We don't have square shoulders. Yet everyone is sewing their shoulder straps on at 90 degrees. This kind of configuration, and the resultant weight distribution, can cause unnecessary soreness, numbness, and even permanent nerve damage.Source.
The majority of my shoulder straps are sewn on at an angle. A comfortable angle. Two cottages and three major players get it right. Two cottages fail. But you only learn from failures, so now is a good time to learn how to properly attach shoulder straps.
Those straight straps look insane. Do people still make them that way? It reminds of a cheap backpack I had during school days and I thought that thinking went out about 20 years ago. Guess I'm wrong (again)?!
ReplyDeleteI would have never thought to look at the angle of my pack straps. Now I want to go pull all my packs out and see how they ate constructed.
ReplyDeleteGreat point. Have been tearing my hair at the same thing! Same goes for S versus straight shoulder straps.
ReplyDeleteTo reduce it just on the angle of the straps is way to simple. There other factors such as the distance between the straps, how cushioned, how is the edge, etc.
ReplyDeleteOne of my most uncomfortable backpacks (shown on the pics) has in your opinion properly attached angled straps and two other backpacks also shown on your snippet have straight straps and I love them for their great comfort ... so ...
@d32b44b680795fc4efdf72c42d03e3bb , I don't agree. Obviously there's more than one factor playing a role here. The two backpacks you "love for their comfort", are, pardon, rubbish from a design and comfort POV. Also the other US cottage, while attaching straps at an angle, put them way too close to each other for being comfortable. While you might find them great, my experience with them is the exact opposite. And just looking at human anatomy, I'm certain that the angled design is superior and the way to go. Clearly this is a very personal matter, and will vary from person to person. My aim was to illustrate obvious design mistakes, as that designers can improve their products.
ReplyDeleteDaniel Sandström there's a whole set of factors: S vs Straight, distance between the straps, attachment at the bottom, cushioning, load lifters or not, and so on. Its a personal matter, though, as you can see from sabi 's comment underneath.
Greg Yes, they still make those. Quite a few cottages actually make em that way. I imagine it is a very easy build and takes a lot less material and time to make them that way (I also remember my pack from primary school days, and they had a similar design. It was painful, already back then).
You're supposed to learn from failure, so why does a certain company continue to make a subpar product that gets touted as 'superb' by the lightweight community when it is clearly not?
ReplyDeleteA bit disappointed in HMG for this one, thought they'd know better...
ReplyDeleteHavent seen the Gossamer Gear pack you show in the flesh to comment. Gorilla pack I own is comfy, but the gap between the shoulder straps is narrow. They do angle out a bit and the width is a bit too much on them for my tast. Room for improvement no doubt. MLD pack I own has good shoulder strap design. Ron got the design right. My question is this: Is your preference based on recent comments where you dont use a hip-belt and hence the load is going to fall more on your shoulders?
ReplyDeleteFor example a Gorilla pack has a good hip-belt and that takes the load so you hardly notice the weight on your shoulders. To be honest I dont even feel it. But if you are not using a hip-belt then good comfy shoulder straps would be a must.