Crag Packs for Skinny Bitches?

Ladies (and dudes with intimate knowledge of lady sizing issues)! Have any of you found a pack that cinches down comfortably on a skinny frame (I'm talking 25" waist), but can still carry plenty of gear? I've tried packs from Arc'teryx, Mountain Hardware, Patagonia, Cotopaxi, and The North Face. None of them cinch down tight enough to take the weight off of my shoulders. Open to any and all [authentic] suggestions! Just tired of ill-fitting packs getting in the way of my approach.

My lady is tiny and has only had luck with the Ortovox S series packs. 

My cold cold world ozone can cinch down pretty tight. Plus since it is a custom pack you can ask for adjustments. 

Sorry, it's been a long day.

I have done a lot of research on exactly this  for my fiancé and so far she loves the Osprey Mira AG 26 size small it fits her size 24” waist and is built the same way the Osprey Aura 55/65 

Right now Osprey has 2 versions of the Mira 22L and 32L. They look like they are designed slightly different, I would check out the both at an REI with weight to see if you can get the weight to transfer to your hips. I’m pretty sure we adjusted her back panel/hip belt Velcro to smallest possible setting to get it to fit. 

Osprey Mutant 38 (size S/M) although a GREAT climbing pack, will NOT squeeze down to a 25" W.
My guess is 27or28 at the VERY tightest. So sadly you can count that one out. : - ( 

Bd creek pack ! 

My BD speed cinches down pretty good. I had to go through a ton of packs to find something with a small enough waistbelt (~Mens 28 Waist) in a medium. Things probably bode well if you'd fit the smaller size packs.

I’m quite confused, because I have always heard that your pack should not be cinched to your WAIST, but should be resting on your upper HIPS. (around the iliac crest). So looking for 24 inch waist belt on your backpack seems a bit too much. You wouldn’t ever need to cinch the belt that tight.  

Have you tried going into a good store that caters to backpackers, and having a pack fitted to you? Even if they don’t have one in store, bc your size is rare, you might be able to order it through them, and get it professionally fitted. I know some brands even have hip belts that are heat-molded to you specifically for a custom fit. 

Shaniacwrote:

Osprey Mutant 38 (size S/M) although a GREAT climbing pack, will NOT squeeze down to a 25" W.
My guess is 27or28 at the VERY tightest. So sadly you can count that one out. : - ( 

I’m a male with a 28” waist, and I find that the Mutant 38 in size S/M has some room to get smaller when adjusted to sit comfortably on my hips. I’m pretty narrow.

Without making too many assumptions about OP’s body type, women tend to have a smaller waist/hip ratio number than men. It might work out fine.

Edit: I decided to be a bit more analytical about this. My hips measure 31”. When I adjust the loaded S/M Mutant 38 to sit on my hips (wearing no layers), there is 7” between the ends of the hip belt pads. Do some math with your measurements. I think it will work for pretty narrow people. 

Teton Climberwrote:

Sorry, it's been a long day.

You win the internet for the day.

Lena chitawrote:

I’m quite confused, because I have always heard that your pack should not be cinched to your WAIST, but should be resting on your upper HIPS. (around the iliac crest). So looking for 24 inch waist belt on your backpack seems a bit too much. You wouldn’t ever need to cinch the belt that tight.  

Have you tried going into a good store that caters to backpackers, and having a pack fitted to you? Even if they don’t have one in store, bc your size is rare, you might be able to order it through them, and get it professionally fitted. I know some brands even have hip belts that are heat-molded to you specifically for a custom fit. 

I included my waist size for reference. More to make the point of how skinny I am. Of course, I want the pack to sit just above my hipbones. But every pack I've tried on — including the ones the merch dudes at REI bring out — end up either sliding down to my actual hips, almost to my sacrum, or all the weight is just on my shoulders. The closest I've come is my Arc'teryx Miura, which doesn't have a hip belt, but just a strap of webbing that goes all the way to the pack. It's not comfortable because there's no padding, but that's what I've used up until blowing out the zippers on that pack. Arc'teryx doesn't make that pack anymore. So I'm back to looking for packs that strap down tight, while still allowing me to carry my trad rack.