I second the C7 - my next door neighbour got blown up in Irag (yeah, another Snatch Landrover!!) and his lower back mainly consists of lots of metalwork now - he swars the only sack he can carry is the Bioflex sacks by Berghaus.

He has carried wild camping kit for three days in the C7 with only minor niggles, but his back aint what it used to be! Think I complained more than he did!!

Possibly try a Berghaus C7 series rucksack with the bioflex back system. However as had already been said, go and try a range on with weight in to see if they impact on your back.

hi scott,

i have got a shoulder injury (nerve damage) which i have had for over 11 years now. you need to make sure the sac has a good frame and what is good for one person may not be right for someone else. when you try the sac on do it in just a tee shirt so you get a feel for what it will be like without padding in the warmer months. you should be able to get the weight on the hips and not the back so that should help. i get on well with karrimor bags but as i say it is different for all of us so make certian you try plenty of different makes and models before you commit your cash. i wish you luck and happy hiking.

Can I suggest you try some rucsacs and see if they are comfortable or not

Another suggestion is - I see lots of people now with "bumbags" which will fit around the waist and carry bare essentials - water & waterproofs etc   Try one !

Hi Scott . A good backpack should take the weight on the hipbelt and shoulder straps . All depends on what capacity you`re looking for . I`m no expert / doctor but the sac MUST have a decent back system / frame and have  adjustable back length so it fits properly . Take a look at the KESTREL series from osprey - Very comfortable and plenty of adjustment . I got a 70 litre Aether a couple of years ago after a succession of lowe alpine and berghaus rucksacks and found it to be in a different league !!

Ellis brigham seems the only place to stock them around here ........