Best modern hunting packs for skinny guys with ghost hips

[TheWarriorYeti]

Hey guys, new here, but not new to the pain of backpacking with skinny hips. I have to really crank on the hip belt over my illiac crests for it to stay up until I can't breath and my hips are red and bruised. Even then it will slide with sufficient weight in the pack until too much weight is on my shoulders and I get quite a bit of pain on the shoulders and neck. This is particularly problematic for meat hauling. Any skinny hunters out there who've solved this problem? I'm currently using a mystery ranch Metcalf.

 

[JFK]

I’m kinda skinny. 6’3” 205ish lbs. The problem you speak of was never as bad for me but I definitely have noticed that with past packs. If you have exhausted all means of adjusting the problem out of your pack, I’d say try a pack with a wider belt. I have an exo k4 now and the wide belt does a great job of distributing the load without causing hot spots.

 

[mtnbound]

Hey guys, new here, but not new to the pain of backpacking with skinny hips. I have to really crank on the hip belt over my illiac crests for it to stay up until I can't breath and my hips are red and bruised. Even then it will slide with sufficient weight in the pack until too much weight is on my shoulders and I get quite a bit of pain on the shoulders and neck. This is particularly problematic for meat hauling. Any skinny hunters out there who've solved this problem? I'm currently using a mystery ranch Metcalf.

I would say try an EXO K4. I had a similar experience with other packs including the previous EXO versions but the K4 stays in place. The frame that worked well was the Kifaru tactical frame.

 

[D_shear]

I have the same problem. The k3 I had was great for light loads but no matter what I did would not stay put over 30lbs. The kifaru that I used for years until the k4 came out would stay put if I really cranked the belt tight but it was far from comfortable. The k4 has worked the best for me but I still have to crank the belt down when loaded heavy. I have started putting a a piece of leuko tape on my hip pointers before I crank the belt down on pack outs and that has helped a lot with the rubbing issues on my hips.

 

[Eagle]

Kifaru bruised me and wore hot spots on me the worst of the packs I tried. SG Krux was a little better, but not great, and then the Xcurve worked great for me. Just got an ExoK4 a month ago and so far so good with it as well.

Never tried any other packs with a great deal of weight (100+) so can’t comment on them. But have hauled two 100+ loads with stone glaciers for 5-7 miles packing mulies out and been fine. Hoping to be packing a couple elk in the exo in a month, to have some experience with it.