In search of large travel backpack for short person
August 17, 2024 4:21 PM Subscribe
I’m going on a 2-week international trip in a couple months and I think it would be better to have a large backpack instead of dealing with a wheelie suitcase. Problem is, I’m short (about 5’ tall) and curvy, especially in the hips, and just had a disappointing experience trying out some travel backpacks today. Mefi loves bag questions so I’m hoping you can help.
On paper, the Osprey Fairview 55L would be perfect: large enough for a 2-week trip, the straps can be fully stowed away so they don’t get wrecked when the backpack is checked as luggage, the bag itself seemed durable enough to handle being checked, and comes with an attachable daypack I could use as my carryon.
Unfortunately, I tried the women’s version on today at REI and it was much too big. When the waist strap sat on my hips where they should, the top of the shoulder straps were way higher than they should be and dug into the back and both sides of my neck. The REI employee came up to me unprompted to tell me it didn’t fit. The smaller Osprey travel pack (40L I think) wasn’t any better.
When I tried true backpacking packs that came in actual sizes (vs just one size each for men and women) I could definitely feel the improvement in fit and comfort when trying on the XS/S bags. But, they were all designed to prioritize being lightweight, so the fabric was super thin and they didn’t all have straps that could be fully removed or tucked away, and a lot of them were roll top which I don’t love…
Weirdly, I tried the Patagonia Black Hole 40L at a different store and it fit great despite being one size fits all, but I’m 100% sure 40L would be too small.
So, any recommendations for brands or specific packs that are known to fit really short women? I live in Chicago and can go to a store (though I already went to 3 today) or order online. A quick recap of my requirements:
- Comfortably fits a small woman with a short torso and wide hips
- Is at least 50L
- Will survive being checked as luggage for an international flight (straps can be removed or tucked away securely and fabric is thick/durable enough)
- Price is pretty flexible, within reason (under $300?)
On paper, the Osprey Fairview 55L would be perfect: large enough for a 2-week trip, the straps can be fully stowed away so they don’t get wrecked when the backpack is checked as luggage, the bag itself seemed durable enough to handle being checked, and comes with an attachable daypack I could use as my carryon.
Unfortunately, I tried the women’s version on today at REI and it was much too big. When the waist strap sat on my hips where they should, the top of the shoulder straps were way higher than they should be and dug into the back and both sides of my neck. The REI employee came up to me unprompted to tell me it didn’t fit. The smaller Osprey travel pack (40L I think) wasn’t any better.
When I tried true backpacking packs that came in actual sizes (vs just one size each for men and women) I could definitely feel the improvement in fit and comfort when trying on the XS/S bags. But, they were all designed to prioritize being lightweight, so the fabric was super thin and they didn’t all have straps that could be fully removed or tucked away, and a lot of them were roll top which I don’t love…
Weirdly, I tried the Patagonia Black Hole 40L at a different store and it fit great despite being one size fits all, but I’m 100% sure 40L would be too small.
So, any recommendations for brands or specific packs that are known to fit really short women? I live in Chicago and can go to a store (though I already went to 3 today) or order online. A quick recap of my requirements:
- Comfortably fits a small woman with a short torso and wide hips
- Is at least 50L
- Will survive being checked as luggage for an international flight (straps can be removed or tucked away securely and fabric is thick/durable enough)
- Price is pretty flexible, within reason (under $300?)
I would buy whatever hiking backpack you like and a pack cover and check it.
For what it’s worth, I’ve checked hiking backpacks numerous times with just shortening the straps and tucking loose ends into pockets and they did get a little bit dirty in transit but no real damage.
I think 45L is a sweet spot for travel but ymmv. I definitely regret buying a 30 for travel - I used it for a 2 week trip but left my hiking boots at home because they didn’t fit and then slipped and fell while hiking.
posted by A Blue Moon at 4:54 PM on August 17 [2 favorites]
For what it’s worth, I’ve checked hiking backpacks numerous times with just shortening the straps and tucking loose ends into pockets and they did get a little bit dirty in transit but no real damage.
I think 45L is a sweet spot for travel but ymmv. I definitely regret buying a 30 for travel - I used it for a 2 week trip but left my hiking boots at home because they didn’t fit and then slipped and fell while hiking.
posted by A Blue Moon at 4:54 PM on August 17 [2 favorites]
Response by poster: Sorry, editing my own edit bc I am losing track of bag sizes. The Patagonia that fit but seemed too small was a 45L, I think. I will add that I want a waist strap.
posted by misskaz at 5:16 PM on August 17
posted by misskaz at 5:16 PM on August 17
reddit.com/r/heronebag is a place I would check for more recommendations.
posted by Night_owl at 6:55 PM on August 17 [4 favorites]
posted by Night_owl at 6:55 PM on August 17 [4 favorites]
I have an older tom bihn aeronaut 45L. Having used it on some air trips, I now only use it for car trips as a duffle. I found that packed, 45L was just too heavy for me to carry comfortably. I would not consider doing a backpack only trip now with a >50L bag. Whatever you get, I suggest that you pack it full and then spend a day in your city pretending to be a tourist, so riding transit etc. and see if the setup works for you.
posted by ice-cream forever at 7:45 PM on August 17 [5 favorites]
posted by ice-cream forever at 7:45 PM on August 17 [5 favorites]
You do not want a 50L+ backpack, as others have said. Seriously it's going to be so heavy and awful, especially for the kind of trip where a wheelie bag would be inconvenient, and double-especially as a person who's five feet tall. If you have too many clothes, get rid of half of them and pack some single-use Tide packets instead.
I'm 5'3 and have both 30L and 45L bags -- I consider myself big and strong (height aside) and a fully packed 45L bag is the absolute maximum amount I would carry on my back. On a 2-week trip I typically bring the 45L and do laundry once. I live in a mixed Tom Bihn Aeronaut/Patagonia MLC household, and both bags have held up for 10+ years of hard use. Straps tuck away on the Aeronaut, but not on the MLC (at least the version we have, but it's old so maybe that's changed).
Just like, bluntly: what you're looking for really may not exist, because the market of short people who want to lug around a 40+ lb bag is really small.
posted by goodbyewaffles at 8:12 PM on August 17 [1 favorite]
I'm 5'3 and have both 30L and 45L bags -- I consider myself big and strong (height aside) and a fully packed 45L bag is the absolute maximum amount I would carry on my back. On a 2-week trip I typically bring the 45L and do laundry once. I live in a mixed Tom Bihn Aeronaut/Patagonia MLC household, and both bags have held up for 10+ years of hard use. Straps tuck away on the Aeronaut, but not on the MLC (at least the version we have, but it's old so maybe that's changed).
Just like, bluntly: what you're looking for really may not exist, because the market of short people who want to lug around a 40+ lb bag is really small.
posted by goodbyewaffles at 8:12 PM on August 17 [1 favorite]
Previously
I concur that you are running into a physics/optimization problem that doesn’t have a satisfactory answer.
posted by oceano at 8:26 PM on August 17 [1 favorite]
I concur that you are running into a physics/optimization problem that doesn’t have a satisfactory answer.
posted by oceano at 8:26 PM on August 17 [1 favorite]
I’ve only traveled with it once, but the Tortuga maximum carry-on backpack was a fine substitute *for a suitcase* in a circumstance where I didn’t want to have to haul a wheelie bag over bad terrain - but where I was leaving it in my hotel and not changing locations for the duration of the trip. It does have a padded waist belt (can’t remember if the straps stow, but I think they do, and/or it survived being checked on my return flight), but I don’t think the form factor would be comfortable for moving from place to place with two weeks’ worth of stuff. (I’m curvy and 5’2”.)
posted by rrrrrrrrrt at 9:04 PM on August 17
posted by rrrrrrrrrt at 9:04 PM on August 17
I did a two week trip with a Black Hole 40l and it was so comfortable! Packing cubes made it doable, and it was perfect for hauling on and off buses & trains
posted by socky_puppy at 12:23 AM on August 18
posted by socky_puppy at 12:23 AM on August 18
I’m not sure if this will fit your preference, but I saw a video by 5’1” Ally Smalls where she explains how to fit multiple outfits - for a trip of several days- into under the seat carry on.
posted by rongorongo at 2:20 AM on August 18
posted by rongorongo at 2:20 AM on August 18
Response by poster: To be clear, I’m not backpacking - I just will be taking public transit to and from airports, hotels, and train stations and I think a wheelie would be just as heavy but harder to maneuver. (I’m flying in and out of London and taking a train to and from Scotland for the second week). I have no intention of carrying my luggage around for distances any longer than like a 15 minute walk and getting through airports.
That said, I appreciate the warnings and will do the testing thing suggested above. It’s possible I’m doing a bad job imagining how much room my clothes and toiletries take up. I am sweaty and stinky (thanks perimenopause) so a lot of packing light tips that involve re-wearing clothes multiple times would render me unfit to be in public. I already was assuming there’d need to be a load of mid-trip laundry.
I absolutely do not want to try to fit all my luggage as a carry-on, precisely because it will be heavy and why bother. I have always been a “happy to pay the luggage fee” traveler and that’s not gonna change now.
I’m going in late October so I will need clothes warm enough for the UK climate at that time of year.
Anyway, for anyone who reads this thread in the future: I did order this discontinued Deuter 55L from REI last night to test it out (Reddit threads and size guides suggest Deuter fits smaller torsos better than the Osprey) and I’ll fully load it and test it out and update here.
posted by misskaz at 6:11 AM on August 18 [2 favorites]
That said, I appreciate the warnings and will do the testing thing suggested above. It’s possible I’m doing a bad job imagining how much room my clothes and toiletries take up. I am sweaty and stinky (thanks perimenopause) so a lot of packing light tips that involve re-wearing clothes multiple times would render me unfit to be in public. I already was assuming there’d need to be a load of mid-trip laundry.
I absolutely do not want to try to fit all my luggage as a carry-on, precisely because it will be heavy and why bother. I have always been a “happy to pay the luggage fee” traveler and that’s not gonna change now.
I’m going in late October so I will need clothes warm enough for the UK climate at that time of year.
Anyway, for anyone who reads this thread in the future: I did order this discontinued Deuter 55L from REI last night to test it out (Reddit threads and size guides suggest Deuter fits smaller torsos better than the Osprey) and I’ll fully load it and test it out and update here.
posted by misskaz at 6:11 AM on August 18 [2 favorites]
My Cotopaxi 42L Alpa gets me through 2-3 week business trips abroad. The hip band is adjustable height. It opens like a suitcase and truly fits a lot. Anything larger feels like it’d be way too bulky on me (I am 5’7”). REI in Lincoln park likely has them!
posted by quadrilaterals at 7:03 AM on August 18
posted by quadrilaterals at 7:03 AM on August 18
I have a lot of Waterfield (sfbags.com) bags and they are awesome.
posted by VyanSelei at 7:24 AM on August 18
posted by VyanSelei at 7:24 AM on August 18
You’re not wrong about the problems wheelie cases present outside airports in the UK, so I think a backpack may be your best bet.
In October, you’ll want layers, plan to change your undies, socks and T-shirt daily but not your whole outfit. Assuming you wear underwear I’d include your trousers in things you can wear more than once.
When travelling, I get a lot of mileage out of a small spray bottle of febreze - I decant some into a 3oz travel spray bottle. Spritz clothes that are not stained and not worn directly against the skin at night and have refreshed clothes that render you inoffensive for another day.
I also find that undies and socks do well washed in the shower with shower gel or shampoo.
posted by koahiatamadl at 8:00 AM on August 18
In October, you’ll want layers, plan to change your undies, socks and T-shirt daily but not your whole outfit. Assuming you wear underwear I’d include your trousers in things you can wear more than once.
When travelling, I get a lot of mileage out of a small spray bottle of febreze - I decant some into a 3oz travel spray bottle. Spritz clothes that are not stained and not worn directly against the skin at night and have refreshed clothes that render you inoffensive for another day.
I also find that undies and socks do well washed in the shower with shower gel or shampoo.
posted by koahiatamadl at 8:00 AM on August 18
I'm the same height as you and holy shit you do not want to buy a 50L backpack. You will find it a lot more rewarding to learn how to travel light. I'm not a fancy expensive bag person, I just have a trusty eBags TSL Weekender Motherlode Jr. that I use for everything. It's 40L and even that I sometimes feel is a bit much, but it works for all of my trips. I once did an entire 10-day trip to Italy WITH TWO KIDS packing just that one bag. My kids brought small backpacks of their own but those only contained ipads and books and snacks. My "big" 40L backpack was our entire luggage. I promise you, you do not need a 50L backpack!! Buy yourself some packing cubes, pare down your luggage. Your shoulders and back will thank you.
Sadly eBags has been shut down but Topo Designs 40L looks like an excellent substitute, all the better because it has a hip band (something I wish my bag had!).
posted by MiraK at 8:01 AM on August 18
Sadly eBags has been shut down but Topo Designs 40L looks like an excellent substitute, all the better because it has a hip band (something I wish my bag had!).
posted by MiraK at 8:01 AM on August 18
I don't have a specific bag rec for you, but if you struck out at REI, is there a Dick's Sporting Goods, Cabela's, Gander Mountain, or Bass Pro Shops nearby? They all have a decent range of backpacking gear, and not necessarily camouflage. I'm a pretty short guy, and being able to try on several packs, adjust the straps, put a little weight in it and walk around a bit, that's a game changer.
posted by xedrik at 8:47 AM on August 18 [1 favorite]
posted by xedrik at 8:47 AM on August 18 [1 favorite]
Another thing you can do is put get a proper backpacking backpack and then put it in a cheaper bag to check - there are bags explicitly marketed for this like the Osprey Airporter but I've also heard of people just using like a zip-up Ikea bag.
posted by mskyle at 9:11 AM on August 18 [1 favorite]
posted by mskyle at 9:11 AM on August 18 [1 favorite]
You could try contacting ULA Equipment and talking with them about your size and what you are planning to use a backpack for. They can make one custom for you. (Don’t do the CDT, I have one and it’s a great light lord pack but it is not meant to comfortably carry over 15 lbs.) The packs are very well constructed and have become the pack of choice for many hikers doing the long trails (PCT, CDT and AT as well as others) in the US. They make the packs at their shop in Utah.
posted by azpenguin at 10:23 AM on August 18
posted by azpenguin at 10:23 AM on August 18
They don't make my specific Tortuga bag anymore, but the newer version still looks good. It's the biggest thing you can fit under the plane seatnd they make some adjustments for women
posted by jander03 at 11:19 AM on August 18
posted by jander03 at 11:19 AM on August 18
I’m a 6’2” man so I can’t really address the fit you need, but I can say that on my junior year abroad in college I used an Eagle Creek convertible bag with basically the specs you describe, and it was the heaviest, sweatiest, worst thing. It covered my whole back, didn’t distribute weight comfortably at all, and yet had so much capacity that one of the shoulder straps ripped out, forcing me to get a warranty replacement from Eagle Creek.
Pretty sure I gave the replacement away to a friend who wanted something like that despite my warnings. I personally wouldn’t want a convertible bag larger than 30L just for weight and sweat reasons, but even then I’d think really hard about just finding an actual backpack with a better suspension design for reasons of ventilation and weight distribution, and then I’d get an airplane bag to go over it and protect the straps.
The fact that all the big backpack companies seem to have more options in top loaders than front/panel loaders is a continuing frustration for me, but I’d go about this by finding the largest actual (front loading) backpack that I could carry comfortably when loaded, and then pack carefully to fit in that capacity. We’ve planned trips around doing laundry twice instead of just once in order to avoid having bags that were too heavy or numerous to manage.
posted by fedward at 11:36 AM on August 18 [1 favorite]
Pretty sure I gave the replacement away to a friend who wanted something like that despite my warnings. I personally wouldn’t want a convertible bag larger than 30L just for weight and sweat reasons, but even then I’d think really hard about just finding an actual backpack with a better suspension design for reasons of ventilation and weight distribution, and then I’d get an airplane bag to go over it and protect the straps.
The fact that all the big backpack companies seem to have more options in top loaders than front/panel loaders is a continuing frustration for me, but I’d go about this by finding the largest actual (front loading) backpack that I could carry comfortably when loaded, and then pack carefully to fit in that capacity. We’ve planned trips around doing laundry twice instead of just once in order to avoid having bags that were too heavy or numerous to manage.
posted by fedward at 11:36 AM on August 18 [1 favorite]
I've done multiple two week long international trips with a 40L REI duffel/backpack. I'm also 5'2". Did you give this model a try when you were at REI? If not, it's worth a shot! Straps can be tucked in, and it's very durable. I also got a Topo Designs 40L that I haven't used yet, but I can msg you in September after I use it if you haven't decided on a bag by then.
If you pack light, use packing cubes and bring jackets/vests that are compressible (like down), you'll find that it goes a long way! I hand wash underwear and roll/wring out in a towel before hanging to dry. Synthetic fabrics are really handy for this. You can also choose wool fabrics for layers if you are worried about sweat and odors.
posted by extramundane at 5:24 PM on August 18
If you pack light, use packing cubes and bring jackets/vests that are compressible (like down), you'll find that it goes a long way! I hand wash underwear and roll/wring out in a towel before hanging to dry. Synthetic fabrics are really handy for this. You can also choose wool fabrics for layers if you are worried about sweat and odors.
posted by extramundane at 5:24 PM on August 18
tl;dr - TOM BIHN, Waterfield and Osprey are all super-reliable bag makers so you don't truly need a rec for another bag maker. However...
I am, for a male, short and wide-waisted. My bag of choice is the 44L Mission Workshop Rambler.
13 years old. Nearly indestructible bag. Rugged and comfortable. I've used it as checked luggage. They're built stronger than the TOM BIHN and Osprey bags I have, with a slight weight penalty due to the thick fabric construction and thick plastic back insert. Has a very useful waist strap option for stability and long hauls.
About sizing: this particular bag is actually pretty good for 5'0-5'5 people. MW makes a larger bag of the same variety called the Vandal which is taller and fits 65L (these together are their largest capacity bags); despite the added capacity, that one may not be comfortable to wear. Both Rambler/Vandal bags are in many urban bike shops - particularly the ones that sell Chrome or Manhattan Portage bags. So it's an option you could conceivably try on in-store. In general, it looks like the 40-45L bags from any manufacturers are the sweet spot for having adjustments or sizing for shorter body sizes.
Price is a big downside! Osprey makes an 80L bag that is much more affordable (though for taller people). At a glance, that one lacks features that make the Rambler more comfortable and durable. As for value, the Rambler has given me the ability to make over a thousand supermarket trips in Manhattan without messing with buses or cabs or deep subway platforms, and it feels like it's still in fairly good condition for a thousand more, so I consider it well-paid-off.
posted by brianvan at 6:27 PM on August 18
I am, for a male, short and wide-waisted. My bag of choice is the 44L Mission Workshop Rambler.
13 years old. Nearly indestructible bag. Rugged and comfortable. I've used it as checked luggage. They're built stronger than the TOM BIHN and Osprey bags I have, with a slight weight penalty due to the thick fabric construction and thick plastic back insert. Has a very useful waist strap option for stability and long hauls.
About sizing: this particular bag is actually pretty good for 5'0-5'5 people. MW makes a larger bag of the same variety called the Vandal which is taller and fits 65L (these together are their largest capacity bags); despite the added capacity, that one may not be comfortable to wear. Both Rambler/Vandal bags are in many urban bike shops - particularly the ones that sell Chrome or Manhattan Portage bags. So it's an option you could conceivably try on in-store. In general, it looks like the 40-45L bags from any manufacturers are the sweet spot for having adjustments or sizing for shorter body sizes.
Price is a big downside! Osprey makes an 80L bag that is much more affordable (though for taller people). At a glance, that one lacks features that make the Rambler more comfortable and durable. As for value, the Rambler has given me the ability to make over a thousand supermarket trips in Manhattan without messing with buses or cabs or deep subway platforms, and it feels like it's still in fairly good condition for a thousand more, so I consider it well-paid-off.
posted by brianvan at 6:27 PM on August 18
Really heartily recommend Rick Steve's Rolling Backpack. I have taken it everywhere for 15 years (I did have to replace it a couple years ago when the wheels finally came off). It is designed to be the right shape and size to fit in small European style airline overhead bins. It can be worn on the back when terrian is rough as well as rolled easily in airports and train stations. For reference I am 5'2" and it fits me comfortably. It doesn't meet your L requirements (32L) but it does stretch. I consider myself a minimalist packer but I think I actually end up packing a lot. For me, it's always been enough for multi-week trips (with mid trip laundry).
posted by lolibrarian at 5:09 PM on August 19
posted by lolibrarian at 5:09 PM on August 19
Response by poster: Welp, I guess I'm finally gonna be one of those Askers who ignores a thread full of concurring advice, haha.
The Deuter 55L arrived and I packed it with my heaviest clothes (I'm talking platform sneakers, heaviest jeans and sweatshirts, full sized skincare bottles, a filled 24oz stainless water bottle, etc., and wore it walking around my house, going up and down the stairs at least a half dozen times, bending over and squatting to pick stuff up, and standing at my desk working for 45 minutes and it was... fine!
There is a system to adjust the height of the straps to fit shorter torsos, so it felt absolutely glued to me and the weight was centered nicely and balanced between on my hips and shoulders. It felt somewhat heavy but not the least bit awkward or unwieldy. The little daypack it comes with is tiny but it can attach to the back or to the front straps.
Anyway, I do appreciate the advice and your answers are why I ordered from REI for an easy return if necessary, and why I test-drove it this morning loaded up. But I'm gonna stick with it for now, especially given I got it for $160 after cashing in some dividends. I will for sure be careful about how much I pack, and luckily it has internal and external compression straps so I can pack it less full without my things jumbling around inside.
Oh, and brianvan, I actually used to have an MW Rambler, but alas it got caught in a sewage-contaminated basement flood and had to be tossed.
posted by misskaz at 10:25 AM on August 22
The Deuter 55L arrived and I packed it with my heaviest clothes (I'm talking platform sneakers, heaviest jeans and sweatshirts, full sized skincare bottles, a filled 24oz stainless water bottle, etc., and wore it walking around my house, going up and down the stairs at least a half dozen times, bending over and squatting to pick stuff up, and standing at my desk working for 45 minutes and it was... fine!
There is a system to adjust the height of the straps to fit shorter torsos, so it felt absolutely glued to me and the weight was centered nicely and balanced between on my hips and shoulders. It felt somewhat heavy but not the least bit awkward or unwieldy. The little daypack it comes with is tiny but it can attach to the back or to the front straps.
Anyway, I do appreciate the advice and your answers are why I ordered from REI for an easy return if necessary, and why I test-drove it this morning loaded up. But I'm gonna stick with it for now, especially given I got it for $160 after cashing in some dividends. I will for sure be careful about how much I pack, and luckily it has internal and external compression straps so I can pack it less full without my things jumbling around inside.
Oh, and brianvan, I actually used to have an MW Rambler, but alas it got caught in a sewage-contaminated basement flood and had to be tossed.
posted by misskaz at 10:25 AM on August 22
Response by poster: For the record and anyone finding this thread in the near future: Just got back from my trip and the 55L Deuter worked beautifully. I was easily able to wear it walking for 20+ minutes at a time including climbing stairs and walking up steep cobblestone hills from airports to train stations to hotels (looking at you, Edinburgh). I used the daypack it comes with as my carryon, and it attaches to the front straps which made for a nice counterweight. I guess my Polish and Sicilian peasant genes came in handy because it wasn't even close to the disaster people predicted.
posted by misskaz at 8:42 AM on October 28 [1 favorite]
posted by misskaz at 8:42 AM on October 28 [1 favorite]
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It's 19.7" long, so my more broad advice is to look for backpacks under 20" long.
posted by umwelt at 4:47 PM on August 17 [2 favorites]