Adjusting our Backpacks

[mwiles]

Hello all,

Hoping someone can give a little direction on the potential adjustments that we need to make to our gear. My daughter and I are both long time, avid day hikers but new to overnight backpacking. In fact, we're taking our first trip - 3 days in Zion over Labor Day weekend with some friends who have a lot of experience over the years.

Yesterday was our first hiking trip with the packs. We loaded them up with most of our gear and took them for a 7 mile hike, about 1000' AEG. My pack is an Osprey Aether 60 and it was loaded with 27 pounds of gear. My daughter's pack is an Osprey Ariel 65 and she had it loaded with 22 pounds of gear. She's not one to complain, but she complained significantly after our hike about how much the pack was hurting the front side of her shoulders. We loosened the load lifters a bit and she said that helped some. But it didn't help completely. We had the packs fitted at REI when we bought them, so I think we have the right size - any ideas on what to look for and what the issue might be?

I had somewhat of the same issue....my trapezius muscles in my shoulders/neck had the weight sitting on them and it started to become uncomfortable by the end of the hike. Do I just need to adjust the torso length? Or do I just need to suck it up and stop whining? ;)

We'll make another trip to REI to try and get it straightened out over the coming weekend. Really looking forward to the trip and so is she...and I'd hate to have her fun cut down by a pack that causes her pain.

Thanks,

Mike

[big_load]

But if you want to you can go ahead and make yourself miserable, just for fun...

Thanks, I hate to miss an opportunity!

Have you considered a conversation with me?

If azbackpackr can handle it, so could I. (I may not be able to hike fast enough, though).

[Tough_Boots]

But if you want to you can go ahead and make yourself miserable, just for fun...

take it from an expert

[FOTG]

@azbackpackr

I don't have time to read all the suggestions.

Translates to...listen to me repeat what everyone else says, and none of the information will be different then what everyone else told you in forum, but I will be the last to tell you ;)

you know some just like opinions or thoughts similar to theirs, rather than repeating..just saying :whistle:

Finally, for me the waist seems to be the key have that waist belt snug to the point that you can feel it take some of that unwanted weight off shoulders..although,too tight digs into the hips for some, so again trial and error..remember you want that weight being carried by your legs and it dispersed to legs not shoulders..

-First reply to their question 4 days ago and from a man :roll:

[chumley]

Poor mwiles got a little more than a few suggestions here. Try to ignore the passive aggressive love some posters share. :kf: There are some good suggestions in here (if you have time to read them ;) ).

I'd like to hear the results of your REI re-fit as well as how the trip turned out when you get back.

[nonot]

Many women do tend to carry almost all weight on their hips.

As a man, I find it helpful to carry a good portion on my shoulders, but it can be useful to know how to adjust your main shoulder straps and load lifter straps to be able to shift the weight on the fly. When going over more difficult terrain it can be useful to transfer the weight to your hips to allow you to climb and scramble more easily.