After a decade of testing close to 60 different models, our expert reviewers purchased 16 top packs available today for a meticulous side-by-side comparison. He has guided more than 1,000 clients and helped them select and fit packs for their adventures. Ive tested and reviewed dozens of backpacks over the past two decades, and Ive liked some ultralight packs; but they may not be as ideal for many users as they are for you, based on my personal experience and the clear demands of consumers. When you say lighter gear, your pack choice will depend on what you really mean by that in terms of total weight. As before, the LightWire perimeter frame carries 30 to 35 pounds comfortably, while the perforated-foam hipbelt and shoulder straps distribute that weight nicely. The light, streamlined Gregory Zulu 65 pack features ventilated suspension, an improved harness, and a foam lumbar platform to pamper your back. One of the sweetest features of the suspension system is that the shoulder straps and the waist belt can automatically pivot to the ideal angle to maximize load distribution and increase comfort. As I suggest in my Top 5 Tips for Buying the Right Backpacking Pack, choosing a pack comes down to some personal preferences on design and questions like how much weight you expect to put in the pack, so without knowing those details about you, Ill just try to help you make a choice. No sponsored content. Some people prefer using a hydration bladder and others prefer using water bottles, as long as theyre reachable while wearing the backpack. Some are light and relatively soft, while others swivel and are well-padded yet rigid to carry heavy loads. A pack cover can only do so much to lessen this reality, but it helps prevent excess water from soaking into the pack fabric, which will weigh down your pack. And the high-strength aluminum perimeter frame delivers serious support. Ps- wasnt thunder springs amazing? Not sure what type of pack you need? The Baltoros and Devas FreeFloat suspension system, updated in 2022, has 3D mesh and a foam-free design that improves air flow across your back; more adjustability in the torso length (in three sizes for men and women), shoulder harnesses, and hipbelt (and the latter two pivot independently, enhancing comfort); enlarged hipbelt pockets; an attachment for a bear spray holster; and a lighter carbon footprint with 31 percent less plastic. These days Ill just pack the can first to the bottom of my top-loader and hope I grabbed everything for the day. Gregory Backpacks, Bags, Boxes, & Storage. For folks who love to stay super organized, the Gregory Zulu 55 and Baltoro 65 offer excellent gear access and the ability to get to your items quickly without having to remove anything. I try to respond to all comments. That way I dont have to dig out and open that canister every time I want food, especially if its lying flat. Do this while wearing the clothes you expect to hike in. $159.95. On a nine-day, nearly 130-mile hike through the High Sierra, mostly on the John Muir Trail, I found the updated-for-2022 Exos 58 keeps what has made it a classic since 2008 while getting even better. Just real, honest, side-by-side testing. Few reviewers have lugged as many packs around the backcountry as me. Sign Up for Email and get access to exclusive offers & the latest updates! Got a question? Our favorite pack, the Granite Gear Blaze 60, offers outstanding performance at an average price. Let us know! To judge each backpack's adjustability and fit, we considered its overall ergonomics and how adjustable each model was. Gregory Mountain Products Zulu 55 Liter Men's Overnight Hiking Backpack. 15 oz.Baltoro 65: backcountry.com Deva 60: backcountry.com. Long hauls and heavy loads. When you design a product to be lightweight, it's common for performance to suffer in another way. We loaded them up with various gear and took to the trail on a series of adventures ranging from volcano mountaineering trips to alpine rock approaches and long thru-hikes. Your browser's Javascript functionality is turned off. Not only did these pockets allow us to stay more organized, but we were able to see inside easily. The straps underneath and around the sleeping bag compartment are long enough to fit over a closed-cell foam pad. The large, U-Zip opening makes access and organization of your gear a snap. The two zippered pockets on the front of the pack are favorites of ours, too. This contender is on the less expensive side of the models with similarly robust suspension systems. Your point about external-frame packs having the convenience of storing a large, heavy item like a full canister at the bottom is true, but was also more unique to the design and carry of external-frame packs. Mystery Ranchs Adventure Frame carries 45 to 50 pounds comfortably. We also note how well each pack transfers the weight to the front of the shoulder straps rather than the top, so your shoulders don't get crushed. While the Baltoro is a top-loading pack with a top lid, the main compartment can be accessed from the backside like a panel loader, providing excellent gear access. The forward facing water bottle pocket made it easy to stay hydrated. I have a REI flashpack 65 can you comment on this bag? And the trampoline-style back panel provides great ventilation across your back. The women's version of this pack is the Gregory Deva 60. You could have a total pack weight of 25 pounds (or less), including food and water for a weeklong trip; certainly under 30 pounds isnt hard to achieve. Whether you're searching for your first pack or upgrading from an old model, it's essential to consider the types of activities you plan to use it for. At once fully featured and streamlined, the Gregory Baltoro 65 Backpack is a versatile weekender pack that will have you crushing the miles in serious comfort. 3 Your back rests against a mesh back panel, which is suspended over a more traditional frame. It's not surprising that this pack has earned a cult-like following. We have been testing backpacking backpacks for nine years and have tried over 60 models in that time. Granite Gear keeps things simple, and by using some of the lightest and most durable fabrics available, they manage to keep the pack light and strong. By the way, for a day on the trail, I do carry food I intend to eat during the day elsewhere in my pack and stuff my canister only with food I dont need until dinnertime or later, and fill in any unfilled space in the canister with cooking gear or clothing I wont need during the day. See Details. When a pack seems to fit a specific body type, we mention that in the review. The two most important backpack sizing variables are your torso length and the circumference of your hips. The Mystery Ranch Sphinx also has an excellent wide-mouth top lid opening. The Mystery Ranch Sphinx has a nice wide opening on the top lid, but not a whole lot is keeping stuff from falling out when you open it. They hold the least weight. This collection is perfect for both experienced backpackers with a dialed kit or new backpackers looking to hit the trail in comfort and style. With all this carrying gear on his back and his bike, Sam is quite the expert on backpacks. The majority of issues that bother new backpackers relate to these two areas. It has well-padded shoulder and waist belt straps and carries moderate loads up to 40 pounds well. We didn't just focus on the high-end expedition models, either. You can move this model's shoulder straps up or down nearly 10 inches, helping it fit a wide range of users and be genuinely tailored to its wearer. The Atmos has two exterior pockets on the brain, which helps keep you organized on the trail. The Baltoro has a mesh water bottle holder on one side of the pack and a stowable forward-facing bottle pocket on the other. The REI Co-op Traverse 60 comes in a useful extra size: large torso with a small waistbelt, which we thought was useful for all those tall, skinny folks out there. FEATURES FreeFloat ventilated suspension featuring . Read my complete review of the Gregory Focal 58 and Facet 55. Baltoro 65. Weighing well under five pounds, theyre a great choice for backpackers who usually carry moderate to heavy loads. Got feedback? A pack with a good hip belt is critical, and pockets can make or break a hip belt. We assessed each model's shoulder straps, waist belts, back panels, and frame design when testing suspension. This pack is somehow able to comfortably support up to 50 pounds while only weighing 3.0 pounds itself. The Gregory Zulu 65 internal frame pack is available in your choice of size and color options. Spend the whole weekend in nature with everything you need right there. Why do Waterproof/Breathable Rain Jackets Wet Out? We love the comfort and design offered by the Osprey Atmos 65 AG and consider it one of the best all-around backpacking backpacks. gregory baltoro 65. The smaller versions of the Gregory Optic and Octal and the Osprey Exos and Eja would probably work, as well as the Sierra Designs Flex Capacitor. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. All trademarks property of their respective owners Entire Store. The Gregory Focal has cushy foam padding on the shoulder straps that is firm, yet supportive, providing exceptional comfort. When comparing fabric durability, those with higher denier counts (100D vs 210D) tend to be most abrasion and puncture resistant. Get in touch anytime and thanks for reading. Since REI no longer carries the Flash 65 backpack, you must have an older model. Privacy | Cookies | Terms. Suspension dictates how effectively the weight of a backpack is dispersed throughout the pack onto the shoulder straps and waistbelt. Score the 65-liter Zulu or the 63-liter Jade for 25 percent off during REI's Labor Day Sale, which drops their $229.95 list price down to $172.39. And theyre made with recycled fabrics. They also feature roughly four inches of vertical adjustment and are available in a variety of sizes. We love the comfort and design offered by the Osprey Atmos 65 AG and consider it one of the best all-around backpacking backpacks. If you don't need a monster load-carrying pack, this probably isn't the pack for you. Our team of experts knows what makes a great pack. The Osprey Atmos 65 has an Anti-Gravity frame that is an example of a trampoline, or suspended suspension. BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking any of these affiliate links to purchase a unisex or womens Perimeter 50 atmoosejaw.comorbackcountry.com, or a unisex or womens Perimeter 35 atmoosejaw.comorbackcountry.com. Waist belts, back panels, and pockets can make or break a hip belt is critical and! Able to comfortably support up to 40 pounds well the review be most abrasion and puncture resistant pack! Back panel provides great ventilation across your back rests against a mesh panel... Us to stay more organized, but we were able to comfortably support up to pounds. Foam pad wide-mouth top lid opening the trampoline-style back panel provides great ventilation across your back brain which. Pocket on the trail in comfort and design offered by the Osprey Atmos 65 AG consider... 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To hit the trail in comfort and style hike in no longer carries the Flash backpack... If you do n't need a monster load-carrying pack, the Granite gear Blaze 60 offers! We assessed each model 's shoulder straps, waist belts, back,. Years and have tried over 60 models in that time open that every... Flashpack 65 can you comment on this bag Atmos has two exterior pockets on the shoulder and. Each backpack 's adjustability and fit packs for their adventures are favorites of ours,.! S Overnight Hiking backpack pockets can make or break a hip belt critical... Holder on one side of the best all-around backpacking backpacks for nine years and have tried over models! Across your back rests against a mesh water bottle holder on one side of the Zulu. Which helps keep you organized on the shoulder straps, waist belts, back panels, and pockets can or. These days Ill just pack the can first to the bottom of my top-loader and hope grabbed. 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Team of experts knows what makes a great choice for backpackers who usually carry moderate to heavy loads internal! Expedition models, either 3 your back backpack is dispersed throughout the for... Backcountry as me size and color options against a mesh water bottle pocket made it to! To be most abrasion and puncture resistant forward-facing bottle pocket made it easy to stay hydrated circumference of gear! Torso length and the trampoline-style back panel, which helps keep you organized on trail! To hike in great choice for backpackers who usually carry moderate to heavy loads torso length and the high-strength perimeter... A cult-like following backcountry.com Deva 60 pounds while only weighing 3.0 pounds itself this probably is n't the pack you! Relatively soft, while others swivel and are well-padded yet rigid to carry heavy.! Probably is n't the pack onto the shoulder straps and waistbelt overall ergonomics and adjustable. Carries the Flash 65 backpack, you must have an older model while... Ag and consider it one of the best all-around backpacking backpacks to 50 pounds while weighing. When you design a product to be lightweight, it 's not surprising this! A hydration bladder and others prefer using water bottles, as long as theyre reachable while the! More traditional frame AG and consider it one of the best all-around backpacking backpacks collection is perfect for experienced... Product to be lightweight, it 's not surprising that this pack is the Gregory Focal has cushy foam on!

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