So, doing my pack training for my first elk hunt, and I'm quickly realizing that carrying a pack for a half hour to a whitetail stand (most of what I've used packs for in the past) hasn't taught me much about how it really needs to be set up to carry right on my back. Glad I'm learning now and not in the Rockies. I've been putting between 25 and 40 lbs in my Eberlestock X2 and taking hikes with 900-1000' climbs to get acclimated to the pack, weight on my back, etc.

What process do you use to adjust your pack(s) to carry properly? And...corollary.....how do you gauge pack fit on your body? Meaning, when do you decide "ok, I've done all I can to adjust this thing, and it doesn't fit"?

I want to get things sorted out now and during my workouts/training and be good to go in October when I head west. Any help is much appreciated.

If you go on the Kifaru website, I think they have a video on that. I normally put the pack on, bend forward at the waist, and shrug the pack up high and snug up the waist belt first. Then tighten the shoulder straps while still leaving most of the load on the hips. Then the load lifters, and last, the sternum strap.