Another Pack Fitting (ULA Circuit)

What happens when you ease off the load lifter straps?

If I ease off the load lifters the pack seems to further angle away from my body.

I would send these images to ULA. Get their feedback.

How does it feel? My Circuit always rode significantly lower, so the top edge and load lifters were below my shoulders, but then I have no hips and the hip belt was much lower than you are wearing it. Note where the shoulders straps connect to the pack – it's almost even with the top of your shoulders. I think that spot should be lower so the shoulder straps wrap a little more. That will also help with the gap you are talking about.

Also, is there any weight in this? How much? It does not appear to have "settled in" on your hips.

There's no weight in it, just two pillows. That also makes sense about the load lifters. I'll give that a try.

That's what I thought. I don't think you can get a good idea on fit without some weight, maybe 20 pounds or so to get it to settle.

Put 25 pounds in there and I think you'll be on the shorter side of an acceptable fit. I reckon it'll work fine but in your shoes I'd exchange for a large if possible.

My first thought was, "Wow. I have never seen a Circuit fit properly with the load lifters at a 30 to 45 degree angle." But then I read about the pillows.

Add some weight for sure – ideally what you would put in the pack for a 5 day trip – which will allow the torso to shorten and as well, help determine any load transfer issues for you. Go for a walk. At that point it may very well be too short.

I'm 5'6" and have a medium circuit. When I stuff it with towels I don't have the same fit issue.

I'd be interested in what ULA has to say about this but that belt looks like it either hasn't settled due to lack of weight or maybe just needs to be adjusted up or down where it attaches to the pack. If you are 21" for size I think that is at the upper end of what ULA recommends for a medium.

Different person, different size (L) Circuit, loaded with about 18 lbs of gear. I'm 5'9", but more importantly also measuring about 21". I got the Large torso late last year and was worried it was too big based on empty pack fittings. I met Chris at an event back in April and tried on both M and L packs – I'm more confident they can eyeball an empty pack for size better than me. They thought either would work – I was borderline. They said you can adjust the belt up and down a couple of inches. It's pretty straight forward, but I think there may be a video on it.

These photos were taken with about 18 lbs – everything but water for 2 nights (with some substitutes for stuff not handy). I think the belt is near the top of the range (smallest setting). I was thinking about exchanging for a M torso pack so I could tradeoff with my son, but now I'm thinking "why mess with a good thing?" I took my first overnight with this pack about a month ago and it rode well on me with ~25 lbs. I'm really happy with it overall.

I struggle a lot with where the hip belt should sit, especially since we are all different, and packs are different. Even terrain may play a part. Checking with weight will definitely change your fit, and I guess it will pull your pack down a little. Your belt angles down from back to front in the photo, and mine has settled to a more horizontal placement. Equivalently, your load lifters are high (which is fine), whereas mine are more horizontal. I know my pack is not too small, so if weight gets rid of that gap around your shoulders and it carries well it's probably a good fit. Let us know what you decide.

@Matthew,

First off, pack your normal gear with water, and extra water to simulate food weight, to get an actual idea of fit.

Right now it looks to me like you're wearing the pack too high. I like to wear mine a tad high too, but this means that at least the bottom edge of the hipbet has crested over the hipbones leaving the upper 2/3rds of the hipbelt to form and rest on the hips. Yours appears to be completely above your hips and even angles farther up, away from your hips, towards your back.

When putting on the pack (with weight), situate the hipbelt first. Then take the slack out of the shoulder straps, but not enough to actually pull weight onto them. Finally, snug up the load lifter straps to bring the pack closer to your back and balance the load. If you do this I suspect that the shoulder straps are going to wrap around you at least another inch or two and you may find the torso a bit short. You might be able to add a bit of length to the torso by adjusting the location of the hipbelt on the pack down.

Try this and re-post a profile shot.

Thanks a bunch. I'll take some more pictures after I try.