Great pack for backpackers!
I recently purchased a mountainsmith ghost pack during the REI sale and have since taken it for a spin to wolf shelter and back from Wintergreen (20 miles or so round trip) these are my initial impressions: VALUE: this pack has been discontinued and the price reflects this fact, at $80 you just can't beat it! FUNCTION: this pack preformed perfectly! I loaded it to 40lbs (volunteered to carry my family members stuff to reach that weight, mostly water) I've been using a women's Kelty Trekker since I was a teen and because of nostalgia I have had trouble replacing it, even though it's two inches two small for me. My usual 3 season weight is around 35lbs (I use almost all vintage gear). The comfort of this pack just blew me away! Now because I'm a human stick insect, I just don't have hips at all, usually I handle this by wearing my belt around my abdomen and compressing my mid section in order to make my hips more pronounced to hold weight without sliding down (hope that makes sense) this inturn makes the shoulder straps too high, and effects the packs balance. The Ghosts belt complete solves this problem by curving upwards from the back panel and over my iliac crest, sticking the lumbar pad to my tail bone like glue, no sliding down at all!! And if you do prefer wearing your belt over your hip instead of above it there are upper and lower straps which I believe would form a cup around your protruding hip bone
