Backpack Construction
Harness Shoulder Straps
The Harness Shoulder Straps consist of two substantially padded
straps that rest on the shoulders and hold the backpack to the upper
body. This padding on all White Mountain Backpacks™ is made
of two or three different foam densities, with the softer foam on
the inside against the body and the more rigid foam on the outside.
The material contacting the body is preferably an air mesh material.
The Harness Shoulder Straps can be either fixed to the backpack
or incorporate an adjustment for varying Torso lengths. The adjusting
Harness Shoulder Straps are either connected to a single yoke and
adjusted together, or are separate and adjusted independently.
After contouring the Internal Staves correctly these Harness
Shoulder Straps are used to pull the backpack up into position on
the back, this pull must be towards the back of your backpack or
the ladder lock buckles will cause these adjusting straps to lock
up. If this backward pull is difficult to achieve, have a partner
help lift the backpack in position, or squat with the backpack resting
on a hand rail, fence rail, back of a bench seat, or vehicle bull
bar.
Pulling the backpack into position using the above method allows
you to correctly place the backpack in the small of you back, which
you cannot do if bent forward with a straight back attempting to
do up the Hip Belt. After all we want you to walk upright not bent
forward as though we were walking into a strong wind. Using the
recommended technique, we prevent lower back damage that can occur
when pressure is placed on the lower back while bending forward
with weight and tightening the Hip Belt. Tightening the Hip Belt
first can also result in lower back damage that can occur after
standing upright and having the backpack fall backwards from the
shoulders.
If the Internal Staves have been correctly contoured and the
Harness Shoulder Straps Torso Length has been correctly measured
and position, you will find the pull position of the Upper Stabiliser
Straps at approximately 5cm below the top of your shoulder and the
Hip Belt position at or just above or below the Iliac Crest. After
all we don't want to carry the weight of the backpack on our hips
and suffer soft tissue damage in the waist between your last bottom
rib and the Iliac Crest.
A Sternum Strap is essential in the positioning and comfort of
the Harness Shoulder Straps and has three (3) functions;
- To distribute some of the backpack weight to the chest
- To position the Harness Shoulder Straps flat against the
chest
- To position the Harness Shoulder Straps away from the shoulder
joints
The Sternum Strap should be secured fully around the Harness
Shoulder Strap to prevent distortion of the Harness Shoulder Strap
and provide correct functionality. Please note that poorly designed
backpacks rely on the Sternum Strap to distort the Harness Shoulder
Straps and achieve close contact to the body. Backpackers with improperly
fitted, or poorly designed backpacks often tie the Harness Shoulder
Straps across the chest, place their thumbs underneath, or grasp
the Harness Shoulder Straps in their hands, in an attempt to achieve
Shoulder Strap close contact and comfort, or relieve excessive pressure.
Harness Shoulder Straps that follow the natural contours of the
body is simply a matter of good backpack design. Contoured Harness
Shoulder Straps have a customised curvature that follows the natural
route of the strap over the shoulder, away from the neck, down the
side of the body into the chest area and then away from the body
underneath the arms. The position and angle of the anchor point
of the Contoured Harness Shoulder Straps at the base of the backpack,
also contributes to overall functionality and comfort. Quite obviously,
Contoured Harness Shoulder Straps are more comfortable than a Straight
Shoulder Strap. Backpacks designed for women incorporate Contoured
Harness Shoulder Straps to allow for the natural body curvature
at the bust. All White Mountain™ Harness Systems are a true
Unisex Harness System.
Using the Harness Shoulder Straps to put the backpack on, would
come after the Internal Staves are contoured to the individual back,
the T-Yoke, Sliding Yoke or independent Sliding System is positioned
correctly, the Back Cushion is in place on the SYS or SHS harness
system, and the Upper Load Stabiliser Straps are tightened to form
a gentle arc in the Harness Shoulder Straps.
For ease of positioning when the backpack is on the individual,
pull both Harness Shoulder Straps simultaneously back towards the
rear of the backpack. Use these two Harness Shoulder Straps in bringing
the Hip Belt and the Upper Load Stabiliser Straps into position
on the individual. This method of positioning the backpack prevents
back injury, and negates the need to hoist the backpack up while
bending forward.
After buckling and pulling the Hip Belt snug, secure the Sternum
Strap and pull down or loosen these two Harness Shoulder Straps
simultaneously as required until comfortably snug. The Harness Shoulder
Straps when properly positioned should be far enough apart so as
not to rub on your neck, yet close enough together to prevent the
Harness Shoulder Straps slipping onto the shoulder joint, or off
your shoulders.
NOTE:
Do not over tension the Upper Load Stabiliser Straps, as this
would draw the Harness Shoulder Straps away from the shoulders,
render the Sternum Strap ineffective, place excessive pressure on
the chest, and cause the backpack to ride up from the hips.
It is very important to draw the backpack fully into place with
the Internal Staves closely following the contour of the individual
back.
There is a common misconception that adjusting the Torso Length
and the anchor position of these Harness Shoulder Straps on the
harness changes the size of the backpack. This is incorrect and
you must choose the length of backpack that best suits the individual
Torso Length range. The Torso Length adjustment on the Harness Shoulder
Straps also accommodates the heavy, medium, or slight build of the
individual. A heavy built individual would need longer Harness Shoulder
Straps adjustment, whereas a slightly built individual would require
a shorter Shoulder Strap adjustment.
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