Nimbus Ozone Load Lifter Question

Same results here, Aaron. I pretty much forgot about the loadlifters on my nimbus ozone after a few months. They don't seem to do much for me, so I just keep them tightened as much as they can go. Still comfortable, though. I wonder if the low pack weight that I usually carry in the pack makes the load lifters unnecessary, or if the fit of the pack makes it comfy enough on my back for me to ignore those straps. Oh well… it works out well in the end.

The load lifters on the Nimbus line are there to suck the top of the pack to your shoulders. The 30-45 degress 'rule' is irrelevant in this case based on my discussions with GG. If the straps are more than an inch below, then the attachment point to the frame is too far below your shoulders and you will have to increase the torso length of the pack up a notch. I have a 19" torso and even if I were to put the sizing to 22" the load lifters would still not be at 30-45 degrees. This was originally determined to be effective with external framed packs, where the frame exceeded (often substantially) above one's shoulders. With internal framed packs, this is not necessarily the case.

Question is….does the pack fit?

I have a Nimbus Ozone size Reg. and have a 19.5" torso. The load lifter straps are anywhere from 1" above to level with my Shoulder crest. They do a good job of pulling the pack against my back (the most important part) but only a fair job of lifting the straps or load off my shoulders.
I noticed this, when I first purchased the Nimbus, and thought to myself, bad design choice.
I mean, how much weight would it add, to have made the frame sheet 1-1.5" taller? They could easily offset the weight change by making all the webbing straps 3/4" wide, versus the current 1" wide straps they now use. At least I think most of the webbing straps are 1" wide?

The pack feels pretty good. But neither her or I can get the load all the way on our hips….It's like we run out of load lifter. The torso length is adjusted correctly. (We have tried all positions lol) I agree with the post above it seems as though if the framesheet were just a little taller it would solve the issue.

I am checking out the ULA packs and they appear to have some awesome looking loadlifters (And perhaps easier to reach water bottle pockets???) But I am concerned that the suspension style will not transfer the load as well as the Nimbus framesheet. So just guessing, you might get say…Better loadlifters to transfer the weight but not as good a frame to transfer the weight? Not sure…Might be totally wrong with that assumption.

Does anyone know if in practice the load lifters of the Catalyst and / or the Circuit are better than the Nimbus Ozone? What about the load carrying ability and overall comfort compared? If I tried one out, not sure which one I should get…I need something able to handle 40lbs on occasion early in a trip but would average around 25 – 30lbs. The Nimbus Ozone capacity was just right for me, looks like the Circuit is right on that level while the Catalyst would have a lot of spare room. Guess I would get a lighter pack either way.

I have a short torso (18 inch) and initially tried the short torso pack from Granite Gear. Afterall that's what the literature from them says to do.

I found that the angle of the lifters did exactly what you were describing, it actually went down instead of up.

I did not like the way it felt, so I went ahead and go the large torso and it seems to work better for me.

Aaron – very strange. I can load the Nimbus up with bricks and all of the weight sits on my hip bone. Are you cranking down too much on the shoulder straps? On that pack (not frameless), the shoulder straps are there to secure the load, not lift it.

Are you sure that you have the correct hip belt size and shoulder harness size? There are different sizes and are interchangeable.

I agree with Dave's comments. In the directions the key word is "preferable". Just yank 'em tight to keep the top of the pack as close to your back as it will go.

http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/1249156638045831896tdAZQD

Correct hip belt and shoulder strap size yes… I have actually exchanged out for the right ones. I actually keep the shoulder straps pretty loose, as loose as possible. Like I said earlier it's comfortable, and MOST of the weight sits on my hips, but I was just wondering about those load lifters and trying to get them to where the manual suggests in search of more comfort…Doesn't seem possible though.

>For what it's worth when I get the hip belt up on my hips and adjust the pack it feels pretty comfortable…Most of the weight is off my shoulders.

I'm far from an expert, but if the pack is comfortable, I'd be inclined to say you are, as you say, worrying over nothing.

I was really concerned about the lack of load lifters on my Gossamer Gear Gorilla, but I've found that if the pack fits, and the hip belts do their job, for UL loads, load-lifters are irrelevant.

Many here would probably argue that for UL loads, hip belts are irrelevant, but I haven't reached that point yet. Gotta strengthen my Lats first.

This isn't exclusive to the Nimbus, but I hate the fact that the load lifter straps are fixed, and not adjustable. There's no way to get the lift point at the top or slightly forward of the shoulder crest, without changing the anchor point on the shoulder straps on the pack, at back-panel?
Almost all packs, have slider buckles to allow adjustment here.

Lol thanks James, that's what I'm starting to think, though the ULA Catalyst looks interesting too!

I was mostly worried that I was doing something wrong, since after trying both the small and regular pack and spending much time trying all different combinations of torso legth settings etc…I just can't get those lifters UP. I thought for sure I was doing something wrong. But, if it's comfortable what does it matter, I guess.