I've searched high and low for a pack with these qualities:

1. Adjustable torso because I have a very short torso.
2. 40 to 50 liters, for 1 to 4 nights.
3. Good suspension---prefer air-flow design
4. 4 lbs or less
5. Lots of pockets
6. Good but not excessive padding in the shoulders and hip belt (I am downgrading from the Gregory Baltoro 70, which is way too much pack for me.)
7. Long waist belt (Ospreys don't fit me at all)

I have tried the Gregory Jade 50, which would fit the bill nicely except that my toros is 1" too short for a good Gregory fit, and the Jade series offers no adjustability in the harness. (Shame on Gregory, in my opinion.)

My next choice would be the Lowe Alpine Airzone Centro 45+10. I love the adjustable torso and pockets. But I am really not convinced that the waist belt is adequate to carry a 45-liter load. It is too thin and too narrow. The reviews bear this out.

Do you have any suggestions for a pack that comes close to the Lowe Alpine but has a better hip belt?

Thanks!

Granite Gear packs (most of them) weigh in at about 3 lbs, the Nimbus series has very adjustable and comfortable frames that let you fine tune to your size, and swappable hip belt/shoulder straps to whatever size/padding you desire.

Nimbus Meridian is on discount all over the place, too. Seen it as low as 95 at REI (that deal is over) and around 150 at Sierra Trading Post. You have a choice between a short and regular - I have a short Nimbus Ozone (same frame) and have an 18" back size. That's the most a short frame will handle, and it adjusts down from there.

It doesn't have a ton of pockets, but that's hardly the most important feature - if the pack fits you, and (like me) you are hard to fit for a pack, it's worth small sacrifices. There has not been an issue with my Ozone and unlike the Meridian it doesn't even have the lid.

Granite Gear is good; I've used them and been pleased.

Lately, I've been using a Deuter ACT Lite 50+10 - and like it, so far. You might check them out to see if you can find one to fit your specs. They're an adjustable-torso, which helps with the fit.

Although no airflow design, consider the Mystery Ranch Snap Dragon. Fully customized harness for short torsos. Made in America too.

I was shopping with a friend who is displeased with the fit of her Osprey and she tried on a Deuter - very impressive, especially since the price is significantly smaller than the Osprey/Gregory of similar sizes.

That's funny: I had been trying hard to like an Osprey Exos I had been using, but ended up replacing it with the Deuter. It was love at first fit, and the price was the icing on the cake.