Pack size refers to how it fits on your body. It is a common mistake to think that the size of a pack is related to the height of a person. While this may indeed be true, the actual measurement is based on the length of your back. If you have long legs your “torso measurement” tends to be shorter than it is for a person with short legs. The torso measurement is made from the 7th vertrbrae (that is the bump on the back of your neck when you put your chin down to your chest) to the top of your “Illiac Crest”(this is the highest point of your hip bones and can be found by sliding your hand down your rib cage underneath you arm until you encounter your hips).
This measurement is usually between 14 and 22 inches. I recommend that you get professional assistance if you can or at least have a friend do this. If you are unsure, get a second opinion, or a third. It is very hard to measure your own back since you cannot read the tape measure when it is behind your head!
OK, now that you have your measurement, it is time to go shopping, right? Well not quite. Stay with me for just a few more points.
It is important to understand the difference between a cheap pack and an expensive one. It is not “Brand Name” that makes the difference in price, it is more often the difference in how a pack is made and how adjustable it is. Usually the better name manufacturers use better materials, and have greater adjustability or fit options available.
Lets look at shoulder harnesses first. Some brands use a system that allows you to adjust the location, angle and length of their shoulder harnesses, some offer different sizes and others have fixed harnesses. If the fixed shoulder straps fit you, fantastic. You are lucky and will save some money since it costs more to make them adjustable. The harness should have a countour that clears your neck and curves back in front creating an S shape. It should sit fairly flat on your shoulder and not bite on either side. I recommend that you avoid straps that have a rolled edge. They may look more durable but those edges can be hard and create pressure points. Womens straps are usually narrower and the S shape is more pornounced. The padded part of the strap should not extend too far in front but should reach at least a few inches past your arm pit. It should attach to the pack in badk at a point level with or below the top of your shoulder and should have an additional strap that brings the load in toward your body. This is called a load control strap and it should attach to the shoulder strap at the top of your shoulder.
Finally lets look at the waist belt or hip belt. The padded portion of the hip belt should extend past the front of your hip bones but not too far. It should cradle your illiac crest (the TOP of your hip bones) without putting pressure on one point and should not push into your ribs. When fastened, it should transfer nearly all of the weight of your pack on to the hips with only 15% to 20% on your shoulders. Many manufacturers offer womens and mens packs or harnesses while some allow the hip belt to adjust to different angles to accomodate different ammounts of hip flare.
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