The straps aren't the problem — the load is

Shoulder straps dig into your neck when the pack’s weight is hanging off your shoulders instead of your hips.

Nine times out of ten, the straps aren’t the problem — the load is. A properly fitted pack puts most of its weight on your hip belt. The shoulder straps are just there to keep the pack stable. If they’re digging into your neck, the weight is falling backward and dragging on your traps.

First fix: tighten the load lifter straps. Those are the little straps angling from the top of the shoulder strap to the pack body. Pull them snug and the pack leans into your upper back instead of away from it.

Then check the hip belt. It should sit on your hip bones, not up on your waist. Tighten the hip belt first, then loosen the shoulder straps so they just skim your shoulders. If it still pulls at your neck, the pack’s torso length may be wrong for your body — measure your back and check the fit chart.

Last: how it’s packed. Heavy gear goes high and close to your spine, not at the bottom. And the sternum strap belongs around armpit height. Lower than that, and it drags the straps inward into your neck. Done all this and it still bites? The strap shape may just not fit your build — some packs sit wide or straight where you need curve.

Your shoulders should never carry more than a quarter of the load. Fix the hips and the neck pain goes away.