In order to carry all the items needed for each segment of this hike, I decided I needed a new backpack. My previous pack was an external frame Kelty ... oh, about 20 years old.
I researched this topic quite a bit, looking particularly at packs suitable for "shorter" women. After trying on many I found what I think is the perfect pack for me. It's an Osprey Ariel 65.
Fit is the key to pack performance. I wanted to make sure that I took the time to get it right. I bought from a reputable mountain fitting store in Breckenridge, Colorado.
I like this particular pack because it offers multiple sizes to fit a range of torso lengths: tall, medium, and short. I'm a short.
Next, the salesperson determined my hipbelt size by measuring around my hips, not my waist. I learned that a properly fitted hipbelt rides centered over the hipbones and needs to be very snug; after all it will be carrying the bulk of the pack's weight. The padded portion should wrap well around your hips, leaving a gap of 3 to 6 inches between the tips of the pads when securely tightened.
This pack has space for a 3 liter bladder (and a drainage hole at the bottom of the space just in case your bladder leaks.) There are also multiple pockets on the outside, specific locations for your tent and sleeping bag, and a place to stow your hiking sticks.
This pack should work well for me, as long as I don't carry more than 45 pounds of "stuff".
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