In an embodiment, a load carrying system for a wearer includes a carrier made of at least one flexible carrier material and comprises a front portion to be disposed at the wearer's front, and a back portion to be disposed at the wearer's back, when the system is worn by the wearer; a load attachment arrangement for detachably attaching a load to at least the front portion; a front load distribution arrangement comprising at least one elongated front load distribution element made of a material more rigid than the carrier material and attached to the front portion of the carrier by a front attachment member different from, and operating independently of, the load attachment arrangement; and a back load distribution arrangement disposed in the back portion of the carrier and separated from the front load distribution arrangement by the material of the carrier.