How to Fit and Adjust a NorthRim Pack

Quick answer

Start by matching your torso length to the NorthRim's available volume options, then tighten the hip belt so it sits on your iliac crests before adjusting shoulder straps and load lifters.

How to fit and adjust your NorthRim pack

1. Measure your torso length: Find the bony bump at the base of your neck (C7 vertebra) and the top of your hip bones (iliac crest). Have a friend measure the distance between them. Compare your measurement to the NorthRim's volume options—each size covers a specific torso range. Common mistake: measuring from the wrong neck vertebra. Use the one that sticks out when you tilt your head forward.
2. Load the pack and loosen all straps: Put 10–15 lbs of gear inside so the pack has realistic weight. Completely loosen the hip belt, shoulder straps, load lifters, and sternum strap before putting it on. This gives you a clean starting point. Checkpoint: If you skip this step, you'll fight against pre-tensioned straps and won't know where the real fit issue is.
3. Position and tighten the hip belt: Put the pack on and pull the hip belt so its padded wings wrap around your iliac crests—the top edge of your hip bones. The belt should sit snugly, not loosely, with about half the padding above and half below the crests. Tighten the forward pull straps evenly on both sides. Common mistake: wearing the belt too low (around the waist) forces your shoulders to carry the load. The belt should bear 80–90% of the weight.
4. Adjust the shoulder straps: Pull the strap tails downward and forward until the shoulder straps wrap comfortably over your shoulders without gaping. The strap attachment points should sit about 1–2 inches below the top of your shoulders. If they dig in or lift off, the torso length or strap curve may not match your body. Checkpoint: After tightening, the pack should feel stable without you having to lean forward to keep it in place.
5. Tune the load lifters: The load lifter straps connect the top of the shoulder straps to the pack body. Pull them at a 45-degree angle to bring the pack closer to your upper back. Stop when you feel the pack's weight shift slightly off your shoulders and onto the hip belt. Over-tightening creates a hammock effect that pulls the shoulder straps up into your armpits. Common mistake: cranking load lifters too tight, which lifts the pack away from your back and reduces stability on uneven ground.
6. Secure the sternum strap: Clip the sternum strap across your chest at a height that feels natural—usually just below your collarbones. Tighten it enough to keep the shoulder straps from sliding outward, but not so tight that it restricts breathing or rubs your chest. Checkpoint: The sternum strap should not pull the shoulder straps inward; it only prevents outward migration.

Product facts

• NorthRim: The NorthRim is constructed with exclusive Dyneema® Woven Composite 5.0 on outer pockets, bottom, and hip belt pockets. This material resists abrasion from rock and brush, so you can cinch the pack tight against your body without worrying about fabric wear.