EQUIPMENT FAILURE (PART TWO)

[steveh72]

Hi all,

I am a relative newbie to hiking and reading .the thread re Gear faillure & pants falling down, I have a question that I'm sure somebody out there has had issues with.

The bottom of my hiking pack pushes on the top of my pants and gravity then takes over = very annoying.

My daughter when hiking has the same problem.

I keep lifting & tightening up the pack higher around my stomach to stop it pushing down, but my "fully paid for rounded stomach" causes the pack to drop down and away we go again.

Suggestions ????

Steve

[corvus]

Braces should help
corvus

[rogo]

maybe your pack needs tweaking. Is the back length too long for you?

Take it down to a hiking shop fully loaded and ask them to have a look for a good fit for you. If not, do you have a friend with some knowledge in this area that can look at the pack on you?

Also, ask or have a read on how to pack you pack. Maybe it is just too heavy at the bottom.

I like to have the heavy stuff against my back at waist height. I have no idea if this is ideal, but for me it works. I am lucky that I have never had any problems with packs being uncomfortable or dragging my pants down.

Or failing that. pin your pack to you pants.

[ILUVSWTAS]

Braces should help
corvus

Yes I was gonna suggest a belt?

[Liamy77]

i was going to be a smart-alec and suggest sit-ups or walking naked from the waist down but it could alarm the native wildlife... and scrub could cause further equipment failure ... but other than the above suggestions by others, if you drink enough booze you may not notice the problem as much?
.... or maybe a pair of Mr T overalls?

[taswegian]

what sort of a pack and particularly the waist belt do you have? Are they a cheaper variety?
I can't imagine this casuing issue if the shoulder straps are adjusted accordingly and the waist belt is snug and doesn't slip (tension wise).

Does it have a 'breast strap' or whatever its called? All these seem to help hold my pack intact, but I'm tall and it would be a very slack adjustment to see my pack slip down to my backside. And then it would highly uncomfortable.

I'm with rogo on this one - walking with packs these days isn't supposed to be a misery or an embarrassment

[steveh72]

thanks all,

I will go with going down the shop & getting it fitted properly option and perhaps I am packing too much weight at the bottom.


Cheers

Steve

[tasadam]

What sort of pack is it?

[ILUVSWTAS]

thanks all,

I will go with going down the shop & getting it fitted properly option and perhaps I am packing too much weight at the bottom.


Cheers

Steve

Im not really sure if that would make much difference honestly. I was taught in school to pack the heavier items at the bottom of your pack as it's better for your back and balance.

[rogo]

From Rei site:


Weight Distribution
Always put your heaviest items close to your back, centered between your shoulder blades.
For on-trail travel, place heavy items a bit higher inside your pack. This helps focus more of the weight over your hips, the area of your body best equipped to carry a heavy load.
For off-trail travel, place heavy items a bit lower in the main compartment. This lowers your center of gravity and increases your stability on uneven terrain.
You are the ultimate judge of comfort. Experiment with different load arrangements to determine what feels best to you.

So I guess it depends on your walking terrain

[steveh72]

Thanks Rogo.

I had my heavy items at the bottom.

Probably explains alot.

Cheers

Steve