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Hi everyone
This will undoubtedly have the experienced among you sighing heavily, but my Camino in May 2020 will be my first backpacking venture so please bear with me.
I have my pack (followed fitting instructions on the forum), and have just done my first training ‘run’ in it with minimal weight. All good so far, but my issue is what do you do with all the excess length of straps? I am 5ft 3 (160cm) and under 50 kg so reasonably small, and with everything cinched in comfortably I seem to have miles of excess strapping dangling everywhere.
Do you: cut it off and singe the ends ( and hope you don’t gain weight); wrap it up and duct tape it; tie it in knots(which would seem to be just more stuff to undo at the end of the day); or something else? Interested in what works for you, and if this is a general problem.
cheers
Glenda
Excellent. Thanks for coming to the rescue again Dave. Really appreciate it.Professionally, I use a Hot Knife tool to cut through strapping to remove excess. Barring that, leave enough strap material to allow the straps to hang loosely from the shoulder. Then cut off the excess with sharp shears or scissors beyond that. As you mentioned, use a lighter to carefully and barely melt the nylon so that the fabric is just able to fuse.
And be careful. . . just melted nylon is Napalm.
Hi AnnieHi Glenda
Good question., I’ve been walking for years with my Deuter hip excess strap dangling and I wrap it into other bits. I’ll try trimming it before my next walk too. HOWEVER; what I did take specifically from @davebugg ‘s post is to make sure you measure the excess ‘after’ you’ve loosened it sufficiently ‘to take off/put on’ with ease. Once we cut it - it’s gone , lol.
Buen camino
Annie
Hi TheresaI used small hair rubber bands to fasten each loose strap down.
@SenorJacques - thanks for a great alternative. As you say I might want to get rid of the pack post-Camino (depending on how things go and whether I get the bug others on the forum are infected by), so this is less drastic.I’ve always used a small strip of double-sided Velcro tape to handle excess strap length on my bags, since cutting or burning off the end(s) has always seemed a little too severe a solution for me.
Simply cut a piece of double-sided Velcro tape measuring 3-4x the width of the strap and center it perpendicular to the end of the strap. (You can also glue the Velcro tape to the end of the strap in the middle with a bit of fabric fusion adhesive.) Then simply wind the excess strap around the length of the tape until the strap is at the length you desire and wrap the Velcro tape around itself to secure. If you wind and wrap tightly enough the resulting coils of strap will stay close to the body of the bag without getting in the way. The Velcro will remain in place until such time you want to unroll the strap back to its original length - like if you ever decide to sell or give the bag away at some point in the future. No muss, no fuss, and no fumes!
@SenorJacques - thanks for a great alternative. As you say I might want to get rid of the pack post-Camino (depending on how things go and whether I get the bug others on the forum are infected by), so this is less drastic.
Love your dog BTW.
Hi everyone
This will undoubtedly have the experienced among you sighing heavily, but my Camino in May 2020 will be my first backpacking venture so please bear with me.
I have my pack (followed fitting instructions on the forum), and have just done my first training ‘run’ in it with minimal weight. All good so far, but my issue is what do you do with all the excess length of straps? I am 5ft 3 (160cm) and under 50 kg so reasonably small, and with everything cinched in comfortably I seem to have miles of excess strapping dangling everywhere.
Do you: cut it off and singe the ends ( and hope you don’t gain weight); wrap it up and duct tape it; tie it in knots(which would seem to be just more stuff to undo at the end of the day); or something else? Interested in what works for you, and if this is a general problem.
cheers
Glenda
I thought I'd clarify this a bit. I use the hair rubber bands that have a cloth exterior, because they last a long time. I usually twist them around two or three times for a snug but not tight fit, then I can slide the rubber bands up and down the strap as needed for an adjustments during the day. A few straps have two rubber bands if they are extra long. I might fold the straps to keep them tucked under a band, or keep an extra band at the end to keep it snug.I used small hair rubber bands to fasten each loose strap down.
Great strategy @MaineSally but I’m afraid I can’t sew to save my lifeGet out the sewing machine, if you have one, double up the strap and sew every 2 inches. I slide socks or undies through the slots to dry further.
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