The Secret to Effortless Backpacking: How the Outro's Suspension Disappears
The Moment Backpacking Clicked: More Than Just a Hike
I'll never forget the day backpacking clicked for me. For a few years, it had felt more like a chore, despite the incredible rewards of stunning scenery, pristine alpine lakes, and towering summits. Then, when I was 12, hiking with friends to Kings Peak in Utah's High Uinta Wilderness, something shifted. I realized I was actually enjoying it. My pack fit just right, I was moving at a great pace, and I found myself counting a rhythmic "1, 2, 3, 4..." with each step. Suddenly, an hour had flown by, and I hadn't even noticed. More importantly, I felt good while backpacking – I realized I genuinely loved the activity itself!
That moment ignited a lifelong passion. As I got older, I experimented with all sorts of gear – some great, some not so much. I spent days, solo and with friends, exploring desert canyons and wild places across the USA, Europe, and Asia. Through all those miles, one truth became crystal clear: a comfortable, happy backpacking experience hinges on proper backpack fit. Just like that day when I was 12, I wanted my pack to disappear, to simply become an extension of me, allowing me to move fast and comfortably without even thinking about it.
Designing the Outro: Inspired by Comfort, Built for Your Body
These defining experiences heavily influenced how we designed the Outro to fit and move. We knew it needed to last, so durability was paramount. But equally important was a suspension that felt compliant and responsive to your body, not stiff and rigid like many traditional internal frames. We also recognized that modern gear is far lighter and more compact than it was in the 1980s and 90s. And most critically, we wanted the pack to adjust perfectly to your body.
That's why we deliberately made the Outro bags more streamlined, eliminated unnecessary features, and engineered an advanced adjustable suspension system.
The Science of Carry: Understanding Pack Geometry
The geometry of a backpacking pack is absolutely essential, though often overlooked. At the top of most large packs, you'll find a set of nylon webbing straps connecting the top of the shoulder harness to the pack's suspension frame. When fitted correctly, your harness should comfortably match the curve of your shoulder. These straps, called load lifters, should angle up to the suspension at approximately a 45-degree angle.
When properly tensioned, these load lifters pull the top of the pack forward, effectively centering the backpack's weight closer to your body's center of gravity. This is crucial for maintaining efficient, balanced movement on the trail. If the load lifter angle is too low, the weight won't center properly. If it's too steep, the load won't shift enough to truly optimize your balance.
The Pingora Difference: Consistent Comfort for Every Hiker
Here's where the Outro's suspension truly stands apart. In most adjustable backpack suspensions, modifying the torso length often changes the critical angle of the load lifters. This means that comfort and carrying efficiency can vary wildly depending on your body size. Hikers at the extreme ends of the torso adjustment range often experience little to no effective load distribution from their load lifters.
At Pingora, we set out to change this with the Outro's innovative adjustable suspension.
Both the Pingora Outro 40-liter and 55-liter packs adjust torso length directly via the waist belt. The pack's flexible spring steel wire frame is connected directly to the waist belt, and then immediately to the load lifters. This ingenious design maintains an optimal load transfer angle regardless of your torso size. This means that every user can adjust the torso length to their perfect fit and keep that crucial load lifter angle consistent. The result? Every single user gets the same exceptional level of comfort and carrying efficiency on the trail.
