BigLoad
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Post by BigLoad on May 12, 2022 19:37:27 GMT -8
However, what we discovered is that all the men's backpacks hipbelts are too big, even the smalls. That's how it was for me, and one of the reasons I decided to spring for a McHale (custom) pack. The other main reason was extra water-hauling capacity for long desert trips. I still have Dan's notes on my measurements. His comment next to the hip belt was " Small !!!". This is a good option, if you can adhere to the load guidelines. It would be my choice if I got one more pack. However, my McHale isn't that much heavier when I strip it down, and it's really comfortable with a ULA-size load.
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jazzmom
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Post by jazzmom on May 13, 2022 6:38:29 GMT -8
Also adding, FWIW, my son's 5'9", 23yo, skinny and hipless. He's had an Osprey Talon 44 since he was a young teen, when he was probably a 25-26 waist (had the hip belt cinched all the way in with the hip pockets touching in the middle. :D) He wears 29-waist pants now and the Talon fits really well. It's a smaller pack, sized more for short trips, lightweight gear. I think his trailhead pack weight on this last hike was 26-27 pounds, which is probably the upper end for that pack.
Just mentioning it here because the price is good for a first pack. It's been around for a long time and often on sale.
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BigLoad
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Post by BigLoad on May 13, 2022 7:09:59 GMT -8
He's had an Osprey Talon 44 since he was a young teen, when he was probably a 25-26 waist (had the hip belt cinched all the way in with the hip pockets touching in the middle. :D) He wears 29-waist pants now and the Talon fits really well. Yes, the Talon has those little wings rather than a full hipbelt, so it can cinch down below any human size. I don't know what the suspension is like on the 44, but it's nearly impossible to keep weight off the shoulders in the smaller ones after about 15 pounds.
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Post by leadbelly on May 13, 2022 7:16:20 GMT -8
Mystery Ranch backpacks come in sizes S through XL and have a generous (5 inch) torso adjustment. a small men's backpack has a hip belt that fits 26-32 and a torso that fits 15-20, which should work. They also do custom sizing for people who fall outside the normal parameters, there's a phone number on their website. (i don't work for the company but have hiked with their backpacks for a long time).
The hip belts on a number of Osprey backpacks are modular; you could get a pack with the right torso size, then swap in a small size hip belt (small = 27-31 inches). if it's one of the heat-molded hip belts, get that done in a store that knows what it's doing.
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BigLoad
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Post by BigLoad on May 13, 2022 7:52:54 GMT -8
The hip belts on a number of Osprey backpacks are modular; you could get a pack with the right torso size, then swap in a small size hip belt (small = 27-31 inches). if it's one of the heat-molded hip belts, get that done in a store that knows what it's doing. I'm skeptical of how Osprey sizes those belts. I had an Aether 70 with a small belt and I had the ends completely smashed together most of the time.
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Post by nextridgeover on Jul 1, 2022 11:48:09 GMT -8
Granite Gear. I love my Blaze 60. They have 2 different size belts to choose from and each adjusts to a range of sizes.
I hauled 56 pounds in mine. That was too much weight. At 40 pounds it carried beautifully.
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