You know, I made the collar and back one piece, and the thing only velcros onto my vest underneath my neck. If neck and back are attached (instead of being one piece like mine) it would still be the same story. Even when I did have a heavy jet pack and a harness, it was still fine, since the jet pack did not hang on the back armor at all, it just sat next to it and all the weight was supported by the harness. I guess what I am saying is that I didn't attach the back armor at all. Now, with my jet pack that just velcros onto the back armor, I still didn't attach it and the whole deal-y is just hanging by some long strips of industrial velcro on my collar.