Arc Blast and short people

I am 5'8" and I ordered my Arc Blast as 19" torso height, it's perfect for me. I debated between the 19" and 20" and opted for 19" because I prefer the shoulder straps to attach at or slightly lower than my top-of-shoulder height, the 20" would have been right if I had wanted the straps to attach slightly above my shoulder tops (as Joe at ZPacks prefers it). So about 17" sounds about right for you. BUT, it isn't necessarily a linear translation like that, you can't take my height and size that works for me and figure from that what's right for you based on your height — go by how you measure yourself based on ZPack's instructions. E-mail them if you have any further concerns, they are helpful in sorting this out for you.

Greg,

Go with the measurement, not peer pressure. I have a "penguinoid" torso length more typical of a person about 6 inches taller than I actually am. At least your torso length isn't totally off the short end like it is for a lot of women who can't even find a pack size to fit them in many models.

Hi Greg,
I'm 5/7" and using the Osprey torso measure device at REI I have an 18 to 18 1/2" torso.
I ordered an 18" Arc Blast and it seems right to me… this after much discussion with Joe and him recommending a longer torso pack… Joe has a different idea of fit than I do.

If you have an REI close by it might be good to get your torso measured in their pack department.

If you get your pack early enough you can load it up and practice with it. If it's not right just return it. Also… if you are undecided between two packs you might ask Joe if you could order the two pack sizes and return the one that is not right. It doesn't hurt to ask… and I believe he has done that in the past… though peak season might be touch for him…

Billy

Thanks for everyone's feedback. The main message I can take away from this is that a shorter torso length is not uncommon for someone my size. I've written to Joe to see what feedback he can give me.

Unfortunately the nearest REI is about 6000 miles away as I'm in Hong Kong :) (maybe 5000 if you count Alaska!). But I will try to see if a local outdoors store has a torso measuring device.

The next big decision is 46L vs 52L vs 60L… originally I was considering choosing one of the two smaller sizes, just because I want to stay light, but now I think it might be better to get one of the larger ones, mainly because there is hardly any weight penalty, but also because I will need a bear canister for my next hike (so maybe I should just pick the one in the middle)! One question: I'm not at all concerned about the extra ounce of the larger pack, but I'm wondering if having a big pack and leaving it half empty has any other disadvantages. For example, is it harder to get a stable weight distribution? Do things move around when you hike? It's difficult for me to anticipate my needs, as I've never had to carry food and shelter before. I expect (in the near term) I will not carry more than 7 days food, and will not hike in the winter – though cold high-altitude hikes in Nepal are a possibility.

I read the Arc Blast 'cinches down'. What does this mean? Does anyone have any pictures? Does it become thinner, or shorter, or…? Do you have to cinch and uncinch to open and close it?

Thanks again!

Gregory

Perhaps the most significant problem with having a pack bigger than you need is that old axiom: Nature abhors a vacuum. Meaning… if you have the space some stuff is liable to jump into it :)

Seriously, the size pack you need will depend on what you plan to put in it… Master of the obvious, eh?

Well… I think most people as they go lighter accumulate sleeping bags, cooks sets, clothing, etc. that is not only lighter, but takes up less volume. Then they can get by with a smaller, lighter pack.

Also, larger packs can be more awkward to carry… especially for a small guy. I don't think zPacks makes their packs in small, medium and large within each of the sizes. And the waist belt always goes at the bottom of the pack. That means the top of the shoulder straps will be mounted lower for a small guy and there will be more of the pack above the shoulders… having weight too high can make for an awkward carry.

Also, I believe the larger packs have a larger fore/aft dimension. And having weight further away from your back makes it more awkward to carry.

Lots to think about… Basically, if you need the larger volume, get the bigger pack. If you have very low volume gear, get the smaller pack. If you are unsure then I would guess you do not have the lower volume gear. That leaves the medium or large.

Billy

If your back length is short, it might be worth you asking Joe to make the pack with shorter vertical struts. My wife did this so that the pack doesn't get in the way when she tilts her head back to look up. I think that ideally you want the struts to come up to just above where the shoulder straps attach.
We use the packs with 7 days' worth of food, and don't notice any problems when the packs are half empty at the end of the trip. If you use a ccf pad, you can always put it inside the pack to fill up some space. Or have your sleeping bag less compreesed.

Greg, not to step on Billy Ray's toes, but a standard torso measuring device may or may not give you the correct measurement for the Arc Blast. The instructions on how to measure on the ZPacks' website are different than how others say to measure, so you really should follow those instructions. Remember that the Arc Blast has a 4" tall hip belt, so if you measure from the bottom of a pack you already own you should account for any difference in height between your current belt and the Arc Blast belt. For example, if your current pack has a belt 3" tall then the Arc Blast is an additional inch, or a half-inch on top and a half-inch on bottom, so in this example when you measure you would add a half-inch to whatever the measurement comes out to.

The bag has a roll-top closure, so if you don't fill it up you can roll the top down to reduce the extra space. If that still leaves extra space then there are cords zig-zagging up and down the sides of the pack that you can cinch down. If you anticipate a lot of extra space there is an option to add more cordage on the front to cinch further. If you really expect a lot of extra space you can have the cordage replaced with webbing, which will do a better job of cinching down the load.

Joe is open to lots of customization requests, you possibly could add webbing inside the pack as well to hold loads tight.

The difference in the sizes is the width/depth, they are all the same height, and for different torso lengths the shoulder straps are just attached higher or lower on the same height back and frame. William's idea is interesting to have the pack custom-made with a shorter frame.

JR… no toe pain here… :)
the more comments the better.
I was just relating how it worked for me.
Can't say I ever understood Joe's pack sizing system
Seems he should make his the same as others to reduce the confusion though.

Billy

BTW… I also have one of Joe's day packs and had the same issues.
I am short too and had I gone by Joe's system I would have had a pack with shoulder straps way above where most packs would have them and… and that pack would have been way too high above my shoulders. so I had him make a shorter pack… basically I took the dimensions off an existing day pack I like and had him build that.

Billy