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Pack Fit Information

Seven Steps to the Perfect Fit:

Click here for INSTRUCTIONS

  1. Loosen webbing on shoulder harness and waist belt.
  2. Put pack on.
  3. Set waist belt first: a. Padded waist belt should ride low, covering the points of your pelvic bones (in front). b. Pull waist belt webbing until very snug. Remember, 60-70% of the load will be carried on your hips, where you are the strongest and most balanced.
  4. Now pull on the rear shoulder strap webbing that attaches to the outside of the pack until the top of the harness is about three finger widths (2-3") below where the bones at the base of your neck meet the shoulders.
  5. Adjust the front straps on the shoulder harness until the weight of the pack feels snug against your back
  6. Last, gently snug the silver side compression straps on the waist belt and you're good to go!
  7. As needed you can change the load distribution slightly between hips and shoulders by tightening or loosening the harness straps. This can help prevent "hot spots" and excess muscle fatigue.

What The Pros Know:

To get the best results and greatest comfort, remember to always loosen the waist belt, side compression straps, and front shoulder strap adjusters every time you put the pack on. Once the pack is back on, retighten the straps starting with the waist belt, then the front shoulder strap adjusters, and finally the side compressors. Otherwise you may find that the pack starts to ride up on your body, and that the waist belt doesn't feel as comfortable.

How To Pack Your Pack:

Besides proper fit, the other key to comfort is correctly loading your pack. While everyone has their own individual system for loading a pack, there are a few universal guidelines about weight and gravity. At True North, we design packs to keep the load close to your natural center of gravity, making it easier for you to move, change direction and perform critical tasks. The best way to pack depends on what you are packing, what activities you are doing, how long you are doing them, weather conditions, terrain, and other factors. The following are guidelines to help you pack optimally in a variety of situations.

  • Dense items should be closest to your back so that the center of mass is as close to your torso as possible. Pack dense items higher or lower according to how high or low you want the center of mass. A lower center of mass promotes better balance in rough terrain; paradoxically, a higher center of mass can be easier to carry over gentle terrain.
  • Pack items you will not need access to during the day, such as a future days food or shelter, at the bottom.
  • Items you use frequently, or that you want quick access to in case of emergency, such as food for the day, rain shells, sun screen, navigation and medical gear, should be packed at the top of the main compartment and in the exterior pockets.
  • However you decide to pack, strive for consistency. When you know where items are, you spend less time searching for gear.

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