Upper Load Stabilizer Straps
Demonstrated
Please note the fit in the following images of an 80 L backpack on a small
to medium Torso Length. This backpack is a Holiday 80 (80 L – 90 L) travel pack
fitted to Yvonne with a height of 5’ or 1.52 metres and a Torso Length of 42cm
or 16 ½”. The recommended Torso Length range for this backpack is 43cm to 58cm,
or 17” to 22 ½” with a medium or optimum Torso Length of 48cm, or 19 ¼”.
The best fit for Yvonne would be a backpack with an Optimum Torso Length
of either 40cm or 44cm and a Stave Length of either 55cm or 60cm. The 80 L backpack
with an Internal Stave Length of 65cm and an Optimum Torso Length of 48cm is
then 6cm longer than Yvonne’s Torso Length at 42cm. A small White Mountain™
backpack has an Optimum Torso length of 40cm and a White Mountain™ medium backpack
has an Optimum Torso Length of 44cm. Either the small or medium backpack length
would best suit Yvonne’s Torso Length. The large 80 L backpack depicted in the
following images has an optimum Torso Length of 48cm, 1cm longer than the recommended
absolute maximum of 47cm for Yvonne’s Torso Length of 42cm.
To fit this length of backpack, bend the extended Internal Stave length above
the shoulder away from the head at approximately 30º from the vertical. Then
attach the Upper Load Stabilizer Strap anchor position lower on the backpack
to achieve an effective fit. Although possible to fit a backpack with an Optimum
Torso Length 10cm greater than the Torso Length of the individual, it is not
a recommendation we endorse
If the Upper Load Stabilizer Straps were to be pulling at an angle of more
than 45º, the Shoulder Straps would pull up and away from the shoulder, put
excessive pressure on the chest, pull the shoulder straps from the back and
shoulder, and cause the backpack to ride up from the hips. The image on the
right illustrates the problem.
When pulling at an angle of less than 45º, the Upper Load Stabilizer Straps
would place the Shoulder Straps squarely on the shoulder, relieve excessive
pressure on the chest, put the shoulder straps comfortably on the back and shoulder,
and prevent the backpack riding up from the hips. To achieve this result, White
Mountain™ provides a facility to lower the Upper Load Stabilizer Straps pull
position on the backpack. To do this, remove the Upper Load Stabilizer Strap
from the upper ladder lock buckle and attach the Upper Load Stabilizer Strap
to the lower ladder lock buckle. This second ladder lock buckle is approximately
5cm below the original position at the top of the Internal Stave. On the SSS
Harness, remove the Upper Load Stabilizer Strap from the ladder lock buckle
and feed the Upper Load Stabilizer Strap through the yellow webbing approximately
5cm below the original attachment position at the top of the Internal Stave.
Then reattach the Upper Load Stabilizer Strap to the ladder lock buckle.
Note the fit of this backpack a Holiday 80 (80 - 90litre), an oversized backpack
fitted to Yvonne 46 kg with a height of 5’ or 1.52 metres and a Torso length
of 42cm, or 16 ½” measured in the straight-line method. The smallest Torso Length
for a backpack of this size is 43cm, or 17 0/0”.
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Fitting Backpacks
