Back Pack Fit and Safety

When buying a backpack it is absolutely essential that you ensure a proper fit. It is also important that you do not overfill a backpack. Each year in the United States more than 7,000 people will visit their doctor due to injuries related to backpacks or book bags. Children are most susceptible, as they are the largest group of consumers using backpacks.

Here are some generally guidelines to abide by when wearing and fitting your backpack:

• When loading a pack make sure it is no more than 15 percent of the wearers total body weight. That's about one sixth of your body weight.
• Avoid chronic back pain by positioning the sack lower on the back. This helps minimize the effect of wearing a pack on your posture.
• Make sure shoulder straps are even and comfortable. You should have enough length to wear the pack mid to low on your back. If you don't have this much length, you need longer straps.
• Always use both straps to carry your pack. Wearing only on strap will result in back pain and discomfort.
• When lifting your backpack, bend at the knees and lift with the legs. This will help reduce back strain and injury.

Usually if you have to adjust your posture to wear a backpack then you need to reduce your load or the strap length of your backpack. You should be able to stand upright at all times while wearing your backpack. An injury resulting from improper use can last a lifetime. It is important that you carry a weight load within the recommended guidelines.

If you truly want to find the right size backpack, especially for outdoor hiking and camping, you can measure your back length to ensure a proper fit. This will help you select the right size pack. Some people do better with short packs while others will need a longer pack. To measure your back for a pack do the following:

• Find the large vertebrae at the base of your neck between your shoulders.
• Measure from this point to the top of your hipbone.

The distance between these to points will help you decide how large a pack you can handle. Obviously if the pack is larger than the distance between these two points, it is too big for you.

Women may need to pay special attention when buying backpacks. There are backpacks that are designed specifically for women. Typically these packs should have straps that are closer than those located on a man's pack. This is due to the smaller upper body frame women have. You can also sometimes find shoulder straps specifically designed for women. These bag straps are usually narrower than traditional straps, reducing chafing between the arms.

If you are a woman, you should also make sure the hip belt on the pack secures properly. The hipbelt should fit right over the hipbones without digging in. For the best possible fit look for a pack that provides adaptable hipbelts. Many do, and this will eliminate any concerns you have about proper fit.

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