Pacemaker and backpack issues.

I've a couple of waist packs, The Camelbak Repack and a Dakine Hot Laps.

Pros. 

They don't move around as much as you'd perhaps expect, both have got enough space for stuff multitool, tyre repair, snacks, keys, phone sort of thing. Plenty of compartments and key hooks so that stuff is secure. The Repack comes with it's own bladder (1.5lt IIRC) and the Hot Laps has two very secure bottle pouches so that you could carry about the same in bottles as the repack. The Hot Laps has some loops on the outside, so you can carry a rain jacket

Cons

They do jiggle about, there's nothing you can really do about it, loose enough to sit on your hips they move, cinch them up tightly and they begin to feel constricting. There's never as much space in them as a proper pack, so if you're a "kitchen sink" sort (extra layers, extra food, and so on) you're going to find them less appealing than a traditional ruck. The bladder in the Repack takes up a good deal of real estate, and the bottle on the Hot Laps makes it pretty heavy, the loops for a jacket are in the firing line of all the muck sprayed off your rear tyre. Both have pretty short belt loops, I'd say if you're more than a 38" waist these probs aren't going to be comfy.

Regardless of all that props for carrying on riding with a pacemaker. 👍

I don’t have a pacemaker. However 4 weeks is still relatively soon after having it changed and it is likely that there will still be some inflammation around the site of the pacemaker and the insertion scar. This should continue to improve over the next few months.

I have used a bumbag though. I’ve got a relatively cheap Deuter one, and I’ve been really pleased with it. Granted it doesn’t hold as much as a back pack, but that’s not always a bad thing as it encourages me to leave some unnecessary weight behind. My main beef with it is that the Deuter hydration bladder hose and valve are a bit fiddly, and I’d prefer a magnetic one.

No pacemaker, but I do have a couple of hip packs - a Camelbak Repack and an Evoc Hip Pack Pro

They are both a bit annoying and I only tend to use them on hot days when I don't want a backpack, or to carry a jacket.

The Evoc has a far better waist band, but they both end up slipping and want adjusting - especially as you drink more of the water

Regarding hip packs, I've got the Camelbak Repack that comes with the 1.5L bladder.

I've had it for about 6 months. My thoughts are:

If you use the bladder & fill it, it makes the pack pretty useless for kit storage, unless you want to go super-minimal. Also, as you drink, the straps obviously slacken off which means you have to cinch it up regularly. This is no big deal really and is easy to do, but something to take into account.
The bladder hose makes it a bit more of a faff to put on & take off, which isn't normally a problem but if you are in & out of the bag a lot it can be a pain.
Before getting it, I assumed you could just spin it around your body to get to it, but I have to always loosen it slightly or I can't spin it round.

If you use bottles, the pack makes a lot more sense to be honest. You can get loads more kit in, you don't need to adjust it as the bladder empties & it just seems to work better.

Where does the rubbing occur on the pack you have tried - presumably the shoulder straps as they come down your chest?
It might be worth trying different packs as these will have different strap positions. Also, I am sure I have seen women-specific Camelbaks with a 'boob-avoiding' kink in the straps - they call it S-curve. Maybe these would work better to give more clearance in the chest area?
I notice they also do 'bike vests' which have much wider straps. Maybe these would spread the load better & stop any chafing? Or would any contact cause chafing, do you think?

Can you create a foam doughnut or banana shaped insert to raise the strap away from the affected area?

Which hydration pack?

Where are the straps (and where is the pacemaker?)

For example the i have a couple of USWE packs and the straps sit slightly differently to the camelbak my ex uses and the other one that i had before (and broke). Might give you some options.

Also, some packs have WAY more adjustment round there.

Could you use a courier type bag, they often have a waist strap and the single shoulder strap may take a bit of weight off the pack. It may not be as stable as a full rucksack but could work

Depending on your bike frame design, this sounds like an ideal use case for bikepacking luggage? Take all the weight off your upper body and avoid any rubbing?

Alternatively, would something like a Salomon running vest work better than your existing pack? They tend to sit higher and have soft elastic straps across the chest rather than webbing.

Hi all,

Thanks for the replies so far.

So, this is my pacemaker:

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And this is how my backpack sits without any water in it. it just rubs and pushes on the one side of my pacey:

[url= https://i.postimg.cc/RhZNPvMC/processed-6-FF3-F7-C2-9838-46-A3-8422-3-A0798-F30-FFB-323-A6-E18-6-B82-473-A-BF68-E2012194-E781.jp g" target="_blank">https://i.postimg.cc/RhZNPvMC/processed-6-FF3-F7-C2-9838-46-A3-8422-3-A0798-F30-FFB-323-A6-E18-6-B82-473-A-BF68-E2012194-E781.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://postimages.org/ ]pic share[/url]

Obviously with 3 litres of water in it it will be a lot heavier and pull down more.

Oooofff, that's pretty much in the exactly wrong spot isn't it

Running vests may be the thing, or perhaps get one of the outdoor tailoring/repair companies to make you some thing customised?

Much broader straps 

The Henty Enduro 2.0 might work. It's a hip pack with shoulder straps so should be more secure than a conventional hip pack.

Single strap backpack ?

Some come with a waist strap as well so should be quite stable.

here is a pic of a camelbak chase vest (not women’s specific) in case it helps you figure out if it might be an option. I find it more comfortable than standard straps, but I don’t have a pacemaker.

Patagonia used to do a single strap backpack/bumbag that looked good. I could never justify it but it was decent looking.not sure which way the strap went though

Turns out they still do it

Looks great I reckon

Looks like you're going to need a DIY bag built for your torso and going around that area, probably starting with cutting up a normal rucksack into a single shoulder strap bag, and sewing/wrapping padded vest-pack style.

Bit of an awkward place, where shoulder straps go for you and there are backpackers discussing this problem, but they can get the weight off their shoulders at the waist. Discussion of s-straps too but maybe a padded vest-type would be best

https://learnmyog.com/fastpack.html

There's a blue/black vest pack image there, and a few videos on DIYing them.

I tick both your boxes.

I have ridden with a waist pack for quite a few years now and would only drag a normal pack out for big rides. Since having a pacemaker fitted a year ago last week I have solely ridden with a waist pack. I have a Dakine hotlaps with a 2 litre reservoir. I carry enough to get me out of trouble plus a foil blanket and phone. There are straps to carry pads which can be used for a jacket etc. yes they can move up and down but this is hardly noticeable when you’re riding. As the water reduces there are tabs you can pull which tighten the load and not the waist.
If you need more room for gear look at the Osprey seral 7 they look to have a bigger  carrying capacity.

I moved to a bumbag over a year ago, and really hardly ever use a back pack any more. I have a Camelbak Repack, and recently bought an Osprey 7litre. There is obviously not as much space as a back pack, but the Osprey has plenty of space for me. Even on longer rides, I use the hip pack.

honestly, I don’t notice them move ing around at all. I did start off with a cheaper pack (I think it was Lowe Alpine). I was always having to fiddle with the straps on that one and retighten. But with both the Camelbak and the Osprey, that is not an issue.

If you go into an Alpkit store, they have in store clothes and kit menders who love doing custom things for exactly this type of scenario...

They feature the interesting ones on their FB page.

Rack and panniers 😀

Think I'd be looking at something custom ... or a mix of frame/seat/bar bag and a hip pack for longer rides/carrying more kit.

I went bag free a few years ago, Podium bottles with Dirt lids, a tool bottle or saddle bag depending on the bike.  If I want to take extra layers or food I put a 'under top tube' frame bag on or a bikepacking tailpack if I want to take a change of clothes etc.

Last year I bought a Dakine Hotlaps waist pack...its OK, but at the same time I don't forget its there for the reasons others have stated.  I'll wear it reluctantly on one bike where I haven't sorted out a solution to hold tools and a tube.  Another negative is it renders your jersey pockets useless, so its not really adding much capacity...I also think it ruined the zip on one of my waterproofs by crushing it during a 4 day bikepacking trip in Scotland.

Bagless riding is great, if you can manage it, and less of a sweaty back 🙂