Women's Specific Climbing Packs

Hey Ladies,

I've been on a mission lately to find a women's specific pack. In the past, all of my packs have been repurposed backpacking packs.  While these have worked moderately well, they don't hold up and don't do the job as well as climbing specific pack. All my female climbing friends either use a backpacking pack or suck up using a 'unisex' --*cough*male-- climbing pack. I'm sick of having envy over my male partner's bags. The only manufacturer I know who makes a women's specific pack is Mammut and for some ungodly reason they don't make it in different torso lengths.

Do you know of anyone off the mainstream that makes a women's climbing specific pack??? What do you use that you love?? I'm currently hating on my Gregory 45 and I'm determined to find a replacement before spring. I need a pack that can hold a rope,  rack, new routing stuff,  etc. and carry it well/comfortably. 

Sincerely,
Why the hell haven't climbing gear manufacturers tapped into this market yet???

The only climbing specific pack I've ever owned has been the Cold Cold World Chernobyl pack.  This is not a women's specific pack, and its' also designed for longer mountaineering routes, not cragging per se.  You're right, why hasn't anyone tapped into this market?  It seems like there are more women than ever climbing, and we can be some demanding bitches!!  

While it is not female specific, I love my Osprey Variant packs. I own both the variant 37 and 52, preferring the latter when trad climbing, as everything fits, easily. After trying a number of different packs (Gregory, Marmot, BD, Rei,) I was never happy til I tried these. The padding is cushy, and it just feels good with my short torso.

  Lowe Alpine uses the ND designation for their women specific packs.
  Lowe Alpine

  My daughter likes the fit and carry of her Gregory Jade 28, which also comes in larger volumes.
Gregory
 You'll need to wade around a little on their site to find all the women specific models.

  s.price
  This explains the womens fit.  The Gregory packs also have a feature that allows the user to move the strap (across the chest) that joins the shoulder straps up or down. 

If I understand correctly, since you mentioned Gregory 45, you aren’t looking for a CLIMBING pack ( e.i. Pack you can wear while actually climbing a multi pitch route), but rather a cragging pack— I.e. the pack you use to carry your gear to the crag. In which case, I do think there are women’s options, including different torso lengths.

I personally really like Deuter packs, and while Deuter Traveler is not a climbing specific pack, I’ve had it for two-three years now as my climbing pack, and couldn’t be happier.

s.price wroteJust curious, what makes a pack women specific?

A pack works just like men's and women's clothing. Especially with a pack that carries a heavy load, one that is designed to ride on your body requires hip belts that are canted properly and straps that are the appropriate size, shape and width.

Although I'm not specifically looking for an alpinists' pack, there will likely be times were I will be roped up and climbing with it on. For this reason, most backpacking packs do not work since the waist belt is generally way too wide and the hip pockets are too cumbersome. I especially find that women, who's harnesses sit higher than men's, trying to wear a pack with the waist belt on completely blocks all your gear loops, making it even more baffling why there is no women's specific climbig pack, with gear loops on the waist belt.

I'm super sick of doing long days in the mountains with inferior and inadequate gear. Why do all my male partners have stuff that is built and designed for them but women have to make do with unintended equipment! >:(

James Sweeney wrote:   Lowe Alpine uses the ND designation for their women specific packs.
  Lowe Alpine

Wow! They do make a women's specific pack! Thanks, James!! I can't believe Mountain Project was actually useful for once!    

  You're welcome.

 I'll even go for the bonus points and add on that The Mountaineer is listed as a dealer for Lowe Alpine, so you might be able to get a try on for fit there.

Couple months ago I decided to buy a crag bag (not for Multipitch) and did good research online. I understood there were no women-specific ones out there and gave up looking for one from the very beginning. I identified Patagonia Cragsmith 45L as a bag I wanted to look into but I really wanted to see it in person and try it on before committing to pay $200 plus tax. So I went into my local Patagonia store (I had never been to any Patagonia store before) and tried it on. I loved it. Store only had it in black but they ordered it on dolomite blue color for me and I got it shipped to my house within 5 days. I've used it several times since then and love it. It's very comfortable to carry around, opens in the back, and fits everything you need to take with you to the crag for one-pitch routes. Note that I'm 5'10" tall but the bag comes in two sizes and also has adjustable straps so it helps a lot with sizing.

Now I'm looking into a multi-pitch bag and again, there are no women-specific ones. I'm trying to decide if I want to but Petzl Spirit but I can't find it in stores and am hesitating to buy online without seeing one in person... but at least it's 1/4 price of my Patagonia bag!!!

Good luck in your search!

I have the Lowe Alpine Ascent ND 38:48 and love it!

Camille R wrote: I have the Lowe Alpine Ascent ND 38:48 and love it!

You should post a review on that link, Camille, to encourage other women to buy it!

Yes, or post a review with pictures here :)

Update:

I went to order the Lowe Alpine Ascent ND and discovered that it too only comes in one torso length.  It's about 2" too short for me.  

So now I'm back to square one.  

WHY DOES NO ONE MAKE WOMEN'S SPECIFIC BAGS WITH TORSO LENGTHS!!!!!       

  Okay.

 Your gonna make me work for it.

 If this pack has the features you want you'll see that it comes in different lengths AND is going for a dandy price just in time for Christmas.

 If you can translate the size chart you might find the size you need.

  How bout this.

The Osprey Tempest series has ADJUSTABLE  torso lengths!  Booyah!

It comes up at around the 3:30 mark of the video.  Adjust if you must 

If we can't get you hooked up now I'll hafta go to Santa's shop myself to make sure you're right by Christmas.

Jaren Watson wrote: My wife loves her women-specific Deuter.

Torso length is adjustable.

Sure, lots of companies make women's specific packs with adjustable or various torso lengths, but is it a "climbing" pack or a "backpacking" pack??

my girlfriend is ~5'5" and has started using my cilogear 30l worksack that was a little short for me and she says it's the most comfortable pack she's worn. the hipstrap is velcro so you can move it up or down a few inches as well. maybe worth asking if they would use your measurements. they are also supposedly developing a womens specific pack?

I’ll second what Jaren Said. Deuter is making the best fitting women’s pack out there. I work at Neptune Mountaineering and by 4:1 we sell the Deuter over other brands. It’s also worth checking out the Hyperlite Mountain Gear. They make most of their packs in two or three different sizes and are well regarded by technical and weight-conscious users.Good luck.

Malcolm Daly wrote: I’ll second what Jaren Said. Deuter is making the best fitting women’s pack out there. I work at Neptune Mountaineering and by 4:1 we sell the Deuter over other brands. It’s also worth checking out the Hyperlite Mountain Gear. They make most of their packs in two or three different sizes and are well regarded by technical and weight-conscious users.Good luck.

Love my Deuter! And two of my friends (one male, one female) are totally rocking the Hyperlite.

I think I'm still having a hard time understanding what the OP wants.

I may be wrong, but I'm thinking of backpacking/carrying packs as the packs with internal frame, suspension, comfy padded belts, etc. Not the lightest packs, but optimized to carry long distance well. These often have lots of straps, loops, etc for attaching things externally, stowing a water bottle in side pockets, etc.

And when I'm thinking of climbing packs I'm thinking smaller size, no internal frame, so they would mold to your back more, and allow more freedom of movement in climbing, but they aren't super-comfortable to carry heavy weight in. And also not too many straps/things hanging on the outside, so they can be hauled in a pinch, either as-is, or with a hauling cover that some packs have. A lot of climbing packs don't even have a waist belt. Or if they do, it is light/flimsy, often unpadded, or attached with a velcro, or something like that.

And then there is a haul bag, where the emphasis is on durability and lack of things that snag on rocks, also not the most comfortable ones to carry while hiking long distance, and generally aren't meant to be worn while doing technical climbing at all, just meant to be hauled, while climbing.

I know people who do technical climbing in alpine environment who sometimes would carry two packs. A big "expedition" pack for carrying stuff up the mountain, basically hiking uphill. And a smaller pack that they strap on top of the big pack when they are carrying to base camp. And then for climbing they would put on the small pack.

But it seems that OP wants all of the above in one pack, I don't know if such thing exists in men's or women's pack at all... and  then it has to be labeled "women specific" and "climbing".

OP, you mentioned that you covet/admire some of your male partner's packs. Can you name specific models, so it would be easier to see what you are looking for?

My friend loves her ClioGear 45L WorkSack with Women's hipbelt and crampon pouch option. They also have the 40B WorkSack which is a bit smaller and has the crampon pouch by default.
Takes a bit of time figuring out the strap system, but once you do you can load it up and keeps you nimble.

Luc-514 wrote: My friend loves her ClioGear 45L WorkSack with Women's hipbelt and crampon pouch option. They also have the 40B WorkSack which is a bit smaller and has the crampon pouch by default.
Takes a bit of time figuring out the strap system, but once you do you can load it up and keeps you nimble.

Luc, how are the shoulder straps for your friend?  Does she find that they cut into her neck at all? This seems like the best option I can find at this point!