth tape measure. Measure from your iliac crest (the very top of your hip bone) to your C7 vertebrae (the vertebrae at the base of your neck). This will give you your torso length to use to determine your pack size. [2] X Research source
- Find your C7 vertebrae by standing up straight and bending your head forward and down at the neck. The neck vertebrae that sticks out the farthest is your C7 vertebrae.
- The iliac crest is the top of the pelvic bone that sticks out at the side of your torso. Feel where the pelvic bone sticks out at the frontside of your stomach with your fingers, then follow it back by running your fingertips along it to find the top of it )just below your ribcage).
- Place your hands on your hips, between your thumb and forefinger, to mark the line of the iliac crest for the helper. They can then place the measuring tape in the center of your back between your 2 thumbs to line it up with your iliac crest.
Tip : It’s only necessary to measure when you are going to fit a pack for hiking or traveling. It’s not necessary if you are choosing something like a school backpack.
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2Choose a size of backpack based on your torso length. Look for an extra-small pack if your torso length is up to about 15.5 in (39 cm) or a small pack if your torso length is between 16–17.5 in (41–44 cm). Find a medium pack if your torso length is between 18–19.5 in (46–50 cm) or a large pack if it is more than 20 in (51 cm). [3] X Research source
- These sizes are approximate and can vary from company to company, so make sure to check sizing charts for each brand of pack you want to try on.
- Many packs are adjustable and can fit a range of torso lengths, so there is no substitute for trying on packs and adjusting all their straps to check the fit.
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3Load about 20 lb (9.1 kg) of weight into the pack. Most outdoor stores have sandbags that will allow you to test packs out with weight in the. Pack some gear (similar to what you would carry on the trail) into the pack if there are no sandbags available. [4] X Research source
- It’s important to load some weight into the pack before trying it on to simulate what it will feel like under a full load.
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4Loosen all of the belts and straps on the backpack before putting it on. Loosen everything including the shoulder straps, hip belt, load lifters, and sternum strap. This will allow you to adjust them all in the proper order to fit the pack. [5] X Research source
- The hip belt is the belt at the bottom of the back that wraps around your hips and buckles in the middle. The shoulder strap tighteners are the straps that hang from the bottom of the shoulder straps. The load lifters are the short straps at the top of the shoulder straps. The sternum strap is the strap that goes across your chest.
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5Put the backpack on your back loosely. Carefully hoist the pack up and put your arms through the shoulder straps so the pack is sitting loosely on your back. Don’t tighten anything yet. [6] X Research source
- To properly and safely hoist a loaded pack, start by grabbing the loop at the top of the pack with one hand while it is resting on the ground. Slightly bend your knees, then slide the pack up your thigh and let it rest. Put the opposite arm through the shoulder strap and swing the pack around to your back while leaning forward slightly. Slide your remaining arm through the last shoulder strap.
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6Fasten and tighten the hip belt to check if it supports the weight of the pack. Clip the buckle of the hip belt to fasten it around your waist. Tug the straps on each side at the same time until the hip belt is tight, but not pinching you. [7] X Research source
- If the pack fits correctly, the middle of the hip belt will rest directly on top of your iliac crest. The padding will cover your hip bones and start to wrap around towards your stomach, but not wrap around the front of your stomach.
- You want to feel like the weight of the pack is resting completely on your hips with the hip belt tightened and the shoulder straps still loose. When you are hiking with a fitted backpack, 80% of the weight will be on your hips, and the other 20% on your shoulders.
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7Tighten the shoulder straps until they hug your shoulders and upper back. Pull the ends of the straps away from your body and down towards your hips. Tug the shoulder straps until they are snug, but not so they are pinching your armpits. [8] X Research source
- If the pack fits right, the straps will hug your shoulders from back to front with no spaces between the straps and your shoulders. You will still feel most of the weight of the pack on your hips.
- If you can’t get the shoulder straps to be snug and comfortable, or if there are any gaps between the straps and your shoulders, then the torso is likely too long for you and you need to try another size. If the torso length is adjustable, take the pack off again and shorten the length.
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8Tighten the load lifters to even the back panel of the pack out with your back. Pull down on the tabs of the straps to tighten them until the straps make about a 45-degree angle down from the back panel of the backpack. Tighten them enough to bring the upper part of the pack closer to your back, but not so tight that the shoulder straps start digging into you. [9] X Research source
- It’s ok if the angle of the straps is between a 30- to 60-degree angle. You are just aiming for a snug fit, without causing any pinching or creating spaces between the shoulder straps and your shoulders.
- If you feel like the pack is pulling you backwards, then tighten the load lifters a bit. If the back of your head is hitting the top of the pack, then loosen them a bit.
- Not all packs have load lifters. High-volume packs usually come with them, but small lightweight packs often don’t because there is no need for them.
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9Fasten the sternum strap to bring the shoulder straps slightly closer. Clip the buckle on the chest strap and tighten the strap just enough to bring the shoulder straps closer without constricting your chest. Loosen it if the outside edges of your shoulder straps start to lift off your chest. [10] X Research source
- The sternum strap should rest across your chest about 1 in (2.5 cm) below your collarbone. You don’t want to feel it across your neck and you don’t want it to constrict your breathing in any way. Many sternum straps can be adjusted up and down on the shoulder straps to find the ideal position.
- The sternum strap’s main purpose is to secure your shoulder straps in place. Make sure that fastening and tightening it keeps them from slipping without changing the fit of the backpack.
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10Walk around in the store to see how the pack feels while moving. Lean slightly forward as you walk, just as if you were on the trail. Try this with several different packs to find the one that feels most comfortable for you. [11] X Research source
- Retail outdoors stores sometimes have small fake “trails” so you can try walking with the pack up and down inclines and over simulated rough terrain.
- Many pack makers and retailers offer generous return and exchange policies, so you can try a pack out for a while and take it back if you decide it doesn’t work for you in practice.
Tip : When you are hiking for extended periods of time with a heavy pack, you can take turns loosening and tightening the hip belt and shoulder straps to shift the weight around and give different parts of your body a rest.
Expert Q&A
Tips
- Adjusting the straps during a hiking trip is normal. Make sure the shoulder straps, load lifters, and hip belt on the pack you want to buy are easy to adjust while it is on.Thanks
- Although the hips should absorb most of the weight, you can tighten the load lifters and shoulder straps to occasionally take some weight off of your hips on a long day of hiking.Thanks
Things You'll Need
- Flexible measuring tape
- Sandbags or gear
- Outdoor supply store
References
- ↑ https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/blog/wearing-backpack-wrong/
- ↑ https://www.outsideonline.com/outdoor-adventure/hiking-and-backpacking/adventure-how-properly-fit-your-backpack/
- ↑ https://www.outdoorgearlab.com/topics/camping-and-hiking/best-backpacks-backpacking/buying-advice
- ↑ https://pangolinswithpacks.com/the-definitive-guide-that-you-never-wanted-fitting-and-adjusting-your-backpack-157f510d46cd
- ↑ https://pangolinswithpacks.com/the-definitive-guide-that-you-never-wanted-fitting-and-adjusting-your-backpack-157f510d46cd
- ↑ https://pangolinswithpacks.com/the-definitive-guide-that-you-never-wanted-fitting-and-adjusting-your-backpack-157f510d46cd
- ↑ https://www.outsideonline.com/outdoor-adventure/hiking-and-backpacking/adventure-how-properly-fit-your-backpack/
- ↑ https://www.outsideonline.com/outdoor-adventure/hiking-and-backpacking/adventure-how-properly-fit-your-backpack/
- ↑ https://pangolinswithpacks.com/the-definitive-guide-that-you-never-wanted-fitting-and-adjusting-your-backpack-157f510d46cd
- ↑ https://pangolinswithpacks.com/the-definitive-guide-that-you-never-wanted-fitting-and-adjusting-your-backpack-157f510d46cd
- ↑ https://www.outsideonline.com/outdoor-adventure/hiking-and-backpacking/adventure-how-properly-fit-your-backpack/
- ↑ https://sectionhiker.com/how-to-fit-a-backpack/
- ↑ https://sectionhiker.com/how-to-fit-a-backpack/
- ↑ https://sectionhiker.com/how-to-fit-a-backpack/
- ↑ https://www.outdoorgearlab.com/topics/camping-and-hiking/best-backpacks-backpacking/buying-advice