I would look at the rest of the suspension before pulling stays. If you have a hipbelt that is designed to carry a heavy load, then when you remove the stays, the hipbelt is useless. If you can, remove the hipbelt as well. I would also look at the rest of the pack for cutting stuff off. The hipbelt and stays would be the last part I removed.
_________________________
I've taken a vow of poverty. To annoy me, send money.