I’m trying to help a female friend and novice hiker select a pack for weekend (3-4 day) trips. She’s on the small side, 5’3" and 110 lb (My guess. I know better than to ask :P). All help gratefully accepted. I’d really like comments and suggestions from the ladies on what works for them.
Saluki Dave
My 24 year old daughter hiked the AT in '98 wearing a Gregory Petit Dru. I have heard only good remarks about this pack. It is sized and shaped for women although I think it is too big (capacity) and heavy. However Gregory has several smaller women’s only packs that deserve a look.
Farther
Ask Poptart, she’s about 5 foot even and very petite, maybe a little less and she has a journal on Trailjournals, which you can pull up and read. She may have her gear listed. She started in Springer in March and is now in Northern Virginia. She is quite a hiker, putting down many 20 mile days. Put a note in her journal mail file for her, she may even have her email address listed there (I’m sure she does). Hope this helps. 
Maintain
Take a look at the Gregory Deva 60, and the The Arcteryx Boras 62,65,75.
blade
bladerunner
The Gregory Reality-X has been a great comfortable pack for my just under 5’, 100 lb frame. An x-small weighs in at only 4.5 lbs with an ample 3750 cu in capacity. Made of extra lite Corduva material that makes this pack also look great. Check it out at www.thebackpacker.com/gear/backpacks/gregory_reality
Peep
My sweetie and I both have Osprey’s and LOVE them. They are not the super lightest but they are comfortable, spacious and have many nifty features.
Towanda
Flame went with an external. Her waist to shoulder was only 11 inches! We had to alter an external. We could not find an internal that would fit. You might want to check out Moonbowgear.com. They custom build internals and they are ultra light and priced in the same range as some of these mentioned here. Sunrise and Sunset hiked with their packs last year and loved them. Good luck, packs are such a personal thing. It seems no two people agree about packs, pack size and pack adjustments.
Papa Smurf
Thanks for the input everyone. She’s really anxious to get started buying gear, but a little time spent up front will pay off on the trail I’m sure.
Saluki Dave
You might consider renting for a couple of trips. REI rents most of it’s gear and some outfitters will also rent packs. It’s a good way to try gear and go backpacking without the cost. You don’t want to be stuck with a pack you don’t like or doesn’t fit right. I would also recommend a good pack fitter who has hiked and knows how to adjust gear. Dana, Gregory and other manufacturers have special training on how to fit their packs. If the retailer doesn’t know what their doing don’t buy from them. Mail order can also be a bad idea if you don’t know how to adjust a pack correctly. Good Luck!
Darth Pacman
I bought a Luna 60 @ Trail Days last year and took it the rest of the way to Maine. I believe the Luna has now become the Ariel, but Osprey packs have three ways to size a pack: the pack itself comes in sizes (iow, the Luna 60 came in S,M,L), the shoulder harness comes in three sizes and the waistbelt comes in 3-4 sizes. I’m 5’0 so I’ve had a hard time over the years finding packs to fit me right. This one finally does.
Bluebearee