Very good upgrade. I wish they would give you an option when ordering the main frame for these upgrades now I have a belt with no use and extra cost 💲
The Eberlestock padded hip belt adds tremendous value to a pack. I put one on the Operator and couldn't believe the difference. It places a significant amount of pack weight on the hips, thereby relieving weight on the shoulders. My only complaint is that the padded hip belt should be an upgrade option for each pack. What to do with the hip belt which I initially paid for and have now discarded?
If you have a larger than average frame the padded belt will fit more comfortably and correctly on your hips enabling you to carry heavy loads. When you combine the padded hip belt with the extra padded shoulder harness you have a true heavy pack system. For anything over 45 pounds the standard waist belt and shoulder straps are woefully inadequate.
Great hip belt
Much better than the one that came with the pack. Molly attachments come around the front far enough to be useable with a pouch.
The padded hip belt is exactly as Eberlestock describes and recommends. With my pack standard contingency gear and food and water, the padded hip belt felt good. At first I thought the belt padding might be thicker than ideal. I was wrong. Today was the first good test carrying an additional twenty-two pounds of climbing gear on top of my standard load, bushwacking several miles cross-country along a river, side sloping, and up and down some steep terrain. The padded hip belt felt awesome, and I did not really feel any strain on my hips. Material and craftsmanship is heavy duty excellent. The belt buckle straps secure good. Comfort is outstanding. For reference, I am 5'11" 175 pounds, with small low body fat waist. The padded hip belt was a perfect pack upgrade, money well spent.
it helped me out tremendously, nice product