Waistbelt down to 25.5" Options

[mtnrunner260]

Looking for a pack for the wife.

I've read through some of the very helpful threads but as far as I can tell the only options for that belt size are Kifaru and Stone Glacier. While I would love to get one of these set-ups the price point has me looking at frame only and making a bag.

There is the REI option and I know that "backpacking" packs struggle with more weight. But I doubt she'll ever be more than 60lbs and do the struggle at that weight or is it more like at 80?

There are other packs that may be a good option but they don't specify that the belt goes that small so I am open to other suggestions.

Thanks

 

[orionsbrother]

I'm thinking that it might be somewhat unrealistic to anticipate that your wife will be capable of packing eighty pounds or so for any kind of distance...but I like your thinking.

 

[Eric27]

I just bought the tarryal for my wife with and extra small belt

Sent from my 0PJA2 using Tapatalk

 

[mtnrunner260]

Orion brother don't let her hear you say that. She'll take it as a challenge.
That's what I was wondering though. Does anyone know where the rei type packs crap out weight wise?
If they are good to 60 it's something we will consider especially since she can try them on. But if they are unwearable past 40 it's probably not worth it.

 

[wasatchcomm]

i am in same boat
we have been practicing with weight
my wife likes to think she can haul a bunch o weight , but when the pack is loaded with 50lbs
she can barely stand up and its just unrealistic to think she can haul it through rough terrain, up, down, around, i think its the max weight she could haul at distance up to 2 miles
conditions would have to be perfect as well.
most important find a pack that fits her perfectly, and one she likes, not what you think she should like...

 

[BroodBuster]

If you can get to an REI store they should have 60#'s of sand to throw in it. Or bring your own bag of sand.

Sorta sounds like a fun afternoon to throw 60#'s in all their women sized packs. I mean if you're stuck out shopping and shit .

 

[slow]

Food for thought... took my wife on a training hike a while back. We were working out some fit issues with her new pack. I put 16lbs in her Osprey Aura 65. I had 43lbs in a DT2. Afterwards she asked to put on the DT2. Her mouth literally dropped. It was a "I can't believe you've been hiding this from me" look. I didn't adjust the frame for her and the belt's too big, but she noticed the difference. She never has to carry over 20lbs on our backpack trips, but if I'd spend the money she'd rather carry
40 in the Kifaru than 20 in the Osprey. The moral to the story may be don't let her try on a SG or Kifaru.

 

[COlineman78]

^^^ You might try and find a used T2 or T3. Most comfortable all-purpose pack for under 80lbs. You should be able to get in a reasonable range even if you have to buy a belt. Also with the release of the new packs some of the Omni packs should be popping up like the Scout and Late Season if you wanted something smaller.

 

[orionsbrother]

I would suggest sending a message to Becca asking for her two cents. The insight of a woman who does some serious packing would probably be more beneficial.

My wife enjoys canoeing, camping and fishing, but doesn't hunt and doesn't wear a pack for much distance. It's tougher to find uninterrupted distance here. And she's a square headed German farmgirl who used to carry cows and chit. So, her advice would be lacking practical experience and she'd probably tell you to eat some blood sausage and invade Poland.

 

[Felix40]

You couldn't pay me to carry a garbage rei pack and I certainly wouldn't do that to my wife. Even when they are empty they suck. There was a t3 for sale on here not long ago for pretty cheap. I bet if you watch you can find a good deal on something then have kifaru make you a new belt.

 

[mrbillbrown]

Grab the KU5200 in the classifieds now. Call Kifaru and have them make a new belt if needed. You'll have an outstanding pack built by the best and more capable than she's gonna want to carry that's super light weight from the start.

 

[wasatchcomm]

i have a spike camp i thought my wife would love,
and she likes it, it may be a little small on the ci, i just got a late season off the board here, hoping it will be the ticket for her in the ci
like slow, my wife will not carry more than 20-25lbs on our summer trips, but she has been practicing with 20-30 depending on the day

 

[slow]

To be fair to the .comfort of the Osprey pack, I should add: in April we did a 42+ mile trip in 2.5 days. First day was just over 20miles. She was fine with her 20lbs, but eyeballed the Kifaru the whole time. She doesn't have much backpacking specific experience, but she is in great shape and all of the REI style packs felt basically the same to her. She noticed an immediate difference with the Kifaru even at those lighter weights.

 

[mtnrunner260]

That is all helpful information. We do plan on going to the REI thats an hour away and trying some packs on.
I will also keep an eye out on the classified ads here.

 

[tttoadman]

Did you do the molded belt properly on the Ospey? I have heard good things about those.