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My pack's hip belt buckle snapped on day two of the Wind River High Route
I was about 15 miles in, just past Island Lake, when I went to tighten it and the plastic just gave way. It was a 2018 model Osprey Exos, and I guess the sun and cold cycles finally got to it. I had to rig a fix with some paracord I keep in my repair kit, looping it through the belt webbing and tying it off. It held, but it wasn't comfortable and I couldn't get the weight transfer right for the rest of the 7 day trip. My shoulders were killing me by the end. Has anyone else had a buckle fail like that, and what's a better field fix than my sad cord knot?
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garcia.charles6mo ago
My 2016 Osprey Levity did the same thing on the John Muir Trail. I used a zip tie from my first aid kit, but it was still a rough fix.
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anthony_lane556mo ago
Wait, you had a zip tie in your first aid kit, @garcia.charles? That's actually kind of genius, I never would have thought of that. Still sounds like a nightmare to deal with miles from anywhere though. Makes me wonder what else is gonna break next on these older packs.
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caseyc306mo ago
Yeah, that zip tie trick is smart in a pinch, @anthony_lane55. The real worry for me is the fabric around those buckles getting thin and frayed. Once that starts, even a good fix is just buying time before a bigger tear happens. I ended up reinforcing mine with a needle and some heavy thread before my last trip.
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