Elemental Horizons Kalais XT Pack Issue

Years ago I, too, was measured at REI and told I had a 20 – 21 ” torso and consequently bought a size L pack.  I had a miserable time with it. So I bought a different brand Size L pack.  Same thing.  And so it continued over the years and I now have quite a collection of size L packs, which I’m going to put up for sale cheap, because I had REI remeasure last year, and lo and behold this time they determined me to be 18.5 -19″!  Let me tell you, a M pack fit is so much more comfortable…wow!  So it pays to get a second opinion, fer sure.

Kevin, I have a 21.5″ torso, measured by me and my wife (I am 6’1″), and I have a large Kalais.  Once I adjusted the shoulder yoke height a little, it fits me perfectly.   Sound like you might need a medium.

For framed packs, I’ve always tended to focus a bit more on the load lifter angle than how much the straps “cradle” my shoulders. If the load lifters have about a 45º angle, then the pack is sized about right. The shoulder strap yoke should angle down slightly from the shoulders to where they attach to the pack, but I don’t want them curving around my shoulders and cupping them too much. That leads to putting more of the weight on the shoulder than letting the hipbelt do the work.

I think you make a great point to always get a 2nd opinion on the measurements.

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One thing I’ve realized from buying packs online is that it’s critical to follow the manufacturer’s specific sizing directions. You would think things would be consistent from brand to brand, but they’re not. Having also gotten bogus measurements at REI, I measure myself or have a friend do it. It’s not hard and many manufacturers will give you directions on how to do it. I know Elemental Horizons does.
BTW, in your 2nd and 4th photos, it looks like your load lifter straps are fully tightened. They should be loose if you’re trying to determine whether or not your pack is sized correctly.

I agree with @peweg8.  Those lifters are cinched several inches too far.  Once you loosen those up, y0u’ll probably have to tighten up the shoulder straps a bit.  That may or may not solve your problem, but give it a try.

Thanks everyone, I will play around with it more a bit later but that was just those particular photos , we had it so the load lifters weren’t fully tightened as well…

I agree with the load lifter comments, they should be loosened all the way and those straps should wrap your shoulders.  It is hard to tell from the pictures but it looks like you still have room to drop the shoulder strap yoke down some.

It should look more like this picture,  I had a bit of pack sag with 34# so it is riding a bit lower than ideal.

I think it carries a little higher/ lighter on the shoulder than most packs. I thought it was a size too big when I tried it on empty, but it carried on my hips perfectly. I put about 10 pounds of gear in it and then started adjusting it. Once I did that, it felt right. I’m definitely between the M/L though, but  I was close enough to the large that I went with that. It work for me, but yours carries ever so slightly higher than mine based on those photos.