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A backpack having a storage compartment (134) and a shoulder strap assembly (129a) attached at a first end to the storage compartment at a first location (140) and coupled at a second end to the storage compartment at a second location spaced from the first location. The backpack further includes a

A backpack having a storage compartment (134) and a shoulder strap assembly (129a) attached at a first end to the storage compartment at a first location (140) and coupled at a second end to the storage compartment at a second location spaced from the first location. The backpack further includes a buckle (116) attached to the shoulder strap assembly and a lift strap (118) having a first end (120) attached to the upper portion (136) of the storage compartment and spanning above the shoulder strap assembly from its location of attachment to the storage compartment to engagement with the buckle. The buckle is operable to selectively adjust the length of the lift strap to vary the proportion of the weight of the backpack supported by the shoulder strap assembly when engaged by the shoulders of a user wearing the backpack.

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1. A backpack comprising: (a) a storage compartment; (b) a shoulder strap assembly attached at a first end to the storage compartment at a first location and coupled at a second end to the storage compartment at a second location spaced from the first location; (c) a buckle attached to the shoulde

1. A backpack comprising: (a) a storage compartment; (b) a shoulder strap assembly attached at a first end to the storage compartment at a first location and coupled at a second end to the storage compartment at a second location spaced from the first location; (c) a buckle attached to the shoulder strap assembly; (d) a lift strap having a first end attached to the upper portion of the storage compartment and spanning above the shoulder strap assembly from its location of attachment to the storage compartment to engagement with the buckle; and (e) wherein the buckle is operable to selectively adjust the length of the lift strap to vary the proportion of the weight of the backpack supported by the shoulder strap assembly when engaged by the shoulders of a user wearing the backpack. 2. The backpack of claim 1, wherein the lift strap includes a second end extending beyond the buckle, wherein the buckle is operable to selectively adjust the length of the lift strap through manipulation of the second end of the lift strap. 3. The backpack of claim 1, wherein the buckle is actuatable between a first position, wherein the buckle prevents lift strap movement through the buckle in a first direction, and a second position, wherein the buckle permits movement of the lift strap through the buckle in the first direction. 4. The backpack of claim 3, wherein the buckle is actuatable between the first and the second positions through manipulation of a second end of the lift strap extending beyond the buckle. 5. The backpack of claim 4, wherein the buckle is actuatable from the first position to the second position by increasing the angle of inclination of the second end of the lift strap relative to the buckle. 6. The backpack of claim 4, wherein the buckle is actuatable from the second position to the first position by changing the angle that the second end of the lift strap extends from the buckle. 7. The backpack of claim 1, wherein the buckle is actuatable between a first position, wherein the buckle impedes lift strap movement through the buckle in a first direction for lengthening the lift strap, but permits lift strap movement through the buckle in a second direction opposite the first direction for shortening the lift strap, and a second position, wherein the buckle permits movement of the lift strap through the buckle in the first direction for lengthening the lift strap. 8. The backpack of claim 1, wherein the buckle includes a cam rotatable between a first position, wherein the cam impedes lift strap movement through the buckle in a first direction, and a second position, wherein the cam permits movement of the lift strap through the buckle in the first direction. 9. The backpack of claim 8, wherein the cam is biased to assume the first position. 10. The backpack of claim 8, wherein the cam is biased to the first position by an elastic member. 11. The backpack of claim 8, wherein the cam engages the lift strap in the first position and at least partially disengages from the lift strap in the second position. 12. The backpack of claim 1, further including: (a) a second shoulder strap assembly attached at a first end to the storage compartment at a first location and coupled at a second end to the storage compartment at a second location spaced from the first location; (b) a second buckle attached to the second shoulder strap assembly; (c) a second lift strap having a first end attached to the upper portion of the storage compartment and spanning above the second shoulder strap assembly from its location of attachment to the storage compartment to engagement with the second buckle; and (e) wherein the second buckle is operable to selectively adjust the length of the second lift strap to vary the proportion of the weight of the backpack supported by the second shoulder strap assembly when engaged by the shoulders of a user wearing the backpack. 13. The backpack of claim 1 further comprising a waist strap coupled to the lower portion of the storage compartment and operable to at least partially encircle the waist of a user. 14. The backpack of claim 13, wherein adjustment of the length of the lift strap selectively adjusts the ratio of weight carried by the shoulder strap assembly relative to the waist strap when the backpack is worn by a user. 15. The backpack of claim 1, wherein the lift strap passes substantially straight through the buckle without undergoing a substantially change in direction. 16. A backpack comprising: (a) a storage compartment; (b) a shoulder strap assembly attached at a first end to the storage compartment at a first location and coupled at a second end to the storage compartment at a second location spaced from the first location; (c) a buckle mounted on the shoulder strap assembly; (d) a lift strap having a first end anchored to the upper portion of the storage compartment and spanning above the shoulder strap assembly from its location of attachment to the storage compartment to engagement with the buckle, wherein the buckle is operable to selectively adjust the length of the lift strap to vary the proportion of the weight of the backpack supported by the shoulder strap assembly when engaged by the shoulders of a user wearing the backpack; (e) wherein a strap engagement member of the buckle is biased to assume a first position, wherein the strap engagement member impedes lift strap movement through the buckle in a first direction; and (f) is actuatable to a second position, wherein the strap engagement member permits movement of the lift strap through the buckle in the first direction. 17. The backpack of claim 16, wherein the strap engagement member is actuatable between the first and second positions through manipulation of a second end of the lift strap extending beyond the buckle. 18. The backpack of claim 17, wherein the buckle is actuatable from the first position to the second position by increasing the angle of inclination relative to the buckle of a second end of the lift strap extending outward from the buckle. 19. The backpack of claim 18, wherein the strap engagement member is actuatable from the second position to the first position by changing the angle of the second end of the lift strap that extends from the buckle. 20. The backpack of claim 16, wherein the strap engagement member is a cam rotatable between a first position, wherein the cam impedes lift strap movement through the buckle in a first direction, and a second position, wherein the cam permits movement of the lift strap through the buckle in the first direction. 21. The backpack of claim 16, wherein the strap engagement member is biased to the first position by an elastic member. 22. The backpack of claim 20, wherein the cam engages the lift strap in the first position and at least partially disengages from the lift strap in the second position. 23. The backpack of claim 16, further including: (a) a second shoulder strap assembly attached at a first end to the storage compartment at a first location and coupled at a second end to the storage compartment at a second location spaced from the first location; (b) a second buckle attached to the second shoulder strap assembly; (c) a second lift strap having a first end attached to the storage compartment and spanning above the second shoulder strap assembly from its location of attachment to the storage compartment to engagement with the second buckle, wherein the second buckle is operable to selectively adjust the length of the second lift strap to vary the proportion of the weight of the backpack supported by the second shoulder strap assembly when engaged by the shoulders of a user wearing the backpack; (d) wherein a second strap engagement member of the second buckle is biased to assume a first position, wherein the strap engagement member impedes second lift strap movement through the second buckle in a first direction; and (e) is actuatable to a second position, wherein the second s trap engagement member permits movement of the lift strap through the second buckle in the first direction. 24. The backpack of claim 16 further comprising a waist strap coupled to the lower portion of the storage compartment and operable to at least partially encircle the waist of a user. 25. The backpack of claim 24, wherein adjustment of the length of the lift strap selectively adjusts the ratio of weight carried by the shoulder strap assembly relative to the waist strap when the backpack is worn by a user. 26. The backpack of claim 16, wherein the lift strap passes substantially straight through the buckle without undergoing a substantially change in direction. 27. A backpack comprising: (a) a storage compartment; (b) a shoulder strap assembly attached at a first end to an upper portion of the storage compartment at a first location and coupled at a second end to the storage compartment at a second location spaced from the first location; (c) a buckle attached to the shoulder strap assembly; (d) a lift strap having a first end attached to the upper portion of the storage compartment at an attachment location, wherein the lift strap extends from the attachment location to pass substantially straight through the buckle without undergoing a substantial change in direction; and (e) wherein the buckle is operable to selectively adjust the length of the lift strap to vary the proportion of the weight of the backpack supported by the shoulder strap assembly when engaged by the shoulders of a user wearing the backpack. 28. The backpack of claim 27, wherein the lift strap includes a second end extending beyond the buckle, wherein the buckle is operable to selectively adjust the length of the lift strap through manipulation of the second end of the lift strap. 29. The backpack of claim 27, wherein a strap engagement member of the buckle is actuatable between a first position, wherein the strap engagement member prevents lift strap movement through the buckle in a first direction, and a second position, wherein the strap engagement member permits movement of the lift strap through the buckle in the first direction. 30. The backpack of claim 29, wherein the strap engagement member is actuatable between the first position and the second position through manipulation of a second end of the lift strap extending beyond the buckle. 31. The backpack of claim 30, wherein the strap engagement member is actuatable from the first position to the second position by changing the angle that the second end of the lift strap extends from the buckle. 32. The backpack of claim 31, wherein the strap engagement member is actuatable from the second position to the first position by decreasing the angle of inclination of the second end of the lift strap relative to the buckle. 33. The backpack of claim 27, wherein the strap engagement member is actuatable between a first position, wherein the strap engagement member impedes lift strap movement through the buckle in a first direction for lengthening the lift strap, but permits lift strap movement through the buckle in a second direction opposite the first direction for shortening the lift strap, and a second position wherein the strap engagement member permits movement of the lift strap through the buckle in the first direction for lengthening the lift strap. 34. The backpack of claim 27, wherein the strap engagement member is a cam rotatable between a first position, wherein the cam impedes lift strap movement through the buckle in a first direction, and a second position, wherein the cam permits movement of the lift strap through the buckle in the first direction. 35. The backpack of claim 34, wherein the cam is biased to assume the first position. 36. The backpack of claim 34, wherein the cam is biased to the first position by an elastic member. 37. The backpack of claim 34, wherein the cam engages the lift strap in the first position and at least partially disengages from the lift strap in the se cond position. 38. The backpack of claim 27, further including: (a) a second shoulder strap assembly attached at a first end to the storage compartment at a first location and coupled at a second end to the storage compartment at a second location spaced from the first location; (b) a second buckle attached to the second shoulder strap assembly; (c) a second lift strap having a first end attached to the upper portion of the storage compartment at an attachment location, wherein the second lift strap extends from the attachment location to pass substantially straight through the second buckle without undergoing a substantial change in direction; and (d) wherein the second buckle is operable to selectively adjust the length of the second lift strap to vary the proportion of the weight of the backpack supported by the second shoulder strap assembly when engaged by the shoulders of a user wearing the backpack. 39. The backpack of claim 27 further comprising a waist strap coupled to the lower portion of the storage compartment and operable to at least partially encircle the waist of a user. 40. The backpack of claim 39, wherein adjustment of the length of the lift strap selectively adjusts the proportion of the weight of the backpack supported by the shoulder strap assembly relative to the waist strap when the backpack is worn by a user.