Just thought I'd leave this here.

Yep, I hear you. I just bought a Mystery Ranch Sphinx pack after months and months of agonizing over ultra-light vs. comfort. Comfort won. At 5 lbs. it is still lighter than my old Osprey pack, and much easier on my aging body.

After losing my old daypack a year ago... off the back of a snowmobile, no less. (That happens too often: get ready to go, start up, hit the throttle. Then remember many miles and sometimes many hours later, that a pack is missing.) There's a camera with chip inside it, too. Never got any of that back. Lost in the snow, probably carried off by a critter, cause there was food inside it, too.

So... I ended up buying THREE daypacks. First was cool because it had some extra pockets, and no waist belt (because I never use them on a day pack). Turns out I bought it in the REI "travel" pack section. It was a woman's pack, but seemed ok in the store. Comfortable, but straps are too short when loaded. Gave it to Charlee for travel trips.

Next one... A Deuter "Act Trail 30", which I promptly cut off the waist belt. A good pack, used several times biking to work, hauls lots of stuff--will be great if it ever snows here again so I can ski or snowmobile. ...but too big and heavy for a summer day hike.

So #3: Same pack as Pickering has: REI "trail 20" or something. Super light, works well for day hikes. Smaller and lighter than the one we lost, but lightweight is good for my old bones and day hiking.

So lost one, bought 3 to replace it. Crazy.

My daypack is the REI Flash 22. When my first one finally wore out, I just ordered another one. They’re light, well designed, and big enough to carry what I need. There is probably something better for twice the price, but why bother? Steve, you gotta be nuckin’ futs to cut off the waist belt!

My day pack is a Simms Headwaters Day pack (2012 version). Carries everything I need for a long day of hiking and fly-fishing, including survival gear. It's the most comfortable day pack I've ever owned...many.

Yeah, that's what I have. Bob, do you use the waist belt? I think on the Flash 22, the belt easily unclips.

On that bigger Deuter, for downhill skiing, I am always taking it off to get on the chair lift. And waist belt is worthless on a snowmobile, too. That's where I use it, primarily.

Yes, I use the waist belt, especially if I'm carry a limit of trout (which happens occasionally).