Best Hiking Backpacks for Short Petite Women 2026

Last Updated on 07/2026 by Mom Goes Camping

I’m a petite woman who is barely above 5 feet tall and my torso length is just 14 inches. This makes it incredibly difficult for me to find backpacks which fit me. It’s even harder to find UL or large-capacity backpacks for short women.

After a lot of research and talking to other petite female backpackers, I’ve managed to compile a list of hiking packs for petite women. All of these have torso lengths of 15 inches or less.

Comparison Table

Pack	Capacity*	Torso Length	Waist	Buy At
Osprey Eja Pro 55	52	13-17	26-45	Amazon, REI
Osprey Eja 58	55	13.5-17	26-50	Amazon, REI
Osprey Lumina 60	54	15-17	24-45	Amazon
Osprey Ariel 65	62	13.5-17	26-45	Amazon, REI
Osprey Ariel Pro 65	62	14-17	24-28	Amazon, REI
Osprey Renn 65	65	14-19	25-50	Amazon, REI
Osprey Aura	62	13.5-17	26-50	Amazon, REI
Osprey Ariel Plus 70	70	14-17	26-50	Amazon, REI
Gregory Octal 45	42	14-16	26-45	Amazon
Gregory Wander 50 Kids	50	13-18	22-48	Amazon, REI, Campsaver
Gregory Facet 55	52	14-16	26-45	Amazon, REI
Gregory Maven 55	52	14-18	26-45	Amazon, REI
Gregory Kalmia 60	55	14-17	22-46	Amazon, REI
Gregory Maven 65	65	14-17	24-26	Amazon, REI
Gregory Jade 63	63	14-17	24-26	Amazon, REI
Gregory Deva 70	56	14-16	26-46	Amazon, REI
Gregory Wander 70 Kids	70	13-18	22-48	Amazon, REI, Campsaver
Gossamer Gear Mariposa	60	13.5	28-45	Garage Grown Gear
Mystery Ranch Coulee	40	13-18	26-32	Amazon, Campsaver
Mystery Ranch Bridger	55	13-18	26-32	Campsaver
Mystery Ranch Bridger	65	13-18	26-32	Campsaver
Mystery Ranch Glacier	70	13-18	26-32	REI, Campsaver

Quick Picks:

Best Overall: Inoxto Lightweight– it is comfortable and a good balance between sturdiness and weight.
Best Ultralight Pack: Osprey Kite 48 – Fantastic bag for lightweight camping.
Best Large Pack: IGOLumon 60L – This is a great larger capacity bag that fits petite women well and it’s UNDER $50.

*Important: The XS size of backpacks usually have a smaller capacity than the one listed in their name. For example, the Osprey Lumina 60 only has a capacity of 54L in the XS size.

My Top Picks

I’m not going to go over every single short/XS women’s backpacking pack, but here are some of my top picks based on the features they have.

Inoxto Lightweight.

There are four versions of this women’s pack: 50 AG LT, 50 AG, 65 AG LT and 65 AG. All come in XS/S sizes with a torso length adjustable down to 13.5 inches.

The thing I really like is that there are multiple side compression straps. These allow you to cinch up your pack so it sits close to your body. The fit is better and you won’t have as much wobbling around like with some packs.

Best For: All around great pack with tons of features

Capacity: 62L
Weight: 4 lbs. 7 oz.
Torso: 13.5-17 inches
Waist: 26-50 inches
8 exterior pockets
Ventilated back mesh panel
Aluminum frame
Main fabric: 210-denier recycled nylon; 500-denier recycled nylon
Lifetime warranty
Get it here at Amazon

Osprey Aura 65

Best For: Ultralight backpacking

Capacity: 65L
Weight: 1lb 12.8oz
Torso: 15-17 inches
Waist: 24-45 inches
Max Load: 25lbs
Ventilated back mesh panel
6065 aluminum hoop stay
Adjustable sternum strap
Main fabric: 30D Cordura® Silnylon Ripstop
Lifetime warranty
Get it here

At under 2lbs, the Osprey Aura is one of the lightest weight packs specifically for women available. As I talk about in this post about ultralight backpacking tips, you might not actually want an ultralight backpack. They aren’t designed to carry a lot of gear. The lack of frame means weight isn’t distributed as well down to your hips.

As expected with UL backpacks, the pack is missing a lot of standard features. It doesn’t have much padding, so comfort isn’t the best. However, there are four pockets including a zippered lid where you can stash items and compression straps for securing items to the pack. It’s hydration pack compatible so you don’t have to worry about the backpack not having water bottle pockets.

The shoulder straps are J-shaped, so this might not be the best pack if you have larger breasts. The mesh back panel does give your bootie a bit of room though. The aluminum stay can also be bent to fit your contour, which is a big plus for curvy women.

Get it here

Gregory Deva 70 XS

Best For: Comfortably carrying heavy loads, especially on long treks

Capacity: 56L
Weight: 4lbs 7.7oz
Torso: 14-16 inches
Waist: 26-46 inches
Max Load: up to 50lbs
Response A3 suspension system
Adjustable shoulder, hip and sternum strap
S-shaped shoulder straps
9 exterior pockets
Removable daypack
Aluminum frame
Rain cover included
Main fabric: 210-denier Honeycomb CryptoRip nylon
Get it or here at Amazon

Gregory is one of the backpack manufacturers which actually makes women-specific packs. Yes, lots of brands say their packs are for women, but they are actually just shorter versions of the men’s packs.

Here are some of the women-specific features on Gregory packs:

S-shaped shoulder straps to accommodate bust
Shorter torso
Hip belt angled to fit a woman’s steeper hips

While Gregory makes a lot of women’s packs, this is my favorite. At about 4 1/2 lbs. it is a bit on the heavy side, but the suspension system makes it feel like you are carrying less weight than you really are.

The system, called Response A3 (Automatic Angle Adjust), causes the shoulder straps and hip belt to pivot. As you move, the pack will adjust to your torso angle. Everything about the suspension system is adjustable: shoulder harness, lumbar area, and hip belt. You can get the perfect fit regardless of your body type.

As for organization, the Deva has 9 exterior pockets. Three of these are in the lid, three on the front of the pack, two in the hip belt, and one on each side of the pack. You can access gear from a top pocket or a large U-shaped front panel pocket.

The water bottle pocket is a bit weird, especially since it isn’t symmetrical and you thus must carry your bottle on one side (not ideal for left-handed people like me). But the slant is actually pretty cool since it makes the bottle more accessible.

As 70L, the Deva is large enough for all of your gear, including a bear canister. The max carry load is 50lbs, so enough for even long thru-hikes.

Get it or here at Amazon

Osprey Renn 65

Best For: Short women who want an affordable large-capacity pack, even if it means sacrificing some features

Capacity: 65L
Weight: 3lbs 7oz
Torso: Adjustable 14-19 inches
Waist: 25-50 inches
S-shaped shoulder straps
5 pockets
Ventilated mesh back panel
LightWire peripheral hoop frame
Rain cover included
Main fabric: 600-denier polyester
Get it or here at Amazon

One of the problems with large-capacity women’s backpacks is they tend to be very tall. For us short women, that means the pack ends up extending above our heads. This puts the center of gravity up higher and throws us off balance. The Osprey Renn is one of the few packs which doesn’t do this.

Compared to other packs this size, the Renn is actually pretty wide. The width means the center of gravity ends up being much lower, so you won’t feel like the pack is pulling you backwards. If you are a petite woman and regularly haul very large loads, the Renn is a good solution.

As for comfort, the Renn does a decent job. The suspended mesh back provides lumbar support and keeps you from getting drenched in sweat. The torso can be adjusted to pre-set lengths, which means you can try out a few to see which is most comfortable. Unfortunately, the hip belt padding might not hit the right spot if you have larger hips. The shoulder straps might also end up squeezing your bust if you have a very large chest.

Considering this is a large pack meant to carry lots of heavy gear, I was surprised at how few organizational features the Renn 65 has. Yes, there are lots of pockets including hip belt pockets, a lid pocket, and two side pockets (which also have horizontal access). However, there isn’t a back stash pocket. Nor are there many loops or attachment points for gear. Osprey likely left these off so they could keep the weight and price of the pack down. For some women, these tradeoffs will be worth it. Others should consider a more feature-rich pack like the Osprey Lumina or Gregory Deva.

Get it or here at Amazon

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Tips for Buying a Hiking Pack for Petite Women

Here are some backpack buying tips specifically for short, petite women.

Keep Center of Balance Low

Women’s backpacks are usually narrower than men’s backpacks to account for our slimmer shoulders. This makes the packs more comfortable for us. However, it also means women’s packs can end up tall and skinny. For short women, the top of the pack might end up high above the head, causing it to be top-heavy and hard to balance.

Ideally you keep your gear minimal so you don’t have to get a huge pack that goes above your head. If you are unable to do this, then it might be better to choose a wider pack, like the . Or, make sure your pack has lots of loops and straps so you can attach gear to the outside instead of having to extend the lid.

Don’t Rely On Adjustable Torso Length Alone

Adjustable torso length is a great feature to have. It allows to you get a near-perfect length. However, don’t rely on adjustable torso too much – especially if the torso can be adjusted by many inches. Here’s why.

Let’s say a pack has an adjustable torso length of 14-22 inches. When you put the torso at the shortest setting, the shoulder straps are further down on the pack. This means the top of the pack ends up very high, possibly over your head. It’s better to find a pack with a torso length which matches yours or can be adjusted by a small amount to perfect the fit.

Weigh Gear before Buying a Pack

A backpacker shouldn’t carry more than 20% of their body weight. For petite women, this can be a very hard goal. I’m only 110lbs, so I’d need to get my pack weight – including water and food – to 22lbs or under.

Before you buy a backpacking pack, I suggest you lay out all of your gear and weight it. If it is totaling more than 20% of your bodyweight, then consider whether there is any gear you don’t need or whether it makes sense to buy a lighter version of certain gear. Once you’ve done this, you’ll be better able to choose a pack suitable to what you really need to carry.

Also read:

Lightweight Packs Aren’t Always the Best Choice

In an effort to get your base weight down, you might be tempted to get an ultralight backpack. However, this is often a bad idea. UL backpacks aren’t as comfortable nor are they as good at transferring load to your hips. As a petite woman, this load transfer is very important! It’s better to have a pack which weighs 1lb more but makes your overall load feel 10lbs lighter.

Look At Return Policies

Buying a hiking pack is all about getting the fit right. Even if you go into a store, you won’t be able to really feel how comfortable a pack is until you’ve tried it weighted down. Here’s what you need to do:

Check the return policy before you buy the pack. REI generally has good return policies on unused gear. Amazon return policies can vary depending on the seller.
Once the pack arrives at home, load it with 20+lbs of weight.
Take a walk around your neighborhood with the pack on.
Does the pack still feel comfortable? If not, return the pack within the return period!

Consider the Youth Department

A lot of youth backpacking gear is just as good as the adult’s gear, but it usually costs a fraction of the price. Since I’m so small, a lot of my hiking boots, rain pants, and other gear comes from the youth boys section.

This method doesn’t always work well with backpacks. Youth backpacks don’t have S-shaped shoulder straps to accommodate breasts nor do they have hip belts designed for a woman’s curvier figure. However, if you are a slim, less-curvy petite woman, you might find lots of youth packs which fit you well.

Hiking Backpacks for Petite Women FAQ:

What torso length is considered petite for a backpack?

Generally under 15 inches, though most brands start their XS sizing at 13.5 to 14 inches. Measure from the C7 vertebra (the bony bump at the base of your neck) straight down your spine to the top of your hip bones. Do this before shopping a single inch off can make the difference between a pack that fits and one that destroys your shoulders.

Can a petite woman use a regular women’s backpack?

Sometimes, if it has a wide enough torso adjustment range. The problem is that even “short” settings on an adjustable pack can still position the hip belt too low and the shoulder straps too far forward. If you’re under 5’2″ with a torso under 15 inches, look specifically for XS sizes or packs that advertise a 13 to 14 inch minimum torso length.

Should petite women use youth backpacks?

It depends on your build. Youth packs are designed for shorter torsos and often fit petite women well in terms of length and they’re usually cheaper. The drawback is that youth packs don’t have S-shaped shoulder straps for a bust, and the hip belts aren’t cut for women’s hips. If you’re slim and less curvy, a youth pack can work great. If you have a more pronounced bust or hips, look for a women’s XS.

How much should a petite woman’s pack weigh fully loaded?

Aim for no more than 20% of your body weight. At 110 lbs, that’s 22 lbs maximum including water and food. This is a challenging target for petite backpackers and the main reason ultralight gear is worth considering at smaller body sizes every pound saved matters more when your total budget is 22 lbs, not 35.

Is the Gregory Deva still available?

Gregory discontinued the Deva line it’s been replaced by the Maven and Kalmia lines, which carry forward the same women-specific fit features (S-shaped straps, angled hip belt, adjustable torso). Both are in the comparison table above and are worth considering as the current equivalents.

Are you a small women? What hiking pack do you use? Let us know in the comments section below.

Best Hiking Backpacks for Short, Petite Women (Torso Length Under 15″)

Comparison Table

Quick Picks: