Women's Specific Climbing Packs

Hey Ladies,

I've been on a mission lately to find a women's specific pack. In the past, all of my packs have been repurposed backpacking packs.  While these have worked moderately well, they don't hold up and don't do the job as well as climbing specific pack. All my female climbing friends either use a backpacking pack or suck up using a 'unisex' --*cough*male-- climbing pack. I'm sick of having envy over my male partner's bags. The only manufacturer I know who makes a women's specific pack is Mammut and for some ungodly reason they don't make it in different torso lengths.

Do you know of anyone off the mainstream that makes a women's climbing specific pack??? What do you use that you love?? I'm currently hating on my Gregory 45 and I'm determined to find a replacement before spring. I need a pack that can hold a rope,  rack, new routing stuff,  etc. and carry it well/comfortably. 

Sincerely,
Why the hell haven't climbing gear manufacturers tapped into this market yet???

The only climbing specific pack I've ever owned has been the Cold Cold World Chernobyl pack.  This is not a women's specific pack, and its' also designed for longer mountaineering routes, not cragging per se.  You're right, why hasn't anyone tapped into this market?  It seems like there are more women than ever climbing, and we can be some demanding bitches!!  

My wife has an Osprey Mutant with the shorter torso length that she really likes. It's a 38.

Just curious, what makes a pack women specific?

She is 5' 1" with fairly broad shoulders.

ETA They also make the Kyte which has an adjustable torso length. Not climbing specific.

While it is not female specific, I love my Osprey Variant packs. I own both the variant 37 and 52, preferring the latter when trad climbing, as everything fits, easily. After trying a number of different packs (Gregory, Marmot, BD, Rei,) I was never happy til I tried these. The padding is cushy, and it just feels good with my short torso.

  Lowe Alpine uses the ND designation for their women specific packs.
  Lowe Alpine

  My daughter likes the fit and carry of her Gregory Jade 28, which also comes in larger volumes.
Gregory
 You'll need to wade around a little on their site to find all the women specific models.

  s.price
  This explains the womens fit.  The Gregory packs also have a feature that allows the user to move the strap (across the chest) that joins the shoulder straps up or down. 

Thanks James. The Ospreys have the chest strap feature as well. At least mine does.

If I understand correctly, since you mentioned Gregory 45, you aren’t looking for a CLIMBING pack ( e.i. Pack you can wear while actually climbing a multi pitch route), but rather a cragging pack— I.e. the pack you use to carry your gear to the crag. In which case, I do think there are women’s options, including different torso lengths.

I personally really like Deuter packs, and while Deuter Traveler is not a climbing specific pack, I’ve had it for two-three years now as my climbing pack, and couldn’t be happier.

s.price wroteJust curious, what makes a pack women specific?

A pack works just like men's and women's clothing. Especially with a pack that carries a heavy load, one that is designed to ride on your body requires hip belts that are canted properly and straps that are the appropriate size, shape and width.

Although I'm not specifically looking for an alpinists' pack, there will likely be times were I will be roped up and climbing with it on. For this reason, most backpacking packs do not work since the waist belt is generally way too wide and the hip pockets are too cumbersome. I especially find that women, who's harnesses sit higher than men's, trying to wear a pack with the waist belt on completely blocks all your gear loops, making it even more baffling why there is no women's specific climbig pack, with gear loops on the waist belt.

I'm super sick of doing long days in the mountains with inferior and inadequate gear. Why do all my male partners have stuff that is built and designed for them but women have to make do with unintended equipment! >:(

James Sweeney wrote:   Lowe Alpine uses the ND designation for their women specific packs.
  Lowe Alpine

Wow! They do make a women's specific pack! Thanks, James!! I can't believe Mountain Project was actually useful for once!    

  You're welcome.

 I'll even go for the bonus points and add on that The Mountaineer is listed as a dealer for Lowe Alpine, so you might be able to get a try on for fit there.

Couple months ago I decided to buy a crag bag (not for Multipitch) and did good research online. I understood there were no women-specific ones out there and gave up looking for one from the very beginning. I identified Patagonia Cragsmith 45L as a bag I wanted to look into but I really wanted to see it in person and try it on before committing to pay $200 plus tax. So I went into my local Patagonia store (I had never been to any Patagonia store before) and tried it on. I loved it. Store only had it in black but they ordered it on dolomite blue color for me and I got it shipped to my house within 5 days. I've used it several times since then and love it. It's very comfortable to carry around, opens in the back, and fits everything you need to take with you to the crag for one-pitch routes. Note that I'm 5'10" tall but the bag comes in two sizes and also has adjustable straps so it helps a lot with sizing.

Now I'm looking into a multi-pitch bag and again, there are no women-specific ones. I'm trying to decide if I want to but Petzl Spirit but I can't find it in stores and am hesitating to buy online without seeing one in person... but at least it's 1/4 price of my Patagonia bag!!!

Good luck in your search!

I have the deuter guide (I think). It's intended more as an alpine pack and it doesn't have many pockets or water bottle holders, but it is sized and the shoulders fit well and it handles significant weight really well. I'm 5'5", 125. It does have gear loops on the hipbelt which I like

I have the Lowe Alpine Ascent ND 38:48 and love it!

Camille R wrote: I have the Lowe Alpine Ascent ND 38:48 and love it!

You should post a review on that link, Camille, to encourage other women to buy it!

Yes, or post a review with pictures here :)

Update:

I went to order the Lowe Alpine Ascent ND and discovered that it too only comes in one torso length.  It's about 2" too short for me.  

So now I'm back to square one.  

WHY DOES NO ONE MAKE WOMEN'S SPECIFIC BAGS WITH TORSO LENGTHS!!!!!       

  Okay.

 Your gonna make me work for it.

 If this pack has the features you want you'll see that it comes in different lengths AND is going for a dandy price just in time for Christmas.

 If you can translate the size chart you might find the size you need.

  How bout this.

The Osprey Tempest series has ADJUSTABLE  torso lengths!  Booyah!

It comes up at around the 3:30 mark of the video.  Adjust if you must 

If we can't get you hooked up now I'll hafta go to Santa's shop myself to make sure you're right by Christmas.

My wife loves her women-specific Deuter.

Torso length is adjustable.

Jaren Watson wrote: My wife loves her women-specific Deuter.

Torso length is adjustable.

Sure, lots of companies make women's specific packs with adjustable or various torso lengths, but is it a "climbing" pack or a "backpacking" pack??

ClimbLikeAGirl wrote:
Sure, lots of companies make women's specific packs with adjustable or various torso lengths, but is it a "climbing" pack or a "backpacking" pack??

The Guide series is designed for climbing.