Is there a need to measure before buying a backpack? The answer is yes, the best backpack is the one that fits you the best.

We often don’t pay attention to measuring our Backpack Torso Size before buying a backpack or just guess before buying any pack that this might be a perfect fit for you.

But this is the wrong approach because a right size backpack will give you a comfortable carrying experience without causing any back pain or shoulder pain.

The key to finding the right backpack is to find one of the correct sizes. To find the right size of a backpack, you have to take measurements of your Backpack Torso Size length.

Backpack Torso Size length includes the distance between the top edge of the shoulders or C7 vertebrae (the one that extends when facing down) to the entire crest of the hip bone (pelvis).

In this article, we will provide you with step-by-step guidance on how to measure torso length. 

See Also: What is a Backpack Rapper? A Best Guide!

Measuring your Backpack Torso Size length

For this purpose, you will need a flexible tape measure and a companion who will assist you in taking accurate size measurements.

  • Bow down your head till your chin touches your chest; this will pop out the bony bump where the slope of your shoulders meets your neck. Ask your friend or companion to locate that bump. That bump is your 7th cervical (or C7) vertebra and the top of your torso length. This is the starting point of your measurement.
  • Place your hands on the lower part of your vertebra such that your thumbs should be on the top of your hip bones. Rotate your hands down the ribcage to the iliac crest (top of your hip bone) such that your index fingers should be pointing forward and thumbs should be pointing backward; draw an imaginary line between your thumbs. This imaginary line on the top of your hip bone is the endpoint of your torso length.
  • Now you have determined the start and the endpoint measurement of your Backpack Torso Size, and now it’s time to take measurements. Ask your companion to take the measuring tape to measure the distance between the points you have specified earlier. That measurement will be your torso length.

By following these three simple steps, you can find your correct torso length. Moreover, here e a link to a YouTube video that briefs all these steps by performing them in the video. This will make things clear to you.

Sizing Information

Extra Small: 14 & 15 inches 

Small: 16 & 17 inches

Medium: 18 & 19 inches

Large: 20 & 22 inches

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How to find your pack size using your Backpack Torso Size length?

The backpack that will fit your torso length varies in size from brand to brand, so here are some additional tips that will help you in finding the perfect sized backpack. Don’t forget to consider the size chart of the pack you are planning to buy.

Hip measurement

You carry most of the pack weight on your hips, so it is vital to have a good hip belt fit. However, it’s often rare for a pack’s waist/hip belts size to be off if your pack size is correct for your torso length, but still, it’s essential to check your hip measurement. 

In order to measure your hip/waist size, wrap the measuring tape around your waits covering the iliac crest you located prior while measuring your Backpack Torso Size length. This line is a bit higher than the beltline; that’s why your hip belt size may slightly differ from pant-waist size.

After taking the measurements, check the size chart of the brand you are going to buy your backpack from to ensure that the pack size is right for you.

Adjusting Backpack Torso Size length

Torso adjustments are the most crucial fit adjustment that impacts other adjustments too. Most of the backpacks have adjustable suspension that enables the backpack to fit over a broader range of torso lengths and also make sure to provide a precise fit to an individual user.

There have been different systems used by other brands, but the most common one is pretty intuitive. 

If you are buying a backpack having this feature, then your first and foremost concern should be fit torso adjustment. If any other fit adjustments of your backpacks aren’t working correctly, then readjust the torso length.

If the suspension system of your backpack is set incorrectly, it will influence the working of other adjustment straps.

Fit adjustments at home

You get four primary adjustment straps on your backpack:

  1. Hip belt
  2. Shoulder straps
  3. Load-lifter straps
  4. Sternum strap

When you buy a new backpack, all these straps are needed to be adjusted to adjust your pack load for greater comfort.

As we know, the muscles around our thigh bones are the strongest one in our body, so the aim is to adjust all these straps in such a way that most of your backpack loads shifts to your legs and hips rather than your vertebrae to give you ultimate comfort while you carry your backpack.

So let’s see how you can adjust these straps at home on your own.

Hip belt

  • Put your pack on and move the hip belt in a way it covers your iliac crest. Make sure it doesn’t sit too low or high.
  • Once the belt sits well around your iliac crest, fasten the hip belt buckle and tighten.

Precaution: Don’t over tighten the hip belt as it will cause pinching around your hips, making you uncomfortable. The waistband should be snug and secure.

  • After you tighten the belt, make sure the padded section of the hip belt sits on the top of your hip. 
  • Make sure that the belt padding extends slightly beyond the front of your hipbones. There should be a one-inch clearance on either side of the Centre buckle.

Shoulder straps

  • Pull down and back the buckles on the ends of the shoulder straps to tighten them.
  • Shoulder straps should be close around your shoulder but make sure that you adjust the hip belt appropriately so that shoulder straps won’t be carrying significant as they will be putting undue stress on your shoulder, neck and upper-back muscles.
  • Make sure that the anchor points of your shoulder straps are 1-2 inches below the top of your shoulder blades. If you see the anchor points lower than the defined point, then either you have purchased a backpack of the wrong torso length, or the hip belt is at the wrong position.
  • You tighten or loosen the shoulder strap to vary strap tension.

Load Lifters

  • The task of load lifters is to connect the top of the shoulder harness to an anchor point near the top of the back panel. They create an angle of 45 degrees towards the pack body when tensioned.
  • Overtightening the load lifter will produce excess tension that you might not feel initially, but it can pinch your shoulder joints and causes discomfort later. Go for a snug-not stiff tension.

Sternum Strap

  • Slide the sternum straps closer until it’s an inch below your collar bone.
  • Buckle both straps and tighten the belts until your shoulder straps sets at a width that allows your arms to move freely.
  • Avoid overtightening the sternum straps as it can distort the overall fit of your harness, constrict your chest muscles and make your breathing difficult.

Wrapping it up

We tried to cover every aspect of measurement regarding the backpack. We hope this will have helped you in understanding the way of measurement and measuring your Backpack Torso Size accurately at home.

We appreciate your determination towards our words and the time you spent reading this article. Do let us know how you find this article helpful.

Thank You!