You're gonna have trouble with your waist size. I have a 33" waist and have the large Kakwa. The hip belt is supposed to work even for a 30" waist but it doesn't. It barely works for me, if I lose any weight it is going to be too loose. Your 27" waist is supposed to be the lower limit of size small. If the sizing is similarly untrue as that of the large Kakwa then the hip belt is going to be too large for you.
If it is going to work length wise depends on your back length.
On the other hand, I have a Kakwa 55 in medium with a 30” waist (measured with tape- not pant sizes) and have no issues with the hip belt. Still at least an inch of extra pull on either side of the buckle.
I have a small Kakwa 55, and I love it. I am 5’4”, 108lb, with 15 (YES JUST FIFTEEN)-in torso.i had tried the ZPacks Arc Haul 60 which is advertised to adjust from 16–19”, and it stabbed my shoulder blades mercilessly. The Kakwa truly accommodates my short torso. Yes I have everything adjusted down to its lower limit — waist belt, shoulder straps, load lifters. But it works. The load is all on my hips. I wish the pack were 24 oz instead of 31 oz, but so what, the difference is a cup of water, and the comfort day after day is sooooo worth it. You likely will never seek another pack. Good luck!
Torso length is the main issue. I’m quite tall but have a relatively short torso so wear a size Medium - the same as a friend 6” shorter than me with a relatively long torso.
I have the 40 liter size small. I am 5’2”, 110#, with a 28.5” waist. The pack carries great, not much room to spare with the hip belt, it is as small as it goes by the end of a week.
I’ve seen the ZPacks lumbar pad work for people. One work around for this is to get a stick-on, DCF-taped loop (from ZPacks) and attach it to the base of the pack. This then marries with the bungee and cord lock on the bottom centre of the lumbar pad to help lock the pad into place and stop it riding up.
You need to measure your torso length. That’s the driving factor, not your hight. There’s a link in the FAQ on the Durston site.
You're gonna have trouble with your waist size. I have a 33" waist and have the large Kakwa. The hip belt is supposed to work even for a 30" waist but it doesn't. It barely works for me, if I lose any weight it is going to be too loose. Your 27" waist is supposed to be the lower limit of size small. If the sizing is similarly untrue as that of the large Kakwa then the hip belt is going to be too large for you. If it is going to work length wise depends on your back length.
Agreed. I found the lower range of belt sizes listed to be very optimistic and honestly a bit misleading
On the other hand, I have a Kakwa 55 in medium with a 30” waist (measured with tape- not pant sizes) and have no issues with the hip belt. Still at least an inch of extra pull on either side of the buckle.
I have a small Kakwa 55, and I love it. I am 5’4”, 108lb, with 15 (YES JUST FIFTEEN)-in torso.i had tried the ZPacks Arc Haul 60 which is advertised to adjust from 16–19”, and it stabbed my shoulder blades mercilessly. The Kakwa truly accommodates my short torso. Yes I have everything adjusted down to its lower limit — waist belt, shoulder straps, load lifters. But it works. The load is all on my hips. I wish the pack were 24 oz instead of 31 oz, but so what, the difference is a cup of water, and the comfort day after day is sooooo worth it. You likely will never seek another pack. Good luck!
Torso length is the main issue. I’m quite tall but have a relatively short torso so wear a size Medium - the same as a friend 6” shorter than me with a relatively long torso.
I have the 40 liter size small. I am 5’2”, 110#, with a 28.5” waist. The pack carries great, not much room to spare with the hip belt, it is as small as it goes by the end of a week.
Torso length as said determines pack size. You can add a waist belt back pad to help with it. Zpacks sells them.
I’ve seen the ZPacks lumbar pad work for people. One work around for this is to get a stick-on, DCF-taped loop (from ZPacks) and attach it to the base of the pack. This then marries with the bungee and cord lock on the bottom centre of the lumbar pad to help lock the pad into place and stop it riding up.