Fitting A Backpack

Fitting a backpack correctly is very important when you are going to be lugging weight on your back. The suspension system must fit your back correctly and comfortably. Most good quality hiking backpacks are available in multiple sizes. There are also many packs designed specifically for women (see below).

Measure Your Torso.
Have a friend locate your C7 vertebra - the bump at the base of the back of your neck (protrudes out a bit if you tilt your chin down to your chest). Measure the distance from your C7 to the spot on your lower spine that is parallel with the top of your hipbones. Be sure to run the tape measure directly along the spine. The distance between these two points is your back length.

Try It On.
If possible, go to a reputable store and try them out. Load up the backpack with as much weight as you might carry on a trip (at least 20-30 lbs.).

• Loosen all straps and clips. Put the pack on. Centre the hipbelt directly over your hip bones, fasten the buckle and tighten the belt.

• Tighten the shoulder straps, but not too tightly - the idea is to keep the weight on your hips, not your shoulders. Shoulder straps should be far enough apart that they do not squeeze your neck. The strap ends should be no more than 10cm (4in.) from your armpits.
• Cinch the top stabilizer straps - they should be at about a 45-degree angle. Fasten the sternum strap and adjust the lower stabilizing straps until comfortable.

Walk around the store for 10-15 minutes with the loaded backpack on, making small adjustments where necessary. This will give you a good sense of how it fits and if it is comfortable. A correctly fitting pack should feel like an extension of your own body, with most of the weight transferring comfortably to your hips. If not, try another. Equal sized packs do not necessarily fit the same way.

Fitting Backpacks for Women

Some manufacturers offer backpacks designed specifically for women’s unique proportions - shorter torsos, narrower shoulders, and the more obvious, breasts and hips.

Torso Length
The length of your pack is extremely important (see tips above). A pack that is too long or too short causes the hipbelt to sit in the wrong place, making the shoulder straps carry most of the weight. Improper pack length can also make back and lumbar padding gape and bulge in the wrong places, adding to your discomfort.

Shoulder Straps
Most women need shoulder straps that are closer together than on a man's pack. Straps that are too far apart tend to slip off the shoulders. Tightening the sternum strap may help, but it's uncomfortable when pulled too tightly.

The standard shoulder harnesses' padding is often too wide, straight, and long for a woman This causes chafing under the arms and chest restriction. A few packs have replaceable shoulder straps. Try to look for narrower, shorter straps with an angled yoke which conform to a woman's upper body.

Hipbelts
The hipbelts on a standard backpack don't always match the flare of a woman's hips. This may cause the top of the belt to sit awkwardly while the bottom edge digs into the hips. Loosening the hipbelt to make it more comfortable transfers the pack's weight to the shoulders (which you don't want). The hipbelt should fit snugly over your hipbones and with a curvature that eliminates spots that dig in. Look for backpacks with interchangeable hipbelts.

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