How to Adjust & Pack Your Deuter Backpack

How to Adjust Your Backpack for the Perfect Fit:

Once you’ve narrowed the selection to just a few models, it’s time to check the fit. Ideally, you want to load a pack when trying it on. 

1. Fill the pack with a realistic load when testing it for fit. Loosen all straps, then put it on.
2. Wrap the hip fins around your hips with the centre of the hip fins covering the top of the hip bone and secure the hip belt. If the belt is too high, it will constrict your stomach. If it is too low, the fins might chafe on your leg while you walk.
3. Finally, adjust the shoulder straps. Not too tight, because the bulk of the load should beborne by the hip belt.
4. The anchor points for the shoulder straps should be between the shoulder blades, and the padding of the shoulder straps should wrap around the whole shoulder.  The problems illustrated in boxes A to D cannot be remedied by adjusting the length of the shoulder straps. Choosing the right back length is critical in ensuring maximum range of movement for the arms and making sure the anatomically S-shaped shoulder padding takes the strain off the neck muscles.
5. Position the adjustable sternum strap at the correct height, fasten and pull tight, making sure it does not affect breathing. This stabilises the shoulder straps and comes as standard on most Deuter backpacks.
6. Pull the hip belt stabiliser straps tight for improved load control and loosen them for more mobility. With larger capacity packs, adjust the stabiliser straps on the shoulder straps. Loosened off, these allow more ventilation over easier terrain. Tightened, they create a more compact load on the back, thereby providing increased stability over more challenging terrain. On longer days, loosening or tightening the shoulder straps and stabiliser straps from time to time can shift the load between the hips and the shoulders to alleviate each in turn.

E. The stabiliser straps are most effective when set at an angle between 30° and 45°.

F. For smaller, lighter packs, the stabiliser straps allow for small adjustments in the length of the back. Here, the angle can be much smaller or even negative.

How to Pack Your Backpack for Optimal Comfort:

The heaviest part of the load should be close to the body and ideally at shoulder height.That way, the centre of gravity of the load and your own centre of gravity are aligned and the pack will not pull you backwards. Larger packs (above 30 litres) should therefore be packed as follows:

• Sleeping bag, down clothing and other lighter items in the bottom compartment.
• Moderately heavy items such as clothing, go on top and towards the outside of the pack.
• Heavier equipment like tent, food, warm jackets should be stashed higher up around shoulder height and close to the back.
• Small items can be safely stored in the lid compartment or/and external pockets, so they are easy to access.

Try to keep everything compact and have little or no equipment attached to the outside of the pack to minimise the effect of strong winds, prevent items getting wet or your pack getting snagged up. In general, try to make sure that the weight is distributed evenly on both sides of the pack, especially where side pockets are concerned. Stuff sacks help keep items neatly organised. Make sure these are not too full to prevent any dead space within the pack. Dry bags are a good alternative to a rain cover.