I remember when we were buying our initial gear to give backpacking a whirl – we visited a local outdoors store and were sold on Osprey’s almighty guarantee, convinced that these packs would be our one and onlys. It was a good thought, with good intention, but we did not realize what would prevent that from being true. Let me dive a little deeper …

When an adventurer is first getting into backpacking, one of the things that is not yet realized is the sport’s ability to quickly whip your butt into shape, especially if you get out as much as you can. We considered ourselves to be both active and healthy upon entering this new activity, but we soon realized how much room there was to be healthier and more active – especially when we were huffing and puffing on those climbs that never seem to end. Needless to say, throughout the season, we trimmed up and got into our best shape.

So, you’re wondering what that has to do with your backpacking pack, right? Alright, so here’s the thing: when you purchase your first pack you are not in your backpacking shape yet. Overnight trips tend to surpass the distance of day hikes, especially if you are out for a couple of days. Therefore, you will be purchasing a pack that may not fit you down the line when you’ve lost some weight and are in better shape. We eventually found that our hip belts reached the point where they were completely maxed out; we could not tighten them any further. Therefore, we both needed to find packs that fit each of our bodies better whether moving down an Osprey size or trying other brands. When a hip belt can no longer tighten as much as is necessary or desired, it becomes difficult for the majority of the pack’s weight to sit on the hips where it belongs. This can cause the pack to become not only dysfunctional, but also uncomfortable throughout trips. Trust me, the last thing you want is for your pack to feel uncomfortable – you’ll be carrying that baby with you for the long haul …

Without question, as you become more passionate about backpacking, not only may the hip belt pose a challenge, but we each become involved in the natural discovery process of desired tech. For us, we were drawn to ultra-light gear, which poses an opportunity for improvement in regards to our initial packs. We also had the magical introduction to some really cool, niche brands that we had not discovered previous to fully immersing ourselves in this passion (see cottage industry backpacking brands post for entire list).

The moral of the story? Do not get attached to your first pack. Chances are likely that your first pack will not be your one and only – soulmates not promise or guaranteed. The truth is, we learn what we like and what we do not as we gain steam. Also, that leads us to reiterate the biggest point of this article: backpacking will kick your rump into possibly the best shape of your life. Of course, this depends on factors such as how often you go on trips, distance traveled, elevation gain and loss, how much you push yourself, etc. Regardless, if you give it a go on a regular basis, work up a sweat, and make yourself work, do not count on that hip belt fitting you forever. It is more than possible that you will reach a point of no longer being able to tighten your hip belt any further. At that point in time, a new pack will be in your near future, unless you want to carry all of that weight on your shoulders – trust us, you don’t!