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Post by huntnhike on May 12, 2016 18:54:58 GMT -8
I purchased an Osprey Aether 70 this week and loaded it to 26 to 27 pounds. I walked around the house yesterday and then walked a mile and a half with it tonight. The pack was extremely comfortable and the only issue found was that the back of my head hit the top of the pack if I put my head back. I find myself having to move my head forward and not being able to look up or put my head in a straight position Without bumping the top of the pack. Any suggestions? Looks like I'll be looking for a bag that isn't so tall to avoid hitting the back of my head if this is just an individual pack related issue. Or will this be an issue with most packs of this size?  |
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almostthere
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Post by almostthere on May 12, 2016 19:18:41 GMT -8
Well, it's a 70 liter and the back frame has to sit on your back and hips just so. Making it broader in girth or width to accommodate all that stuff would put you more off balance, put weight farther from the back. So it has to go up.
My 40 - 60 liter packs don't do that. Unless I tie something on top.
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amaruq
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Post by amaruq on May 13, 2016 4:33:49 GMT -8
I don't mean to alarm you, but there is something on your face...
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jazzmom
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Post by jazzmom on May 13, 2016 7:47:23 GMT -8
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rebeccad
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Post by rebeccad on May 13, 2016 7:50:53 GMT -8
I don't think the pack fits you. The load lifters look too high. That's my thought. Also, did you tighten the internal compression strap at the top of the main compartment? That pulls the pack in to make a hollow for the head. But in this case, the pack is riding much too high, so that probably wouldn't help. |
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Post by huntnhike on May 13, 2016 8:07:56 GMT -8
I don't think the pack fits you. The load lifters look too high. That's my thought. Also, did you tighten the internal compression strap at the top of the main compartment? That pulls the pack in to make a hollow for the head. But in this case, the pack is riding much too high, so that probably wouldn't help. It's the large- I am right between the medium and large by the osprey tool. REI said go with large. I'm returning it tomorrow and will be trying on a few mediums... The waist belt also needs to be medium. So we'll see... Really liked the comfort besides the head issue. |
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almostthere
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Post by almostthere on May 13, 2016 9:28:33 GMT -8
Go to the McHale packs website and use their method - have a friend help measure you.
Those plastic tools they use mis-measured me, or the clerk did, multiple times. It took a friend and a measuring tape for me to figure out I was NOT a 17.5, I am a 16.5 inch back, and that was right over the break point between sizes in most brands.
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Post by immadman on May 14, 2016 9:47:20 GMT -8
Ditto on the other posts regarding size and load lifters.
I have an Aether 70 and it does tend to ride a bit high when filled, but not that high. It is a very comfortable BP.
My 0.02...
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texasbb
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Post by texasbb on May 14, 2016 19:25:13 GMT -8
I agree the pack looks too big, but if neither the medium nor the large fits perfectly, I'd say get a different pack. Those Osprey trampoline frames don't work for me--every one I ever tried on poked or rubbed me somewhere. Maybe you're not built for Ospreys.
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Westy
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Post by Westy on May 15, 2016 5:56:26 GMT -8
I once owned an Arc'Teryx Bora 70. To solve the problem it had an "Occipital Cup" allowing one to tilt head and look up. Essentially a semi-circle built into the pack. We used the pack for family backpacking. My wife would carry our daughter in a Kelty Kid Carrier, which meant that gear for (3) was loaded on the Bora 70. The pack was used for family trips until the kids were able to carry there own gear.
You might try loosening the shoulder lifter straps to see if that provides more dimensional tolerance. It's appears a bit tight in your photo.
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Post by immadman on May 15, 2016 14:18:44 GMT -8
To be honest, I can't really tell from the photo just where that hip belt is riding...is it maybe a bit high? As Westy said, loosening the load lifters might help. I seem to recall that they should be at more of a 45 degree angle. That angle looks a bit steep. |
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Post by huntnhike on May 16, 2016 18:32:02 GMT -8
Ended up testing out the medium Aether and wasn't sold on it. Went with the Gregory Baltoro 75 in medium after carrying 35 pounds through the REI on Saturday. Little heavier pack but was much comfier.
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BigLoad
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Post by BigLoad on May 16, 2016 19:44:23 GMT -8
FWIW, that Osprey looks like it's adjusted way too short for you. The hipbelt might be riding an inch high, although probably not a lot more than that based on where your elbow is. After wearing fully loaded for a while, it might actually settle in at about the right place. However, according to the feedback I got from Dan McHale, the shoulder strap attachment point is sitting way too low relative to the top of your shoulders, and his advice worked very well for me. That's the main reason I think it's too short.
Anyway, the Baltoro fits a lot different than the Aether. People that really like one tend not to like the other as well, so I suspect you chose the better fit for you.
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almostthere
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Post by almostthere on May 16, 2016 20:11:50 GMT -8
It's impossible to tell where the hips are in the photo. Osprey belts are intended to wrap around and put the weight on the hip bones. If the belt is tight enough on the hips, the weight will sit down on the belt, and the load lifters do just a little extra to pull the top of the pack forward to further seat the weight on the hips. Loosen up the lifters and the shoulder straps. Put on the pack and tighten the hip belt to almost "too tight" then tighten the shoulder straps until the pack is on the hips, not pulling you over either direction. Most of the weight should now be on the hips. Reach up and tighten the lifters just enough to put the weight on the hips without adding tension to the shoulder straps. If the shoulder straps are rising off your shoulders and the pack is impossible to adjust so the shoulder straps are just wrapping over the shoulders without pressure on the collar bones or shoulders, probably too big. If you cannot get the straps to wrap over the shoulders and they are tight over the shoulders while the weight is on the hips, the load is tippy, it's too small. There have been packs that I have never been able to get to fit me.
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BigLoad
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Post by BigLoad on May 16, 2016 21:26:47 GMT -8
It's impossible to tell where the hips are in the photo. The iliac crest is generally close to the tip of the elbow, which is why McHale uses it as a sanity check on the length measurement. The procedure he recommended to situate the belt properly on the hips is to start at your normal initial position, tighten the shoulder straps as far as possible, then shrug your shoulders as far as possible to lift the pack and tighten the hipbelt as much as possible before relaxing the shoulders. Then you can let out the shoulder straps to a comfortable length. He had me send videos to evaluate in addition to the stills. I should get a new photo hosting site so I can post my fit pictures. I did three sets and I can describe his feedback. |
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