I can kind of relate as well. My Metcalf seems to slip down, I always assumed all packs would probably do that because you know... gravity and all... I have quite a curve in my back also, and always felt more comfortable with the belt sitting lower on my hips then centered on my iliac crest partially because of my beer gut, and also because the lumbar pad felt better down closer to my tail bone. I think I would probably really benefit from the MEAN Pad. I just haven't had the nerve to explain to my wife that the high dollar back pack that I had to have wasn't good enough, and now I need add-on's