Help, my pack leans back?

“Hello
Not a real experianced backpacker and I have a question. I just got an internal frame pack, after using an old external frame for years. I adjusted the hip belt, shoulder straps and load lifters as per instructions. The pack is about 2/3 loaded with equipment. It feels good,except for one thing. It seems to lean back away from the body too far.
How can I adjust for this?
Reload the pack?
Or work on strap adjustment some more?
Maybe bend the stays?
Thanks”

“Lean forward!








Pull on the straps on the top of your shoulder pads?

Reposition your heavy stuff to be closer to your back?

Try stuff.”

“That's BS!

Pack the heavy stuff up top of your pack. Do your hip belt up last! Pull your shoulder straps tight to lift the load, and then pull the load lifters tight. Lastly the hip belt.

My experience with stays is that they just get messed up if you try and bend them. If you do anything, go to a outfitter and ask them to bend them for you. I know www.mountainsmith.com had a good description of how to bend stays!

Good luck, you may just have the wrong pack!”

“medication is kicking in.”

“Postion the heavy stuff near your back. If it has to go up or down, up is preferable. I put my belt on and let the load settle on my hips before I make final adustments the the shoulder straps.”

“Lowe Alpine gives packing instructions in all their packs. They advise heavy stuff nearest to your back in the bottom or bottom middle.”

“That is bull !$%&!”

“Thanks guys.
I really appreciate the quick responses. Going hiking in the a.m. I think I will fully load the new pack and try all your suggestions. If it still doesn't feel right I just go with the old one.
Thanks for the help.
Been lurking on the board for a few days.
Neat place.
Lots of characters.
Thanks for the help Tarp Rat. I don't find you the lest bit strange or scary, should that in it's self worry me?”

“How about the straps that attach the hip belt to the bottom corners of the pack? Are they nice and snug? Also, the side compression straps help bring the load closed to the body.”

“Thanks!”

“Are you male or female? That has a lot to do with how high or low you want the heavy stuff because of the difference in the center of gravity and body strengths.”

“Internals tend to need more adjustment. If you get a good one, and adjust it right, it's mighty comfy. I don't know if you've tried this (BS suggested it) but there are straps at the top of your pack that can be pulled to snug it forward. They are either on the shoulder straps or above them. An internal usually makes you want to lean more forward than an external. I don't care how you load it, if you adjust the top straps and it still feels like it's leaning back, you've got a pack that doesn't fit you correctly.”

“Gotta try that bassackwards cinch down method Tarp Rat.
My guess is your pack is a cheapo Flatlander, what kind is it?
Some brands just carry back a bit.”

“It might be adjusted incorrectly. My packs have a lot of of straps and adjustments. It takes me a couple miles with a new pack before I get everything comfy. It took me a couple trips to figure out where to put everything when I switched to internal.”

“I have nothing to add. Everyone has given you the best advice.”

“Oh bacpac - that was such a straight line. You know it's coming.”

“flatlander, I take it you already bent your s-bars? Try packing the heavy stuff to the bottom and adjusting the hipbelt so that all the weight is on your hips. Then Tighten your shoulder straps down. All they should do is keep the pack foreward.”

“The worst thing ever is to get your straps just right only to have some jack@ss pull them all outta wack unloading a ferry. When handling a full pack use the damn hand loop not the straps!!”

“FL, are you standing on a 'HILL' maybe?!”

“Except for the winter, I hate having the pack rest completley against my back. I prefer having the shoulder straps loose enough to give a gap between the pack and my back, with most of the packweight on my hipbelt. Adjusted just right and it rides well and keeps the back dry and cooler. I think you got a good thing!”

“I vary the strap positions on mine, so like Buddur, sometimes I want the pack a bit away from my back.

I recall trying some Camp Trails pack when considering a purchase. It really made me feel like I was gonna fall over backwards!! My Lowe pack doesn't do that at all. So, again, you might have the wrong pack.”

“Took my new internal frame pack on a day hike a couple of weeks again. Never could get it to feel right. Then went on an overnight last weekend. Tried most of the suggestions that you guys gave me on this thread. Finally after a few miles the pack felt great. On the way back with the weight reduced it really felt better than my old external frame back.
I think it was a combination of all the things together. I repacked with the heavier things closer and higher. Used the compression straps to keep the load close. Then adjusted on all the other straps, till it felt right. Decided not to bend the stays.
Thanks for the help guys!”

“Put your lightest stuff on the bottom, your heaviest in the middle, and the medium stuff on top & cinch that pack tight!”