Backpacking and hiking enthusiasts know too well the importance of loading a backpack for optimal weight dispersion. The most critical area of the loaded pack, however, could be the waist belt. This apparatus is what evenly distributes the load on your hips when adjusted appropriately. All backpacks are constructed differently, and all sorts of backpackers' hips vary in proportion. To boost your waist-belt to fit your hips, you need to first understand how to tighten it properly, to make adjustments here and there to further improve the belt's efficiency. The tightening and adjusting process is one of critical to guarantee comfort, especially over longer treks or extended hiking trips into the backcountry.