Different people have different likes, thats why theres all different flavors of ice cream. If you dont need a huge 15 oz pack, dont buy one. Your desire to pack small is your way. Others may be different.

Put that 9 oz 3/4 lenght ridgerest inside the pack and it takes up a great deal of room, and is still lighter than most inflatables. Dont stuff the sleeping bag and save the stuffsack wt, and have a pack that conforms to your back better and is self-adjusting for volume of packed gear, and doesnt de-loft the bag potentially.

A loosley packed pack, conforms to your back better and is more comfortable than a tightly packed one. That is one reason some mfgs make large UL packs. Again, different strokes. Find what you like that works for your style.

I think the bottom line here is that big frameless backpacks are for people who, for one reason or another, carry bulky insulation. Am I reading that right? Because actually up until now, I've avoided those kinds of backpacks out of not understanding a good use for them. You could even take a big frameless pack on an overnighter if you just liked the idea of not compressing your down--or you use a big synthetic bag. Doesn't sound like such a bad idea, actually.

I think Chase summed up my feelings toward frameless and light frame packs that led me to post the other thread about getting back into big backpacks. People say that they can fit two weeks' worth of gear and food into their ultralight backpacks, but I seem to lack the packing skills to do this, and would have to turn to a larger backpack to fit that kind of gear comfortably.

So its my first post so bare with me as I try and ask a question and maybe make a point. I must disclose first that I am not currently backpacking and haven't been in over 20 years but I have been bitten by the PCT bug and the challenge it will bring me. Any ways here it goes.....

I have been researching for over 6 months about what pack to get, which one would fit my PCT needs as well as your normal weekend trips around Socal or beyond. I have been leaning toward the Kifaru KU lightweight packs for many of the reasons listed in this particular post. Please keep in mind that I do not have one yet but am relying on data in the forums here and Kifaru for info. Now back to topic, the KU series are light and can carry the weight of any normal or heavy packed trip without issue (according to the folks that have them), but the most important feature to me is the fact that I can expand the pack with the various pods and pockets to modularly fit my needs on a trip by trip basis. I don't see any other pack on the market that can do this and be light weight. So if this pack fits me well and works well at a low carry weight and a heavy carry weight and can be expanded to fit my needs in all seasons or locations isn't that the perfect scenario? By having a modular pack it addresses the issue that the OP brought up and now there is no need for multiple packs or issues with one pack that can't carry weight correctly but it's light versus one that can but maybe is too big and your stuff isn't very secure..... so on and so on. Is my thinking logical here because it appears to me that this is the solution to the question and possible the direction I will be headed?

I vary my pack size by three methods:

1. cinching up or releasing the compression cords (2009 REI Cruise UL 60)
2. adding or removing two side pockets of 400 cu. in. each
3. adding or removing a Dana Wet Rib front pouch/water bottle holder to the lower shoulder strap webbing

This works for several different trip lengths.