View Full Version : Keeping Hip Belt Tight
FlyPaper
06-01-2021, 09:17
Anyone have any tips to keep your hip belt from loosening as you walk?
I have a backpack I like, but keep having to tighten the belt.
Loop the free end under the belt, next to your shirt? Might need to examine the buckle and perhaps replace it. Might not have enough "teeth" or they are worn.
nsherry61
06-01-2021, 12:27
Years ago I had this problem on a pack that pulled from two directions. Sitting in camp, I used a needle and thread and stitched on side of the strap down which solved 1/2 the problem. Then, for the rest of that packs life (a couple decades), when carrying a load big enough to cause slippage, I tucked the loose end under and around the buckle into an overhand knot. I had to untie the know to adjust the length, but in all, it worked surprisingly satisfactorily.
Tipi Walter
06-01-2021, 12:44
Anyone have any tips to keep your hip belt from loosening as you walk?
I have a backpack I like, but keep having to tighten the belt.
Question---is the pack new or old?? All worn pack harness systems slip due to two factors---worn plastic buckles and worn webbing. Once it happens there's no fixing it except full replacement of buckles and webbing, a tough job requiring some major sewing with awls etc. Replacing the entire hipbelt from the company might be the best option.
Alligator
06-01-2021, 14:12
I find that in my "newer" packs that those where the adjustment on the hip belt is to pull forwards and in on each side, that those seem to hold tighter than the older buckles that you pull back and to the sides. The pull forward and in type tend to have a slider that is angled and bites the belt more.
Sometimes washing the belt helps some if you have a lot of buildup in it. New buckle can help too as mentioned. Or a regular slider if there isn't one, but they can be annoying because they are harder to adjust in the first place vs. a loose end and pulling.
I too have this problem but I always thought it was because I just don't have any hips!
One thing I've noticed is that, at least on my pack, if the shoulder straps are too loose, all the pressure goes to the hip belt and the constant movement from walking makes it start to work loose. Usually, instead of cranking down the hip belt, I will do a moderate tightening on both the hips and the shoulder straps.
FlyPaper
06-02-2021, 09:44
Question---is the pack new or old?? All worn pack harness systems slip due to two factors---worn plastic buckles and worn webbing. Once it happens there's no fixing it except full replacement of buckles and webbing, a tough job requiring some major sewing with awls etc. Replacing the entire hipbelt from the company might be the best option.
Not sure where the dividing line is between old and new, but this pack had minor slippage even when it was new. Hmm, maybe if I lost some fat I'd have a little more hip bone for the hip belt to grip. I was wondering if anyone has had luck scuffing up the belt or applying chemicals to reduce slippage. Probably there are no well known such solutions or someone would have mentioned it already.
Alligator
06-02-2021, 12:03
Not sure where the dividing line is between old and new, but this pack had minor slippage even when it was new. Hmm, maybe if I lost some fat I'd have a little more hip bone for the hip belt to grip. I was wondering if anyone has had luck scuffing up the belt or applying chemicals to reduce slippage. Probably there are no well known such solutions or someone would have mentioned it already.Maybe something a little tacky/gummy? Rubber cement is a thought but I would think it would rub off quickly. Small patch of gorilla glue? Or you could scoff the buckle a little. Not so much that you would degrade the belt or buckle any significant amount.
Jonnycat
06-02-2021, 21:31
I don't know it is the best approach for your situation, but for a grippy solution I found that home-made seam sealer (GE Si2 in mineral spirits) works well to add traction to items, and the solvent carrier helps it to provide more than a surface layer as it can soak in before evaporating.
FlyPaper
06-02-2021, 21:37
I don't know it is the best approach for your situation, but for a grippy solution I found that home-made seam sealer (GE Si2 in mineral spirits) works well to add traction to items, and the solvent carrier helps it to provide more than a surface layer as it can soak in before evaporating.
Thanks. I'll see if I can cook some up.
Maybe some of that cushy shelf liner material?
atraildreamer
06-03-2021, 12:27
Maybe something a little tacky/gummy? Rubber cement is a thought but I would think it would rub off quickly. Small patch of gorilla glue? Or you could scoff the buckle a little. Not so much that you would degrade the belt or buckle any significant amount.
Try Goop Glue. Very tough & flexible when dry.48302 It should provide a good friction surface if you spread it on.
Teacher & Snacktime
06-07-2021, 10:04
Sew in velcro. A 2" soft strip horizontally on the body-side strap, and a smaller hook square on the outer strap will still give you some adjustment room. Make sure you DO NOT use the adhesive one as it won't hold, and if you try to sew through it it will gum-up your needle and machine.
Interesting thread.
Another view on the issue of loosening hip belt is, that while hiking my belly is shrinking a bit and causes the hip belt to feel loose after several hours.
So even while carrying my brand-new Lightwave pack with perfect buckles I have to tighten the hip belt several times during the day.
FlyPaper
06-10-2021, 07:55
I like your optimism.
Interesting thread.
Another view on the issue of loosening hip belt is, that while hiking my belly is shrinking a bit and causes the hip belt to feel loose after several hours.
So even while carrying my brand-new Lightwave pack with perfect buckles I have to tighten the hip belt several times during the day.
Starchild
06-10-2021, 08:36
On my thru hike I had that issue. I ended up getting 2 plastic strap loops for those (the rounded rectangle with a bar through the center type, sort of like Φ (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%CE%A6) but squared off instead of a circle and got them to hold the ends on either side (by removing the main buckle temporarily to get this in place. This held the pack strap firm, but adjusting it was much more difficult but still possible. On my thru I didn't need to readjust it much and was a big win.
I just bought a Kelly redcloud 90 and all straps were rolled up and electric taped . And looking at reviews straps slippage is a problem with this pack so maybe a solution for you?
I bought this pack at a yardsale for $50.
I've always just thought of it as "driving the pack" (I didn't invent the term) - tightening or loosening or adjusting things as you hike is just how packs work.
Jonnycat
07-18-2021, 20:46
Neat way to think about it, I definitely do this as I am more tolerable to tightening up the hip belt later in the day than in the morning when I still soft.
Time Zone
07-19-2021, 07:39
On my thru hike I had that issue. I ended up getting 2 plastic strap loops for those (the rounded rectangle with a bar through the center type, sort of like Φ (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%CE%A6) but squared off instead of a circle and got them to hold the ends on either side (by removing the main buckle temporarily to get this in place. This held the pack strap firm, but adjusting it was much more difficult but still possible. On my thru I didn't need to readjust it much and was a big win.
That's a good idea. Not permanent either.
I have a newish Kelty external frame pack on which the load lifters loosen up as I hike. Having them correctly adjusted makes hiking so much easier - it practically propels me forward. When they loosen, the pack tugs backward on me via my shoulders/collarbone. The loosening would not be from wear and tear. Perhaps it's from the angle the strap and buckle make (at a certain angle, it is designed to slip, of course), or maybe the buckle is slightly oversized for the strap thickness. IDK.
Another Kevin
07-26-2021, 00:26
I can shrug up the pack and cinch the belt a little while hardly breaking stride. I usually have to do it a few times in the morning because nylon stretches as it absorbs moisture. As it will when it's riding in close contact with a sweaty hiker.
Traveler
07-26-2021, 07:41
I can shrug up the pack and cinch the belt a little while hardly breaking stride. I usually have to do it a few times in the morning because nylon stretches as it absorbs moisture. As it will when it's riding in close contact with a sweaty hiker.
This... Some time ago I noticed I didn't have to adjust my pack hip belt nearly as frequently in winter conditions as I do in summer conditions. It took me a while to figure out sweat moisture was the primary culprit and that I wasn't dropping weight so quickly I had to keep countering it with the hip belt (though I did enjoy that concept for a short time to be honest).