Pack for short dude

Looking at packs on the main vendor sites. I am 5'4" tall and 140lbs with a pants size of 32" (or 31" summertime). Should I just be looking at the youth packs? Also, where should I measure for torso length? From where my belt goes to just under my adam's apple is 19".

Oh, and I just turned 36, so I don't think I'll hit a growth spurt. Well, at least in height anyway.

None of those measurements will help you with pack size. You need to measure from the 7th vertebrae to the iliac crest. Go to the local outfitters and have them take the measurement, or follow the instructions at McHale's website.

yeah, what she said. Don't make any assumptions using your height. I'm 6 foot and 200 pds and I still only wear a medium pack. As it turns out, all of my height comes from my legs. Also, get your back size measured by a couple of people. The first measurer (if that's a word) told me the measurement was 19.5 inches (indicating a "large" pack) and the next two people told me 17 inches (indicating a "medium" size pack). All from REI.

I suggest you read the articles on the home page of this site. Here's the link for the specific article on packs.

Be sure to have someone else measure you. I tried to do it myself once and came out with three wildly different measurements in three attempts!

Although they are not exactly lightweight, Alps Mountaineering packs have a large adjustable length range. I have an AM Orazibal, which fits really well, is not too heavy, and very reasonably priced. I also have a Lowe Alpine, which is a) comfortable and b) adjustable, but rather heavy to be mentioned here:-)

I'd add that the measurement is just a preliminary step: it gives you an idea of what size to try on for starters.

When you go to try it on, most places will dump a couple of 10 pound sandbags into the bottom of the pack to "see if it fits. How's that feel?" My answer is usually, "Not like any pack I've ever carried on a trail - and I don't mean that as a compliment."

My own experience has been that I get the best fit if I haul the gear I intend to carry (including the typical amount of food and water I'll start a trip with - 2 days' food and a quart of water for me, usually) to the store, choose the pack I'm interested in, and the size I think I'll need, and then load all my own gear into the pack. This does two things.

First, it determines if the pack will hold all my gear, with room to spare for those atypical trips where I need to carry extra water or a few more days' food. It also determines whether things will go where I want them to go (will the maps fit into the lid? Will the rain gear fit in the outside pockets? Will the water bottle fit in the "water bottle pocket'? Will pack straps or shoulder straps interfere with access to a pocket while I'm wearing the pack?

More importantly, with the weight distributed realistically, I can put the pack on and see how it's really going to carry. I can tweak the loading to get the side-to-side, front-to-back, and top-to-bottom distribution right. Then I can start adjusting the torso length (if adjustable)and other fit features. If I can't get it right, I can change pack sizes (from medium to large, or vice versa) or even pick out a different pack, until I find one that fits - then I can carry it around the store for half an hour or so to see how it feels after carrying it a while. Then I buy it.

Two etiquette items here: 1) Especially with a small store, check first to find out when business is slow, and go then - it's rude to scatter stuff all over their sales floor and monopolize a clerk's time when they've got a lot of other customers. 2) After you've spent an hour or two on this process, don't be a jerk and say, "Gee I really like this pack, but I saw it on sale on the internet for $15 less, so I'll buy it there." Pay the extra $15 and patronize the folks who went out of their way to help you find your perfect pack.

Great suggestions...
I particularly liked Glenn's comments, but I was in retail for a long time.
Franco

Thanks all; the wife and I traded torso measuring. From the sound of it; ordering online may not be a good idea. My only problem is that there are no decent outdoor stores near (Tyler,TX). There is an Academy and a Gander Mt., but selections are slim and quality brands usually are not carried at these places.

I think there may be a good outdoor store in Dallas area (2 1/2 hours away). Thanks for all the tips to help me pick a proper fitting pack.

One more question; do most backpack "tags" include the torso size it is for in inches? Or are they just 'small, med, large'.

It varies by manufacturer - if it's not on the tag, check the website; it will usually indicate the range by inches for each torso size. It will also include the hipbelt size in inches, and maybe information on how to swap hipbelts up or down in size (assuming the hipbelt isn't sewn on.)

If there is no local store nearby, and you don't want to drive to Dallas, most online retailers will let you accomplish the same thing as I described: just check their return policy before ordering. Most (including REI, which is really good) will let you return unused items, with the original tags still attached, for a full refund. So, order a couple of different sizes, or a couple of different styles, go through the process I suggested in your own living room (don't take the tags off the pack), maybe even take a walk around the block (not in the rain), and send back the packs you don't want in sellable condition for a full refund. You don't get the clerk's advice and help (which can be indispensable), but you save the drive time. Whether two-way shipping is cheaper than a round-trip drive is a determination you'll have to make.

If it were me, and this was my first pack, I'd make the drive.

The REI in Dallas is a good store. I go to Dallas for work fairly often and visit the REI there almost every trip (I'm also fortunate to have an REI within walking distance of my office in Austin and two others within 20 minutes - my wallet hates it). The folks with whom I've dealt there seem to be pretty helpful. I think it would be worth the trip for you. The worst part of driving from Tyler to Dallas is the part where you're actually in Dallas.

I didn't think there was an REI in Dallas. I looked on their website at "locations" and nothing close came up. I'll check again.
**EDIT**... Ok, Google found it-4515 Lbj Fwy, Dallas - (972) 490-5989
I am gonna in SOOOO much trouble with an REI in Dallas, my wife's gonna kill me...
Thanks.

REI down the street from the office, Cabela's 5 minutes from the house. It's a wonder I can feed my kids.