How to Wear a Backpack (Properly), by Hike and Wild on YouTube. 1 min 17 s.
- Video length
- 1 min 17 s
- Time to do it
- 10 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Pack the bag first. Put heavy items like water, food and your stove in the middle, close to your spine, and keep light gear at the bottom and outside pockets.
Loosen the shoulder straps, hip belt and load lifters before you lift. Bend your knees, hold the pack by the top handle or shoulder strap, and lift it onto one knee.
Swing the pack onto your back and push your arms through the shoulder straps one at a time. Settle it high, so the top sits near the base of your neck.
Fasten the hip belt and tighten it so the padding wraps your hip bones. Aim for about 80 percent of the pack weight on your hips and 20 percent on your shoulders.
Pull the shoulder straps down and back until they hug your body without digging in. You should still be able to slide a flat hand under them.
Clip the sternum strap across your chest at collarbone height and tighten it gently. It should stop the straps sliding outward but must not restrict your breathing.
Tighten the load lifter straps on top of the shoulders until they sit at roughly 45 degrees. This pulls the pack close to your back and stops it leaning away.
Walk around for a minute, then recheck. The pack should not bounce, sway or pull you backward, and no strap should rub your neck or armpit.
Tips and common mistakes
Lift with your legs, not your back, and keep the pack close to your body to protect your spine.
Repack and readjust whenever the load changes a lot, such as after refilling water or adding a rope.
Keep the hip belt snug on descents so the pack does not swing forward, and loosen it slightly on steep climbs.
If the pack pulls backward, tighten the load lifters or move heavy items closer to your spine.
Questions
Should the weight be on my shoulders or my hips?
Most of it belongs on your hips, roughly 80 percent on a well-fitted pack. The shoulder straps mainly keep the bag steady against your back.
How tight should the sternum strap be?
Tight enough to keep the shoulder straps parallel and in place, but loose enough that you can take a deep breath without strain. Many packs let you slide it up or down.
How high should the backpack sit?
The top of the pack should reach about the base of your neck, and the hip belt should sit on your hip bones. A pack that hangs low pulls your shoulders back.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
