1) LOCATE YOUR HIP BONE AND PREPARE YOUR RUCKSACK

With your fingers, locate the uppermost part of your hip bone. Your hips will form the foundations of how your rucksack sits on your body and support the majority of the pack’s weight. Now, fill your rucksack with improvised weights, such as tinned food or bags of rice. Cotswold Outdoor will do this to simulate a fully loaded rucksack, as this is when you'll need comfort the most. Take care to weigh the pack evenly and pad it out if necessary, then put on the weighted rucksack and allow it to hang freely from your shoulders. 

 

2) ATTACH THE HIP STRAPS

Next, fasten the hip strap. Many people find it most comfortable to have the top of the hip strap in line with the top of the hip bone; however, some people may find it more comfortable to have the strap slightly higher. To get the hip straps at the correct height, you may need to either lengthen or shorten the main shoulder straps, so that the main body of the bag is moved up or down the length of your back. The hip strap should feel tight and secure once adjustments are made.

3) ASSESS THE SHOULDER STRAPS

Once the rucksack has been adjusted to achieve the correct hip strap position, you should assess how well the shoulder straps fit. The tops of the shoulder straps should be just tucked in behind your shoulders (as seen in the example below), with the rest of the strap following the natural contours of your back.

4) ADJUST THE BACK LENGTH

If the shoulder straps don't fit correctly, you will need to remove the bag and adjust the back length. This process will vary depending on the manufacturer of the bag. Some use large Velcro panels that separate, whilst others may use webbing and pull cords that lengthen and shorten. It may take a couple of attempts and readjustments to get the perfect fit, but achieving the correct back length will allow the shoulder straps to follow the curvature of your shoulders.

5) ADDITIONAL STRAPS AND FEATURES

Finally, depending on your individual rucksack, there may be other straps and attachments which can be adjusted to aid comfort. Cotswold Outdoor have outlined the three most common, and how to adjust them for the perfect fit, below:

 LOAD STABILISING STRAPS

Load stabilising straps are two thinner straps that go from the shoulder straps up to the main body of the bag. Tightening these brings the bag closer to the body and stabilises the load. They should be at an approximately 45° angle from the top of the shoulder.

HIP BELT STABILISER 

Some packs will have hip belt stabiliser straps, which pull the weight of the pack towards the body and reduce the movement of the bag when you walk. Tighten these to a comfortable tension.  

STERNUM STRAP

The sternum or chest strap is a thinner band that prevents the shoulder straps from moving apart as you walk. This strap should be in line with the bottom of each armpit.

Cotswold Outdoor's in-store experts are all trained to offer free rucksack fittings. The process involves an initial consultation to assess your needs and a highly accurate measurement of your back to help select the best pack for you. 

Once you've found the perfect pack, you'll be ready for your next KE Adventure and don't forget, all KE Travellers receive a 15% discount voucher to use at Cotswold Outdoor, Snow+Rock, Runners Need and Cycle Surgery.

FIND YOUR PERFECT KE ADVENTURE HOLIDAY

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THEIR EXPERT RUCKSACK FITTING SERVICE IN THIS VIDEO.

www.cotswoldoutdoor.com