Rucksack sizing
Measuring your torso length correctly is critical so I can build you a properly fitting backpack. You will need a helper to do this accurately and get them to repeat the measurement at least 3 times to be sure. Get this wrong and your pack will not fit correctly!
Measure from the C7 vertebra - tilt your head forward and locate the bony lump at the base of the neck, this is the C7 vertebra, and then raise your head to its normal position - using a tape get your helper to measure directly from the C7 down to the iliac crest (hip shelf) which is the first hard object you feel running your fingers down your sides after your rib cage. You should position both hands on the iliac crest so that the thumbs are reaching behind and pointing inwards to your spine. Get your helper to make sure they are level and measure to the point where the tape crosses an imaginary line between the bottom line of the thumbs. This is your Torso Length.If your measurements differ by more than 1cm then recheck you have identified the C7 vertebra and iliac crest correctly and repeat. Keep going until you are consistently getting measurements within 1cm and then always go with the largest number.
When building a pack I will assume the upper edge of the hipbelt will sit 2.5cm above your iliac crest, this is normally regarded as the ideal position for a hipbelt. In this position, with a lightly loaded pack, the shoulder straps will normally be a little higher than the tops of your shoulders. We are, however, all different and you may prefer your hipbelt elsewhere. Where your hipbelt sits obviously alters the pack back length so it’s important to let me know if you like your hipbelt to sit higher or lower than 2.5cm above your iliac crest. For instance some female hikers prefer the hipbelt to sit much higher than this.
Hip-belt measurement
Hip-belts are available in 4 widths. Be sure to measure around the hipbones rather than your waist. Pull the tape tight and remember that on a long hike that you may lose some weight. If in doubt pick the next size down. As an example my measured hipbone width is 82cm and I use a Size 3 hip-belt, had I been heavily built and going on a long hike (longer than 1 month) then a Size 2 might have been a better choice.
Hip-beltSizeHipbone measurement
166-74cm
275-81cm
382-89cm
490cm +