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.

 

[TaperPin]

I have skinny hips - I look at the wide belts on many of these packs and they just aren’t well shaped to make the most of the situation. My old as dirt DANA packs are stiff and nicely cupped in the right way to work well. Today the only packs that have stiff countured belts I’m impressed with are Osprey recreational packs, but I haven’t hauled weight with one. Check em out, maybe rent or borrow one if possible.