Mountainsmith Strapettes

Important stability for lumbar packs, especially the TLS Day.

I've been using the TLS Day and Tour for 5 years or so for lightweight hiking and biking plus my daily commute to work. At 5 feet 10 I found the straps a good length. In practice I've removed the buckles and attached the straps using the sliders. This provided a more stable and less twisty saggy over strappy system where the plastic Y divider, sits.

I started using the whole system as an alternative to a pack. Lumbar disc problems dictated I needed to do something to enable trips to the mountains etc and this system is unbeatable, but as I've mentioned it needed tweaking to make stability paramount especially on the Day lumbar pack.

Very little weight from the carry perspective is transferred to the shoulders. The strapettes just stop the lumbar pack when fully or over laden from pulling back.

Great gear, but I also feel the straps should be provided with the range of lumbar systems and not as an extra purchase. 

I got this for my Mountainsmith Tour bag. I carry 64 oz of water with my other gear my pack weight is around 15 to 17 pounds.

The first thing I can tell you is the instructions are no good. The backstraps connect to your shoulder strap location but I had problems with the front. I found this link on the internet which help a lot. http://www.backpackgeartest.org/reviews/Packs/Pack%20Accessories/Mountainsmith%20Strapette/Owner%20Review%20by%20Kathleen%20Waters/ this should solve problems with the front of the straps.

They really help with the extra weight, the onlydown side is that you can't spin your pack around as easy as before, not a very big loss. I didn't come across size information but I feel if your over 6 feet tall they may not work, the chest strap may be too close to your neck.

When on the trail the only problem I found was I had them too tight. I adjusted them one time and going up and down the hills was not a problem.

I feel they should have come with the pack, but I'm glad I bought it.

These are a must if you own a Mountainsmith!!! I recently purchased them after spending months of uncomfortable tweaking and adjusting my Mountainsmith as a messenger bag. I was never happy! I even wrote an angry review. 

Now however, with the Strapettes attached to my bag I love the thing! It is like a whole new bag! and I feel bad that I keep using it over my other bags even. The way they situate your load is amazing and they feel great.  It is my new favorite bag.

If you're going to own a Mountainsmith, definitely spend the extra bling and get the Strapettes. It is more than worth it.