Shoulder strap/load lifter question for GoLite Jam/Pinnacle owners. And other people with knowledge of the issue.

Photo 1: More detail as to where the "extra" strap is attached at the bottom.

Photo 2: Detail of where the "extra" strap attaches to the pack body.

Photo 3: How it was originally threaded.

Usually, the load lifter strap attaches to 2 points on the pack.
1. Somewhere on the back of the pack above the shoulders.
2. Somewhere on the shoulder straps on the front of the shoulders.

Ideally, the load lifter strap makes a 45 degree angle. So some packs have an adjustable attachment spot for point 1 above.

Also, ideally the load lifter strap is attached just below your collar bone. So some packs have an adjustable attachment spot for point 2 above.

The connector on the shoulder strap is the adjustable attachment spot for point 2 above. But to work, the load lifter strap has to be threaded through it.

To set the pack up correctly: Thread the lifter strap through the adjuster on the shoulder strap. Then thread the end through the connector on the top of the pack.

Now put the pack on, and move the connector along the shoulder strap until it's just below your collar bone.

Now you should be able to tighten or loosen the load lifter at the top connection point to move the load forward or backward so the pack balances well. Not sure why they are call "load lifters" – all they do is move the top of the pack forward or rearward so it balances well.

Of course, they work best to balance the load if your pad &/or load are stiff enough that the pack doesn't just bend.

…in other words, if I really don't use load lifters (as in I don't yank on them at all, just snug them up a tad), I could probably ditch the lower strap?

if those ever-so-poorly-named Load Lifter Straps do not attach to the pack somewhat Above the attachment point of the shoulder straps, then what you have there is a construction of offshore marketing, not pack design.
it's as simple as that.
they look nice. they do noting. they are as useless as a very small dog.

but ! if indeed they have a bit of air below them down to the shoulder straps, then you have the real deal.
the often discussed "real purpose" of LLS is , in concert with the shoulder strap, to hold the pack closer/looser to your back.
they want adjustment most every time you change length in shoulder strap is the built in annoyance of the design concept.

cheers,
v.

Personally, I would leave the lower strap and cut the load lifter strap off where it attaches to the shoulder strap. ie: The load lifter would now a separate piece of webbing.

Then if you want to use the load lifter strap, attach it to the pack and the connector on the strap. Double the webbing back through the strap connector and it won't slip.

If you cut off the lower strap, you'll have no place to connect the lower end of the load lifter. If it's connected down near your lower chest, it's not going to work very well. Instead of pulling the top of the pack forward, it will pull the bottom of the shoulder strap into an uncomfortable position.

Also, if you cut off the lower strap, you won't have a place to attach a water bottle, if you ever want to try the strap-mounted method.

Ok…let's get more in-depth.

Photo 1: Shows where the strap I am talking about (from here on out, I will call it 'Strap 2') connects to the pack. Not the one that is routed to the load lifter. Keep in mind that this strap is sewn to the shoulder strap and then the load lift strap is sewn on top of this strap.

Photo 2: This shows what I said above. That Strap 2 is sewn to the shoulder strap and then the load lifter strap (shown hanging over my hand) is sewn on top of Strap 2.

Photo 3: Is just another angle of how the load lifter strap is sewn on top of Strap 2 and how Strap 2 is sewn to the shoulder strap.

Photo 4: This shows the strap that is supposed to be routed to the load lifter buckles with Strap 2 with the keeper buckle underneath it.

Photo 5: Shows the load lifter strap threaded through the load lifter buckle. It seems to be doing what it's supposed to do while Strap 2 is just hanging out.

Photo 6: Is just another angle of the load lifter strap threaded up and doing what a load lifter strap is supposed to do without the help of Strap 2.

Photo 7: Shows Strap 2 and the load lifter strap together how the pack came originally. To me it seems like it doesn't really make a difference on whether or not Strap 2 is there.

looking at the very last pic ( 7 ? ), and assuming that left =up, then you have actual (if it had any sort of frame) load lifters. all good.

there is no obvious reason those extra straps are going to do anything helpful. and then a moment ago i erased a nice explanation of what they might have been thinking… to replace it with… peter thinks they are not really thinking very much at all. they are sewing and selling. and then i changed my mind again even …
maybe it's their thinking that mr. extra-strap is really the continuation of the lower shoulder-strap strap, and is thusly the design element they hope will take the pulling load of the shoulder strap. in that way they have sort of isolated the padded part of the shoulder strap, and they hope their very strong webbing will carry the strain, and that would work too .. in a way.

at any rate… run it !

cheers,
v.

Thanks for the help. I figure if I pack the Pinnacle like you should pack a frameless pack, the straps I am talking about are pretty much useless. They are now gone.

Under strap is now gone. Load lifter strap is still attached and seems to do the same thing as if the under strap was there.

Another photo of the modification.

When you load up a pack there is a point where it causes too much weight on the shoulder straps (they wrap around the top of your shoulders), then the solution is load lifters to LIFT the weight off your shoulders.

The purpose of a load lifter is to LIFT the load from the shoulders. To do this a pack needs a frame with an extension to the point where the top of the load lifter strap is about 45 degrees to the shoulder strap and is connected to the frame at this high point. The load lifter strap needs to be connected to the shoulder strap, so it can lift the shoulder strap, thus lifting the weight from your shoulders. If you do not have such a frame, then the system cannot work as a load lifter.

If you need the use the straps to pull the pack closer to your back because the weight is pulling the pack away from your body, then you need a frame. That is the purpose of internal frame packs, to adjust the stays to the contour of you back, and keep it there.

Thus the inherent weakness in frameless packs, with weights over 15 lbs, IMO.

If you have an internal frame pack, the the top of your load lifter straps needs to be attached to the frame system. If your internal frame pack does not work this way, then it cannot properly lift the load off the shoulders.

The purpose of the strap and slider buckle you cut off is to provide some individual adjustment in where the load lifters do their work. For most people that point will be around the crest of the shoulder, perhaps a bit forward. It allows the load lifter to lift without just pushing the shoulder strap back against your chest.

Is integrated with the frame…

P Larson – how has this mod worked for you? I considered doing the same thing to a Jam 50 because I have the load lifter adjuster buckle slid all the way down to the GoLite logos on the shoulder straps. My thought was, at that point, I don't have much use for that buckle since that's where the load lifter strap is affixed to the strap anyway. My only thoughts were maybe the lower strap provides additional support to the shoulder strap, and the buckle can handle the stress from the load lifter better than just pulling straight from where the webbing is stitched into the strap

Curious how this has worked out, and what sort of weights you're carrying