Ergonomic backpacks

Anyone who has ever lugged 35 pounds of gear up a mountain on a narrow trail, leaning forward to heft the weight with back and shoulders, knows how backpacking can throw off one’s balance.

New Zealand gear designer Aarn Tate claims to have found a solution to this problem: The Aarn FlowMo Bodypack wraps around a hiker, with front pouches front and back, designed to spread the weight of gear and put the burden on the hips.

A Colorado Springs company is the sole American importer of the packs.

“I‘ve seen many people with completely overpacked, overstuffed backpacks doing that forward lean,” said Dana Adoretti of Aarn North America, who learned about the packs through a relative in New Zealand.

“It balances the weight a little better. You’ve got some on the front, some on the back. You can stand more upright, with better posture,” he said.

Adoretti received his first shipment of the packs in November and recently expanded the inventory to 10 packs, including ultralight and mountaineering models. Cost is $135 to $360 and carrying capacity is 22 to 75 liters.

For best results, hikers should put their heavier gear, food and water in the front pouches, for maximum balance.

Reviews have been largely positive of the design. The Out There staff found the pack lived up to its claim of providing good balance and cutting down on back and shoulder fatigue. Still, it felt and looked a little awkward having bulk on the chest.

Like some other reviewers, we noted how complicated the pack is to get on and off, with many small adjustments required.

“There are some more customizable aspects of the pack that do take some time, but once you get it dialed in to your body and your fit, it really pays off.

“It’s not just a pull-it-off-the-wall, cinch-up-a-couple-straps-and-go pack,” Adoretti said.

For information on the packs available here, visit aarnusa.com.