Hi all. I went to try on backpacks the other day in Blacks.
They only had a small range. First one I tried was a Berghaus Trailhead 60L. This one touched the back of my head so felt as if I'd be walking head bowed all the time (a few in Go Outdoors that I tried did this too). Could I make adjustments to stop this? It also felt difficult to get on. I have a small problem with my shoulder and it wasn't easy to get through the strap, but perhaps this could be made easier with adjustments.
I then tried the
Technical's Helvellyn 55L which I bought online. Paid £32 which I realise is dirt cheap. This wasn't easy to put on with the shoulder prob but it didn't touch my head so felt a touch more comfortable compared to the Berghaus.
Now, I tried on an Osprey and this went on a dream, the shoulder straps were flexible enough for me to move my shoulders into position easily and it felt really comfortable on my back. There was a problem though, in that the webbing on the hip belt didn't go round my big, tubby body, so I couldn't fasten it.
Watching a youtube vid last night, a guy went on a LDW and complained that his Osprey bag had broken so he had to use an old cheap backpack (Blacks brand) and that it wasn't fit for purpose, so now I'm wondering if I have made a mistake buying the Technical one I have (it hasn't been delivered yet).
So, after that essay, I have a few questions. I was in a rush so didn't have chance to have a long talk with the assistant at Blacks.
1. Could I have adjusted the Berghaus to not touch the back of my head? Did the torso adjustment need moving perhaps as I noticed it had torso settings or are some packs just like that?
2. Will the Technical Helvellyn pack be fit for purpose? I noticed reviews of their packs seem ok, but most of those could be based on first impressions.
3. This is the question I'd like answering most. Could I change the Osprey webbing on the hip belt for a longer size? Can Osprey do that, or would it be possible even for myself to do it DIY?
Thanks for looking. Would really like the Osprey backpack but of course, I'd rather not spend over £100 on a bag that won't clip. Hopefully, if I do more walking and lose the lbs I'll have my pick of bags lol