Woodturner
08-27-2015, 06:59
I started with a 1973 vintage Kelty Mountainer frame. The hip belt was pretty basic, two piece, no padding, and a camlock style buckle. Worked great.
A few packs later, I had a Gregory Baltro. I had a little trouble with the hip belt, but once I realized what I was doing wrong, everything was fine.
I decided that the Balto was too heavy, and bought a REI Flash 62. In preparation for a 100 mile trip on the AT next month, I have been taking full pack hikes several times a week at a local state park. At BEST, I can walk 200 yards before having to stop and tighten the &%#@#% hip belt. Is there some trick I don't know, or is it just a feature common to "Made in China" packs? Also, the right side gets twisted in the slide so full adjustment is impossible. This happens no matter how careful I am to avoid it.
This pack will do for the hike next month. However, there is an outside chance I may be able to make another thru-attempt in 2016. It will be 41 years since the last (unsuccessful) one. I don't want 5,000,000 steps broken up by 250,000 stops to cinch the hip belt.
Maybe Cuban Fiber is in my future.
A few packs later, I had a Gregory Baltro. I had a little trouble with the hip belt, but once I realized what I was doing wrong, everything was fine.
I decided that the Balto was too heavy, and bought a REI Flash 62. In preparation for a 100 mile trip on the AT next month, I have been taking full pack hikes several times a week at a local state park. At BEST, I can walk 200 yards before having to stop and tighten the &%#@#% hip belt. Is there some trick I don't know, or is it just a feature common to "Made in China" packs? Also, the right side gets twisted in the slide so full adjustment is impossible. This happens no matter how careful I am to avoid it.
This pack will do for the hike next month. However, there is an outside chance I may be able to make another thru-attempt in 2016. It will be 41 years since the last (unsuccessful) one. I don't want 5,000,000 steps broken up by 250,000 stops to cinch the hip belt.
Maybe Cuban Fiber is in my future.