Pack Fit Guide

How do I fit my pack?

To determine the pack frame size, measure down the spine from the C7 vertebrae to a line horizontal with the iliac or hip crest.

Once the frame size has been determined, the aluminum stay(s) should be bent to match the contours of your back.
Remove the stays from their sleeve(s) on the frame sheet.
Carefully bend the stays to match the contours of your back from your hip to shoulder blades (it is this contour that a pack must be shaped to, not the contour of your spine).
For packs with dual stays, make sure both stays have the identical shape, and carefully replace the stays in their sleeves.

Our packs are shipped with the corresponding size of shoulder straps and either a small or a medium hipbelt, depending upon the specific pack style and size selected. If the fit is not right for you, Men's and Women's shoulder harnesses and hipbelts are available and fine tuning can be accomplished in a number of ways such as adjustment of the exit angle of the hipbelt strap, the sternum strap, the forward load transfer straps, the hipbelt load straps and the load lift straps.

Pack Sizing Chart

NAOS 85, BORA 95, KHAMSIN 50, SILO, MIURA

Back Length

ARRAKIS 40/50/65, AXIOS, CIERZO 35, SILO 30, MIURA 30/20

Back Length

BORA 80, ALTRA 62/65/75

Back Length

HIPBELT SIZING

	Small		Medium		Large
	inch	cm	inch	cm	inch	cm
Men's	29 1/2-34 1/2	75-88	32-37	81-94	36-41	91-104
Women's	28 1/2-33 1/2	72-85	31-36	79-91.5	35-40	87.5-101.5

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Pack Frame Size

Chosing the correct frame size for your body size is the most important factor in pack fitting.

Sizes Short, Regular, and Tall refer to the user's back length only and not to the volume of the pack.

Important! Do not select the frame size based upon the pack volume.

Pack frame sizes Short, Regular and Tall

Pack Sizing Chart - Click Here to view/download PDF Document

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Measuring Your Back Length

• Measure along the spine between the 7th cervical vertebra and the level of the hip Iliac crest
• Compare this measurement to the Arc'teryx Measurement Charts Above
• If a measurement falls between 2 sizes it is usually better to go with the smaller of the two sizes
• It is possible to interchange different size shoulder strap and hipbelt components on many Arc'teryx Packs

Correct back length measurement

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Hipbelt Sizing

You must assess the proper hipbelt fit. With the pack slightly loaded with weight (about 20 lb / 8 kg will do, placed evenly in the pack and not slumped in the bottom), tighten the hipbelt securely about your hips making sure your iliac crests are centered top to bottom under the hipbelt. The ends of the hipbelt should extend at least 2"/5cm past your hipbones but not so far that you could get them to meet if you really cinched up the waist belt.

• Locate the Iliac Crest, (the topmost prominent point of the hipbone) and measure around the hips on this point
• When the hipbelt is properly centered on the hip crest and tightened, the ends of the pads should extend at least 3 inches past the hip crest

Correct hipbelt sizing

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Bora Series Shoulder Straps

The correct size for shoulder straps is determined by the width of your shoulders and your torso length. The top of the yoke of the shoulder straps (or the point at which the shoulder strap itself is attached) should be level with a point 1"-2" (2-5cm) below the top of your Trapezius muscle (in other words, level with the top of your clavicle bone). Snug down the shoulder straps so that the bottom of the straps extends 1" to 3"(2-7cm) below your armpit, but not so low as to be at the end of the adjustment range. The load lift straps (that exit off the shoulder strap to the top of the pack stays) should exit the shoulder straps at an angle of 40 to 60 degrees.

• The shoulder straps should contour smoothly and be in contact throughout the entire length of the shoulder strap padding
• The adjustment buckle at the lower end of the shoulder strap should be positioned roughly even with the centre of the armpit

Correct shoulder strap positioning

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Bending and Shaping the Frame Stays

It is only necessary to bend the stays if there is a lot of space between your back and the pack frame when the pack is fully loaded.

• Most stays can be accessed through Velcro flaps inside the main compartment
• For single stay packs, you must position the stay across the shoulder blade area to determine proper curve
• For Packs with 2 stays, the stays are splayed outward at the top across the area of the shoulder blade
• Try placing the frame stay in the hipbelt pocket and wearing the hipbelt. With a helper, bend the stay a small amount at a time, to match the contours of your back

Shaping the aluminum frame stays to match the contours of the back

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Fine Tuning: Hipbelt Angle/Flare

Fine tuning of the angle of flare is possible by adjusting the angle at which the 2-inch webbing exits the front of the padding. Most women require slightly more flare than men (angle at which the belt sits on the hips.

Correct hipbelt flare angles for women and men

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Fine Tuning: Load Lifters

The purpose of the load lifters is to slightly lift the shoulder straps from the shoulders, not to bring the pack in against the back. The ideal angle for the load lifter straps is 45 degrees, however, an angle of 30 to 60 degrees is quite acceptable.

• Minimum tension is required for each strap to do its job if the pack is correctly adjusted

Range of acceptable load lifter strap angles

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Fine Tuning: Load Stabilizers

Arc'teryx backpacks feature pivoting hipbelts or Load Transfer Discs (Maia and Naos), which allow the hips to move freely without transferring movement to the pack.
Depending upon terrain, the amount of movement can be adjusted by tightening or loosening the hipbelt load stabilizer strap.

Hipbelt stabilizer strap

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Fine Tuning: Bora 95 Load Transfer Adjustment

This direct frame-to-hipbelt system transfers the weight to the sides of the hips, allowing a more upright hiking position. The load transfer is adjusted via two straps that connect the load transfer rods to the hipbelt. Tightening the straps increases forward load transfer while releasing the straps allows hipbelt movement.

Bora 95 load transfer adjustment straps and support rods

Correct Loading of a Pack

• Load heavier items as close to the frame of the pack as possible
• For moderate terrain, load heavier items higher in the pack
• For more stability over uneven terrain, load heavier items lower in the pack. Items of lower density such as sleeping bags and spare clothing should be used to pad out the load and prevent shifting.

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