[pct-l] SuperSecrets - Pack Waist Belt

[Clint Kaul]

Hi Switchback,

I saw this device being used by SnowPlow and RubberLegs this season.
They seemed to really like it as well.  The question I forgot to ask was
how does it affect your breathing?  I breathe from my diaphragm area
so there is a natural in/out motion there.  It seems to me this device
would be covering your lower abdomen/diaphragm area and thus causing
resistance to your breathing.  Or is that not the case?

Cheers,
clint

On Fri, Jul 17, 2009 at 11:23 PM, <hiker97 at aol.com> wrote:
> 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.