Key takeaways
- Load lifters run from the top of the shoulder straps to the top of the pack frame.
- They pull the top of the load in toward your body for balance and stability.
- Correctly set, they angle up at roughly 45° and keep the pack from pulling backward.
- Adjust them after the hip belt and shoulder straps as part of fine-tuning the fit.
What load lifters do
Load lifters are the straps that run from the top of a backpack’s shoulder straps up to the top of the pack frame. By tightening them, you pull the upper part of the load in toward your body — which stops the pack from pulling backward, improves balance and stability, and helps transfer weight efficiently between your shoulders and hips.
How to adjust them
Set them after the hip belt and shoulder straps, as part of fine-tuning the fit. Snug the load lifters so they angle up from the shoulders to the pack at roughly 45° and gently draw the load in — not so tight they lift the shoulder straps off your shoulders, not so loose the pack sags away from your back.
After loading a heavy pack and setting the hip belt and shoulder straps, a backpacker gives the load lifters a tug — the top of the pack pulls in against their back, the load stops sagging backward, and the whole pack suddenly feels balanced and controlled on the climb.
When they matter
Load lifters matter most on heavier loads and larger packs, where keeping weight close to the body is crucial for balance — especially on steep and uneven terrain. Small daypacks may lack functional ones. On a loaded internal-frame pack, properly set load lifters noticeably improve comfort and control.
The bottom line
Load lifters are the straps that pull the top of your pack in toward your body — keeping a heavy load balanced, stable, and off your lower back. Set them after the hip belt and shoulder straps, angling up around 45° with gentle tension. Dialed in, they're a small adjustment that makes a heavy pack ride markedly more comfortably and securely.
Frequently asked questions
What do load lifters do?
Load lifters are straps that connect the top of your shoulder straps to the top of the pack's frame. By tightening them, you pull the upper part of the load in toward your body, which stops the pack from pulling backward, improves your balance and stability, and helps transfer weight efficiently between your shoulders and hips.
How should load lifters be adjusted?
After setting your hip belt and shoulder straps, snug the load lifters so they angle up from the shoulders to the pack at roughly a 45-degree angle and gently draw the load in. They shouldn't be so tight that they lift the shoulder straps off your shoulders, nor so loose that the pack sags away from your back. A slight, balanced tension is right.
When do load lifters matter most?
They matter most on heavier loads and larger packs, where keeping the weight close to your body is crucial for balance and reducing strain — especially on uneven terrain and climbs. Small daypacks may not have functional load lifters. On a loaded backpacking pack, properly set load lifters noticeably improve comfort and control.
Sources
- Backpack fit — American Hiking Society
- Pack systems & fit — The Mountaineers