Question About the Pack

[Jawa512]

I thought I had the answers to most of the issues someone would face making it work in the woods. I have made it work but reading some of the threads on here, well, I see there are different and quite possibly better ways of doing things. I want to throw a problem out and I hope for some advice. The issue is the pack.

 

For all my adult life I have thrown it on and gone. If it is uncomfortable, “suck it up.” Well not doing it right might be costing me physically and if it’s possible to change my approach to be doing it right, I need to!

 

I do regular (2x/week) conditioning/practice with my gear to see how everything work/rides (myself included). I have a meat hauler pack (Alps Outdoorz) that I currently have configured for day/hunts (it is not full up to the rim) but has my tripod, spotting scope, game bags, schemagh, knives, water bladder, range finder, gps, headlamps, and small misc. equipment. The scope and tripod are strapped in on opposing sides to counterbalance and the bladder of course rides in the middle. To compensate for the hopeful event of packing meat out, I throw kettle bells in it (in the main compartment cinched down but they still move around some). My sessions are about 1 hour in duration and I strive to have a minimum pack weight of 40 pounds. To identify and avoid the uncomfortable rub, I also do these sessions with an S4 binocular bra and my 8 x 42's in them under the pack.

 

When I get done, my shoulders seem to be the loser. This might be manifesting into a host of neck stuff. My question is that even if the weight is mostly on the hips, should I still be feeling this way? I’ve never really gotten a conclusive answer to this.

 

 

Thanks for the input!

Jack

[Vixen]

I think it all depends on the adjustment straps on the pack. Proper fit takes a lot of the weight also. Just from my experience, if my pack wasn't adjusted correctly while packing a load I noticed I was a hurtin unit by the time I got to my destination. Maybe look on Youtube about your pack or the Alps website to find out more. Sometimes just a minor adjustment can make your day go by much better.

[cjl2010]

I would call or email Aron Snyder at Kifaru Int. He is pretty much the expert when it comes to packs and proper fit.

[208muley]

Most of the weight should be on top of your hip not on them, and definatly not on you shoulders! Ouch. The belt buckle should be on your belly button not below. Then adjust your load lifters and shoulder straps till snug yet comfortable. Most people carry packs too low on their hips and place way to much weight on their shoulders. Once I was shown how to fit a pack correctly it made all the difference on backpack hunts!

[oz31p]

Most packs have little to no lift from the load lifters. Without load lifters you'll never get the weight off your shoulders.

 

I carry 50lbs bag of dog food thru thunderbird mt 2-3 times a week with no shoulder issues in my Kifaru bikini

[cjl2010]

Keep your heavy stuff as high as you can

[MULEPACKHUNTER]

Your just going to have to look at videos and maybe go to a high end pack shop and learn . could be your pack and could be the fit and adjustment. You don't need 500 dollar pack but most of the time you do get what you pay for. The hiking shack is good, summit hut is better. Rei is hit or miss, trick is to find a backpacker at rei if you go there. All will have good load carrying packs and can show you how to adjust and fit.

[Jawa512]

Thank you everyone. I thought I had I problem but now I know I have been doing it wrong.