Adding foam to your pack for comfort.

[John Sheridan]

I have a Osprey Exos 46 and it's a light weight pack and has Minimal foam on it and was wondering if it could benefit by adding some foam to the pack, mostly on the shoulder straps and back.

Anyone added foam to their pack and found it more comfy, I have some closed cell foam I can use, the sleeping pad stuff, or other foam type better ya think ?


Cheers.

[Nuts]

I passed a walker with a pair of those lambswool wrap seatbelt comforters on the shoulder straps. Might not be that durable but they did look v. comfy Closed cell foam and tape is common. Those packs aren't designed to carry much weight, not overloaded?

[John Sheridan]

I am going for a 10 to 15 kg pack weight for a 5 day campout, less for a 2 or three, my kit is about 11 kg now, with everything food,water, 2 litres, with 3 days food, I can lighten it if i wanted, taking extra stuff i don't really need, but nice to have.

I just want to be as comfy as possible, I will look into those lambs wool, I think they are seat belt covers, they might be the ticket, just to make the shoulders a little my comfy

Cheers.

[ULWalkingPhil]

The Osprey packs not comfy?
May I suggest you look into a gossamer gear pack from the states. I've got the Mariposa 2012 pack. It's only 750 grams, will carry upto 35 pounds and is the most comfortable pack I've ever worn. I just returned from a 7 day hike, my pack weight including 3.1 kg of food and 2 litres of water was 14 kg. by day two I had reduced my pack weight down to 12.8 kg. I had way to much water on day one. The pack has a nice wide padded shoulder straps, the best I've ever seen on a pack.

[Bluegum Mic]

That's a shame your not finding it comfy. I would also suggest playing with the way its packed (I personally like heavier items closer the the spine and don't have heavy things on the outside/front pockets to pull the pack away from my body- I used to find it really important when using my frameless golite pack). I know when there's 12kg in my exos 46 I barely feel it so perhaps have a play with the way its packed and also use a full length mirror to check the straps are all fitting properly. Its amazing how a change in a few kgs in the pack changes how you'd set the straps. Make sure its under full load when you adjust it

[Gippsmick]

Those packs aren't designed to carry much weight, not overloaded?

Maintain the lightweight integrity of the pack (the reason I suspect you bought it if the first place) - use your spare socks You'll take spare socks and its no extra weight.

[sthughes]

I added blue foam mat to the hip belt with some waterproof gaffa when I had a crappy DMH pack. Looked sully but worked a treat - much less severe bruising! Eventually got a decent pack and life is good

[John Sheridan]

The foam only weighs 16 grams, If i trim some straps it probably will weight less with the foam

W will see yet to take the pack out, but the lack of foam padding worries me, Ill take the foam and duct tape with me and if needed foam it up :":L)))

Cheers.

/PS If I take Those Titanium Sentry Guns out with me I will need the padding :p

[Kinsayder]

Phillip, how did you know it was 12.8kg on the second day? You don't take scales on your hikes, do you?

[Strider]

Phillip, how did you know it was 12.8kg on the second day? You don't take scales on your hikes, do you?

Total weight minus weight of food consumed would be my guess.

[ULWalkingPhil]

Phillip, how did you know it was 12.8kg on the second day? You don't take scales on your hikes, do you?

I weighed everything before my hike. I know what each of my meals weigh.

[Kinsayder]

Okay, makes sense. I was a little worried for you!

[bernieq]

Perhaps employ a little lateral thinking and consider improving the hip belt (if necessary) so that you can carry all the weight on your hips. Then, the shoulder straps are used just to keep the pack close to your back and so don’t need much padding.

Set up like this, carrying my pack (20kg for a 10-day trip), I can slide a hand under the straps at the shoulder - and get zero ache/stress across neck and shoulders. It’s an Aarn pack with pockets at the front to balance the load. The (lightweight) hip belt is designed and sewn to sit on/over the iliac crest so that it can’t slip down (unlike a traditional hip belt that wraps around the hip and employs friction to stop it slipping down).

[Nuts]

You could put a larger belt buckle on that pack, maybe you'll be able to keep it tighter, the ones they come with are pretty small.

[John Sheridan]

I was thinking of putting some , small packs on my shoulder straps like the AARN packs, just to put some muchies,phone,Camera gear ect, to help balance the weight a little, not adding more weight just placing it up front and re adjusting the weight distribution a bit, can't hurt

I suppose I could put my Water bottle on my shoulder strap, rather than my belt, 1kg to the front should help a little.

Any tips on where to put your gear, belt, shoulder strap !!!!

Cheers.

[Miyata610]

I was thinking of putting some , small packs on my shoulder straps like the AARN packs, just to put some muchies,phone,Camera gear ect, to help balance the weight a little, not adding more weight just placing it up front and re adjusting the weight distribution a bit, can't hurt

I suppose I could put my Water bottle on my shoulder strap, rather than my belt, 1kg to the front should help a little.

Any tips on where to put your gear, belt, shoulder strap !!!!

Cheers.

The Aarn front pockets have a frame that puts all the load on the hip belt. The connection to the shoulder straps slides so puts no weight on the shoulders.

If you hang stuff from your shoulder straps you will be putting weight on your shoulders.

Buy an Aarn pack.