The carrying systems of Tatonka’s trekking and touring backpacks all have an adjustable ladder system that allows you to adjust the rucksack individually to suit the length of your back. Use the ladder slats and Velcro flap to determine the adjustment of the carrying system for the length of your back. Thread into the top for a long back, to the bottom for a short back, and the middle for the standard back length.
Find the correct position for the length of your back (1). Thread the bottom and top Velcro flaps two ladder slats apart (2). Now attach the two flaps on the middle section, the top one first and then the bottom one (3). Put the loaded rucksack on your back. Close the hip strap first and tighten it, then the shoulder straps (5). Check that the rucksack is on properly – the hip strap should be centred over the hip bones, the contact point of the shoulder straps on the seventh neck vertebra. If not, then thread the shoulder straps higher up or further down on the ladder (5)
Why do I have to adjust my trekking rucksack?
Trekking and touring backpacks that are to carry relatively high weights should be positioned correctly in order for part of the load to be transferred to the pelvic area. In other words, the hip flaps should ideally be positioned centrally over the hip bones. That is why the carrying system should be set to the length of the individual wearer’s back. The carrying systems of Tatonka’s trekking and touring backpacks all have an adjustable ladder system that allows you to pre-adjust the rucksack individually to suit the length of your back. If you have a short back, thread the system into the bottom of the ladder, and to the top if it is longer. There are two further positions in between these two.
Can I estimate the length of my back from my height?
No, that won’t work because short people can have a short or long trunk, just as tall people can have a long or short one. As a general rule, though, short people will tend to have a shorter back than tall people. It is best if you buy your trekking or touring rucksack from a specialist retailer, because they will able to advise you with regard to the proper fit and will set the rucksack for you. Once the backpack has been set to the length of your back, you won’t have to change it again.
What do I do if I want to buy my trekking backpack online?
There are a few general guidelines:
How do I set it?
Good to know
The same method is always used to adjust the Tatonka backpack to the length of the wearer’s back. The bison print on the ladder is used for comparison as it is always printed at the same height for the various carrying systems and capacities. The womens’ backpacks have shorter backs, which means the bison print is correspondingly lower.
Loosen the shoulder straps and lift the rucksack up by the handle and feed your arms into the shoulder straps.
The middle of the hip strap should end around the hip bones. With the hip strap clasp facing out, tighten both sides of the hip strap towards your navel.
Then tighten the shoulder straps, but not all the way.
Set the load control straps around the collarbones at an angle of approx. 30 – 50°.
Buckle up the chest strap. This improves the freedom of movement when moving actively and stabilises the carrying system, thereby preventing tiredness.
Tighten the load control straps on the hip strap. This improves the lateral load control