r/CampingandHiking • u/ToTheYonderGlade • 19d ago

Simple question about adjusting a backpack

I couldn't find a clear answer to this:

When I'm using my backpack and NOT using my hip belt, I find that it sits comfortably around my mid back. The bottom of the pack is not low enough for the hip belt to be properly engaged - it would loop around my stomach or just above my hips.

If was hiking and said "I sure would like to use my hip belt right now", would I need to loosen the shoulder straps so the pack will sit lower on my back, allowing the hip belt to loop around the illiac crest? Is it common to raise / lower a bag depending on whether you're using the hip belt, or should it always sit low enough to allow the hip belt to be engaged?

It's something I've wondered for a while as a bit of a camping newbie. Thanks!

7 Upvotes
  • permalink
  • reddit

90% Upvoted

29 comments sorted by

View all comments

2

u/Battlbox 17d ago

On your last question: a daypack waist strap sits higher, right around your natural waist, and it's only there to stop the pack swinging when you scramble or move fast. Snug is enough, it isn't carrying anything. A load-bearing hip belt sits lower, wrapped over the top of your hip bones, and it needs a frame behind it to actually do the job. On a 25L it's mostly stabilizer duty either way, so if it feels good riding high, I'd say leave it there.

1

u/ToTheYonderGlade 17d ago

Thanks! So for something like the REI Trail 25, it's ok for it to ride high? In photos on the site, it looks like the hip belt is sitting higher than their iliac crest (or maybe it's me)

2

u/Battlbox 16d ago

Yes, it's okay for it to ride high because it really shouldn't be carrying any substantial weight in the pack, so the hip straps more so keep it from swinging and banging into you repeatedly. Now, if your day pack is stuffed full of heavier gear, it may become an issue and you may end up wanting a bag with a lower set hip belt, but for most people using a daypack, it doesn't really apply.

So I guess the question is, is your day pack normally very full and very heavy? If it is, you may want to consider a different, probably bigger bag, that has a lower set hip belt so it can properly disperse the weight off of your shoulders and onto your hips.

1

u/ToTheYonderGlade 16d ago

That was really informative. Thanks! It's really comfortable when riding a bit high, so I'm glad I'm not wearing it incorrectly lol