Everyone agrees that a well-fitted backpack will give you the most comfort. Not only comfortable but it will not consume more of your energy while travelling and also you can pit maximum weight inside because that’s what backpacks are usually for. As a customer, what else do you want?
For having an amazingly comfortable backpack, you have to know how to measure your torso length so that the bag can lower your back and neck pains while travelling. And also, don’t forget to measure your hip length. It’s beneficial for buying a perfect backpack.
In this article, I will inform you how to measure torso length, purchase a backpack with the correct measurements, and adjust a torso length backpack.
Let’s begin!
What is torso length?
The human trunk is known as the torso. It’s not your height. It’s an essential measurement. The distance between the top edge of your shoulders or C7 vertebrae to the hip bone’s top crest is the torso length. To get a backpack of the perfect size for yourself, you have to measure your torso length and buy a bag accordingly. It is the one key to find the right backpack for you.
How to measure your torso length?
To measure your torso length, you need a friend to help because it’s the measurement of your back, and you cannot do it individually and a measuring tape.
- First, tilt your head forward, and you will feel a slight bump at your back where your sloppy shoulders meet your neck. It is called C7, i.e. 7th cervical and called vertebra, and it’s the top of the torso length.
- With both the index finger in the front and thumb at the back on each side of the body, slowly drag your hands through your ribcage to the top of your hip bones called the iliac crest. Now, tell your partner to draw an imaginary line between both your thumbs. This spot is known as the bottom of your torso length.
- Now, let your friend measure the distance between the C7 and the imaginary line, i.e. the top and bottom of the torso length.
Wow! You got your torso length.
Measuring hip length will also be helpful.
It’s essential to check your hip belt while purchasing because most of your backpack weight you carry on your hips. So, a good hip bet is essential.
To measure your hip size, you will need a measuring tape. Rap the measuring tape on your upper hip, i.e., the imaginary line area, which you measured while measuring your torso length. Hip belt measurement slightly differs from the pant-size measurement because the hip size is measure from entirely above the pant size.
How to adjust all the straps while wearing a backpack:
Your backpack has many straps which will provide you comfort. We will tie the backpack so that all the weight of the backpack will be on your hips because your leg has the most robust bones that can bear weight.
You will need a mirror to check if the adjustments are done correctly or not before starting to lose all your straps.
Hip belt
While wearing your backpack, you will tie the hip belt across your hips. It should be positioned 2.5cm above the iliac crest. It will help you carry all the shoulder weight because the bones present over there are strong. Do not overtighten the strap; it can hurt you. Ensure the padded portion of the hip belt fits on the top of your hips and try different gestures for proper adjustment and choose the best spot.
Shoulder straps
Don’t make your bag to be too heavy because the straps can only handle the bearable weight. Unnecessary weight can cause back, neck and shoulder problems. Shoulder straps will form a natural shape and will rest completely against your shoulders. It should be rapped 3″ below the top of your shoulder blade. Adjust the loosening and tightening of your straps according to your comfort.
Sternum strap
These straps will come over your chest and an inch below your collarbones, at your heart-height, basically used to keep the shoulder strap properly in place and perfectly positioned on your body. Do not tighten it too much can affect your breathing, so adjust it properly and set the straps at a width at which you can move your arms freely.
Load lifters
These are the most underutilized straps of all and are used to attach the shoulder strap with the backpack’s upper part. It helps to transfer all the upper body weight to your hips.
Some adjustment tips:-
If you want to transfer all the weight to hip belt:-
By slightly loosening the shoulder straps and tightening the load lifters on the top of your shoulder strap will transfer all the weight from your shoulder to your hips.
If you want to transfer all the weight to shoulder belt:-
Loosening the load lifter straps and tightening the shoulder belt straps will transfer all the weight from the hip belt to shoulder straps.
Some comforting tips that may help!
- Walking 10 mile after adjusting the straps, check whether the adjustments are proper or not. Check the adjustments frequently.
- Get knowledge about various tools in your backpack and play with them, i.e. use them.
- Try various adjustments of the straps so that you know what suits you better.
- To manage the load fatigue, tighten your shoulder strap and loosen your hip belt afterwards, reverse it.
- Take care of your body positioning; leaning forward can make the pack feel heavy.
- Take a rest between your trek and take off the bag to rest your body. Stretch your muscles to fuel them up for forward going.
- Before purchasing the backpack, put dummy weight inside and carry it to know how the backpack is.
Conclusion
Finding the right backpack is quite a challenging task. Because it seems easy, but after you fill your stuff, you can carry it for a trek, then you get to know what demerits your pack has. Before selecting your backpack, go through your measurements and check your backpack’s comforting equipment like straps, pockets, etc. and always check how much load can handle.
