If you didn't know, a real travel backpack 5 stabilizing straps. By “real” I don’t mean 30-40 liter models, but real backpacks for hiking from 10 days.
Let's go through the list in descending order of popularity of the back straps. From my experience, the latter raises questions among most tourists, so we will dwell on it in more detail at the end. Let's quickly fly through the first four to refresh your memory.
Belt
Its task is to transfer the weight of the backpack to the hips, which allows you to relieve the shoulders and lower back.
2/3 of the weight carried behind your back should be transferred to your hips through the waist belt, bypassing the spine. The waist belt should wrap around the iliac bones and not slide down, then the likelihood of your back hurting during the hike decreases significantly.
In most models, the length of the waist belt can be shortened, because manufacturers make it with a margin for overweight people.
Some tourists do not use a waist belt. It can be removed so that it does not dangle. To do this, wrap the halves of the belt outward and secure with the latches at the front.
Good to know : What to do if your back hurts while hiking?
What elements of the backpack require adjustment?
When picking up a backpack for the first time, not everyone will understand how, and most importantly, what needs to be adjusted so that rest does not turn into torture. Let's look at which points on backpacks are adjustable.
Back
The more capacity a backpack has, the more likely it is to have an adjustable back. It can be adjusted to a person's height for greater ease of carrying. In models with a small displacement, the back is generally not adjustable. Some manufacturing companies produce backpacks for a specific back size, thereby reducing its weight due to the absence of a system of belts and carabiners in this part.
Adjustable back on the backpack
Shoulder straps
These are the main elements with which you can reliably adjust the backpack to suit you. The shoulder straps are adjustable at two points: top and bottom.
Shoulder straps
Chest tightening
This is a small strap with a carabiner that connects the shoulder straps at chest level and prevents them from unraveling. Thanks to the chest strap, the backpack does not move off the shoulders and fits securely to the body. There is a correct distribution of the weight of the load across the back, which is very important when crossing narrow mountain paths or log bridges.
Chest tightening
Belt
It is attached to the belt area and contributes to the correct distribution of the transferred load.
Waist Belt Stabilizers
They serve to fix the lower part of the backpack so that it does not dangle while moving in the opposite direction to the tourist.
These straps are useful for backpacks from 60 liters when the load exceeds 18 kg.
Did you know : 10 must-have functions that a hiking backpack should have
Anti-reclines
– those same mysterious straps, the purpose of which many tourists have no idea about, and certainly don’t know how to regulate.
Anti-folders are responsible for fixing the upper part of the backpack and evenly distributing the load across the shoulders. Like waist belt stabilizers, anti-folders only make sense on large volume backpacks, although some on small models of 20-40 liters, where they are useless.
Remember the three simple rules for adjusting the recoil guards and teach them to others in your group.
Tips for tying straps
We talked about the simplest methods. They are well suited for simple sports backpacks or school bags. If we talk about professional equipment, then the problem of dangling straps can be encountered on the waist belt, chest straps and other parts of the backpack. Before you remove excess length, read some tying tips. After all, comfort during a hike and the health of the spine depend on the length of the shoulder straps.
- Length of shoulder straps. Throw the backpack over your shoulders, having previously filled it with everything you need for the hike, release the straps to their maximum length and begin to pull evenly on the edges until your shoulders take on approximately 1/3 of the total weight.
- Fastening of anti-tilts. This strap is responsible for securing the upper part of the backpack. Its correct location is a few centimeters above the collarbone. It must be kept taut, otherwise the load will be distributed unevenly.
- Chest strap. Here you need to choose the right height and degree of screed. The level of the belts should be at armpit height. Owners of women's backpacks should raise the strap slightly upward so that the straps do not put pressure on the chest.
- Waist belt stabilizers. This element is attached last. It is this that should bear the remaining 2/3 of the load of the total weight. The longus dorsi muscle, which runs along the spinal column, is the strongest. The lumbar region acts as a fixator. The lumbar belt stabilizers do not need to be tightened excessively; moderate tension is sufficient.
If you follow all the steps correctly, then only the shoulder straps and recliners will need periodic adjustments. Therefore, it is these straps of the shoulder system that should be left in a free state. Manufacturers of branded backpacks and professional equipment recommend adjusting the shoulder-belt system before each hike.
How to tighten, adjust length and angle?
Sometimes backpacks have rings on their adjustment straps. It’s convenient to pull on them and see if the lengths are equal.
1. The attachment point for the anti-recline bars should be located 1-2 cm above the collarbone, then the load on the shoulder strap will be distributed evenly.
The fastenings are on the shoulder straps. To move them, you need to loosen the belt.
If your backpack has anti-folders, but no shoulder mounts, then this is a purely decorative element, like a spoiler on “vases”.
2. The ideal angle between the extended anti-tilt and the horizon is 45 degrees. See pictures below.
3. There should be no gaps between the shoulder strap and your shoulder.
If there are gaps, you need to play with the length of the recliner and the height adjustment of the waist system (this is not the case in shit backpacks).
It is curious that some tourists did not care about the recliners along with the chest straps. Here is a quote from an experienced instructor found on bask.ru:
Manufacturers' advertisements claim that the anti-reclining mechanism works very well, and that its main task is to pull the upper part of the backpack as close to the back as possible. I really want to believe, but the laws of physics say the opposite. The back shaping system, the power frame and the tight packing give the backpack a very rigid shape. It is impossible to change it with anti-recline. And in a well-designed backpack, it’s also unclear why.
You yourself must decide before the hike what is comfortable for you and what is not. The main thing is the pleasure gained from the kilometers traveled.
Now you know everything about anti-kickback.
Honest analysis : Opinion about Quechua travel backpacks: how justified is the price and is it worth buying?
Step-by-step instructions for setting up a backpack
To properly configure the backpack and ensure a precise fit to your figure, you need to load it. Secure things with side ties; they should not dangle inside.
We start with adjusting the back
It is necessary to adjust the level of the shoulder and waist belts in accordance with the height of the person who will carry this backpack. The lap belts should be located at the level of the pelvic bones. The back adjustment system can be seen in Figure 1.
Fig.1
Loosen all your straps
The next step is to loosen all the straps on the backpack, as shown in Fig. 2.
Rice. 2 Location of all belts
Put the backpack on your shoulders
You also need to learn how to do this correctly:
- place the backpack on a support at waist level or place it on one knee, lifting it by one strap;
- place one arm through the shoulder strap;
- throw the backpack on your back;
- put the belt on the other shoulder.
Adjusting the waist belt
Fasten and adjust the waist belt. It should be located at the level of the pelvic bones. Look at Fig. 3. There is no need to tighten it at the waist: this will put pressure on the stomach and cause discomfort while walking. There is no need to go too low on your hips either. Inexperienced tourists often make a similar mistake: in this case, the waist belt does not work and the entire weight falls on the shoulders.
Rice. 3 Adjusting the waist belt
Adjusting the shoulder straps
It is very important to configure them correctly:
- The soft inserts of the shoulder straps should lie exactly on the shoulders;
- by releasing and tightening the straps, you need to make sure that the backpack fits tightly enough on your back.
When adjusting the shoulder straps, the pull-up should be stopped at the moment when the weight of the load begins to be transferred from the lower back to the shoulders. The distribution of the load should be as follows: most of it on the belt, less on the shoulders. Fig.4.
If you make a mistake in the settings, the backpack can dangle on your back, and this is not very convenient, and it will also rub. Incorrect distribution of the weight of the backpack leads to rapid fatigue on the march. Belts that are too tight can put pressure on your hands, leading to poor circulation and causing them to feel cold.
Rice. 4 Adjusting the shoulder straps
Fasten and tighten the chest strap
It needs to be tightened so that it is comfortable. He should not restrict breathing. Its main function is to ensure a comfortable position of the backpack and partially relieve the load from the shoulders.
Additional adjustment straps
And finally, you need to adjust the additional adjustment straps in the backpack. They are located on the shoulder straps in the collarbone area. With their help, the correct placement of the backpack is established.
To set the correct location of the adjustment belts, you do not need to purchase special measuring instruments. Just experiment by tightening and releasing the straps.
So, the backpack adjustment is complete. You can safely go on a hike: to the mountains, steppes, forests. Wherever your heart desires! Have a nice holiday!
Life hack: how to seal the ends of the backpack straps so that the buckles don’t fly out
More than once I have come across models whose straps actually flew out of the buckles when carrying a heavy load. Here are two life hacks to prevent this from happening.
If you haven’t gone camping yet, make a 3 cm bend at the tip and stitch along the edge with a needle. This tip will prevent the belt from coming out.
If you are already hiking, then tie a single knot at the tip, as in the picture below.
Arthur Malosiev
For more than 20 years I have been interested in hiking and rafting: Russia, Cyprus, India, Tien Shan. My Instagram | Facebook
