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?

3 comments

3 Comments

garcia.charles2mo 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.

anthony_lane552mo 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.

caseyc302mo 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.