Camping and Backpacking GEAR thread

Manchester Tank White Manchester Tank & Equip 10054.3 5lb Propane Tank

$87 Manchester Tank & Equip 10054.3 5lb Propane Tank , White

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000243QA0

Mounted to my bedrack with a bracket made for it.

Power Tank BKT-2285 Propane Power Bracket for 8" diamater Propane bottle

$60 Power Tank - 5 lb LP Bottle Propane Tank Holder 8" Cylinder Mounting Bracket for Truck Bed, Car, RV, Boat

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004M9KX52

Runs my Partner Steel stove forever. The hose included with the stove reaches from the tank to the stove on the tailgate perfectly.

I lock the tank through its handle to the bedrack with a steel cable and padlock for security.

 

Okay, I have a question for those of you that backpack. Don’t laugh, I’m being serious. I have an issue with keeping my pants hiked up when backpacking. The hip belt seems to be in just the right place to push down as I hike. I’m constantly tugging up on my pants. Now I’ll admit that I’m not the lean, mean hiking machine of my younger years, but does anyone else have this kind of issue? I was wondering if anybody wore suspenders? Not sure how comfortable that would be, but thought I’d ask.

 

Shorter pack torso length. Wear the pack hip belt higher than your pants belt.

 

Yep, get that waist belt up around your belly button above your hips. It’ll help with your pants and your back and shoulders will thank you long term. You should be able to slip a finger between your shoulder straps and your shoulders. A properly worn pack doesn’t rest much weight at all on the shoulders

 

I’ve always heard to keep the waist belt around the middle of the hip bones. Never had an issue doing that. You’re saying that your pack belt is above your hip bones and around your belly button??

 

Yea above the hip bones. Allows the pack to rest on that ridge and not move it’s way down your waist. Not above the bellybutton, but right under it. Usually my buckle is just below

Also, please give me your take. The double ?? makes me assume that you think I’m wrong or at least disagree. It was how I was always taught and it’s always worked for me. I’ve taught hundreds of clients and coworkers the same with no correction.

lol edit number 2.. I reread that and want to be clear I’m genuinely asking and regardless of my experience level always love hearing the advice and perspective of others. It’s valuable info to me regardless of whether or not I agree or follow it

 

I believe you are correct, the pack should rest on your iliac crest, which the top of the hip bones.
It is easy to want to put the hip belt lower as we tend to think of it as a waist belt instead of a hip belt. Always struggled with pack fit until I watched way too many fitting videos.

 

I was having to teach clients that were usually coming from a detox and skinny as shit so it was always important that they get the hip belt placement right since some of them were so skinny and carrying so much weight.

wilderness therapy is fun

 

Not to disparage anything anyone says, but I’ve backpacked enough to know that a shorter torso length, with the hip belt higher up on my torso doesn’t work for me. That’s when my shoulders and back are carrying all the weight. I made a point to get fitted at three different stores and they all say that my pack size, i.e. torso length, is correct. My pack carries the weight on my hips, with light pressure on my shoulders. I was basically just wondering if any other old timers might have the same issue. I appreciate the responses folks gave, and will continue to follow the adventures and input of others on this thread.

 

That’s really interesting! Haven’t heard of a situation where the hip belt being higher led to more weight on the shoulders.

quick question and not meaning to be a dick, but how heavy are you and how tight are you getting that hip belt? I’m a big guy (but not super overweight) and I have to get my hip belt tight enough to create a real unflattering muffin top. Without doing that I can’t get the pressure onto my hips and off my shoulders. Curious if that’s you’re issue or if it’s a matter of an atypical body type?

 

Lol, it’s okay to be a dick. We are online. I’m 6’1 and weight 225. Pretty typical body for a soon to be 68 year old. When I’ve been fitted, I’m right on the line between a medium and large size pack, but I prefer the large size. Medium is just very uncomfortable to me.

 

Interesting posts. Thank you.

 

Okay so we are the same (ish) body type. I’m 6’2 and 240 find yourself an adjustable pack and play around with it. I have most of my height in my upper body (32 length pant is slightly too long for me) so a large is just a bit too big and medium too short.

I have an adjustable Osprey Argon 85 and I can actually get it absolutely perfect. I’ve had this pack for a decade and it’s been amazing.

and for the record, never meant to be insulting about height or weight. I’ve seen all the body types in my years of guiding and never found an easy way to tell someone that their beer gut or slender crackhead frame was going to cause issues fitting a pack

 

I have an Osprey Aether 60 that I really like. And an REI Trail 40. And a Gregory Zulu 30. Only the Gregory is adjustable and I’ve only had it for about a month. I really like the way my packs feel. I carry 35 lbs with no problem. Other than my pants kind of droop down, lol.

 

For all you (me) that have the problem of packs pushing down our pants; maybe we should look into TA DA!! Jump Suits! and appropriate head gear. Problem Solved

 

Finally, an answer that makes sense. Except, I do not want to be that guy.

 

Some form of cammo complete with facial make-up...

 

Subd

 

I've always heard you want the hip belt resting on top of the Iliac Crest (pelvic bones) with your pants belt just below. Keeps your pack weight where it's most easily leveraged by your body, and prevents too much gear stack up on one piece of skin.

 

Sorry, I’m certainly not questioning whether you’re right or wrong. I was only asking because it seems that if the bottom of the belt was on the top of your hip bones that you’re belt is above the belly button. Maybe my torso is a whacked length, lololol.