The Ultimate Backpack Paradox: 6'5" (197cm), post-shoulder surgery, trying to fly ultra-budget (personal item only). Can anyone crack this puzzle?
Hi everyone!
I had shoulder surgery 1 year ago, and while it feels okay now, I’m trying not to push my luck too much. The Goal: Find a pack around 25–30L that will pass as a free underseat personal item (e.g., Ryanair/Wizz Air), but will also be comfortable enough for hitchhiking and walking long routes (e.g., the Camino, Fisherman’s Trail). The Core Problem: I am 197 cm tall (about 6'5") with a long torso. Every single small pack I’ve tried that has a proper, load-bearing hip belt either sits way too high on my torso (around my belly button), transferring zero weight off my shoulders, or is far too rigid to squeeze into a budget airline sizer. My Current Bag & DIY Openness: I bought an ultralight pack from a Czech brand called Warg (the Camino 25+5L model, see images below). It has an awesome removable, rigid, molded foam back panel that gives it great structure. However, because of my height, the bag still ends way above my hips. I am completely open to any DIY solutions or modifying the bag/gear myself if there is a way to make this setup work or adapt another bag to fit my long torso. My Gear & Budget Context: Gear: My setup is very minimalist. My biggest item is an ultralight down sleeping bag, so the total weight won't be crazy (maybe 6-7kg max). I just need proper load transfer to my hips for shoulder safety. Budget: Nothing crazy, but the pack must be available in Europe. Is there any hidden gem or a clever DIY hack that solves this? A pack with a long torso/adjustable suspension and a real hip belt, but compressible enough to squeeze into a 40x25x20 cm sizer? Thanks for any tips! TL;DR: 6'5" (197cm) guy, 1 year post-shoulder surgery. Need a 25-30L backpack for long treks/hitchhiking with a functional hip belt for a long torso, but it must be squishable enough to fit as a free Ryanair personal item. Open to DIY hacks.