well how do you ? I know there are zippers, where i can zip those side pockets on it, but what to do with the compresion straps on the pack ? They are standing in the way, the lower strab is to short to go around the sidepockets, i just push it down, so it is under the side pockets. The upper strap can just go around the sidepockets, but compresses the entrance, so you can barly put things in you sidepocket. I push this strab above the sidepocket. But this just doesn't look right to me...