One embodiment of the present invention relates to a carrying system with an enclosure member and a shoulder attachment system. The shoulder attachment system includes a first and second shoulder strap individually coupled to the external surface of the enclosure member. The bottom ends of the first and second shoulder straps are intercoupled via a coupling member. The coupling member is slidably routed through a sleeve member within the internal region of the enclosure member. The sleeve member includes an internal channel having a cross-sectional shape that substantially matches the cross-sectional shape of the coupling member, thereby minimizing frictional resistance as the coupling member is translated through the sleeve member. The slidable intercoupling between the bottom ends of the first and second shoulder straps with respect to the enclosure member enables articulation of one shoulder strap to be balanced by corresponding articulation of the opposite shoulder strap.