Pack fitting and question

“I have a new Granite Gear Vapor Trail pack I used on the Winds trip a couple of weeks ago.

I'm wondering if I need a Large rather than the medium I bought.
My torso measurement is 18.5" so the Granite gear size charts say I need a medium.
In use, I tend to have the hip belt riding lower on my hips than a 18 yo would due to my middle age pot belly, ha ha. The shoulder straps feel OK, but when I tighten the Load Lifter straps they tighten almost all the way. The chest strap is almost up to my neck. Do I need to move up a size?”

“Hey StoveStomper, I'm a professional REI packfitter. I went to college for this stuff. I'm not familiar with this specific pack you're mentioning, but there are certain things you look for to have a proper fit. If your torso is 18.5", it's based on traditional torso measurements. If you're riding your pack lower than that it will obviously skew it. You shouldn't be riding it lower though if you really want your pack to ride correctly. Your iliac crest should be in the middle of the hip belt. A good rule of "thumb" is to stick your thumb down the top of your hip belt and your iliac crest should be down to about the first knuckle. That hip-bone ledge is what your pack rests on. The shoulder straps should curve naturally down the back of your shoulders with no gaps but not end too far down your back, just a few inches below your neck. You should have about a 45 degree angle with the loadlifter straps (top of the loadlifter connection down to your shoulders). If the angle is too shallow you won't get any lift and it will pull on the front of your shoulders too much. The sternum strap should fit comfortably around your sternum, not too high as to choke you or too low (unless you're a big-breasted woman, then it's sorta sexy). Usually sternum straps are adjustable and you can slip them up or down. That's my favorite part of pack fitting with women. Ooops, sorry, my hand slipped.”

“Go naked - reduces chafing and those pesky pack load problems.”

“great info.

not what the hells a lilac crest?”

“I ain't pretty when I'm naked. ;-)

Thanks Buck! I'll play with the hip belt a bit more.”

“Buck - did you used to work at an amusement park??”

“aka Tigger?

(thanks for the good info though)”

“I'm still a carny.”

“I think Buck just called me a cow ;-)”

“sounds like a real gurly-man thing to me.

whatever it is, i'm sure that real men don't have no stinkin lilac crest.”

“I'm assuming that crest thing is the top of my hip bones.”

“The iliac crest is the thickened and expanded bone rim at the upper border of the ilium, or the upper margin of the ilium. If you have any further questions, take two aspirin and call me in the morning. - Dr. Forester”

“Clear as mud, Bucky Boy! ;-)”

“Make sure you don't get your pelvic bone cornfused with your iliac crest. Pelvic bones are more towards the front and lower, the iliac crest is directly on your sides and it's the first bone you can feel after all the squishy stuff below your ribs. Yes, I'm a bone feeler. It's part of my job.”

“Yes, I'm a bone feeler. It's part of my job."
Buck


Wow Buck, what a job.”

“iliac
not
lilac

You are silly.”

“no pixie, i'm quite sure the spelling is lilac.



lilac

adj : of a pale purple color [syn: lavender] n : any of various plants of the genus Syringa having large panicles of usually fragrant flowers


Source: WordNet ® 2.0, © 2003 Princeton University”

“Dr. Forester, is that like Dr. McGillicuddy. If so, I want a second opinion.”

“Thanks, but I'll consult Doctor Moishe Howard.”

“I just found my iliac crest!!!”

“Pics, dhutch?”

“I just found my iliac crest!!!

dhutch, when did you lose it?”

“Never knew I had one, thought they were only on boys. ;l”