Question on pack fit

What pain, discomfort, or obvious performance issues is this leading to? Honestly most people buy packs that are too small for them. All I can really picture being the issue would be a little bit of pack wobble. What exactly is the problem that a shorter pack would solve? I did some sewing on a pack last summer that moved the shoulder strap attachment point even with- or even slightly above- my shoulders, and I frankly love it. I don’t have to obsess over load lifter adjustment to keep the shoulder straps from irritating my trapezius.

This leads to all the weight being on my shoulders or I elevate the bag and tighten the belt enough for it to hold 100% of the weight, but that’s not comfortable.

To clarify, the pack is too long, not too small.

I guess if I don’t load it up too much or go too many miles, who cares? I can carry it all on my shoulders?

A custom pack is the answer for the vast majority of hikers, a fortiori for someone with fit issues. There are several manufacturers listed here: https://sectionhiker.com/cottage-gear-manufacturer-directory/

“Basically, when the hip belt is properly in place, the shoulder straps either hover above my shoulders about an inch or if I tighten the shoulder straps all the way, they make a straight line back to the pack, they don’t go up, over the shoulders, then down to connect to the pack.”

“This leads to all the weight being on my shoulders or I elevate the bag and tighten the belt enough for it to hold 100% of the weight, but that’s not comfortable.”

Am a little confused, because with your first statement, and assuming there are no lift straps, the shoulder straps are level when the hip belt is “properly in place.”  This sounds ideal.

But your second statement adds that the hip belt is not only “properly in place,” it is uncomfortably tight when all the weight is on the hips.

Despite the claims of some on BPL, it is pretty unusual for a conventional suspension to be able to place 100% of the weight on the hips, and take all of it off the shoulders.  Most of the weight on the hips is common, and what many settle for unless it is a custom built pack.

So am wondering if the hipbelt really fits, since you have to make it too tight to take most, or at least most of the weight when the shoulder straps are cinched to fit, and are not pressing down on your shoulders.

Since I cannot explain this, can only listen to your experience, which is that the pack does not fit comfortably.  You could try a smaller hip belt, but as you note, the pack seems too long from shoulders to hips.  And you could have narrow hips, which are tough to fit with any pack, let alone one that is not your size.

Were I you, I would take the pack to a fitter at a major gear store if one is available; but short of that, sell the pack and buy one that fits comfortably.  Some of the better retailers provide weighted sacks to place in the pack when trying them on, and would look for that.

Wish I had a better answer.

Maybe a couple photos of you wearing the pack would be useful to share here.

Photos would help us both get a sense for the sizing issue, and tell us how involved modifying the pack to shorten the torso would be. I looked up the pack and don’t see an easy way to shorten the torso based on the way it’s constructed.

“Reasonable people?” Say more about your attachment to the bag. Why do you like it so much? What unique features can you not find elsewhere?  and your financial constraints.

If I were you I would sell the bag and get a SWD Big Wild 70 in a size that fit me.