Assuming you have a pack which transfers 100% of the load to your hips, could you omit the shoulder straps and simply use a sternum strap? Has anyone done this or heard of this?

Edited to note that it might be tricky getting it on.

Edited by clbowden on 01/06/2012 13:43:01 MST.

Too wobbly and unstable. If the pack is transferring the load to your hips correctly, then the shoulder straps are mostly for securing the load to your body. I couldn't imagine walking around the backcountry with an unstable load.

Why wouldn't the sternum strap keep it stable?

"Why wouldn't the sternum strap keep it stable?"

A sternum strap connects between two shoulder straps. If there are no shoulder straps, then the sternum strap has nothing to connect.

--B.G.--

Casey, I'm sure you could create a sternum strap that connects directly to the pack body. But good luck breathing with that pulled tight enough to keep the pack stable!

I think if your pack is light enough, stability wouldn't be that much of a problem and you wouldn't have to keep your chest strap overly tight. Frankly, I was pretty impressed with how stable my half pack before I put any load on the shoulder straps. I'd say a pack that was a bit wider than a normal pack, and shorter, with a chest strap instead of shoulder straps would work just fine.

Why would you want to do this, though? Just curious.

Edited by idester on 01/06/2012 14:21:45 MST.

I think the OP means a "sternum strap" NOT between two shoulder straps, but passing under the armpits from the pack across your chest, and back to your pack.

Limiting ourselves only to men and flat-chested women, I still see a problem.

You breath. So your chest strap would loosen 1.5" on every exhale. You can't use elastic if you want it to hold any weight, so the pack would sag back every 5 seconds. Maybe that's okay. It would be easy to mock it up and test.

Also consider a "trump line" to avoid the shoulder straps. The height and the angle might be better, especially if it came off the very top of a tallish pack.

That's an extreme example, but maybe shows its potential.

Edited by DavidinKenai on 01/06/2012 14:27:49 MST.

It's called a fanny pack