Sternum strap - yes or no?

**Nean** · 05-26-2005, 23:12

Gotta have my strap.

**Palmer** · 05-27-2005, 06:44

I need a sternum strap because I'm not symmetrical! My right shoulder strap will stay on without the sternum strap, but my left shoulder strap slides off. The sternum strap stops this. Am I the only one with this problem?

**TACKLE** · 01-31-2006, 03:27

No waistbelt either.

**Almost There** · 01-31-2006, 09:53

The sternum strap it appears is good if you have smaller shoulders(women like them) other than that it's a great place to hang my sunglasses when I don't need them. Used to use it all the time, but last few hikes I haven't and I don't miss it.

**Newb** · 01-31-2006, 10:14

I also use a sternum strap with my Travois...for really big loads

**Wonder** · 01-31-2006, 15:38

I use it......but the dam thing crushes my breasts

**QHShowoman** · 01-31-2006, 15:46

Another woman for the sternum strap, here. All my packs have sternum straps -- even my daypacks -- and I don't know how I ever got along without one. (I should also add that I am also "well endowed" in the chest area.)

When I travel for work, my daypack can often weigh close to 30 lbs and I've found that the sternum strap really helps to delay/often eliminate shoulder fatigue. When I cinch up the sternum strap, it makes an IMMEDIATE difference in how my load is distrubted and eases up on the shoulders.

**Rain Man** · 01-31-2006, 15:52

Sternum straps are said to help those whose arms swell and get numb from hiking, in cases where the shoulder strap restricts blood flow down the artery to the arm.

Personally, I like a sternum strap, plus I hang stuff from it. HANDY!

Rain

Man

.

**icemanat95** · 01-31-2006, 16:13

As packweight increases, they are increasingly useful. Lighter packs don't need them, thus many of the ultralighters find that they don't need them. I like to protect the bloodflow to my arms even though I have severely chopped my packweight back over the years.

**Patrick** · 01-31-2006, 17:22

Depending on terrain, heat, effort, etc, I like to adjust how my pack is sitting. I like the sternum strap because it changes where my shoulder straps are sitting and keeps any sore spots away.

I actually think it's more important on a pack without a hipbelt because there's that much more weight on your shoulders. Even with my Breeze carrying 18 lbs, I think a sternum strap is invaluable.

**Peaks** · 01-31-2006, 20:07

Originally Posted by trailgirl80

I use it......but the dam thing crushes my breasts

Have you tried moving the strap up or down?

**Ender** · 02-01-2006, 11:26

I don't use a sternum strap because I feel like it's constricting my breathing. I have however, in the past, used it to hang my camera from so it was easy to get to. Also, I put almost no weight at all on my shoulder straps, and instead load it all onto my hips.

**Wonder** · 02-01-2006, 18:39

Tried everything.....just a nessesary evil. Let's just say that I wasen't "built" for this sport

**MoBeach42** · 02-01-2006, 20:07

Originally Posted by The Weasel

Necessary with packweight over 35. Useful with packweight over 20. Unnecessary below that.

That's pretty much the conclusion that I came to. I realized once I had traded down to my little frameless pack I didn't even use it anymore.

**vipahman** · 02-06-2006, 18:25

If you are moving fast enough for your pack to have some minor swing, a sternum strap helps stabilize the pack and reduce the swing. I use it for rockhopping in streams, fast smooth downhills, etc. to increase stability. YMMV.

**vlippieee** · 02-11-2006, 22:00

oh you mean the boob strap? it functions to hold the pack close to the body as well as give us ladies some lovely cleavage hehehe

**astrogirl** · 02-11-2006, 23:07

Originally Posted by yappy

I like mine to kep my shoulders more comfy... I change it alot thru the day.. I also use it to hang my hat on...which is very convenient

Ditto that and Footslogger's comment.

I really need the thing. I need it so much that I went for the sternum strap option on my G5 Hyperlight pack. Without it, I get messed up shoulders and wind up gobbling Vitamin I.

So, it really varies frm person to person, apparently.

**Toolshed** · 02-12-2006, 00:18

I use 2 Sternum straps on my Lowe Alpine Contour Iv, but one on all my other packs. I amn a big guy though, I use to be a weightlifter, body builder and still have pretty broad shoulders. I like it that I can tighten them up and loosen the shoulder straps a little as well as the load lifter straps. I can also stick an umbrella handle down both straps and balance the top of it on my pack

Poll: Do you use a sternum strap?

Thread: Sternum strap - yes or no?

Thread Tools

Search Thread

Display

Posting Permissions