I've noticed that I'm a pretty big wimp when it comes to weight on my shoulders. I also really like having something more low-profile that I can wear while around camp and/or fishing that holds things I commonly need to go to. The goal is never to have to open my backpack during hiking or fishing for any reason.

I've got a few questions:

1. For those of you currently using such a system, what size torso do you have, what size torso is your pack, and how much space is there between the backpack and the waistpack?
2. What waistpack are you using and how much weight are you carrying in there on average? (Or: at what point does the thing sag so much that it starts to annoy you?)
3. What are you keeping in there?
4. Do you notice any issues when using this system day-in-day out, such as weird bruises or issues with muscle soreness in weird places?

I've done quite a bit of research looking for my ideal waistpack, which is something high volume (i.e. 4-8L), comfortable (i.e. with hipbelt wings, a lumbar support or similarly comfortable padding at the back), and (at least temporarily) waterproof.

The problem is that the mass-market stuff (for example this piece from Bote) is super heavy and uses non-technical fabrics, but the cottage brand stuff (I'm thinking hear of almost all the offerings from people like LiteAF, Palante etc) that uses more technical fabrics is mostly low-volume and lacks the suspension to make carrying more gear in there comfortable for long hiking days. Most importantly, while I don't need it to be fully waterproof, I need to be highly water resistant or temporarily waterproof (think falling in the river or having to wade up to your chest for a crossing), and a lot of the otherwise good choices from a comfort/volume perspective, like the Sierra Flex Lumbar, would likely result in damage to electronics.

One alternative I was thinking was having a tailor actually add a waterproof zipper to an existing non-waterproof piece and then waterproof it myself with some spray on or wash treatment. Has anyone done something like this themselves, and if so how well did it work?

Anyway, interested to hear if anyone is using a similar system. I tried it a couple times with a janky, super heavy Mountainsmith pack and really like it. I notice the weight on my waist a lot less, and putting heavy items in there to lighten my pack shifts my center of gravity more to the center of my body and makes scrambling and wading much more pleasant and less tiring as well. The problem is finding something that has a small enough vertical footprint that it doesn't interfere with my pack, but is big enough and comfortable enough to carry electronics, a couple fishing reels, some layers, my first aid kit and my snacks. Hoping someone here has been experimenting with a similar system and can share their secret tech with the rest of us.