Backpacks cause chafing on hips and middle back

[hokiehead]

following some weight loss in 2021, I started experiencing chafing on my hips from my packs' hip belts. All of my packs started causing this (I initially thought it was one a particular -- a new pack, actually -- and returned it only to find the replacement did the same). I've lost a bit more weight since and the chafing problem has gotten considerably worse -- it's now common for me to have strips of skin rubbed raw almost 360 around my waist. I'm suffering right now, actually -- a hot shower is a painful experience and my waistline is raw and bloody.

When this started, I could mostly mitigate the situation by putting strips of mole skin over the problematic areas, but I'd need to use a whole roll of it every outing to cover the areas that are now raw and hurting. I'll probably be doing that until a more practical answer is found.

• I do cinch my waist belt fairly tight on my pack to try to prevent it from moving around, but not exceptionally tight.
• I have multiple backcountry partners as lean or leaner than me who don't have this issue (my BMI is right in the middle of the Normal range).
• I have packs of what I think being reasonable quality -- two Ospreys (24l, 38l) and an Acr'teryx (80l).
• I have not ever been professionally fitted for a pack (not sure that's a thing), but I think my packs are right sized for my body with shoulder straps adjusted correctly. However, if there's a detailed method to ensure the pack is sized and adjusted correctly for a particular body that someone's aware of and that I may not have discovered, I'd be happy to revisit this topic

assuming the solution of "fatten up and put the weight back on" isn't an option, has anyone else encountered this and found a way out?

[griddles]

The cause ultimately is friction. So you have to stop the friction. I would look at the way the belt is hitting you. If you can change the belt on the packs out that might help. They are called hip belts that's is where they should hit. Making sure what ever is between your skin and the belt is dry is important too.

As for a shower, put some Vaseline on the abrasion before hand. Should help some of the sting.

[dwoodward13]

Have you changed pants/underwear/shirts recently? Or maybe you added a belt to your pants or something? Changing any of those might cause rubbing on your skin.

It might be worth washing the hip belts thoroughly. They will have picked up dirt/sweat/grit over the course of many trips causing an additional friction point.

Good point by the above poster to ensure that your hip belt is resting on the bony prominence of your hip bones.

[Cruiser]

Imma big fan of body glide. It's not a silver bullet as you've obviously got some significant issues to content with but it could certainly play a role in diminishing your symptoms.

[BB_ME]

You're an obvious candidate for hip augmentation plastic surgery. Or, buy a llama.

[justiner]

Why would you need to cinch your hip belt tight enough to not "move around". The hip belt should be fairly static in relation to the iliac crest it rests upon. That's above your hip joint.

[mtree]

Me thinks you need to eat more cheeseburgers. Yummy!

[hokiehead]

Why would you need to cinch your hip belt tight enough to not "move around". The hip belt should be fairly static in relation to the iliac crest it rests upon. That's above your hip joint.

Right. by "not move around" I mean static in relation to my body. yes, I expect it to move in space as my body does.

I need to research, but your last comment makes me question if I'm possibly wearing my help belt too low.

[seannunn]

Personally I wear the "hip" belt right about at the navel.
Which would be above the iliac crest (hipbones).

Sean Nunn

[ekalina]

Agreed that your hip belt might be too low. Does the torso length of the bag need to be adjusted to be shorter? This article might be useful: https://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice ... g-fit.html

[oldschool]

IMO.....the hip belt takes a lot of the weight off my shoulders and places it on my hips...a much better deal. The hip belt needs to be above the iliac crest, as mentioned, not around or on the hips. In general I see lots of ppl with the hip belt too low, the backpack too short comparedto torso length, and then the hip belt is unable to support most of the weight of the pack.

For years, retail shops of high quality would try to get me into a pack that was "too short" for my long torso length. I am longer in torso, shorter in leg length. That would mean the hip belt would not support the pack weight. I now buy my packs a bit long you might say and that allows me to get the pack weight nicely supported on my hips.

Mike

[MidsizeAl]

I've never been a big fan of hip belts and always find them to slip down regardless of how tight I cinch them.

I switched to larger-capacity running packs/fastpacks (at least for day trips) a while back and haven't looked back. The ability to shift some of the weight in front of your shoulders (typically where I carry snacks, inReach, other quick-access items) is really nice to me, and the amount of weight I typically carry on a day trip doesn't necessitate offsetting the load on my hips anyway. The BD Distance 22 is great, and might be the most comfortable one I've tried, but its not as adjustable as I would like. I've been using the UD Fastpack 20 for the last year or so and find it is perfect for most outings--more space than I truly need, but easily fits rain gear, first aid, bivy, water, layers, etc. I pulled the back pad out (and the removable hip strap) and find it to be great. I honestly wish more pack manufacturers had options here, especially in the 20-30L range.

Just my two cents; perhaps the answer is no hip belt at all!