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Backpack For Man w Broad Shoulders

K

KFH

Member
Time of past OR future Camino
^
Please post any suggestions and experience with a backpack for a strong man with broad shoulders.

A couple friends and I are going together. I am a big guy but not big enough to have issues with backpack choice. One of my friends is very strong and has broad shoulders and we will be buying packs soon. Any suggestions, tips, or direct experience will be appreciated.

Figuring on under 40L for him if possible, fit-wise.
 
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Don’t get hung up on the notional capacity, just go for comfort and fit then exercise some self-discipline as to what goes in the sack.

I’ve got a long back and a barrel-shaped chest. That used to be muscle, these days I’m not so sure.

I’m embarrassed to go with the prevailing view on here (it’s a bit of an Osprey love-in sometimes) but Osprey works well for the larger gentleman in my opinion.
 
There are a few mainstream manufacturers which carry a select number of models that might also allow more choice in shoulder harnesses, but it can be a challenge because 'broad shoulders' require more points of adjustment flexibility than simply the shape of a shoulder strap.

If you cannot find a good fit, the answer might be to seek out those manufacturers (and models of backpacks) which allow the swapping out of hip belts and shoulder straps. There are a number of backpack makers who offer these features in some or even all their backpacks. You will have better luck with cottage manufacturers like Gossamer Gear, zPacks, ULA, or Six moons, etc. in terms of getting a more customized choice in shoulder harness systems and placement.

Backpack capacity does not relate well to backpack size; size is determined by body measurements. Also, the bigger the person, in any dimension, the less likely it is to find a smaller capacity backpack from a larger, big-name manufacturer.

This is a guide I've written for How to Properly Size and Fit a Backpack (click on the blue text)
 
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This is all great. Thanks very much gentlemen. This will be a big help to him and gives me peace of mind that he won't be struggling with limited choices.
 
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I’m a big guy with broad shoulders and found the Osprey Stratos 36l pack to be a good fit. I made sure to get properly fitted at REI.
 
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