No Hipbelt

Don't need no stink'n hipbelt

At least if your pack is 20 pounds or less

At least that's my experience

After reading the article about packs, I decided to try putting a hipbelt on. A couple ounces. I kind of kludged it onto my pack. Tried it a few times. Then a couple stitches ripped so I just removed it.

My conclusion was it helps a little but just barely for 20 pounds or less.

Next time I make a pack I'll probably put a hipbelt on it, as long as it just weighs a couple ounces.

I've seen hipbelts that weigh a pound – that is a total waste

For 20+ pounds, I use it. I can see not 'absolutely' needing it for lighter loads. Still, for me, since the belt is already there, I use it anyway — more to keep the pack stable than for weight transfer.

Like everyone else, it depends on the load. I usually like to have at least a simple webbing belt for stabilizing the load, especially if there are a lot of ups and downs.

unless I'm running and have only a bladder (or bottle) a jacket and few other things, I always use the hipbelt. even day hikes with just the bladder and a few essentials, the hipbelt makes a huge differnce for me, much easier to carry the wieght on your hips than on your shoulders.

I never use a hipbelt any more. I don't carry more than about 30lbs. I really like what I guess you'd call the sense of freedom from not having one. I also think that lighter weight hip belts don't really do much without the chunky padding on heavier belts. It's amazing how much better air circulation you get too!

For me personally it becomes a bit uncomfortable to wear a pack without a hipbelt at 15 lbs and over. For any trip over 2 days, I'm almost always over this weight at the beginning, water included.

even w/ my most diminutive day pack, not for load bearing obviously, simply to help keep the pack in place

I thought about it w/ my Ion, then thought better of it :)

it's a one ounce hit I'll always take

I still remember when I first wore a pack with a hip belt. Prior to that it was an old canvas ruck sack. But that Kelty felt like a miracle! Amazing!

At this late stage in the game, I don't even consider a pack that lacks a hip belt. You young guys go have a blast without one!

prevents the pack from shifting when climbing i find

eric said "prevents the pack from shifting when climbing i find"

exactly, but also when boulder jumping, sliding down scree, moving very fast down the trail, etc, etc

why would anyone do those things instead of climb mike? … lol

one point i failed to mention hipbelt gets stowed away if there's a high chance of rock or ice fall

pulling the pack over yr head can save yr life …

I don't use one. I like hanging my pack from one shoulder from time to time too, especially going up hill. If your load is light enough the need for the belt diminishes as others have stated. Belts and sternum straps are gimmicky and even more so without a frame.

I think it's much more important to have well designed shoulder straps that really fit you well if you're not using a hipbelt or sternum strap. Also, all my packs have a removable belt, and I probably wouldn't buy a pack with no belt or no option for a belt.

The GG Gorilla stripped down to bare bones (removed hip belt, sternum strap, frame, back pad) is very comfortable and 16 oz or less. I use this for loads of 20 lbs or less.

It's not very difficult to put all of this back on either. The hip belt velcro will drive you crazy until you get used to doing it though.

I cannot use a hipbelt or a sternum strap anymore because I have an injured back. I do not carry more than 20 lbs though. I used a GO-Lite Breeze for years and then switched to a Granite Gear Virga because the padded shoulder straps were more comfortable. Now I use a Granite Gear Vapor Ki. The foam padded framesheet makes a big difference how the load feels. It is very easy to slide the hipbelt and sternum on and off so you don't have to destroy the pack to modify it.

I also have a bad back – but find that using the hipbelt allows me to be much more comfortable at the end of the day. I think the slight bouncing up & down of the load on my shoulders irritates the bad disks in my lower back.

I do find it noticebly more breezy without a hip belt though.

er·go·nom·ics
ˌərɡəˈnämiks/
noun
the study of people's efficiency in their working environment.

Let say hypothetical hiking is work . . . .

The body has a natural posture and motion for walking, a pack changes all that with the suspension component. essentially strapping all the internal moving parts of the torso starting from the hips up and the feeling of a natural strides starts to diminish.

Here are my picks, what are yours? some packs come with belts but imho they can be cut off that's just me. imho imoho umohoj

http://apex.camp/collections/backpacks/products/cubscout-one
http://www.ula-equipment.com/product_p/cdt.htm
http://zpacks.com/backpacks/zero.shtml
http://www.backcountry.com/golite-gust-pack-3600-cu-in
http://www.mchalepacks.com/ultralight/detail/light_speed.htm
http://www.rei.com/product/862884/rei-flash-45-pack
http://gossamergear.com/mariposa-ultralight-backpack-all-bundle.html

i'm starting to wonder if the human body isn't' designed to haul to much weight, sore shoulders? weight transfers down due to gravity doh, all the way to the base of your feet so i could only assume happy shoulder = happy knees, hips, joints, achilles etc. if there was just a material out there that could take the weight off my back and keep $killa in my wallet. gear will lighten up one day and more peeps will be making the transition into hipbeltless hiking it's just a matter of when.

I also like having a hipbelt even with a very light load.

Gives me the option to jog if I feel like it… as I did yesterday when exiting the woods after one of my quick local overnighters with the pooch. A predicted nasty, wet cold front was arriving earlier than expected — checked Weatherbug radar while on a hilltop — so we fast-hiked/jogged the last 6 miles or so to avoid the slop. (I had rain gear, of course, but I still hate hiking in the rain!)

With all our consumables consumed, the pack at that point weighed about 7 or 8lbs with one 20oz water bottle, so the pack (Arc Blast) moved with me very well as we jogged along. I've used this same pack in the winter carrying about 23lbs or so, and it feels almost the same. No lumbar pad nor load lifters.

gear will lighten up one day and more peeps will be making the transition into hipbeltless hiking it's just a matter of when.

It is getting to (or has reached) the point that gear weight is not so much an issue. For people doing long hikes where lots of food and water (desert) must be carried, and maybe a bear canister as well, the consumables load far surpasses gear weight.

Ergonomics say no shoulder straps. Belts keep the weight low and stable. They also provide a means of keeping eqiupment close at hand. Unless doing technical stuff, shoulder straps only serve to keep the pack from falling backwards. As equipment gets lighter and smaller, the fanny pack becomes more of an option.

No hipbelt for me unless hiking out West and have to carry the dreaded canister. A week on the AT lands at only 18lbs which is plenty comfortable for straps only. YYMV.

Ryan

I've been going without a hip belt on the majority of my trips for around a year and a half now. I haven't been anywhere which requires a bear canister so that is a non issue for me. The times I still use a hip belt is when I need to carry a lot of water. A lot being defined as 8+ liters.

I have become quite accustomed to no hip belt and prefer it that way now if I am under 22 lbs.

I day hike quite often and when I do I carry a full load of at least 18 lbs, not out of necessity but for training. I feel this has helped my body to adjust to going beltless.

I rarely go without a hip belt anymore, unless I happen to be using a pack that doesn't have one (I still have a few). Even with weight as low as 10 pounds or so, its a lot more comfortable over distance on a long day if the weight is on the hips. When weight is below 10 pounds or so, its not usually necessary, but the weight of the belt with buckle on small packs is very low and it helps to keep the pack from swaying when moving fast.

>i'm starting to wonder if the human body isn't' designed to haul to much weight, sore shoulders? weight transfers down due to gravity doh, all the way to the base of your feet so i could only assume happy shoulder = happy knees, hips, joints, achilles etc. if there was just a material out there that could take the weight off my back and keep $killa in my wallet.

There is something that will take the weight off your back and keep "$killa" in your wallet. It's called squats and deadlifts. Get yourself strong and the weight won't bother you. I can squat over 200lbs and deadlift 225lbs. A backpack is nothing to me. I can't believe the difference being strong has made for me. It has been life-changing.

I always use a hip belt. I like the stabilization. I like the option to adjust the straps in a way to take weight off my shoulders and put it all on my hips for a spell, and then to put it back on my shoulders again. I also like having the hip belt for adding convenient pockets and places to hang carrying cases and things. I like to feel like I'm in a cockpit with all my stuff right there easy to get without stopping or reaching.