Shoulder straps fall off shoulders

Possible to post some photos of you with packs on?

Contoured, S-shaped shoulder straps mounted as narrow as is comfortable, with a high-mounted shoulder strap. Also, if you're not carrying any of the weight on your shoulders, cinch 'em down a little. The friction might help keep them from slipping.

My shoulders are maybe a medium size, and I purchased one backpack that was a large size, simply because I wanted the extra volume. But then I had the same shoulder strap problem as you describe. So, I fashioned a loop of webbing that went around both shoulder straps next to the pack bag. By tightening up that loop with a knot, I could "move" the shoulder straps toward the center. On mine, moving them each about one inch was perfect.

–B.G.–

Bob, I thought that might be a good idea. I'm glad that works for you. It'd be like a sternum strap, except a back of the neck strap.

Yes, a behind-the-neck strap/loop.

I purchased that backpack slightly over thirty years ago, and it is still sitting in one corner of my equipment room, still ready to go.

–B.G.–

Like this

the pack is too big … or at least the shoulder straps are too far apart

i see the same all the time when i go pack shopping with smaller women … the shoulder straps barely stay on the shoulders … now they try to get by with using the sternum strap more aggresively, but it just seems to cause hot spots and boob compression …

solution is a pack that fits better

I will always have this problem. In the mid 80’s a car wreck ended up making my left shoulder 1” shorter than my right. Along with that the left clavicle slopes down. Thus my left long sleeve always looks longer than my right sleeve. This really shows up when I put a coat on.
I like the ideas of the ‘behind the neck’ sternum strap.

Anyway, I try to pack more of my 15lb weight in the right side of the pack. If I forget, the trail will let me know. :P

-Barry
The mountains were made for Tevas :)

When I took my wife to REI to try on packs, the women-specific packs had noticeably more contoured, thinner shoulder straps. Especially the Deuter women's packs. I've also heard that GoLite's women's packs have good not-so-wide straps.

Good luck.