I am training with my backpack for an upcoming trip to Alaska. Basically, I am doing 2 things at the present. I am climbing a near by hill for an hour or so with 65 pounds. On Sundays, I am going for a long hike (8-10 miles) with the weight reduced to 50 pounds. I am noticing a problem consistently that I need help on.

When I put the pack on, I take great care to make sure all of the straps are adjusted evenly. I notice (first) on my right hip that it feels as if there is more pressure on the hip. Later on, I feel as if the right side has more of the weight. This is in spite of checking all of the straps, making sure they are identical lengths on both sides. A couple of hours ago, I finished my normal Sunday long hike and had the same issues. When I went to get in the shower, I noticed red marks on the right side of my chest, right shoulder and on the right side of my back.

What do you think causes this? I have a theory but I will withhold it until I hear the opinions of those who know far more than me.

Thanks!

I would say it's caused by a pack that doesn't fit you. Where did you get it?

the pack came from Barney's in Anchorage. It has been on 2 sheep hunts as well as some hiking trips.

Did they go through an actual fitting when you bought your pack?

quote:

When I put the pack on, I take great care to make sure all of the straps are adjusted evenly

I adjust each side accordingly it is about making the pack fit your body and carrying style.

quote:

Originally posted by p dog shooter:

quote:

When I put the pack on, I take great care to make sure all of the straps are adjusted evenly

I adjust each side accordingly it is about making the pack fit your body and carrying style.

I respectfully disagree. Not every pack fits or can be made to fit every body. That's why it is important to have someone who knows how to fit a backpack fit you before you buy one. It's a process that takes time, experience and knowledge of the various packs. If a pack is fit property you won't have chafing, bruising or discomfort. Oa

Gentlemen:

I think the pack fits. The guys at Barneys are as good as they come.

What I think is that the load is shifting. I have too many small, heavy things. For example, dumb bells, sand bags, 10 pound medicine ball, bottles of G-2. I think when I pick the pack up to put it on, it is hanging on my left shoulder.. I think the load shifts to the right. I may be wrong but I am going to attempt to stop this shift.

Sounds about right. Items need to be packed and then pulled into your back via compression straps. You can not do that with a medicine ball.

quote:

Items need to be packed and then pulled into your back via compression straps

Thus fitting the pack to your body.

On my last trip for sheep, I trained with bags of corn. I placed a bunch of gallon zip locks filled with corn in the pack. They were winched down tight. I had no such problem.

I think the things need to be winched down tighter. I think the larger problem is when I am taking weight out on Sundays. I am most likely not tightening things down well enough.

As a side note, given our heat and humidity, I weigh myself before and after as a measure of how much fluid I have lost. I weighed myself yesterday morning when I got up. I ate breakfast after I weighed. On the hike, I drank 3 bottles of G-2. When I got home, I was down 5 pounds even after all I consumed. I had to pour it down after that.

We use sand bags at REI, same concept as bags of corn. That's the way to do it and why a medicine ball is not a way to test/train with a pack.

When I hike with weight, I use gallons jugs of water. I can cinch them tightly so shifting is avoided and If I get into a nasty spot or too much downhill rubble I can simply dump the water out.
Zeke

Long ago I learned that it's best for me to adjust the pack straps for comfort and not worry if they look even side to side. I suspect everyones bodies are "unique" and not necessarily even. This comes from almost 50 years of hauling around backpacks in the mountains.

Another thing you might look into is how the pack is loaded. Try different ways of distrubuting the weight. In a external frame lack for instance heavy things should be higher, lighter things lower. But try different ways until you find the sweet spot. Don't be afraid to tweek the adjustments throughout the day.

No matter what 50 pounds is a lot of weight no matter what type of pack it is.

quote:

Originally posted by Cougarz:
Long ago I learned that it's best for me to adjust the pack straps for comfort and not worry if they look even side to side. I suspect everyones bodies are "unique" and not necessarily even. . . .

I taught human anatomy for 25 years.

You are absolutely, unequivocally . . . 100% correct.

I have several nice packs (Kifaru longhunter, Eberlestock J34 and others) and I've found that strap adjustments do not help if the torso length is not properly adjusted. I've found that shortening the torso length usually eliminates sore hips from low riding packs. When I adjusted my Eberlestock j34, it was like a new pack.

I have had several packs but this spring I purchased a Kuiu 3200

The pack system uses two carbon fiber frames....regular or tall

Both have over 4" of length adjustment and is very easy to tweak

My fully assembled Kuiu with belt and extra belt pouches only weighs a drop over 4 lbs

A truly awsome pack imo so far

quote:

Originally posted by ted thorn:
I have had several packs but this spring I purchased a Kuiu 3200

The pack system uses two carbon fiber frames....regular or tall

Both have over 4" of length adjustment and is very easy to tweak

My fully assembled Kuiu with belt and extra belt pouches only weighs a drop over 4 lbs

A truly awsome pack imo so far

Ted,

I've had Alaskan guides tell me the Kuiu pack was not durable once 100+ pounds was put in it when you are carrying out your gear and an animal.

As someone who shaves every ounce out of his gear to reduce weight it is tempting to save the 2-3 pounds of a light weight pack over say an overbuilt, durable, and heavy Barney's pack.

But.....as was stated in a recent sheep hunting seminar I attended the difference between a 110 pound and 113 pound pack is negligible but a broken 110 pound pack is a catastrophe.

Cheers
Jim

quote:

Originally posted by Frostbit:

quote:

Originally posted by ted thorn:
I have had several packs but this spring I purchased a Kuiu 3200

The pack system uses two carbon fiber frames....regular or tall

Both have over 4" of length adjustment and is very easy to tweak

My fully assembled Kuiu with belt and extra belt pouches only weighs a drop over 4 lbs

A truly awsome pack imo so far

Ted,

I've had Alaskan guides tell me the Kuiu pack was not durable once 100+ pounds was put in it when you are carrying out your gear and an animal.

As someone who shaves every ounce out of his gear to reduce weight it is tempting to save the 2-3 pounds of a light weight pack over say an overbuilt, durable, and heavy Barney's pack.

But.....as was stated in a recent sheep hunting seminar I attended the difference between a 110 pound and 113 pound pack is negligible but a broken 110 pound pack is a catastrophe.

Cheers
Jim

I wouldn't hesitate to pack out a bull elk quarter along with all of my day gear with the Kuiu

But then again.....that's nowhere near 100 lbs

quote:

Originally posted by ted thorn:

quote:

Originally posted by Frostbit:

quote:

Originally posted by ted thorn:
I have had several packs but this spring I purchased a Kuiu 3200

The pack system uses two carbon fiber frames....regular or tall

Both have over 4" of length adjustment and is very easy to tweak

My fully assembled Kuiu with belt and extra belt pouches only weighs a drop over 4 lbs

A truly awsome pack imo so far

Ted,

I've had Alaskan guides tell me the Kuiu pack was not durable once 100+ pounds was put in it when you are carrying out your gear and an animal.

As someone who shaves every ounce out of his gear to reduce weight it is tempting to save the 2-3 pounds of a light weight pack over say an overbuilt, durable, and heavy Barney's pack.

But.....as was stated in a recent sheep hunting seminar I attended the difference between a 110 pound and 113 pound pack is negligible but a broken 110 pound pack is a catastrophe.

Cheers
Jim

I wouldn't hesitate to pack out a bull elk quarter along with all of my day gear with the Kuiu

But then again.....that's nowhere near 100 lbs

How long have you had the Kuiu? I love the concept of the light weight carbon fiber.

I've only had the 3200 for a couple months and have only used it on day hikes near home working on the fit with all of my gear inside.

The carbon fiber frame doesn't even weigh a pound and everything about the system is well thought out with the ability to change bags or add bags.

I also have the Kuiu 1850 but it's just to small for my stuff so I'm giving it to a good buddy of mine

A friend and fellow AR member has two of the Kuiu pack systems and it was after hunting with him these past couple of seasons I decided to get mine.

quote:

Originally posted by ted thorn:
I've only had the 3200 for a couple months and have only used it on day hikes near home working on the fit with all of my gear inside.

The carbon fiber frame doesn't even weigh a pound and everything about the system is well thought out with the ability to change bags or add bags.

I also have the Kuiu 1850 but it's just to small for my stuff so I'm giving it to a good buddy of mine

A friend and fellow AR member has two of the Kuiu pack systems and it was after hunting with him these past couple of seasons I decided to get mine.

Love to hear what you think of it down the road.

I have pestered my outfitter about a lighter pack. Specifically, the Kuiu & the Stone Glacier packs. I got a resounding "no" on both inquiries. In fact, as I recall, he told me they broke 2 of the Kuius the prior year.

I am sticking with my Barney's pack.

quote:

Originally posted by larryshores:
I have pestered my outfitter about a lighter pack. Specifically, the Kuiu & the Stone Glacier packs. I got a resounding "no" on both inquiries. In fact, as I recall, he told me they broke 2 of the Kuius the prior year.

I am sticking with my Barney's pack.

+1

quote:

Originally posted by larryshores:
I have pestered my outfitter about a lighter pack. Specifically, the Kuiu & the Stone Glacier packs. I got a resounding "no" on both inquiries. In fact, as I recall, he told me they broke 2 of the Kuius the prior year.

I am sticking with my Barney's pack.

Broke is fairly vague

In what way did these two packs fail?

quote:

Originally posted by ted thorn:

quote:

Originally posted by larryshores:
I have pestered my outfitter about a lighter pack. Specifically, the Kuiu & the Stone Glacier packs. I got a resounding "no" on both inquiries. In fact, as I recall, he told me they broke 2 of the Kuius the prior year.

I am sticking with my Barney's pack.

Broke is fairly vague

In what way did these two packs fail?

The complaints I had gotten from Alaskan guides I talked with is that the carbon fiber frame can not handle the load of a boned out Sheep and gear. The slightest "bump" when dropping it or even putting it down with a load like this results in a break.

Strange.....I've load tested mine albeit only for a couple days with three 44 lb cast iron plates on short hikes.

Sandwiched tight inside the load sing area.

This testing is what I consider to be way over max but the carbon fiber frame breaking? This will have to be seen for me to believe as I feel the frame is not the weak link of the Kuiu.

I feel the Kuiu is best is kept well under 100 lbs

quote:

Originally posted by ted thorn:
I feel the Kuiu is best is kept well under 100 lbs

You are probably right Ted but I do remember reading a (likely sponsored) review somewhere on the web about how great it handled 100+ pounds.

If I were day hunting and returning each day to the same camp then I suppose you could carry very light with the ICON, kill your animal with gear enough to dress and quarter it and make four or five trips.

If that is what is needed.

But if you are carrying 7 days worth of food and gear in that pack it is probably, even with the ICON's light weight already over 45#. That means 55# of meat and you are at 100# already.

Agree

quote:

Originally posted by ted thorn:

quote:

Originally posted by larryshores:
I have pestered my outfitter about a lighter pack. Specifically, the Kuiu & the Stone Glacier packs. I got a resounding "no" on both inquiries. In fact, as I recall, he told me they broke 2 of the Kuius the prior year.

I am sticking with my Barney's pack.

Broke is fairly vague

In what way did these two packs fail?

No idea. His comment was ,"we broke two of them last year." I did not inquire further.

quote:

Originally posted by larryshores:

quote:

Originally posted by ted thorn:

quote:

Originally posted by larryshores:
I have pestered my outfitter about a lighter pack. Specifically, the Kuiu & the Stone Glacier packs. I got a resounding "no" on both inquiries. In fact, as I recall, he told me they broke 2 of the Kuius the prior year.

I am sticking with my Barney's pack.

Broke is fairly vague

In what way did these two packs fail?

No idea. His comment was ,"we broke two of them last year." I did not inquire further.

It was frame breakage that was mentioned by the guide I talked with.

On page 23 of their catalog they offer a Pack Load Hauler and Roll Top Dry Bags. They say that the Pack Load Hauler is designed to carry large loads without the full pack being attached. capable of carrying animal quarters, boned out meat, and extra gear.

Perhaps the ICON line would be a bit more acceptable to those wishing for just a bit more robust pack at the cost of a pound or two.

I got tired of dorking with hunting backpacks. Go to REI. They will fit you and you will save 50% versus a standard hunting pack.

Or go to Kifaru's factory and get fitted for a pack there.

I ended up with an EXO K2 3500. It's unreal. Super stable and comfortable. Titanium frame and pockets/straps in all the right places. have yet to load it to 100lbs but plenty have. Worth a look. USA made too. Good guys.

quote:

Originally posted by BaxterB:
I ended up with an EXO K2 3500. It's unreal. Super stable and comfortable. Titanium frame and pockets/straps in all the right places. have yet to load it to 100lbs but plenty have. Worth a look. USA made too. Good guys.

Yep. I just tried out my new EXO K2 2000 by putting half a cow elk on it. No problem at all. Very stable. A little more time will tell, but I think I finally found my hunting pack. I'll add the 3500 bag should I need a bit more room for 3+ day outings.

quote:

Originally posted by DesertRam:

quote:

Originally posted by BaxterB:
I ended up with an EXO K2 3500. It's unreal. Super stable and comfortable. Titanium frame and pockets/straps in all the right places. have yet to load it to 100lbs but plenty have. Worth a look. USA made too. Good guys.

Yep. I just tried out my new EXO K2 2000 by putting half a cow elk on it. No problem at all. Very stable. A little more time will tell, but I think I finally found my hunting pack. I'll add the 3500 bag should I need a bit more room for 3+ day outings.

Very nice! I'll tell you, that 3500 is cavernous! I talked to Steve a few times and he said that's a very conservative estimate. Glad it's working out for you.

EXO makes a great pack. I've used the 3500 a couple of times, and it packs elk very well. Almost as well as my 15 year old MR Crewcab, but we didn't adjust it for me. I would say they are very equivalent designs. I had about 120 pounds on it bringing out the last load with the head/horns.

Interesting on the comment above about Stone Glacier. Those are made by a pretty experienced sheep hunter.

Jeremy

I used my Barney's pack on the hunt. Given my injury, I had it loaded incredibly light.

I bought a Stone Glacier along the way. A few months after the sheep hunt, I started using the SG lightly loaded. This was in part to measure the recovery from the injury.

At first , I absolutely hated the pack. It was not comfortable. I had trouble with the straps. When I added 20 more pounds to the pack, I liked it a hell of a lot more.

I am going for caribou and grizzly in August in the Brooks. I am going to take the Barney's pack

Barneys packs don't ride well empty. I call it my cadi-pack. Get some weight in it and it just a feels right!!
I have gone over 200lbs in my barneys pack on several occasions with no problems other than my spine not being real thrilled. Dropped my barneys down a mtn fully loaded once. Only repair I've ever made is a couple buckles and replacing pack pins...

quote:

Originally posted by Fourtyonesix:

I have gone over 200lbs in my barneys pack on several occasions

Sorry man, that's just insane. I'd have to shuttle the load. Course nobody's paying me to carry their stuff.

Cheers
Jim

Love the Barney's Yukon though.