Hiking comfort - backpack straps - trekking poles

[T3clay]

Hi everyone,

I’m preparing for my first backpack hunt and trying to fine tune a few things.

A little background - I have a mystery ranch Metcalf and have taken it on several western hunts for mule deer and antelope and done some medium pack puts with it. Nothing over 2 miles and nothing too heavy.

This fall I’ll be in CO on a backpack hunt 1st rifle season.

Im 34, in pretty decent shape, I go to the gym 4-5 times a week and I have been hiking 2-3 miles with the pack on a once or twice a week. I’m hiking moderate terrain (usually have 2-400 Ft elevation climb) And I have my pack loaded to about 45 pounds.

I’m finding that with this weight I’m getting some less than ideal comfort in my shoulders/hips back at times and I’m wondering if there’s something I can change with my backpack straps to get more comfort.

Is there a prefered way you find the most comfortable spot with your straps? (Loadlifters, shoulder straps, and belt tightness). Do you tighten your straps in a certain order ever time? Leave them set once you get them where you like them? Change them during hikes?

Also I have started experimenting with trekking poles and I was kind of disappointed. My experience so far is that they slow me down, and that 90% or more of the time they don’t seem to be useful. So for those of you that like them, sell them to me!

I haven’t given up on the trekking poles yet, but I feel like carting the extra weight isn’t worth the small amount of time I’ll use them. Idk maybe I’m using them wrong or have them adjusted to the wrong height, I’ll have to keep playing around

Thanks for taking the time to read my post

 

[TaperPin]

You should adjust the hips first, then shoulder strap length to put a portion of the weight on your shoulders, then the load lifters are only to bring the pack toward the body until it touches.

Trekking poles have to be used for a while to get used to them. The more pressure put on the poles, the less your legs have to work. I’ve seen folks barely do anything other than swing the poles around with little effort put into pushing on them and they might as well not have them.

 

[displacedtexan]

You should adjust the hips first, then shoulder strap length to put a portion of the weight on your shoulders, then the load lifters are only to bring the pack toward the body until it touches.

Trekking poles have to be used for a while to get used to them. The more pressure put on the poles, the less your legs have to work. I’ve seen folks barely do anything other than swing the poles around with little effort put into pushing on them and they might as well not have them.

I'd echo this.

And I'd happily carry trekking poles that aren't doing much a mile for every sketchy 20 yards where they make it WAY easier.

Training at home they're not that helpful, but in the mountains is a different story. Even on maintained trails.

 

[Clinton]

I was a skeptic about trekking poles, and still kind of am, but they have a place in my kit for certain conditions. I think they make a bigger difference when your pack is very heavy, like when packing out an elk. They also will give you confidence when traversing sketchy terrain or in icy conditions. You can get carbon fiber ones that will basically disappear in your pack when not needed. Alternatively I sometimes leave the trekking poles and bring a BOG monopod that I use as a hiking staff and it doubles as a shooting stick.

As far as the pack goes, make sure it's not sliding down your back as you hike. This puts all the weight on your shoulders and will make your hips sore, as the belt puts pressure on the hip joints. It can be hard to notice as it is happening because it happens gradually but if you hike a bit and then unlatch your hipbelt, you should feel the weight shift to your shoulders. If it feels exactly the same, you were carrying the weight on your shoulders the whole time. TaperPin is right about the order of adjustment, and the load lifters. Make sure you aren't over-tightening the load lifters.

 

[Spindrift]

Every group has a dude with trekking poles. In our group, it's me. They mock me until it snows or we have to pack an elk out 2k feet down hill. Then I mock them incessantly.

That said, don't skemp on them. I like my Argalis and my old aluminum BDs but I've also snapped a few pairs of BD carbon fiber poles which is super dangerous. Go burly.

Sent from my SM-S938U using Tapatalk

 

[mtnbound]

Hi everyone,

I’m preparing for my first backpack hunt and trying to fine tune a few things.

A little background - I have a mystery ranch Metcalf and have taken it on several western hunts for mule deer and antelope and done some medium pack puts with it. Nothing over 2 miles and nothing too heavy.

This fall I’ll be in CO on a backpack hunt 1st rifle season.

Im 34, in pretty decent shape, I go to the gym 4-5 times a week and I have been hiking 2-3 miles with the pack on a once or twice a week. I’m hiking moderate terrain (usually have 2-400 Ft elevation climb) And I have my pack loaded to about 45 pounds.

I’m finding that with this weight I’m getting some less than ideal comfort in my shoulders/hips back at times and I’m wondering if there’s something I can change with my backpack straps to get more comfort.

Is there a prefered way you find the most comfortable spot with your straps? (Loadlifters, shoulder straps, and belt tightness). Do you tighten your straps in a certain order ever time? Leave them set once you get them where you like them? Change them during hikes?

Also I have started experimenting with trekking poles and I was kind of disappointed. My experience so far is that they slow me down, and that 90% or more of the time they don’t seem to be useful. So for those of you that like them, sell them to me!

I haven’t given up on the trekking poles yet, but I feel like carting the extra weight isn’t worth the small amount of time I’ll use them. Idk maybe I’m using them wrong or have them adjusted to the wrong height, I’ll have to keep playing around

Thanks for taking the time to read my post

I only use poles when packing out meat, so they spend more time stuffed in the pack. They do take time to get the hang of them, but it's a great way to have your upper body assist your legs. I find them to be beneficial for balance when loaded heavy and going through endless deadfalls.
I have used MR packs in the past, but never found them comfortable with loads over 40lbs. I would invest in a different pack.

 

[wh0cansay]

Trekking poles are amazing, can't imagine going out without them anymore.

If you are experiencing discomfort in your shoulders, it means they have more weight on them than they should, which means your pack isn't efficiently transfering the load to your pelvis, most likely due to a poor fit.

If you have the time and resources, I suggest trying a pack with aluminum stays that you can actually fit to your body. The shape of your frame should match the profile / curvature of your spine, otherwise you're very likely to get slippage.

Once the fit is dialed in, you start by tightening the hip belt as much as comfortably possible (and maybe a bit more depending on the weight). Adjust your shoulder harness but do NOT touch it again once it's dialed in. I haven't touched my shoulder harness straps in months. Next you tighten the load lifters, tight but don't overdo it, then buckle your chest strap.

If your pack is correctly fitted and you have the correct frame length for your torso, this will give you close to a 45-degree angle on your load lifters and lift the weight off of your shoulders.

The harness is for stabilization, not load carriage. If you have more than 5-10% of the total weight on your shoulders, something is off.

Mystery Ranch packs aren't known for their customizability or comfort, unfortunately.

 

[croben]

Here’s a great video from Exo on how to properly put a pack on and fit it to you. While you have a different pack, the principles are still the same.