Hiking and Backpacking: How to Correctly Adjust Your Backpack

Hiking and backpacking can be an excellent combination: an exciting and fun activity for the entire family. But it can also be quite demanding in a physical sense. That’s why it is very important to have the right kind of backpack, and to adjust all the straps of your backpack in the right way. This helps to divide the weight properly over your body, and to reduce the amount of stress placed on it.

In short, correctly adjusting your backpack can mean the difference between a pleasant, interesting hiking trip or a horror trip!

Shoulder Straps

The shoulder straps are most important, since your shoulders will carry most of the weight. Shoulder straps should be snug but not tight. Between your armpit at the bottom of the strap, there should be about 4-5 inches of space, or it is too tight and it will pinch you. In the perfect situation, the strap will anchor to the backpack just below the crest of your shoulders.

The Hip Belt

Through the hip belt, the weight of your backpack is transferred straight to your hips. This way, it will take off weight of your shoulders and thus reduce physical strain on them. To adjust it correctly, make sure the backpack is in the middle of your back and it’s resting comfortably on your shoulders.

The hip belt, more correctly the pads on your hip belt, should rest on your hip bones. The pads should not touch each other on your belly, because you’ll need space to cinch the belt tight. First buckle up and then adjust the tightness to a comfortable level.

Load Lifters

At the crest of your shoulder are the load lifters, which are responsible for moving your backpack’s weight off your shoulders and more to the front.

The load lifters should be pulled until they are taut. The backpack’s weight should now move from the top of your shoulders to your upper chest. If needed, you can loosen the shoulder straps with about half an inch. Then pull the load lifters taut again. Do this again until you feel the weight of your packpack is properly distributed.

Sternum Strap

The sternum strap keeps the shoulder straps from gliding off your shoulders by pulling them together. It also helps reduce the weight on your shoulders, and helps to prevent friction against your arms or armpit.

If you have a backpack that allows to move the sternum straps up and down, then the best place to put it is about 3-4 inches below your collarbone.

Summing it up, camping and hiking can be a fun and playful activity. But make sure you adjust your back pack the right way, and it will help avoid unnecessary stress to your body as much as possible.