A shoulder strap pad for carrying a bag on the shoulder includes a load-bearing backing member attached to or integral with the shoulder strap and a resilient cushion attached to the lower side of the backing member. The lower surface of the cushion is covered by a non-abrasive material and is formed with a plurality of raised pads for contacting the shoulder and a lengthwise-extending padded collar region along the inner side thereof for protecting the exposed surfaces of the neck and/or shoulder against chafing.
A bladder for use with a strap to carry a load includes a first longitudinal chamber, a second longitudinal chamber spaced apart from and substantially parallel to the first longitudinal chamber, and a plurality of transverse chambers. Each transverse chamber is connected at a first end thereof to the first longitudinal chamber and at a second end thereof to the second longitudinal chamber, is in fluid communication with the first and second longitudinal chambers, and has a longitudinal axis extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the other transverse chambers.
