Attach the top piece to your backpack by sliding it between the backpack’s shoulder straps and the straps that attach your shoulder straps to the backpack. Do one side first, then the other.

Join the two top piece side straps using the attached G-hook across the top of the straps that attach the shoulder straps to the backpack.

As shown in the photo:

• The two channels on the ends of the top piece should face your back when you are carrying the backpack
• The red ‘R’ should be on top and on your right when you are carrying the backpack
• The blue ‘L’ should be on top and on your left when you are carrying the backpack.

Place the bottom piece under your backpack, close to where your back will be as follows:

As shown in the photo:

• The keyhole-shaped holes on the trekking pole connectors should face upwards when you are carrying the backpack
• The red ‘R’ should be on top and on your right when you are carrying the backpack
• The blue ‘L’ should be on top and on your left when you are carrying the backpack.

Join the side straps from the bottom piece to each other using the G-hook, across the top of your backpack, to hold the bottom piece in place. The straps should go under the top pocket of the backpack, as shown.

Feed the side straps under under any straps your backpack has on its sides.

Now do up the centre strap. It should run around the centre of the backpack as shown, joining at the back of the backpack as shown in the next photo. It should go through a strap holder on the top piece, under the handgrip on the backpack and over the bottom piece and join at the back of the backpack using a G-hook.

Shows the centre strap joined at the back of the backpack with the G-clip.

If possible, the centre strap should go under the top pocket of the backpack as shown. The design of some backpacks does not allow this – if this is the case, it should go over the top pocket.

First place a plastic washer on the axle. These washers may be white or black, depending on availability – white is shown in the picture.

Then place a wheel on the axle.

Then put a second washer on the axle.

Then put an R-clip through the hole on the end of the axle.

Attach both wheels in the same way.

At this point you decide whether to carry or wheel your backpack. This is the point to return to when you are switching between carrying and wheeling.

If you are going to carry it you will want to ensure that the loops on the bottom piece are not catching on bushes etc as you walk past. Prepare the shock cords attached to the bottom piece as shown in the photo.

Then pass the bottom piece shock cords around the opposite trekking pole attachment then back, putting the loop over the nearest trekking pole attachment.

At this point you can pick your backpack up and carry it on your back as usual. No part of the Trekker’s Friend should touch your body – if it does, it should be easy to push it away.

To wheel your backpack, insert the bases of your trekking poles into the trekking pole attachments on the bottom piece. You will need to cross them diagonally, inserting them both at the same time.

The wide parts at the bottom of the trekking poles should go through the large parts of the keyhole-shaped holes on the top of the trekking pole attachments.

Note the proper way to insert the trekking pole into the trekking pole attachment on the axle. The widest part of the trekking pole should be fully inside the circular trekking pole attachment.

Then straighten the poles and align them with the channels at each end of the top piece. This will lock the poles into place at the trekking pole connectors on the axle.

Put the backpack shoulder straps behind the trekking poles and use the top piece shock cords to tie the trekking poles in place. Do this by winding several times around the trekking pole/top piece then snapping the loop on the end of the shock cord over the end of the top piece. Do each trekking pole in the same way.

Then use the bottom piece shock cords to tie the waist belt out of the way.

Take each shock cord across the waist belt, then behind the opposite trekking pole. Then bring it down and slip the loop on its end over the base of that trekking pole.

Put on the harness. It has two shoulder straps and a waist belt. On the right hand side the shoulder strap and waist belt are joined by a red carabiner. There is a blue carabiner on the left hand side.

The harness has a simple suspension system on each side of the waist belt. This consists of a suspension strap with a loop on each end and a piece of shock cord.

If you wish to remove the shoulder straps entirely you can undo them from the carabiner on the waist belt. You can also move their attachment point using the ladder arrangement on the waist belt.

The harness has a cord between the shoulder straps. You can move/adjust/remove this cord to suit yourself. The ladder arrangement on the shoulder straps provides multiple attachment points.

The suspension strap has a loop at each end of it. One loop should be attached to the carabiner, and the other loop should be free.

The red carabiner should be on the right hand side of your body and the blue carabiner should be on the left hand side of your body.

Put the suspension strap through the wrist strap of your trekking pole.

Bend the suspension strap back and attach the loop at the end to the carabiner.

Both loops on the end of the suspension strap are attached to the carabiner. The suspension strap goes through the trekking pole wrist strap.

Once you are used to using the Trekker’s Friend you’ll find that it’s a great idea to use the daypack it comes in to balance your load and take more weight off your shoulders.

Prepare the daypack attachment strap (which has an unusual ladder-like structure) as shown, passing it through the handgrip on your backpack and through the loop on the end of itself, so that it is attached to the backpack’s handgrip.

Then feed the long end of the daypack attachment strap to the back of your backpack, either under the top pocket of the backpack if possible, or over the top pocket if that is not possible.

Then lay the Trekker’s Friend down so that the backpack shoulder straps are towards the ground

Lie the daypack down with its hand grip facing up. The red and blue carabiners at each corner of its base indicate the right and left hand sides when in use respectively

Now join the daypack to the axle by putting the carabiners on the bottom of the daypack through the loops under the axle. These loops are on the ends of the bottom piece side straps.

More information on using these loops is below.

Then attach the G-hook on the daypack’s handgrip to one of the ‘rungs’ on the ladder of the daypack attachment strap.

Always ensure that the daypack is attached firmly so that it cannot touch the wheels (or ground) as you are moving. If it does, you will quickly wear a hole in the daypack.

The loops under the axle and at the base of the daypack allow multiple attachment points. This allows you to change the placement of the daypack to suit you best. If the daypack is attached more closely to the axle, as shown, it will better balance the weight of the backpack.

You can also attach the daypack further away from the axle, as shown. This is more suited to some loads and backpack designs.

More information using the daypack to balance your load is here.

Using the daypack in this way allows you to balance the weight of the backpack and thereby take more of the backpack’s weight off your body.

Please see here for some short videos on how to switch between carrying and wheeling your pack on the Trekker’s Friend.