You Asked for It
September 2003

Question:

"I would like to know if you have any tips on getting the proper fit when purchasing a back pack. My daughter is going on a trip backpacking for 4 weeks and would like to know what to watch for when purchasing a back pack. She has fibromyalgia and quite a bit of shoulder pain. Thank you for your time."

Brenda

Response:

When you are carrying your life on your back, the most important points are:

Have a very good hip belt - this will transfer the load onto the hips and legs where it belongs. If the weight is borne on the shoulders and back, these muscles will have to work harder. The hip belt should be padded and adjustable. The strap should be difficult to lengthen so that it can't spontaneously relax it's fit.

Make sure the load is balanced - this requires care when packing. An unbalanced load will work one side of the back and legs more than the other, creating an opportunity for injury.

Padded shoulder straps - these should be well padded and adjustable. The padding will distribute any pressure so that there is no point pressure on the muscles. The straps should be easily adjusted so that they fit softly against the front of the shoulder. There should be no downward pressure from the shoulder straps. Of, course, always wear both straps.

Fit - just like a pair of shoes, a back pack will fit each person differently. Get the assistance of experienced backpackers to help with the fitting. I find that the staff at the outfitter places (MEC, Camper's Village, Totem, etc.) are very helpful and knowledgeable. Take along a garbage bag full of stuff that would go into the pack to check how it feels when it is weighted. Make sure it can be returned if it doesn't feel good (and is in saleable condition) after a test run with it on a walk through the river valley.
Hope that helps.

st

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