Packs for Small Women

I am curious if anyone out there knows of a pack for ice climbing/mountaineering that fits small women. I am only 5'2" and finding a pack that fits well is pretty much impossible since I have the torso of a child, around 13 inches. I am looking for something that has two loops for ice tools and will fit my torso that is around 25-35 liters. The closest thing I have found is a Lowe Alpine pack, but the torso is not adjustable and sits at 16 inches. Please help! 

Places like Cold Cold World and Cilo Gear will customize a pack on request. Higher cost and longer wait time than most mass-produced packs, but if neither of those are a deal-breaker, could be a good option.

Look at the Gregory Alpinisto.  The 35L comes in Small, Medium and Large torso length.  It has all the right features for an ice-climbing pack.  

Petzl Bug!

If you budget won't allow a new pack, I have my son's pack - outgrown several years ago - which was a great pack for him as he was growing up. It has a sliding thingie that moves the shoulder strap attachment up/down to adjust for torso length. At it's shortest, it's probably 9", and it will go long enough for me (5 ft 9 in). It's bigger than you said, being probably 40 L. There is one centrally located ice axe attachment, but it's for long, classic alpine tools. Technical tools with shorter shafts and/or lacking an adze get clipped to the straps off center and are secured under the side compression straps (like Pata. Ascension packs. Let me know if you want a pic of this in action.). Moderately used, a bargain at $40. You pay shipping (it may be "oversized" USPS-wise).

I'm 5'2" on a good day, and have had good luck with my BD Sphinx, and more recently an Arc'Teryx FL30 - very different packs, but both were/are pretty comfortable. I would also check out Osprey women's models.

Check out Alpine Luddites. John makes custom packs made to size. Superior craftsmanship & highly detailed, but apply for a mortgage prior to calling. Excellence isn't & shouldn't come cheap.

swaghole wrote:

Look at the Gregory Alpinisto.  The 35L comes in Small, Medium and Large torso length.  It has all the right features for an ice-climbing pack.  

I have had years of trouble finding a pack that fits me. I am 5'3'' and fairly average proportions.  Got the Gregory Alpinisto this spring in a size small and love it!  Perfect torso length and I finally do not bottom out the waist belt.  Highly recommended!

I'm 5' even and my all arounder for summer alpine and winter ice is the Patagonia Ascensionist 35l, in whatever the smallest size they made it was. Two years ago, I did a bunch of shopping around for women specific packs and I don't remember what made me choose this one, which isn't specially sized for someone so short or with a little rib cage, but I've been perfectly happy with it every since. 

Hyperlite mountain gear may be an option

Here's an interesting article for you about the Ortovox Peak Light 30S: amga.com/goldilocks-packs-o…

Check out Cilo gear.

Matt Zia wrote:

Places like Cold Cold World and Cilo Gear will customize a pack on request. Higher cost and longer wait time than most mass-produced packs, but if neither of those are a deal-breaker, could be a good option.

Cilo gear used to customize stuff but now they have some snarky comments on their site at this link:

I'm 5'1"  with a 13" torso and I have a 25L Patagonia Ascentionist, they no longer make this size but the 30L might work its a bit big but does the trick. Additionally I have had many XS osprey packs over the years that fit great!