Modifying a day pack?

I recently tried several day packs and found a day pack I mostly liked, except for the waist belt. The belt pockets were too small to fit what I wanted to carry in them, and the webbing strap wasn’t working for me. Are there any businesses out there that could take a pack and replace the belt with a longer section of padding and bigger pouches set closer to the front, without completely breaking the bank?

You can try asking a tailor/seamstress. They would have the skills to do it. Maybe a cosplay maker.

Try to find a gear repair shop near you if possible.

Yes. Probably not.

I’ve had backpacks and luggage repaired. It’s not necessarily that expensive, but I haven’t asked them to do all that much. You’re potentially asking for a pretty major change.

I wonder if there’s an easier way. What bag? What are you hoping to fit in the pockets? Any particular physical needs on your part, like a much longer waist belt than typical?

@Luca
I was thinking of the Gregory Zulu 24 LT. I liked the bag but the webbing part of the waist belt, while it fits fine for length, squeezed me into a rather unflattering sausage shape. If the belt just had some longer padding, it would be a lot more comfortable. (The Zulu 28 Plus has more padding which was great, but was overall too large for me.) Also, I want to keep my phone in the waist belt pocket (I use it for GPS and it is my camera), but it won’t quite fit.

@Weston
Got it.

I have a Stratos with a similar back panel. I doubt you could get that hip belt extended. Kind of frustrating that they have a picture of someone sticking a phone in the pocket but it won’t fit yours. You can buy an add-on pocket that goes on a shoulder strap for that.

There’s an Osprey Talon 22 Extended Fit. Not as nice a harness though.

I use a 34 L pack for day hikes. It’s a little excessive when I don’t need it, but it’s not really heavier or in the way or anything.

@Luca
I bought and returned the Osprey Stratos 24, and something about the shoulder strap configuration was hitting me wrong.

Yeah, I don’t even have that big of a phone. It’s an iPhone 11 Pro in an OtterBox Defender, so it isn’t slim, but the more modern phones are even bigger. It doesn’t seem like it would be that hard to add a bigger pocket at the factory.

I wish you could just mix and match the belt from the 28 Plus with the shoulder straps on the Zulu 24. I’m just in-between sizes while I am losing weight and it is what it is. I still have a bit of a belly, and the strap just bites in when it’s snug and then I have two bellies lol. It’s such a great look; I can’t even hike because I am beating away all the ladies.

I had the same problem and I bought a Gregory plus size. The hip pockets are in the right spot, and the webbing is long enough for me! I think it’s a little wider in the shoulders too. There is a Gregory Citro 30.

@Leighton
I tried the plus size too. The hip belt was good for now (but would not adjust tighter if I lose any more weight); however, the shoulder straps didn’t fit at all - way too big on me.

I know in the States you can buy different sized waist belts that go into each of the backpacks. Certain brands I’m not sure which though.