Pack strain

[OB]

I wore a new Badlands pack with about 10-15lbs in it for roughly 8 hours per day.  My left shoulder felt strained, and I knew I needed to size it around my waist properly- BUT, has anyone experienced the pack waist belt wanting to push your pants down?  I like to wear wool slacks with a leather belt and skinning knife, but if I cinched the pack correctly, it would catch on my knife and push my pants waist down.  Anyone else experience this?  Perhaps the pack sits too low?

[Whip]

Which Badlands do you have?  It does sound to me like it might be riding too low.  On packs with a waist belt I like to cinch up the shoulder straps to get it to ride as high as I can.  Even though you weren't carrying a large amount of weight, it distributes the weight better, and I think also probably helps to avoid the issue you're having.

[idahobeartrax]

When hunting elk, I tend to leave camp before light and return after dark. So, outside of time napping in the early afternoon sun, I spend a lot of time with a pack on my back. If you are hunting a good distance away from your camp or vehicle, you need to have the essentials in your pack in case of a night on the mountain or an animal on the ground.

This in mind, I'll make a few quick suggestions:

  - find a pack that fits well. Not every pack will fit everyone.
   -  consider what you carry. You need to have the right gear, so make sure you are carrying what you need and not a bunch of stuff you don't. (I doubt that you can get much lighter than your noted weight if you are hunting elk).
  -  take your knife off of your belt and put it in your pack. Also consider a web belt instead of leather. Cutting down on the stuff that rubs will help. I am not a big guy and tend to have more problems with bruising on my hip bones (and my pants being pushed down) by a fanny pack than strained shoulders from a day pack. My hunting partners prefer the big fanny packs, but they just don't work for me.

Again, it's personal fit and preference, so look around and find what works for you.

Good luck!

[OB]

I guess what is most embarrassing is that I wear a ton of issued packs, navigate for long distances, and continually evaluate my survival necessities as a full time job, but lose my dog-gone mind when elk season starts again!  It's a shame, but common sense says take off the thick belt and protruding knife, but what other badges of honor do you have while walking around the grocery store before you hit the woods?!     Seriously, I may hike up the shoulder straps to raise the Ultra Day pack before I lose the knife.  I agree, I owned a Monster for 2 days before I gave it to a buddy.  I just can't stand something touching my butt like that.

[[email protected]]

Perhaps this will help...

Deluth Trading Company makes suspenders that connect directly above your hip bones; no front or rear attachments.  

You can wear a pack and not worry about it pushing your pants down.

I long ago gave up wearing a knife on my belt; no advantage that I could find and you avoid the potential of loss and it hanging up on brush.

Try the side suspenders, they really are the answer for me.

Bob