[pct-l] SuperSecrets - Pack Waist Belt

[WBL]

Brilliant! This is a philosophy that works!  Screw the yuppy equipment stuff that seems to dominate the trail today!
Dr. Pete

-----Original Message-----
>From: hiker97 at aol.com
>Sent: Jul 17, 2009 11:23 PM
>To: pct-l at backcountry.net
>Subject: [pct-l] SuperSecrets - Pack Waist Belt
>
>
>This an area that is ripe for improvement in the 21st century. The lowly and humble pack waist belt. If your load is light enough, you don't even need a waist belt, ala, Ray and Jenny Jardine. But if you are solo hiker?(and not a Super Ultra Light hiker)?or carry a heavier load the pack waist belt is ready for exploitation.
>
>What is interesting about the pack waist belt is that it puts load right on the big muscled legs like the pack frame. The waist belt load is not on your back but confined around your waist. Neat. It also keeps your center of gravity lower for a more safe and comfortable ride. Most instructions that come with backpacks tell you to keep the center of gravity high in the pack. I guess that is fine, but I find that if taken too far, I feel tipsy.
>
>In any case, lets take a look at the lowly (pun) waist belt. The big problem is how do we carry a heavier load on the waist belt and not have it drop down or feel weird. I have experimented many years about this issue and have found the secret to do this easily and comfortably and lightly. Heh, heh, heh. 
>
>First, let me say that I use a belly pack for two water bottles and miscellaneous gear. Then I can carry one gallon of water, etc., on my waist belt. The key and secret to use the waist belt properly is the waist belt buckle area. This is the SuperSecret. Now the question is how do we transfer a lot of the load comfortable to the stomach area? 
>The answer is a LARGE pack waist belt buckle helper. A very large buckle helper (you still use the pack waist belt buckle). Years ago Kelty made a device to transfer load to the stomach area and make the pack much more efficient in transferring load to the hips and stomach. I do not see this on their website anymore. But this device or something like it is the key. My Kelty device slips over the pack waist belt and then I tape it on to the waist belt near the pack waist belt buckle, so it does not slip off when I take off the pack. Simple.? A visual might be to think of a super jumbo size cowboy belt buckle only very light weight as what the buckle helper looks like on the waist belt.
>
>The Kelty device weighs 4.2 ounces. That is a lot, but made with today's material it could easily be made to weigh in at 2.5 ounces. If this type of device was made part of the nylon waist belt, it would only add may be 1.5 ounces to the pack weight. But the advantages of using this system are ASTOUNDING. I emphasize the word astounding. It will blow your mind how much more efficient your backpack becomes.? Now you can carry plenty of water anywhere on the trail.
>
>My Kelty buckle device is oval in shape and curved outward, so it fits the stomach area easily. It is has a rubber on the inward side and is made of a hard nylon with air slits designed all over it. The measurements are 7.5 inches tall and 11 inches wide.? If you wanted to get real technical, more of the pack frame load is also transferred through the waist belt to the buckle area too.
>
>The load transfer is simple, effective, and comfortable. So, I can easily have up to 1.5 gallons of water on the trail (two liters on the belly pack and four on the waist belt) and not a drop in the pack or on my back. If I added the pack for some water carrying, then just add to the total. I carry the four liters on the waist pack in one quart Gatorade bottles in OR water bottle pouches. Very very simple.
>
>Yes, once again, Switchback, has come through for you with cutting edge ideas and techniques. The true advantages of the pack waist belt have been completely overlooked by today's gear manufacturers.
>
>I thank you.? Your pal, Switchback the Trail Pirate
>This and many more nuggets of backpacking wisdom coming this Fall for the PCT Class of 2010 in the SuperSecret Digest.
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