Took me a while to get this just right, comfy-wise. But this pack has a lot of options to be able to adjust and get it comfortable for each person. I am now in love with it, using it for many day hikes in the Whites of NH. Reaching the hip pockets at first, to grab snacks on the go, was cumbersome, but now I don't even think about it...it becomes habit and comfy. I also love that I can access the inside via a zipper that runs along the side, instead of only accessing from the top(and having to pull everything out to reach something at the bottom). Plenty of room for day hikes even in winter; I've been able to carry extra gear, spikes and snowshoes with this pack, no problem.