Baltoro

I don’t have any recs for similar bags, but I have experience with this bag type. I started my backpacking journey with the 75L version of this bag for the same reasons you like this one. It’s not a terrible bag but you can tell the weight isn’t being worn as well as it could be. I personally never

I somewhat agree with this, but it's better to have a slightly larger pack than you usually need. Just because you're gear may only be 40L and your pack is 60L doesn't mean you're 'lugging around 20 liters of empty pack', as that extra 20L worth of pack material is probably just a few ounces in weig

This is a significant transition you are preparing for. Given your physical stature and the specific climate of North Idaho—where winters are long and moisture is a constant battle—the "biggest" pack isn't always the "best" pack. At 5'2" and 115 lbs, carrying a week's worth of clothes plus a tent an

I just got the gregory baltoro float 75 and its absolutely amazing. Carries the weight in such a great way it feels like your backpack is floating by itself if you adjust it correctly. It has a lot of features and you can adjust the backpack straps to different heights

Doubtful. If you pack it halfway, maybe. The limiting dimension will be the height. My Gregory Baltoro 75 has a “frame” that is too long even if I adjust it to the shortest setting and remove the “head.” For a traditional tall pack, 50L is usually where you hit the carry-on limit. Osprey makes a 65L