I wanted to follow up on this post and thank everyone who offered suggestions and advice. I can’t thank you enough!
Yesterday afternoon, I spent a good bit of time at a locally-owned outfitter with a gentleman who went over current load-bearing technology and pack systems. It was a bit eye-opening, and the days of simple hip belts and such is long gone. I actually got to try on a system or two, and then work out the system and pack for my frame.
I’ve got more reading to do and I plan to go to a chain outfitter this week or next to try on another brand of pack (and verify the size I need). Bit more research, but well worth it and some of these newer pack systems truly rock. Also looking into new passport/ID holders, billfolds, and the like. I’ve been using an ID holder I picked up at Camp Victory, Iraq, as my wallet since 2007, and it is time for something new. So, looking at waterproof and RFID-blocking options, of which the outfitter yesterday had several.
Oh, I should mention that the Osprey packs several recommended have an option for an attachable day pack that could serve as my carry-on luggage as well.
Thank you all for the inputs, and for the introduction to the newer packs and systems. Much appreciated.
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Another thing that I didn’t see mentioned, but talk to your PT about what you *can* do to build muscle in that area.
Not *strength*–though of course you want to do that–but just *mass*. Muscle is padding under the backpack straps, so if there’s anything you can do to build that up, it’ll help.
Beware paralysis by analysis. Good enough is just that, usually at a substantial savings.
🙂 Good point. Turns out a friend of mine bought almost the exact same pack I was looking at the other day, and never used it. Still has most of the tags on it. I’m going to try it out next week to see how it does, and if it works out as I hope, will go get it properly fitted to me and look at smaller day-packs that attach to it that I can use as carry-on luggage. Will post the results.