Abstract: The invention provides a personally-worn load-bearing system for carrying weights adjacent to the back and front of a user, comprising front and back load-supporting panels wherein the front and back panels are secured to each other via interconnecting shoulder straps to form a garment, characterized in that the system further comprises a load-bearing weight-distribution waist belt and at least one first front weight-transferring frame element interconnecting the front load-supporting panel and the waist belt and at least one second back weight-transferring frame element interconnecting the back load-supporting panel and the waist belt, wherein the at least one first front weight-transferring frame element and the at least one back weight-transferring frame element transfer at least a major portion of the weight of the front load-supporting panel and the weight of the back load-supporting panel to the load-bearing weight-distribution waist belt.