Packs for Short Guys/

[cameronwe]

Hey There,
 Like the subject says, I'm short, 5'4" sort of stocky though as I get older the stocky seems to be moving towards the middle area more:) Does anyone know of a brand that works better for us midgets? I'm looking for a big day pack/overnight pack. I'm leaning towards the Kuiu Venture 2300, but would like to know if there is bit of knowledge to be had out there.

Thanks for the help,

Cameron

[Stein]

I'm 6'4", seems like every pack is made for short guys?

My Exo can adjust down quite a bit, same with the KUIU I returned.  If they have a decent return policy, you are only out shipping to try a few.

[jdb]

Eberlestock X2

[jackelope]

You can get a Kifaru pack with a 22” frame. Best bet is to call their office and they can walk you through sizing.

[jackelope]

I'm 6'4", seems like every pack is made for short guys?

My Exo can adjust down quite a bit, same with the KUIU I returned.  If they have a decent return policy, you are only out shipping to try a few.

Side note.
I’m 6’4” and have a Kifaru 26” frame. Fits me good.

[444Marlin]

Check out Mystery Ranches' Sizing guidelines and see if something might fit you there.

https://www.mysteryranch.com/fitting-and-sizing

The blessing might be that the Small and XS frames might be the ones that end up going to close out.  Even if you went with a 'woman's frame' that tend to be shorter in the torso's, you might be happy with it.  They do a lot of their packs for all shapes and sizes, so you might want to take some measurements and give them a call.

[SemperFidelis97]

I have a 22" Kifaru frame with a Kifaru Mountain Warrior pack I would let go for a fair price.  It is my wifes back-up, and it really doesn't see much use.

[dilleytech]

Keep in mind pack fitting is based on your torso length not your total height. If you have a longer torso like a lot of shorter people do you might not be as limited as you think.

[2MANY]

You are not a midget.

[cameronwe]

Thanks for the replies, information and suggestions. I'm going to have to take more time, get some good measurements and nail down my price point before I go on I guess.  One again I appreciate all the help.

[fowl smacker]

I'm 5'7, and run a Mystery Ranch Metcalf.  The frames are very adjustable and fits me like a champ. 

[dilleytech]

Thanks for the replies, information and suggestions. I'm going to have to take more time, get some good measurements and nail down my price point before I go on I guess.  One again I appreciate all the help.

My wife is 5-5. Her exo short frame on the shortest setting is perfect for her. I’m 5-10 and wear the same pack on the same setting for good fit.

[HikerHunter]

Unless you have some ultralight overnight gear, I'd venture away from the Venture and go with their Pro series. The Venture is designed for day trips. The Pro series has lots of accessories and options for larger bags if you ever need in the future.

[Rbalazs]

Exo is going to put to market a smaller frame next year. My son has been testing one and it’s a pretty incredible pack! 3200 cu in bag.


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[Huntnfish89]

I'm the same height and ran into the same thing. I am currently using an older mystery ranch long bow and while it could be a little shorter and lighter, it is adjustable enough to be comfortable and works for me. I've been eyeballing their pop up 38 tho.

The only time I wish I had something smaller would be when still hunting through dense thickets.

[Bowhunter3]

Holiday sports in Burlington has a great selection of mystery ranch and eberlestock(and probably more) that you can try out. They’ll let you load some weight in them too. Ask for fitting help from a guy named Kevin, he knows his stuff. Like mentioned before, the MR metcalf would be a solid choice imo. That’s what I went with at just a bit taller than you and it is beyond comfy and built to withstand abuse.

[callturner]

The mystery ranch also comes with a sizeable frame for smaller or larger folks. (I'm larger) in the Metcalf

[cameronwe]

Hey There,
 I know this is an old thread but I thought I would update it a bit. I just received a Kifaru 22" frame and Muskeg 2800" bag. I'm still working through fitting, but my initial impression is that it is pretty comfortable. The bag seems maybe a bit small so i may be adding a Kifaru lid of some sort. Talking with Kifaru customer service was great. They did tell me that a 22" frame would limit the size of the bag I could use. I chose the Muskeg as it is made with waterproof material (Bag is not rated as waterproof as seams aren't sealed, I might do this later). I decided to risk the smaller frame options as I am a smaller guy and have often had to use gear that just didn't fit (Army Alice pack in the 90's was the last time I used an external frame pack for any length of time), so I wanted to go with optimal fit and try to adjust other gear to fit. Some of the people on the Kifaru insiders page on FB did say bigger bags could be used but it would take some fiddling and the bag might hang low. My goal is to do a minimum of 5 overnight or 3 day trips this year in addition to a 5 day guided hunt I have scheduled. I know that's not a lot but it beats the zero I did last year. I'll try and update my experiences with this setup. I'm trying to avoid my natural tendency to just buy *censored* that sounds cool and give this an honest thorough chance.

Cameron 

[Rainier_JB]

Lots of good suggestions here, selecting a small manufacturer like Exo who you can call and talk through sizing is really good advice.

I had Dan McHale make me a large glacier/expedition pack a few years ago and absolutely love it. He's Seattle local and 100% a custom pack maker. You visit his shop for measurements and to select fabric/options.
http://www.mchalepacks.com/

His packs are expensive but not that much different than some of the boutique hunting brands.

[huntnfmly]

Keep in mind pack fitting is based on your torso length not your total height. If you have a longer torso like a lot of shorter people do you might not be as limited as you think.

^^ This

[huntnfmly]

Hey There,
 I know this is an old thread but I thought I would update it a bit. I just received a Kifaru 22" frame and Muskeg 2800" bag. I'm still working through fitting, but my initial impression is that it is pretty comfortable. The bag seems maybe a bit small so i may be adding a Kifaru lid of some sort. Talking with Kifaru customer service was great. They did tell me that a 22" frame would limit the size of the bag I could use. I chose the Muskeg as it is made with waterproof material (Bag is not rated as waterproof as seams aren't sealed, I might do this later). I decided to risk the smaller frame options as I am a smaller guy and have often had to use gear that just didn't fit (Army Alice pack in the 90's was the last time I used an external frame pack for any length of time), so I wanted to go with optimal fit and try to adjust other gear to fit. Some of the people on the Kifaru insiders page on FB did say bigger bags could be used but it would take some fiddling and the bag might hang low. My goal is to do a minimum of 5 overnight or 3 day trips this year in addition to a 5 day guided hunt I have scheduled. I know that's not a lot but it beats the zero I did last year. I'll try and update my experiences with this setup. I'm trying to avoid my natural tendency to just buy *censored* that sounds cool and give this an honest thorough chance.

Cameron 

Thank you for the update
You made the right choice