Thanks for the reminder on this. Over the years, my belt has slouched down. Immediately the day after watching this I tightened the belt higher and went out and hiked 17 miles with NO shoulder pain using my OV Kota UL. The day before I had a little shoulder pain after only 6 miles.

I've had two other ultralight backpacks that are sized M on the torso. Both of which I thought were too small after a few trips because I was wearing my hip belt in the wrong place. I ordered the L CS40 thinking that is what I needed, but when I put the hip belt in the right spot, I realized the M was what I needed. I've been wearing the hip belt wrong for years. Thanks for the vid and the pack!

This is crucial. Ive had a couple of novice backpackers comment on my hip belt being “too high” because of having the belt rest on my hips. Having the hip belt rest on my hips makes my pack much more comfortable to carry. 💯 agree with this video.

Thanks for the video, Tayson! I've watched countless of videos like these and they never clicked with me. This one finally did and it explains why my first longer overnight hike with a not-so-heavy pack resulted in very bad shoulder pain

Absolutely! It's the only way to wear it

great information for hikers of all experience! Great job Tayson

The "hipbelt" was called a "bellyband" when I first installed one on my frame back in the mid-1960s. I think the name change has confused people on the proper placement. Excellent work your doing here 👍

What I've always tried to tell others. The load should be on the hips not on the shoulder. Great video

Guilty! As someone with a little extra, um, "muscle" around the hips, I've been wearing my pack wrong for 2 years! By day 2 I'm pulling up on the shoulder straps or lifting up the bottom of the pack. The guys at Mountain Crossings on the AT fixed me up! Saving up for the Shadowlite

So, maybe I'm the only person, but I absolutely can not wear my pack with a hip belt above my hip bones. I'm skinny and they protrude, making any weight on them unbearable in under an hour. Instead, i have a pack with a frame long enough that i can carry it with the belt down around my hips. I also have extra padding I made for the front, where the buckle is, to further keep the belt off the pointy part of my hips. I just got done hiking the PCT with my mom this summer, with many comfortable miles put on this way while carrying all of my stuff, some shared items, and the bulk of her "heavy" things. Probably always a 40+ lb pack (if not more at times). You should definitely check your fit. But also, don't be afraid to make changes and/or be unconventional if that's what you need to be comfy when hiking!

Wow!! I’ve been wearing my pack wrong all along. I’m going to readjust my pack right after this comment. Great info! Ty

For the longest time, because I am 6 foot 1 I thought I that i needed to get a large for my torso length, my hip belt would always ride down to my waist. I cannot express how uncomfortable my pack would ride on my shoulders. When I ordered the CS40 I decided to go with a medium torso length, and has completely changed the game. Such a great tip! The more a pack will pull on your shoulders the faster it fatigue you!

Great explanation. I have found this to be very true. I’m pretty bony through my hips and back, so getting the load right can mean the difference between a great trip and walking out with bruises and chaffing. Finding the right fit for my pack was the first step. I wish I had been professionally fit years sooner. This stopped my sagging-over-time problem and made it possible for my hip belt to be in the right place. Adjusting the belt kept the weight firmly on my hips, so less bouncing, and off my collar bones. Complete game changer. My pack instantly felt 10 pounds lighter. I don’t have a dad bod, but to all those who do, self care over self image. You deserve to feel good doing things you love. Anyone who makes you feel otherwise doesn’t belong in your life. ♥️

Riding a hip belt this high, and above the hip bones makes me nauseous, and I and slim and trim! I never had so much chafing on my hips as when I had the hip belt resting on top of my hip bones, rather that wrapping around them. The real issue here is that the frame length on most 40-liter packs is simply not long enough to allow for the hip belt to wrap around the hip bones and still have the load lifters above the shoulders at a height necessary to achieved the desired 45-degree angle. Also, why would you go to the expense of putting a 4-inch wide hip belt with top and bottom strap adjustment on a framed backpack if all you were going to do was use it as a cummerbund?

I actually learned to wear my pack correctly on the AT ! I love my osprey exos 48 while on the trail I wound up with a hole in the mesh back Osprey drop shipped me a new pack only asking I show proof the old 1 was destroyed beyond trail damage preventing someone else from making a false claim and getting a free pack ❤

So true, this is something OV taught me with the Shadowlight and made SUCH a difference in the positive direction. Thanks Tyson for the reminder

Good video, nice job explaining the correct way to wear your pack. Trail Flea,

Great video! Great analogy! Love your gear and your wisdom that is shared on your podcast and KZfaq videos.

I would also love a hip belt that doesn’t gradually slide its way downward as I hike! I have had so few packs that can do this. And no, I don’t have a big gut pushing it down! A lot of them just don’t angle correctly (smaller circumference at the top), so they’re basically like a cylinder instead of a slight cone. Then there’s not much holding them up on your hip bones. Good thick but firm padding helps too.

This is a great video. Wearing the pack on your hips is really an intuitive thing as I remember when I figured that out on my own. I mean when your shoulders start hurting you shuld ask yourself why.

Good vid. I have the CS40, 300 miles on it in 1.5 mos so far. Love it, is my 5th pack ever owned. Comments in vid are spot on. Addl 'pro-tip': I cut a 3" wide strip off bottom of my wife's closed-cell foam yoga pad, don't tell her. Is maybe an 8 to 10 inch strip. I put it under my pack's belly midpoint buckle. Like to cinch belt really tight sometimes for best shift of shoulder load to waist. Espec 6 or 7 or 8 hours into the day.

Great info! Thanks! If you remake video, please USE DIFFERENT COLORS… black on black and silver is hard to see. And maybe position camera so we can see just where you are talking about. Thanks!😊

Thanks, helpful video! I'm heading out to Catalina Island this weekend and will definitely adjust using these tips.

That annoy me too. Every backpack i see is hanging on their butts 😂

Curious about it making the stomach uncomfortable. My waist sits on my hips and I can't stand pressure on my stomach. Does what you're saying place pressure on the stomach? I just can't imagine buckles where I'm bending over unless I just didn't comprehend

To me, this does not look like a good fit. The hip belt is around the waist, on top of the hips, not around them. It also looks like the shoulder straps are no longer a good fit, as they don't wrap over the shoulders any more, after Tayson makes the adjustment. Or maybe the torso length of this pack is too long for the model. Maybe this adjustment works ok for some people though. I am always looking at how people wear their packs. A lot of them are not properly adjusted. It also looks like most people (that I see) are not even aware of load lifters. On the other hand, this summer I saw a woman backpacking in the Sawtooth Mtns of Idaho, and she had an amazingly well-fitted ultralight pack setup! To ourselves, we referred to her as "Fleet" because she moved along so easily.

True and important but fashion often isn't about functionality or comfort. Unless you have been on trail for 2 months and look like a marathon pro, nobody wants to have the buckle above the belly button. Having the hip belt right over your problem zone does stabilize it but is uncomfy. Personally I prefer to wear my hipbelt correctly deep in the woods and not wear it at all near trailheads as this gives you this easy thruhiker look we all strive for. You can achieve this look also by not shaving and not taking showers for a week prior to your weekend overnighter. New hiking clothes I give to my german shepherd to play with in the backyard. If I wear them afterwards they also look like being worn for months on trail.

Ahh comfort. Nice.

What about frame less packs without load lifters, but with hip belts?

Wait what. This is a real thing? I’ve always worn my pack like a climbing harness. Above the belt line. Thanks for making the vid!

Good info

Random question….Would you ever do a rewarming drill with your gear?

Excellent 👍!

I feel like you two should get a room 😂

It would be nice if manufacturers made longer hip belts rather than those just for skinny People or making the weight look good on paper

The beard?

Your hip belts aren’t long enough for dad bods… 😢

How do I get abs like that guy?

ZZ Top Beards????

This describes a man's fit, and should specify. Women have a different angle to the top of their hips, which then sit much lower than a mans.

Excellent! Or try for the belly button, and get it as tight as you can tolerate.

Absolutely! It's the only way to wear it