Yeah, you might be right...


For heavy loads, I seem to do the opposite of what you do : I lower the load, down to my hips.

When hiking, I use another backpack , capacity 35liters (I'm in the market for another one, slightly bigger - in the 45 liters range), which was quite heavily loaded.
But I am looking at reducing the weight (even if am looking at a more voluminous pack)
And as I explained before, that backpack has a good, large and confortable waistbelt which is mainly sitting on my hips, so my back is not supporting the load.

Now, for EDC, on everyday work, I carry my Maxpedition Condor, loaded with a portable computer and various papers/doc and tools. Not really light, but not too heavy (that pack is rather on the small size side).
And I don't have to walk long distances with it : from my car, or Paris subway, or train to my customers offices.
A few times, I tried to use it as you describe.
Putting it higher and closing the "waist" strap around my chest : it's somewhat better, but then it hinder my respiration a bit .... <img src="/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />


ah ... and another thing I'm working on : reducing the weight of ... the bearer.... lost more than 10kg ... I'm halfway... still about 12 or 13kg to loose...
that should also be good for my back ! <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />