Fitting a Pack With Early Onset Middle Aged Spread

[Pongo]

Hey Folks! I was wondering if I could seek some advice on a pack purchase / fitting?

I'm fairly new to bushwalking and am in the process of gearing up for the south coast track. As part of this I'm looking at a getting a pack with the following constraints:

. 75 litre give or take
. Loads 20kg well
. Reasonably durable
. Not fussed about pack weight
. Price isn't an issue

I started trying some packs last weekend and will resume my search again on Sunday. Of the two packs I tried (the One Planet Strezleki and the Macpac Cascade 90) neither seemed quite right.

After playing around with my current pack (an Osprey Kestral 38) during a day hike yesterday, it occurs to me that my hard earned belly may be getting in the way. So currently I can clip the harness below my paunch, where i find the pack will slowly slip down, eventually placing load on my shoulders; or I can clip across my stomach as the design intends where I get a better fit, but the strain of tightening the harness becomes rather uncomfortable.

I'll be trying the above packs on again (the guy at Pinacle was not interested in adjusting the Strezleki at all and abandoned me after I told him I planned on carrying more than 11kg in my pack, so I'll be heading into Snowgum who also stock OP; and there was some more tweaking to be done with the Cascade but I ran out of time and was not going to buy until I was certain with the pack).

In the meantime I was wondering if any one has any input that would help with with this purchase? Has anyone had a similar experience in regards to body shape, or has any suggestions for a pack that would accommodate my shape (I'll spare you the pictures, but I have a pretty standard beer belly)?

[photohiker]

I think you're already doing the best thing you could: Keep trying on packs until you find something that fits. Don't forget to load it up with your expected weight before you choose.

I'd be remiss if I didn't ask you what experience and fitness you have planned to acquire leading up to doing the South Coast Track?

It's a solid hike and dragging a 20kg pack through it would be strenuous for anyone but especially someone new to bushwalking. On the plus side you may find that you have less 'beer belly' to worry about when you reach the other end.

Good Luck with it.

[Pongo]

Hi Michael, thanks for the feedback . I set out with a view to be ready for the south coast track within 12 months. I'm about 6 months in now.

I've started at pretty much zero fitness so I cut the grog and a lot of sugar from my diet and pinned down a few health issues. I began with flat and easy tracks (although my first jaunt could deserve an entry here: http://bushwalk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=10288) and have escalated from there. I try to get out once a week, sometimes I make it out three days a week, sometimes less, but hey that's life. I'm still day hiking by virtue of the fact that I'm still gearing up, although with this pack and the xtherm that's in the mail I'll be pretty much ready to get some multidays under my belt. I'm starting with the wilsons prom lighthouse in August as an 'easy way' to settle into them.

Currently I'm exploring the lerderderg gorge (which I love) and plan to circumnavigate that with my faithful pooch too.

[Drifting]

I've got a lot of spread- and of all the packs I've tried as cast off, the WE Karajini has been the only real keeper.I've found OP packs uncomfortable, even when adjusted.

[Nuts]

I haven't tried one, perhaps consider aarn packs in your investigations ?
Beanpoles and Beerbelly's are hard to get a lasting fit, they just don't work with the hip supported pack concept, perhaps the aarn packs weight distribution would work with the 'underslung' method for you .

Yes, good idea to try many different packs, give them the gut muscle pop test if they work the best riding higher, I don't like the waist belt too high either..

Of mine, the Osprey Exos fits about the best but they need a bigger gut buckle

[Stevebo]

Hi Pongo, try this: http://www.backpacker.com/gear/ask_kristin/64

Moderator note.
While this type of post would normally not be approved due to spam, a quick look at the content reveals it may be relevant to the post so has been approved in this case.

[wayno]

osprey packs you can mix and match belts with packs so you can fit a large size belt to a smaller frame pack...
ask at teh shops , there may be other brands of packs you an do this with as well

[Ent]

Hi

I agree with Nuts it is hard to get a pack the neatly fits on the hips if a little/lot over the normal weight. It is frustrating that what might be a great pack is never properly sized of fitted. I have seen some nicely fitted Aarn packs and some disasters.

One Planet have three back lengths and at least three harness sizes but with many shops you would not know this.

I am somewhat overweight and find the large large works for me but I need to have the belt very tight. Also my stomach can unclip the buckle.

In your size I think a Styx 2 or Stiletto in OP would be better but make sure the pack is loaded very heavy at testing as this will see if it slides down the hips. Biggest mistake people make is fitting the pack with no weight then it sits higher than when walking with a load and then realise that they have got a too shorter back length.

It took me a long time to accept that my packs fitted lower on the hips than I first thought.

What ever brand you get do not accept anything that does not fit you regardless of the glowing reports. I love my OP packs but others not so much. Same with other brands. It took me a while to find the right combination.

Cheers

[photohiker]

my stomach can unclip the buckle.

[Pongo]

Hey folks. Just a quick update. I've settled on an Aarn Pack, first test was good. I'll come back later when I've given it a good run in and will post an update. Thanks for all the feedback and help.

[sim1oz]

I love my Aarn Featherlite Freedom pack. It saw me through the Overland Track in comfort. I mainly use it for longer walks and miss it terribly when I only do a weekender, but it's hard to justify such a large pack when it's less than 50% full. I'm saving up to get a smaller Aarn pack for shorter walks.

I lost 20kg in my lead up training to the OLT and haven't looked back. Enjoy your next 6 months of training and the South Coast Track