Hotspots on front of hips...any ideas?

[Hunter Sargent]

I tried on my buddy's Kifaru Hunter frame, because I'm looking to try something new. My Mystery Ranch Marshall forces me to walk hunched over to keep balanced, and I have tried every configuration and weight distribution, and even verified correct fit with pictures to MR. I guess the MR just doesn't fit me very well. Anyway, I can walk much more upright with the Kifaru, but started getting pain on the points of my hips after only 1.5 miles with 55 lbs. I noticed the MR belt has 2 or 3 times as much padding in the belt. I emailed Kifaru and they wont do a custom belt with extra padding, unfortunately.

So, I guess my question is do you guys have any recommendations?
Kifaru frame with MR NICE belt? (is this even possible?)
Modification to the Kifaru belt? (are there any sewing gurus who specialize in this?)
Maybe I should check out Stone Glacier, though thier packs dont excite me and I hate to buy something just to "try it out" then return it.

Thanks.

 

[Akicita]

Not sure what your waist line is like but I know for me that I get more comfort from any of the packs I wear with the waist belt high on, or above the iliac crest. I have an average waistline with no belly bulge that restricts me from wearing my packs high on my hip. I also typically wear a longer waist belt for heavier loads with only a few inches of gap from full closure and I crank the cinch tight to avoid rubbing or slipping.

The Kifaru packs I have worn had really nice belts on them so I'm guessing it will be a little trial and error to get it right and not changing the belt if it is long enough to give you a nearly full wrap.

 

[bmart2622]

Im guessing you are on the small side on belt size and the belt is not wrapping around your hips as far as it should, thats what happened to me.

 

[mrbillbrown]

I think bmart nailed it. You probably need a bigger belt. As bad as I want to be a "solid" medium belt guy.....the large belt just wraps around my hips and pelvis better and provides a much more comfortable ride. When I try to squeeze my fat ass into the medium belt I get pressure points developing on the front of my hips. Put the large belt back on and all is right with the world. Except the fact I'm still fat and need the bigger belt. Lol


molon labe, mrbill

 

[Hunter Sargent]

Actually my waist is 32 or 33 inches, and his belt is a medium. It was cinched down within an inch of the buckles. That is the same thought the Kifaru rep had. I'll try it up higher tonight and see if that helps. Btw I'm 6' tall, 170 lbs, and have a 32" waist.

 

[mrbillbrown]

Sounds like you're covered on "wrap around". Experimenting with placement, height on your hips, would be my next move. Start out with the belt a little higher on your waistline and make sure it's riding on the top of your illiac crest.

Are you getting any belt slipping down on your waist action? Like it feels fine initially then after a bit it seems to work itself south and start causing the pressure. Sometimes the profile of the stays can give you some grief. I'm a flat back, no ass guy and when I try to run normal profile stays it doesn't fit (stay put) as well as the flat back or carbon arrow stays.


molon labe, mrbill

 

[Kevin Dill]

Can you tell if the pain is caused by direct pressure on the hip (iliac crest) or possibly by chafing? Being as it's winter, I might question what's between the hip belt and your skin. Clothing and such does have potential to focus pressure or contribute to chafing.

 

[chuckeglenn]

I have the same dimensions as you and run the same size waist belt. Make sure that the top of your pants are not in the center of the backpack waist belt. This could be causing the friction (especially if you are wearing blue jeans). I always pull up my pants higher than I would normally wear them without a backpack on. If this doesn't do any good make sure you are using a low profile belt or maybe try suspenders. Hope this helps.

 

[KurtR]

I am a 32 waist and run the small belt and it fits great. I found that if i get to crazy with the cheez wiz and tighten the belt over tight i have gotten a hot spot. I also pull my pants up higher than normal and dont wear a thick belt. It is amazing how little tiny adjustments on the kifaru can make huge changes

 

[Muley Buck]

I'm just throwing it out there, but could it possibly be that you are not used to walking/hiking more erect with a pack on and it is now forcing more work on the hip flexors? Thus the pain in the front of the hips. Unless it's definitely uncomfortability on the outside (chafing and rubbung) I could be way off here but it was something that crossed my mind.

 

[camping1601]

Also make sure the torso is adjusted right and it's not sagging down too much.

 

[MtnHunter]

I have similar body dimensions as you, and used to have a problem with all my pack belts rubbing my hips raw, regardless of brand. I found the problem to be the belt I used to hold up my pants was too thick. I began wearing an ultra low-profile belt to keep my pants up, and problem largely went away - that or my hips are just callused up at this point. Basically, the smoother the contact the pack's belt has to my body, the better it feels.

 

[Hunter Sargent]

Wow great info guys, thanks!...I'll try to cover all the suggestions:

The pack isn't slipping, and the pain is definitely being caused by pressure, not rubbing.
I have been wearing the Prana Zion pants that have a super low profile integrated belt, and that is below the hot spot. The only thing between my skin and the hip belt at that location is my merino shirt. Also, it definitely isn't my hip flexors being sore...I know what that feels like and this is definitely just a pressure type of pain. I'm wondering if maybe I just cinched the belt down too tight??? I'll go check real quick.

Update, I just walked around the house with the belt a little bit looser and I think that solved the problem without causing any slippage...I feel like an idiot!

Though its still weird how much difference there is in belt padding. I will take a pic of the two belts in a minute.

 

[Hunter Sargent]

Here is the difference between the belt padding. MR on left, Kifaru on right.

 

[mrbillbrown]

Holy crap. That MR belt looks crazy thick and really short. I wouldn't care for that at all. The Kifaru belt should be night and day better feeling than the MR belt.

*caveat- if it works for you then don't let some guy(s) on the internet tell you something else is needed.

 

[Tsnider]

i got hot spots the first time i took my kifaru out because the belt was too small (size small, 34 inch waist). got the brand new style medium belt and did 2 miles with about 50 pounds last weekend and didnt have any issues at all.

 

[KurtR]

Wow great info guys, thanks!...I'll try to cover all the suggestions:

The pack isn't slipping, and the pain is definitely being caused by pressure, not rubbing.
I have been wearing the Prana Zion pants that have a super low profile integrated belt, and that is below the hot spot. The only thing between my skin and the hip belt at that location is my merino shirt. Also, it definitely isn't my hip flexors being sore...I know what that feels like and this is definitely just a pressure type of pain. I'm wondering if maybe I just cinched the belt down too tight??? I'll go check real quick.

Update, I just walked around the house with the belt a little bit looser and I think that solved the problem without causing any slippage...I feel like an idiot!

Though its still weird how much difference there is in belt padding. I will take a pic of the two belts in a minute.

Dont feel bad I did the same thing that's how kinda had an idea. I went from eberlestock were I had to crank on the wasit belt to the Kifaru which get tight real easy.

 

[Outdoorsman3830]

I have similar dimensions to you and I spent the past year running the Kifaru Hunter Frame and had a similar experience. Yes, you can loosen the belt for lighter loads to alleviate the hot spots, but you have to tighten it back up with heavier loads resulting in hot spots.

I agree, Mystery Ranch offers a nice cushy hip belt that handles heavy loads extremely well, but the straight frame promotes a more hunched walk for most of us normal back folk.

Just started putting a Seek Outside Unaweep 6300 to use and I can confidently state that it is the most comfortable suspension I've used. I have not encountered any hot spots, could not get the belt to slip with a 100 lb load (which is not fun to hike around with and should not be packed around regularly), and loved not having a frame locked/driving into my lower back.

As many stress here on Rokslide, "Packs fit like shoes". Not every pack will fit everyone the same and it takes a little bit of trial-and-error, experience, and patience to find the pack that fits your body best.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Hunter Sargent]

Holy crap. That MR belt looks crazy thick and really short. I wouldn't care for that at all. The Kifaru belt should be night and day better feeling than the MR belt.

*caveat- if it works for you then don't let some guy(s) on the internet tell you something else is needed.

They are actually the same length, what looks like the lumbar pad at 90* to the hip pad is also part of the hip pad...if that makes sense. The lumbar pad is out of the frame.

 

[ams]

Seek outside! Lol