1
Quick Start Instructions
If you bought your new ArcLight™ pack through a dealer who fitted the pack
to you, follow these brief instructions to double-check that your pack is adjusted
properly. If you would like a full description of how to fit the pack yourself, see
Sizing and Fitting ArcLight™ Packs
on page 11.
1.
Make sure the hipbelt is positioned at the very bottom of the slot behind the
lumbar pad. If it’s not, reach between the belt and lumbar pad, break loose the
hook-and-loop and reposition the belt.
2.
Load the pack with a reasonable amount of weight (25 to 40 pounds). Be sure to
fasten and tighten the internal load-control strap — this is the strap with a yellow
buckle found
inside
the pack bag near the top.
3 .
For maximum comfort, it is imperative that you observe the following ritual when
fitting the pack and
each time you put the pack on.
First, loosen the hipbelt trim
straps and shoulder-pad lift straps. Now put the pack on and adjust the straps in
the following order:
1 .
Center the hipbelt on your hip crests and tighten the belt.
2 .
Tighten the main shoulder straps comfortably snug.
3.
Firmly tighten the hipbelt trim straps — this is crucial to obtain the best
possible performance from your ArcLight™ pack.
4.
Retighten the main shoulder straps.
5.
Lightly tension the shoulder-pad lift straps.
6.
Place the sternum strap in a comfortable position on your upper chest and
snug it lightly.
4 .
Now check off the following points using the ‘Quick Start Fitting’ illustrations on
the left as a guide. Be sure you adopt a backpacking position by bending slightly
forward at the hips.
a .
The back panel of the pack should closely follow the contours of your back.
b .
The upper ends of the shoulder
pads
(not the unpadded Stretch Adjusters) should
terminate one to two inches below the junction of your shoulders and neck.
c .
The Stretch Adjusters should form a smooth extension of the framesheet up to
the shoulder pads.
d .
The curves in the shoulder pads should swing outward around your neck and then
inward at your upper chest before sweeping outward again to avoid the breast area.
e .
The lower end of the shoulder pads should terminate approximately two inches
below your armpits.
f .
The sliding buckle where the shoulder-pad lift strap exits the shoulder pad
should be at the top of your shoulder.
g .
The sternum strap should cross the middle of your upper chest in a comfort-
able position.
h .
The hipbelt’s pads should extend past the front points of your hipbones by an inch
or so, but not be so long that they prevent the belt from being tightened fully.
If everything checks out okay, you’re ready to load the pack for real and hit
the trail! If something feels uncomfortable, see
Sizing and Fitting ArcLight™ Packs
,
on page 11, for detailed instructions.
