Hey y’all. Just got a 45L Gregory pack and I’m having issues with chafing above my hip bones on both sides. It’s driving me nuts, happened on two hikes now. I’m not super skinny, but I’m not big either, so I don’t think that’s why. Is it just the way I have it set up, or is this something everyone deals with? Any tips would be amazing.
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That might be a fit issue. Try adjusting the hip belt higher or lower. Also, are you wearing thicker clothing? A tighter shirt can help prevent rubbing.
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Dude, don’t even remind me, but I ended up getting some body glide- anti chafing stick (the stuff runners use for chafing), which helped me man. You could try that before messing too much with the fit.
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That’s interesting, Where did you get the body glide from? Sounds like a good backup plan if adjusting doesn’t help.
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You can grab it at pretty much any outdoor store or even on Amazon. It’s cheap, and honestly, I always keep a stick in my pack now just in case.
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If the chafing’s happening between your belt and the hip belt, I’d say loosen the belt on your pants a little? That can make a big difference. Happened to me with my older pack, and it was just the two fighting for space, lol.
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Haha, makes sense. I might’ve had my belt on too tight because the pack was shifting a bit on the last hike.
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It could just be that the pack isn’t broken in yet. Some packs just need a few hikes to settle in. Also, how much weight are you carrying? I noticed when I overloaded my bag, it caused chafing ‘cause the straps dug in more than usual. Maybe check your load.
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I did load it up for both hikes… I’m probably overpacking for day trips. Maybe I’ll try lightening the load next time.
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Yup, definitely try carrying less. Plus, lighter is better anyway. No point lugging around extra stuff if you don’t need it.
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Speaking of overload, are you making sure the weight’s distributed right? I put the heavy stuff at the bottom once and it killed my hips. Pack the heaviest stuff close to your back, around the middle, and it’ll feel a lot better.
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Ah, that’s probably it!. I think I’ve been putting my water and snacks toward the bottom. Gonna rethink my packing strategy now, haha.
Yeah, definitely shift the weight. Trust me, once you dial that in, the pack will feel 10x better. And you could try putting some moleskin on the spots that are rubbing before you head out.
Body glide, moleskin, weight balance… we’re basically building the ultimate anti-chafe system here 
. Thanks everyone.