Divide Fit Tweaking
Posted: Mon Sep 14, 2015 11:32 amThe Divide was designed to fit smaller torso individuals and use a 24 inch frame. For taller people it may not be as easy or familiar to fit to as the Unaweep / Evo platform although almost all concepts are the same. The issues for longer torso folks are generally , that it pulls away from the back a little before load lifters are engaged. Once load lifters are used this issue resolves itself, but it will happen when shouldering a pack with a bit of weight. The primary reason, is there is just more available slack in the system to fit smaller torso individuals.
Over the last few weeks I have been using a Divide with a few very simple fit tweaks , and I am a longer torso person. These are a few simple tweaks , that worked very well. Below I'll describe each tweak , as well as my observations and reason.
For reference I am 6'1 - 6'2
- Frame - add 2 inch extensions. The 24 inch frame works well for me for backpacking , but if I can use the 2 inch extensions making it a 26 without any drawbacks why not. The 2 inch extensions result in the weight being carried a bit higher which is a good thing. The only downside is catching on stuff or hitting your head on the crossbar (Evo or Unaweep), which on the divide is a non issue (no crossbar)
- Harness tightening - Removing some of the slack from the harness system. This is mostly possible with just paying attention to the webbing adjustment , but this method removed the need to pay much attnesion. First, I got it to correct torso length, then I wrapped the harness adjustment webbing around the frame before taking it up to the adjustment at the top. Harness now stays very tight to frame without engaging load lifters at all. The only downside, is quick adjustment on multiple people . For reference, loaded at 55 lbs the pack was stable without even engaging load lifters.
- Hipbelt connection - use highest setting .. this was done more because I wanted to concentrate on the highest / tightest ride , without any components interfering with each other. The lower setting allow a bit of play so a perfect bend is less of an issue. As you can guess, this required the frame to be bent a bit from our standard profile ..at least for me
- Frame bend - With the pack shouldered / torso adjusted and belt tight , I bent the frame while it was on me. I simple reached back and grabbed the 1/2 inch frame and sort of hunched pulled until I had it where it set to where if I moved my head as far back as I could I just barely put my head between the ends of the frame. Note , on the standard Unaweep / Evo with the cross bar, I would not be able to get the frame as tight to me, without interfering with head movement.
- Threading another loop - The pack bag has an optional third compression strap. When used this can pull the pack bag a bit away from the frame since the frame is not attached to the compression point. The resolution was very simple / which was to thread the frame through the webbing loop of the compression strap. Issue resolved.
With these changes, I have a few days under the pack, and have to say at least for me , it rides as well as anything we have ever made and I am a taller longer torso person. I also loaded it up with 55 lbs .. not a huge amount but enough to shake down and I think it will carry 100 lbs as well as any of them if need be.
Over the last few weeks I have been using a Divide with a few very simple fit tweaks , and I am a longer torso person. These are a few simple tweaks , that worked very well. Below I'll describe each tweak , as well as my observations and reason.
For reference I am 6'1 - 6'2
- Frame - add 2 inch extensions. The 24 inch frame works well for me for backpacking , but if I can use the 2 inch extensions making it a 26 without any drawbacks why not. The 2 inch extensions result in the weight being carried a bit higher which is a good thing. The only downside is catching on stuff or hitting your head on the crossbar (Evo or Unaweep), which on the divide is a non issue (no crossbar)
- Harness tightening - Removing some of the slack from the harness system. This is mostly possible with just paying attention to the webbing adjustment , but this method removed the need to pay much attnesion. First, I got it to correct torso length, then I wrapped the harness adjustment webbing around the frame before taking it up to the adjustment at the top. Harness now stays very tight to frame without engaging load lifters at all. The only downside, is quick adjustment on multiple people . For reference, loaded at 55 lbs the pack was stable without even engaging load lifters.
- Hipbelt connection - use highest setting .. this was done more because I wanted to concentrate on the highest / tightest ride , without any components interfering with each other. The lower setting allow a bit of play so a perfect bend is less of an issue. As you can guess, this required the frame to be bent a bit from our standard profile ..at least for me
- Frame bend - With the pack shouldered / torso adjusted and belt tight , I bent the frame while it was on me. I simple reached back and grabbed the 1/2 inch frame and sort of hunched pulled until I had it where it set to where if I moved my head as far back as I could I just barely put my head between the ends of the frame. Note , on the standard Unaweep / Evo with the cross bar, I would not be able to get the frame as tight to me, without interfering with head movement.
- Threading another loop - The pack bag has an optional third compression strap. When used this can pull the pack bag a bit away from the frame since the frame is not attached to the compression point. The resolution was very simple / which was to thread the frame through the webbing loop of the compression strap. Issue resolved.
With these changes, I have a few days under the pack, and have to say at least for me , it rides as well as anything we have ever made and I am a taller longer torso person. I also loaded it up with 55 lbs .. not a huge amount but enough to shake down and I think it will carry 100 lbs as well as any of them if need be.
