Abstract: A waist strap with layers of variable material to provide cushioning in layers on the side of the waist strap contacting the wearer and structural strength in layers opposite the side contacting the wearer; the waist strap having a first strap portion and a second strap portion, and each strap portion having a lengthwise curvature to curve about a waist of a wearer and a crosswise curvature along the height of the waist strap to create a compound curvature contour around a wearer, and each strap portion having an upper padded region, a central padded region and a lower padded region with the central padded region generally recessed relative to the upper and lower padded regions to further define a crosswise curvature of the waist strap by the recessed central padded region and resulting upper and lower padded region protrusions.