Canted Hip Belt (for Women)
Pack manufacturers have finally recognized that a women's build is different than a man's. Some manufacturers have created hip belt designs that can be canted to different angles depending on a woman's hip size and figure. If you have a narrow waist, but larger hips, the hip belt can be adjusted to provide an optimum angle of comfort. This is an important consideration, since 80% of the pack weight is typically carried on the hips.

Getting the Perfect Fit
For both styles of backpacks, getting the perfect fit always starts with the hip belt. There's an important point to be made here. A hip belt is not a waist belt. A waist belt holds up your pants. A hip belt carries the weight of your pack, and is wrapped around the body at a point lower than the belt on your pants. Try on the pack and attach the hip belt. Work the belt around pressing down with your hands until the belt settles in the right spot. Now snug the shoulder straps.

In a mirror, or using your friend as "your eyes", the shoulder straps should be about 1 inch (2.5cm) off the shoulder. When the pack is fully loaded, the straps will rest on your shoulders properly and will carry the recommended 20% total weight of the pack.

Generally, you'll find that the "one inch rule" also applies to IF packs as well. In a mirror, or using your friend as "your eyes", the load stabilization straps attached to the shoulder straps should also be about a 45 degree angle from the top of the shoulder strap to its attachment point on the pack. Pack manufacturers have turned adjustability and pack fitting into an art form. Some even manufacture their packs in incremental sizes that go well beyond the standard S, M, L, XL sizing scheme which allows for a great deal of adjustability in the shoulder harness system. Rely on the knowledge of your local outdoor shop salesperson. There are just too many variations on the market to make broad sweeping statements about how to get the perfect fit for a given IF pack model.