Finding Your Perfect Small Women’s Travel Backpack: A Petite Woman’s Guide

I’m a travel enthusiast, and I’m also a petite woman, standing at just 5’1″ with narrow shoulders and a shorter torso. This combination has meant that over the years, I’ve navigated my share of challenges finding a perfectly fitting small women’s travel backpack designed to comfortably carry all my essentials. While a suitcase on wheels might be easier for some, there’s a unique sense of freedom and adventure that comes with backpacking.

For petite women seeking the ideal travel companion, the journey to finding a suitable backpack goes beyond just capacity. It’s fundamentally about fit. A well-fitting backpack, even a smaller one, can make the difference between an enjoyable trip and a painful ordeal. Understanding what makes a backpack fit your specific body type is key. This guide delves into the critical factors petite women need to consider when shopping for a travel backpack, helping you find a pack that feels like an extension of yourself, not a burden.

Understanding Your Torso Length

The single most important measurement when selecting a travel backpack is your torso length. This is true for everyone, but particularly critical for finding a small women’s travel backpack that works for a petite frame. Everyone’s torso is different, and being petite increases the likelihood of having a short torso, but it’s not a universal rule. You could be tall with a relatively short torso, or shorter with a longer one.

To measure your torso length accurately, enlist the help of a friend. You need to find the distance of a vertical line from your C7 vertebra – that noticeable bump at the base of your neck when you tilt your head forward – down to your iliac crest, which is the top or ‘shelf’ of your pelvis. This is roughly where a backpack’s hipbelt should rest to bear the majority of the load. If measuring at home feels tricky, most reputable hiking or camping gear stores have staff trained to take this measurement properly.

My own torso measures around 14 inches. According to most backpack manufacturers, this places me firmly in the extra-small torso category. This is where the challenge begins; only a limited number of manufacturers produce packs designed for torsos shorter than 15 inches, which can make shopping quite frustrating.

Unisex vs. Women’s-Specific Packs

It’s time for a frank discussion about “unisex” backpacks. More often than not, “unisex” designs are engineered with male anatomy in mind, with women being a secondary consideration. This doesn’t mean women cannot wear unisex packs – many, especially those with taller or broader frames, find them perfectly comfortable. However, the gear industry historically caters to men, and this is reflected in standard pack designs.

Women’s specific backpacks, on the other hand, often incorporate design features tailored to curvier or shorter female bodies. These can significantly improve comfort and fit for a small women’s travel backpack:

• Shoulder Straps: Typically narrower and curved inward to prevent slipping off shoulders, which is particularly helpful for those with narrower frames.
• Chest Strap: Designed to be adjustable, allowing it to be positioned above or below the chest for comfort, rather than directly across it.
• Hipbelt: Angled or shaped to better accommodate the curvature of the hips, ensuring the weight is effectively transferred to the pelvis.
• Torso Range: Offer shorter and more finely adjustable torso length ranges, catering specifically to petite frames.

While there can sometimes be instances of “shrink and pink” – where a women’s pack is just a smaller, different-colored version of a men’s pack with an unjustified price hike – these instances are becoming less common. Generally, there are genuine, functional differences between well-designed men’s and women’s backpacks. Depending on your body shape and size, you might find, as I have, that a women’s-specific design offers a far superior fit for a small women’s travel backpack. If you’re planning travel adventures, perhaps exploring destinations or even considering a degree like a ba in travel and tourism, ensuring your gear fits correctly is foundational.

Could a Child’s Pack Be an Option?

For individuals who are particularly short and small-framed, the idea of looking at backpacks made for children might seem appealing. Kids’ packs are indeed designed for shorter torsos, are generally less expensive, and are available in various colors, not just overtly childish designs. So, is this a viable alternative for a small women’s travel backpack?

It might be, depending heavily on your specific body type. The critical factor to remember is that children’s packs are designed for children’s bodies. They typically lack the shaping and support needed to comfortably accommodate adult female anatomy, such as hips and a bust. If you have a very straight, narrow frame with minimal curves, a children’s pack could potentially work. However, if you have more typical adult female curves, you will likely find it quickly becomes uncomfortable, as the pack isn’t built to distribute weight correctly on an adult frame.

Based on my personal experience and body type, I’ve never found children’s packs to be a comfortable fit for travel, so I haven’t included reviews of them here. But individual results vary. The best approach, as with any backpack, is to try it on in person, loaded with some weight, to see how it feels.

Other Key Fit Considerations

Finding the perfect fit for your small women’s travel backpack involves more than just torso length. Several other anatomical factors play a significant role in ensuring comfort, especially over long distances:

• Shoulder Width: The distance between your shoulders impacts how the pack’s shoulder straps will sit. Women’s packs often have slightly narrower-set straps than men’s. If you have narrow or sloping shoulders, this narrower spacing can prevent the straps from constantly sliding off, a common frustration.
• Hip Width: Your hip structure is crucial because the hipbelt is designed to carry the majority of the pack’s weight (ideally around 80%), transferring it to your stronger leg muscles rather than straining your back. If you have wider hips, like my pear-shaped petite frame, this is advantageous for weight bearing. Some higher-end packs even offer interchangeable hipbelts with different lengths and angles to optimize this crucial weight distribution.
• Back Width and Shape: A backpack isn’t meant to be a flat board against your back. Most well-designed packs follow the natural curvature of your spine. Furthermore, many feature suspended mesh panels or other ventilation systems to create space between the pack and your back. This allows air to flow, preventing excessive sweating and discomfort, especially in warmer climates or during strenuous travel days.
• Chest Comfort: Ladies, let’s be practical. If you have a larger bust, the adjustable chest or sternum strap on a backpack can be problematic, often sitting uncomfortably across the chest. Look for packs with chest straps that offer maximum adjustability, allowing you to slide them up or down the shoulder straps to find a position that avoids pressure points or discomfort. Exploring destinations like Sicily often involves a lot of walking and stairs, making pack comfort essential. Knowing when to travel to sicily might influence the type of gear you need, but a comfortable pack is universal.

What Size Pack Do You Truly Need?

One of the most common mistakes first-time backpackers make is starting with a pack that is far too large. This is particularly true for petite individuals, for whom even a moderately sized bag can feel cumbersome and heavy after a while.

Decades ago, I embarked on a round-the-world trip with a massive 70-liter expedition pack. Looking back, I question my judgment; it was nearly as large as I was and packed with far too much gear. By the end of four months, arriving in London, I seriously contemplated tossing it off the Tower Bridge.

Petite traveler with an oversized Gregory Electra 70 expedition backpack

After that experience, I downsized to a Gregory Deva 60. In size XS, this women’s-specific pack had a 58-liter capacity. This bag quickly became a favorite among petite travelers and served me well for nearly a decade, accompanying me to over two dozen countries across five continents. While still potentially larger than strictly necessary, its exceptional comfort and custom fit made it manageable.

Petite woman wearing a Gregory Deva 60 backpack in Finland

More recently, I’ve aimed to downsize further, transitioning towards a carry-on-only travel style. The benefits are numerous: avoiding checked baggage saves significant time, money, and potential airport hassle. A smaller overall pack is much easier to carry and discourages the temptation to overpack. Counter-intuitively, a longer trip doesn’t necessarily require a bigger bag; you can simply do laundry while traveling. A bag sufficient for 7-10 days’ worth of clothing and essentials is generally adequate for trips of any length.

The primary challenge in this transition, especially for petite women, is that many of the best-fitting smaller-torso packs are actually in the larger size ranges. Finding a carry-on compliant small women’s travel backpack that properly fits a 14-inch torso remains difficult. Furthermore, those smaller packs that do exist often feature less robust suspension systems and flimsy hipbelts not designed for significant weight bearing. While this might be acceptable for larger individuals carrying very light loads, for petite travelers, even a 35L bag can feel quite heavy when fully packed, necessitating a proper, weight-transferring suspension system for comfort.

Despite these challenges, I’m determined to travel lighter. My latest addition is the Gregory Jade 38. In the women’s XS size, this pack offers a 36-liter capacity – enough space for everything I need and, crucially, nothing I don’t. It fits exceptionally well, includes useful features like an integrated raincover, convenient front panel access, and generous hipbelt pockets. Its build quality is similar to my larger Deva, just scaled down. As long as I avoid overpacking it, I anticipate being able to carry it on most airlines, including budget carriers with less strict size limits, saving time, money, and stress.

I’ve successfully test-packed the Jade 38 and confirmed it holds everything required for trips that don’t demand bulky or specialized gear. It’s 20 liters smaller than my Deva, but I don’t expect to miss the extra volume, as I rarely packed my Deva to full capacity on recent trips anyway. The only potential issue might arise if I wish to purchase souvenirs, but I can easily mitigate this by packing a small collapsible daypack or duffel bag. I haven’t taken it on a full adventure yet, but I eagerly anticipate its first journey. For those considering diverse travel experiences, exploring destinations that might require specific gear, check out resources on topics like finding the best scuba diving travel bag.

Overall, based on my experience, a general guideline for small women’s travel backpack sizes for petite travelers might look like this:

• 10-20L: Suitable for day trips or potentially ultra-light, minimalist travel focusing only on absolute essentials.
• 20-30L: An often awkward in-between size. Not usually large enough for extended multi-day travel and sometimes too big for a simple daypack. Might work for a weekend getaway or business travel if it has the right features.
• 30-45L: An excellent range for streamlined, carry-on-only travel. These packs can comfortably fit enough for indefinite travel lengths (with laundry), balancing capacity and portability. The Gregory Jade 38 falls into this ideal range.
• 45-60L: Viable for longer-term travel if you don’t mind checking your bag. Useful if your trip requires carrying a significant amount of heavy or specialized equipment.
• 60+L: Generally too large for comfortable travel backpacking, especially for petite frames. It’s likely overkill and will encourage overpacking. Put it back; your back and shoulders will thank you. For ease of travel, especially air travel, ensuring your belongings are manageable is key, just as finding the best walker for air travel is vital for mobility impaired travelers.

Recommended Backpacks for Petites

With the fundamentals of fit and size covered, let’s look at some specific brands and packs known to work well as small women’s travel backpack options for petite travelers. This list is not exhaustive, but highlights brands that have historically catered to shorter torsos.

Gregory

I’ve been a long-time advocate for Gregory packs. They were among the first manufacturers to consistently offer women’s packs in an extra-small size, designed to fit torso lengths under 16 inches. Beyond the sizing, their packs are built to last and feature thoughtful organizational details, useful pockets, and solid design elements.

Gregory boasts an extensive women’s pack lineup. One specific point for petite users: packs with adjustable back lengths, like the Maven or Amber series, can sometimes be less comfortable at their smallest setting. The top of the pack might protrude and hit the back of your head or neck uncomfortably. I personally prefer their packs that come in fixed multiple sizes (XS, S, M), such as the Deva or Jade series, as they tend to avoid this issue entirely.

Osprey

Osprey also commands a large and loyal following, and for good reason. Their packs, while often on the pricier side, are exceptionally well-made and durable. They are known for efficient packing designs that allow you to fit a surprising amount of gear, and they hold up for years of travel. I’d rate their overall quality as comparable to Gregory’s.

A historical drawback for petite users has been Osprey’s less consistent availability of extra-small sizes. When XS is offered, it might be an XS/S hybrid with a slightly longer minimum torso length than some petite users require. Additionally, I’ve found that some of their 35-40L packs have dimensions that exceed standard carry-on size restrictions on many airlines. For these reasons, I’ve generally leaned towards Gregory, although I do own and appreciate an Osprey daypack. Dreaming of exotic locales? Check out the top 10 places to travel before you die and imagine which backpack would take you there.

Osprey backpack details showing straps and fabric

Osprey does offer one particular pack that could be of significant interest to petite travelers who blend leisure and business trips: the new Fairview. This pack is the highly anticipated women’s version of their popular Farpoint series. It’s a hybrid bag designed for versatile carry – either via shoulder/hand straps or as a backpack with a deployable hipbelt. The 40L size is designed to be carry-on compliant on most airlines, and the larger 55L version even includes a zip-off daypack. The Fairview incorporates features useful for business travel that are uncommon in hiking-focused packs, such as lockable zippers and a dedicated laptop sleeve, making it a unique option for a small women’s travel backpack aimed at urban travel.

Hybrid bags, by nature, often do many things reasonably well but excel at none. The Fairview is no exception; it’s not as comfortable for long-distance carrying with heavy loads as a hiking pack of similar size with a dedicated suspension system. Having grown accustomed to traveling with hiking-style packs, I personally likely won’t switch. However, if you’re seeking a single bag capable of transitioning smoothly from a hiking trail to a business meeting, the Fairview is definitely worth considering, especially now that it’s available in a petite-friendly women’s XS/S fit. (Note: I was only able to test the S/M size locally, as the smaller size wasn’t available. More detailed reviews from other sources exist.)

Other Brands

Beyond Gregory and Osprey, several other brands may offer small women’s travel backpack options suitable for petite frames, though I haven’t personally tested them. It’s always worth researching brands that specifically call out women’s specific fits or offer a wide range of torso sizes in their models.

This guide is not exhaustive, and the backpack market is constantly evolving with new models and features. The single most crucial piece of advice is to try on any backpack you’re considering. And when testing, always load the bag with items that approximate the size and weight of the gear you plan to carry on your travels. This gives you the most realistic sense of fit and comfort.

While selecting the right backpack is paramount, mastering efficient packing techniques is equally important. Utilizing compression bags, packing cubes, and maintaining organization within your pack can significantly enhance your travel experience. But that, perhaps, is a topic for another time.