womens UL pack

Definatly take a look at the granite gear women's packs if you have not already done so. My wife has a Vapor Ki that works well for her. She has joint problems so the internal frame works well for carrying her sub 15 lb loads.

Another vote for Granite Gear. If you are carrying a lot of super ultra light gear, a pack can still get heavy. And thus a real internal frame is more comfortable as it transfers weight off the shoulders onto the hips.
For days when I must carry more weight I use a Meridian, and I bought a Vapor Ki Short for my GF.

While 3 lbs might not be UL, it is lightweight. Realize that a bit of comfort for her is worth to what you is a heavier pack. If you put her in a frameless pack or a unisex pack that doesn't right, she will be very cranky. Trust me on that one!
Let her pick the one she likes, and if it is under 3 1/2 lbs or so…don't worry. Often the weight comes from a beefier suspension and padded hip belt.
Try on a few more, but if she likes the first one, go with it.
Remember: if she is happy with her gear, and isn't in pain, she is more likely to hike with you ;-)

Gabriel,
I just purchased the jade 50 for my girlfriend. The pack is great. It's a really decent weight for what you get and according to her, it carries really well. I found that while I end up carrying all of the food/kitchen, my girlfriend didn't like the concept of having all her stuff in one big pocket (ie. my vapor trail) like her previous one. The jade came in at a good weight, with hip belt pockets, hydration sleeve, top stash, front pocket, big pouch for drying gear…one way I got her into lightening up is to make a gear list for her along with mine. She eventualy wanted to lose some of the pack weight to see how comfortable it was to be at my weight…voila – the birth of an UL'er.
One thing that is kinda funny, even though we have some of the same gear, her stuff comes in so much lighter then mine because she is only 5 feet tall…I wish I stopped growing when I was 8.

Sarah, Its great to hear a woman's perspective. I go as light as I can while maintaining a certain level of comfort and civility. Back on active duty I could enjoy sitting in the rain wrapped in a poncho savoring a bag of 'ranger pudding' (MRE cocoa powder, instant coffee, sugar, creamer, mixed with water). The motto then was "you don't have to he having fun to have fun".
Now, I need to provide more of a family type 'camping' experience, not just for my GF, but for the newbies to which we introduce hiking/camping. Don't want to scare them off on the first trip.
I read these sub "x"-lb lists where people are sleeping on baloons, with their feet in trash bags, under a semi-transparent cuben tarp; no way my GF would go for that. She's tough, but I'll carry a few more lbs to keep her comfortable, dry, warm, and well fed. (Yes, she carries her share, about 10% of her body weight)
She saw a .jpg of one of our most esteemed members, who I respect very much, on his baloon bed, and said with a sad look.. "he looks homeless :( "

Hehheh…..Brett, your GF is a smart lady ;-)

I have always felt that I can go light and still be comfortable. Of all the packs I use, I have one that is 3500 ci, and weighs in at 3.5 lbs. Is it big? Yes. Is it comfortable? Yes, and the only pack I own that doesn't hurt when I am carrying a heavy load of food. I have 2 lb packs that are fine for weekends…..but that heavier pack stays there. It stops hip bruising!

Hey — my standards for cleanliness, fashion, comfort and entertainment are just as high as anybody else's — if all I ever have to carry is 10% of my body weight… and have a real buddy carry all the rest for me! (heh heh)

consider the REI Women's UL pack. i have the original version (the current version has stronger fabric) and i really, really like it. it's slightly smaller than the Jade (roughly 2700 vs 3000 cu in), but lighter too.

i second Sarah's recommendation that you not push a frameless pack on her. if she gets into it, really likes it, and the gram-weenie disease hits her, then y'all can go nuts. but i think keeping her load light and keeping her comfortable is the best way you can win her over to the sport. my husband got me back into it (after a few disastrous teenage attempts), but we packed HEAVY at first and boy did i suffer. i only kept at it because i loved him and didn't want to stay home alone. i shudder to think of our painfully heavy packs back then. the only thing from those days that we still carry are the 2" thick thermarest LEs, because dang are they nice to sleep on!

A girlfriend of mine really likes the original version of the REI UL Pack, as well, carrying up to the low 20 lbs. comfortably. Hope the new version is not heavier.

I don't know if they sell them in the States, but the French company Millet makes a lot of women's specific lightweight packs. (more women buy Millet in Japan than any other pack company) They now use a lot of silcordura in packs they make.

Ben, ha ha.. but Im sure your 3-season pack weight is under 10% of your body weight, right? But if you can find a girl who will carry your climbing rack and rope, she might be a keeper.

And speaking of 10% I know you travel internationally with a day pack that, when packed, will blow away in a strong breeze if you don't sit on it.