NATURAL POSTURE = Counter Balance

BALANCE POCKETS

  The key to the Bodypack Revolution in:

1. Comfort

  The relative volume of the Balance Pockets to the pack, and the relative density of the items placed in in front and behind determines the amount of forward lean induced by the load carrying system. By optimising each factor, it is possible to create a body centered load carrying system where the center of gravity of the load matches the center of gravity of the body. The results of this ideal load carring system are :

  * Your natural posture and balance is not altered by your load; the strain on your back and neck is completely eliminated; and the load requires the minimum energy to carry.

  * The pull back on your shoulders from your pack is eliminated by an equal pull forward from your Balance Pockets. Now you can loosen the shoulder straps so there is no load on the top of your shoulders. Your shoulders become load locators instead of load bearers. The result is the elimination of all shoulder pressure.

  * The downward force on the back of your pelvis from your pack is balanced by the downward force on the front of your pelvis from the Balance Pockets. Balancing the load evenly around the hips eliminates load leverage on the pelvis. The result - minimim hip strain, minimum back pain.

2. Efficiency- instant access to gear.

   Backpacks are a pain when you have to take them off to access items on the move. This is why hydration systems were developed- to give more convenient access to the most frequently needed item - water. But removing, filling and restowing the bladder is still a problem. The pack has to be taken off and often items removed. Alternatively items such as water bottles can be placed in the side pockets of a pack, but here they are awkward to access with the pack on.

  The Balance Pockets on a Bodypack solve all access problems without stopping or taking the pack off. The substantial volume of the Balance Pockets allows you to store all items you might need quickly or frequently- snacks, camera, hats, mitts, maps, compass, sun cream- as well as other compact heavy items for counterbalance such as stove, fuel, tent pegs, food etc. For instant access to water, we use cheap pump bottles in the stretch pockets on the front of each pocket - easy to access  and restow and you you can refill the bottles without taking the Bodypack off. For optimum balance and posture, pack as much weight in the Balance Pockets as possible.

3. Versatility

Balance Pockets fit to all our packs. Adding Balance Pockets increases your pack’s volume for longer trips. The Pockets have add-on shoulder straps and you can clip them together to make a dual compartment daypack.

Some Key Design points:

 1. It is the sliding connection to each shoulder strap that allows each Balance Pocket to transfer all its weight to the front of the hipbelt. No weight needs to be born by the shoulders.

 2. The Balance Pockets should not touch your body. Custom-bend the frames to produce a gap between the Pockets and your body for ventilation.  Women with large busts have found the pockets work well after custom bending the frames to suit their contours. The same applies to men with big bellies.

3. The reason there are two pockets rather than one is so you can see your feet as you walk. You can adjust the gap between the two Pockets with the top chest straps. The gap at the bottom is preset (models from 2008 on). For earlier models, you can position the Balance Pockets in the ideal position by using the correct size hipbelt and adjusting the hipbelt length. The pockets are narrow enough so that when set in the correct position you can swing your arms freely.

 4. The pockets now sit high enough so they do not touch the legs when climbing (provided the hipbelt is kept at the right height). Earlier models positioned lower and lift straps were provided to allow allow you to raise the pockets for leg clearance when climbing.

5. We do not recommend that the pockets are used when technical climbing, where the chest needs to be close to the face. They have been used very successfully for general mountaineering, such as the ascent of Denali via the West Buttress.

6. Sometimes when hiking, a short move around an obstacle requires that your chest be close to the obstacle. You can unclip the pockets at the top and let them swing to the side for the move. You can also clip the sternum strap together to keep the shoulder straps stable.

 6.  At first, a Bodypack feels more cumbersome to put on than a backpack. But with familiarity and correct technique it is quick and easy.

NATURAL BODY MOVEMENT

= Flow Motion

FREEING THE SHOULDERS

1. Up and down movement:

U-Flow 4

The lower ends of the shoulder straps are linked together by a low-friction strip that slides freely through a slot in the bottom of the pack when the shoulders move up and down. (All models)

Free-Flow 5

The top stabilizer straps are attached freely to each vertical frame stay so they can move up and down with shoulder movement and adjust automatically to your backlength. (Large volume models).

2.   Forward and back movement:

Omni-Flow 5

The front shoulder straps and chest straps are one piece, forming a continuous loop on each side. Each strap can slide freely through a small loop at the end of the U Flow low friction strip, allowing full twisting of your upper torso. (Small daypacks)

V-Flow 6

The top stabilizer straps straps are linked together with a web that slides freely through a loop in the top of the pack when your shoulders twist relative to your hips. (Large daypacks).

3. Upper pack stability:

X-Flow 7

  1. When Balance Pockets used: The sternum straps connect to the opposite side Balance Pocket in an X configeration. They do not touch your chest.

  2.  When Balance Pockets not used: Optional X Flow chest straps link the shoulder pads across the chest in a movement compatible X configuration, spreading the load over a large area of the body and increasing stability.

FREEING THE HIPS

Multi-Flow 8

1. Hip rocking:

  Hipbelts pivot at the center to allow a natural rocking of your hips as you walk, and larger hip movement when climbing.

2. Hip twisting:

   On the largest models, the hipbelt ends connect to Load-transfer tubes that spread the load equally to the front and back of the hipbelt. A cord links the ends of the tubes to the bottom of the pack. The cord slides freely through a low friction slot in the bottom of the pack when the hips twist.

   On the mid volume models, the hipbelt ends are connected by a low friction plastic strip, which runs through a slot in the front of the pack.

The strip slides freely in the slot when the hips twist.

3.  Forward bending:

Flexi-flow 8

  1. Medium-large packs: Two design details work together here. Firstly, the bottom of the hipbelt and the mesh backpanel are not sewn into the bottom of the pack, but they connect to it by shockcord. The shockcord stretches when you bend forward to climb a slope. Secondly, the center of the hipbelt is attached to the pack via a web which is under tension when you stand upright, but slackens to allow back extension when bending forward.

 2. Daypacks: The lower ends of the pack frames are flexible and flex as you bend forward.

4-8 =Patented features

COMBINING ALL BODY MOVEMENTS

  *  Each shoulder and hip Flow Motion system is combined differently for small and large packs to achieve the optimum stability for the weight capability of the pack. Twisting of the shoulders relative to your hips is achieved at shoulder level on the daypacks (V Flow, Omni Flow) and at hip level on the larger packs (Multi Flow).

 *  Our Flow Motion systems give you an amazing ability to twist, rock, stretch and bend under load—to move your body freely and naturally.  Its a new feeling of freedom under load. You can dance with the pack on!

  * Yet you don’t have to be doing extreme moves to experience the benefits that Flow Motion brings. Even when walking, you will feel the shoulder straps and hipbelt move with each step, reducing the build-up of fatigue.

  * Research verifies that Flow-motion enhances balance, and makes your pack more stable than fixed harness designs. Flow Motion increases your safety in dangerous country.

NATURAL SHAPING

Ergonomics Applied

Making all body contact parts a mirror image of your size and shape.

FORM FITTING FRAMES

Why have a frame?

   The frame holds the blueprint of your back shape. Our frames are easy to remove and custom bend to match your shape, creating the blueprint. The frame’s job is to maintain this shape when the pack is loaded and to bring the load as close to your back as possible.

Why other packs are a backache waiting to happen

   Frameless packs, and the most common internal frame system, twin vertical stays, give the worst possible shape for back comfort. When these packs are stuffed tightly, the backpanel rounds out to a convex shape horizontally (A)—the opposite shape to your back. The side profile is increased so that the load is positioned further from your back, and the load is concentrated down the spine. The the pull back pressure on the shoulders is increased resulting in a greater forward lean and increased back strain! The addition of a plastic framesheet is an improvement as it keeps the backpanel flat horizontally (B), bringing the load closer to the back.

Why our packs are backsavers

We take pack design further with the concave backpanel (C)—a custom mouldable shape- that brings the load closest to your back. The vertical divider further narrows the profile (D). The result is the most upright posture and the least back strain. Even with Balance Pockets, it remains important to keep the load close to your back, because the smaller volume in the front Balance Pockets cannot fully counterbalance a pack that hangs far from your back.

Ideal position for pockets

   Now you know why our packs look different— slim from the side and wide from behind. You won’t find any large pockets or clip-on daypacks on the front of our packs farthest from your back, the worst position for load carrying comfort! Large pockets are on top, the sides or carried in front of you.

   Here’s how the frame components work together to achieve mirror image shaping:

FRAME SYSTEMS

 1.  Auto-Mould Frames 6

These are used in our daypacks for loads up to 15 kg. These consist of:

   * A Matrix Mesh backpanel – this forms the ventilating air-gap between  the frame and your back.

   * Horizontal aluminium stays create the horizontal concave backpanel shape that keeps the load close to the back.

   * A half length vertical stay is used to maintain the curve over your upper back. When you tighten the hipbelt, the lower part of the backpanel is automatically pulled in to match your back shape.

   * An arc shaped acetal rod –this maintains the Matrix Mesh tension, and flexes when you bend forward.

   * Balance Pockets are used to transfer weight to the front of the hipbelt.

 2.  U-Lite frames

These are used in our mid-large ultralite packs for loads up to 25 kg. These consist of:

   * A Matrix Mesh backpanel – this forms the ventilating air-gap between   the frame and your back.

   * A lightweight vertical divider creates the horizontal concave backpanel shape that keeps the load close to the back.

   * One or two vertical aluminium stays are used to maintain the customised vertical back shape.

   * A hoop shaped acetal rod –this maintains the Matrix Mesh tension, and prevents distortion of the backpanel shape when side compression straps are tightened.

   * Balance Pockets are used to transfer weight to the front of the hipbelt.

 3.  Custom Mould Frames 6

These are used in our largest packs for loads up to 40 kg. They consist of:

 * A Matrix Mesh backpanel – this forms the ventilating air-gap between   the frame and your back.

   * A lightweight frame grid of Horizontal and vertical aluminium stays- these maintain the blueprint of your back shape. The vertical stays are easy to remove and custom mould to the curves of your back.

   * A perimeter rod –this tensions the Matrix Mesh backpanel, and prevents distortion of its shape when side compression straps are tightened.

   * Load-transfer tubes- these transfer part of the load to the front of the hipbelt (largest models only).

PELVIC FORM HIPBELTS

Why have a hipbelt?

 * Research shows that the hips are more suited to load carrying than the shoulders. The hipbelt’s job is to transfer the weight in the backpack to the hips.

* FlowMo Bodypacks are designed to carry nearly all the weight on the hips. Because Bodypacks balance weight in front and behind the wearer, it is possible to completely eliminate backwards and downwards loading on the shoulders. (This is impossible with a backpack).

* Also with a Bodypack we can create an equal loading on the back and front of the hipbelt. Research at Queens University, Canada has shown that even loading of the hipbelt front and back reduces strain by 10%.

  Note that a backpack concentrates the loadings on the back of the hipbelt, causing a rotational force on the pelvis. With backpacks you will often notice the front hipbelt strap digging in as the hipbelt slips down at the back. This is because only the rear of the hipbelt carries the weight of the pack. This rotational loading on the hips is counteracted by muscle tension, causing strain and fatigue.

 With Bodypacks:

 1. Putting weight on the front of the hipbelt is the job of the Balance Pockets. They balance the weight transferred to the rear of the hipbelt by the pack.

 2. Our largest Bodypacks also use Load transfer tubes to transfer some of the weight in the backpack to the front of the hipbelt. As a result the hipbelt transfers its load to the packs frame at three equally spaced points around the hips. Your hips can carry more weight in comfort.

* While the pelvis is a great load carrying structure, the hipbelt must be exceptional in design to take all the weight without causing brusing. Years of development and refinement have gone into our hipbelt designs. The positioning of our hipbelt parts is customizable to your pelvis size, and the tensioning system automatically moulds the hipbelt shape to match your hips. We are very pleased with the performance of our latest hipbelts. Our hipbelts come in 3 styles:

1. Auto-form Hipbelts are used in the smaller packs. The bottom part of the hipbelt wraps around your pelvis. The top part of the hipbelt is made of stretch fabric that automatically moulds over the top of your hips.

2. Custom-fit Hipbelts are used in our mid- volume packs

3. Ultimate-fit Hipbelts are used in our largest packs.

These both share the following features:

Pelvic-form Shaping

  We don't use thick padding to approximate to your hip shape. Instead we use 3 thin, precisely shaped hipbelt parts: a center section which can be customized to match the pelvis size and shape (Micro-adjust), and 2 flexible ends which mould around the front and top of your hips when the belt is tensioned (Auto-moulding). Design points:

 * The ends of the hipbelt are made of stretchy breathable Matrix Mesh.

 * The centre part of the hipbelt uses stiffer foam and has a high grip surface to prevent downward slippage. 

 *The bottom of the hipbelt curves up to arch over your hip sockets to facilitate full leg movement without constricting pressure.

 * The thinness of our hipbelts means they work better with climbing harnesses.

Micro-adjust

  Our hipbelts come in three sizes to cover the whole spectrum of pelvis sizes. Within each size you can fine-tune the length and angle of the center section of the hipbelt. The center section is composed of 3 parts that join together with velcro. Line up the join between the 3 parts so the front edge follows the front edge of your hipbone.

                                    Adjusting hipbelt size.

Adjust the angle between the parts to equalize the pressure at the top and bottom of the pelvis.

                                 Adjusting hipbelt angle.

Auto-moulding

  Our hipbelts have separate top and bottom webs connecting the center buckle. This distributes the load over a wider area of your hips by moulding the stretchy Matrix mesh ends around the front and top edges of your hipbone. This also creates a pulley system, giving you a 2:1 leverage for easy tightening of the hipbelt. The Cam-loc buckles used for tensioning can be locked prevent hipbelt slippage. Opening and closing the hipbelt is done via the center buckle.

  Coming late 2009 are separate cam-lock buckles on the top and bottom webs that can be tightened individually to mould the hipbelt precisely to your contours. The cams can be closed to lock the shape in place. One web loop connects both buckles: this is easy to grab and gives a solid handle for precisely tensioning the hipbelt webs.

AUTO-MOULD SHOULDER STRAPS

    Our shoulder straps are made of expensive Matrix Mesh, a fabric with a wonderful 3-D structure and outstanding characteristics:

 * Air permeability

 * Heat exchange

 * Shock absorption

 * Resiliency

 * Stretch

 * Low weight.

   This 3-D spongy lattice stretches over your shoulders, automatically moulding to your exact shoulder shape. It is slim to prevent rolling and soft enough to cushion the load.

   Our shoulder straps come in 2 sizes. They are gently S-curved to match the contours of your shoulders. Adjustable back-lengths allow you to position the V of the shoulder straps at the most comfortable width between your neck and the outside of your shoulders.

   X-Flow chest straps 12 eliminate the pressure and breathing restrictions of a conventional sternum strap, lightly disperse the load over the whole chest area for the greatest comfort, and lock the pack close to the body for the greatest stability.

BACKLENGTH ADJUSTMENT

   Clip Torso-adjust is used on the small and mid-volume packs to adjust the shoulder strap height to your torso length. A stainless steel clip behind the mesh backpanel can be clipped into different web slots.

  Web Torso-adjust is used on the large packs. This allows you to adjust the back-length with the pack on. Pull the webs at sides of the backpanel up to shorten the backlength: loosen the buckles to lengthen.

Fitting men and women

We don’t make separate men’s and women’s packs. We believe it is marketing hype to say one shape fits all men and another fits all women. This is because there is as much variation in the shape of backs, shoulders and hips within each sex as there is between sexes (chests are another matter and we deal with this with 2 sorts of chest strap). The ideal solution is complete adjustability for the ultimate precision fit to your unique size and shape, whether you are male or female. The following features allow complete customization:

  * All but our smallest daypack come in two back-lengths; within each back-length the height of the shoulder straps can be fine-tuned over a range of 10 cm or more.

  * Our daypacks have frames that automatically mould to your shape.

  * Larger models have vertical frames that are easy to remove and bend to your back shape.

  * Our Matrix Mesh shoulder straps auto-mould to your shape.

  *The top stabilizer straps auto-adjust to the right height (large models).

  * Pelvic-forn hipbelts can be adjusted in length and angle at the back, allowing men and women to customize fit to their different hip shapes. The hipbelt tensioning system automatically moulds the flexible hipbelt ends to match the top and front edges of your hips.

  * When Balance pockets are not used there are 2 chest strap styles: Sternum straps and X Flow straps.

 For men and most women, the X Flow straps are more comfortable than the Sternum straps, as they don't restrict your breathing and spread the load over a wide area. They are available as an option on models where they are not standard equipment.  However big-breasted women may find the X Flow chest straps uncomfortable and they should use the standard Sternum strap.

  *When Balance Pockets are used the Sternum straps are used in a special way: each strap clips to the matching buckle on the opposite Balance Pocket. The straps now cross in an X configeration above but not touching your chest. (This is analogous to the X Flow straps when the Balance Pockets are not used).

  * Sternum straps are height adjustable so they can be positioned to cross the sternum at the most comfortable position.

  * X Flow straps can be adjusted in height so they cross in the center of the chest.

VENTILATION SYSTEMS

Matrix Mesh

The exceptional ventilation of our packs comes from using Matrix Mesh at body contact points. Thin Matrix Mesh is used in the shoulder straps and hipbelt ends. It is so breathable you can see through it. Matrix Mesh with largers pores is used in our backpanel.  Air warmed by the body moves up through the mesh and exits out the top drawing in cooler air from below. This natural thermo-siphon system keeps your back cooler. These superb materials keep your body cooler during strenuous activity and in hot conditions, reducing strain on the body.

100% WATERPROOF

Dri-liners

Keeping your clothing and equipment dry is essential, especially in cold conditions. Our Dri-liners 13 make the interior of our packs 100% waterproof.  The outer pack fabric provides the strength and abrasion resistance; and the inner, which has taped seams, provides the waterproofness.

 The top of the pack rolls down and clips together with buckles—just like canoe bags—for a complete seal. You can float your pack across rivers and your gear will stay dry. The liner is removable for lightness in dry climates and replaceable, should the coating eventually degrade.  This patented feature has now been licensed to other manufacturers.

Dri-liners are standard on our top opening packs (except the smallest) and on one of our Balance Pocket models. When doing weight comparisons with other brands, add the weigh of a separate waterproof liner bag to their product to get a true comparison.

9-13 = Patented features

VERSATILITY

Compression systems

     These compress the load towards your back to accommodate varying amounts of gear in the pack.     

    Cord-loc uses lacing on the front of the pack. Items such as closed-cell foam mats or clothing can be carried under the cord system.  

    Web-loc uses webs instead of cords to compress the load and carry items.

    Auto-slim uses two pairs of crossing straps on the front of the pack. These wrap around the pack sides and become the hipbelt webs. Tighten the hipbelt and the pack automatically compresses to the slimmest possible profile for the optimum weight distribution!   

                      Full load                       Half load

CUSTOMISING YOU PACK FOR SPECIFIC PURPOSES

    By adding clip-ons you can adapt one model for many different uses and you don't have to carry the weight of accessories you don't need. It also means you don't have to buy different packs for different uses, saving money. Our Clip-on range consists of:

 Balance Pockets

*Compact  *Sport  *Expedition *Photo (coming late 2009)

Clip-on Straps  

* X Flow * Lasso-loc * Ski * Snowboard

* Tool Quivers

* Optional Daypack liners