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. Privacy | Cookies | Terms. We've seen these packs last 1000s of miles, so durability isn't a huge issue, but don't go dragging it through any boulder fields. Read my complete review of the Gregory Focal 58 and Facet 55. The face fabric is also among the best in the review and performed above average. Best Use. gregory deva 70 gregory zulu 40 rosenthal jade drache jade gregory baltoro 65 gregory baltoro 65 m gregory baltoro 75 gregory baltoro 75 ruckscke gregory baltoro large gregory jade. 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. Its tough Dyneema Composite Fabrics is fully waterproof. You will also find many stories at my blog with tips on backpacking, plus many gear reviews, as youve already discovered. The main reasons it isn't lighter are that its suspension is one of the most robust in our review. Some of us need a pack for moderate loads, some for heavy loads, and others, increasingly, for lightweight or ultralight backpacking. 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. While it's not an adjustment in the traditional sense, the shoulder strap attachment points pivot and automatically create the best fit for the wearer. FreeFloat offers a ComfortCradle system which floats independently from the movement generated by your body as you hike. Why do Waterproof/Breathable Rain Jackets Wet Out? When comparing fabric durability, those with higher denier counts (100D vs 210D) tend to be most abrasion and puncture resistant. For average trips with loads at or under 40 pounds, this is one of the more comfortable packs in our review. GOSSAMER-GEAR.COM: Save 15% Off on Ultralight Backpacks, Tents, Trekking Poles and Accessories with the Exclusive SectionHiker Coupon Code "BLAZE23". Bear canisters are definitely tough to fit conveniently in packs. Shoptics. United States. How you access the primary compartment on the backpacking pack is part of our Ease of Use metric and measures how easily we could grab a few items without unpacking the entire bag. Two more notable features: dual side compression straps that can mate with buckles on the opposite side, wrapping completely around the pack; and 330-denier Robic fabric in the pack bottom and front pockets. All of these packs weigh in at 3.0 pounds or less and ride the line between backpacking backpacks and ultralight minimalist packs. 3 models Gregory Baltoro 100L Pro Backpack $419.95 3 models Gregory Paragon 58L Backpack - Men's $259.95 . 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. Osprey Exos 58 and Eja 58$260, 58L/3,539 c.i., 2 lbs. The comparison chart below offers a quick look at stats and features that distinguish these packs from one another. We tested our lineup of top backpacking packs in a variety of beautiful and remote places around the world. 14 oz. Some prefer lots of pockets for organizing their gear and others dont. The Blaze 60 pushes those boundaries. The Flash 55 does a great job of keeping the price low, but the durability and support issues are still true. Copyright 2007-2023, SectionHiker.com and Fells Press LLC. See my review of the Gregory mens Zulu 55 and womens Jade 53. Though this isn't a high-tech, revolutionary pack, part of its appeal is its simplistic yet functional design. I think you should contemplate whether youre going to regularly push the weight capacity of these packs or remain within their range, and after that, choose the design you prefer. Click here for my e-guides to classic backpacking trips. I hauled 50 pounds on treks in NZ the GC and Trinity Alps and never got sore hips! Backpacker Magazine Editor. The principle distraction from this value is its weight. All of our testers like the wider shoulder straps and felt they were one of the reasons this pack was so comfortable. They're big enough to fit a 500-page paperback book, not that this is where you'd probably pack a book, but you could if you wanted. Only fairly large backpacks (60 liters or larger) are wide enough to lay a canister in horizontally, which I think is the best way to fit a canister inside a pack. No "sponsored" content. See The Big Outsides Gear Reviews page for categorized menus of all gear reviews and expert buying tips. It's loaded with features that make it easy to pack and organize your gear, with an innovative frame and suspension system that lets you dial in a custom fit. Copyright 2023 Samsonite IP Holdings S.AR.L. The huge vertical adjustment range helps dial in your fit and makes it an excellent option for younger backpackers who are still growing. The Osprey Atmos 65 AG provides a snug ride with its trampoline-style suspension that spreads the load evenly across the body. When Ian is not guiding or climbing, he works in an outdoor gear shop, which allows him to stay up to date on innovative pack technology. We also would have liked to have carried a little more than 30 pounds from time to time, but being able to do so would require a more robust suspension and add to the pack's baseline weight. Gregory Baltoro 65 Specifications 65 liter storage capacity Hydration sleeve converts into removable day pack Wishbone internal frame maintains shape Available in 3 sizes 3D ventilated hipbelt and shoulder harness Check on Amazon Osprey Atmos 65 Specifications 65 liter capacity Comes in 3 sizes If you have ever trekked up into the mountains with a poorly-fitting pack, there is no doubt you understand the benefits that a quality pack can provide. With an easily adjustable torso length, extended, wraparound hipbelts, and a dynamic, breathable backpanel to keep you cool; this award-winning collection offers optimal comfortable and dynamic fit. Qualified orders eligible for FREE S&H and FREE RETURNS. But honestly, don't get a backpacking bag without trying it on first, because their fit is really personal. Whats your take on large pockets at the bottom to store heavier items- like bear cans? Osprey Atmos AG 65 and Aura AG 65$340, 4 lbs. Someone who is just starting to get into backpacking. If youre considering a new pack and liked the previous Flash, you may like the new one even more. Mid-size (under 60 liters) arent wide enough to do that, meaning you have to stand it up and cram stuff in the tight spaces around it. Arguably, in bad weather, you could grab a rainfly and tent more quickly, but you can also pack those in external stuff pockets or the top of your pack if you know its going to be raining when you pitch it. Some premium packs let you adjust the length of these components so you can get a personalized fit. Backpackers who are willing to accept a reasonable weight penalty for some organizational features of traditional backpacks and the support to carry up to 35 pounds will like the top-loading mens Focal and womens Facet. We directly compared the best and most popular packs to evaluate the pros and cons of each and help narrow down the right one for you. Need a headlamp? The top lid is one of the best places to store small items that require quick and easy access, such as sunglasses, sunblock, or bug spray. These packs feel very different, in a good way, the first time you put one on, and that positive first impression bore out as I carried the Atmos AG 65 on two treks in New Zealands Fiordland National Park and other backpacking trips. The Deuter Aircontact Lite 65+10 has by far the most vertical adjustment of any pack in our review. Some packs, like the Granite Gear Blaze 60, Gregory Baltoro 65, and Osprey Aether 65, allow the foam padding of the waistbelt to extend out to fit larger waist sizes. Long hikes, when youre trying to go light and fast. Gregory may have reduced the thickness of the padding in the hipbelt and shoulder straps, but they clearly stuck to what made the Baltoro so popular from the start . As pack volume increases, access takes on greater importance. But no matter which type of backpacker you are, this review covers the best packs in each of those categories. We didn't just focus on the high-end expedition models, either. Hello Michael thank you for the great reviews. It has the capacity and support for long trips and the compression and low weight for short trips, plus super access with a wide top-loading mouth, a zipper into the main compartment, and six external pockets. Some manufacturers only count closed storage while others add in all of the open pockets too. 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. Hyperlight Mountain Gear, Gossamer Gear, Mountain Laurel Designs, ZPacks and ULA are making the best backpacks. It weighs a mere 2.6 pounds. Gregory Baltoro 65/Deva 60. While they generally weigh a bit more, getting a well-fitting backpack is usually worth it. NOTE: I tested gear for Backpacker magazine for 20 years. If you have a question for me or a comment on this review, please make it in the comments section at the bottom of this story. That seems like a bonus for a backpack with a customizable fit and high functionality that carries a modest weight and price. 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. After extensive testing with typical 25 to 45-pound loads, the ULA Catalyst and Osprey Atmos 65 AG, and Gregory Focal 58 proved to be the most comfortable. How can we improve GearLab? Up to 60% Off. Each person's body is different, so our test included a wide range of users, including GearLab editors, friends, and our climbing and backpacking partners, to gather a wide variety of data. Camping gear has gotten much lighter, and this helps more backpackers go lighter, too. Then Ill judge whether it deserves to be on this list, which covers the best packs for backpacking that Ive used so far. Gregory's attention to comfort in its ultralight backpack is evident in the aluminum perimeter wire frame with a fiberglass cross-stay and an HDPE framesheet that lend the pack substantial rigidity, distributing most of the load across the hips. These advantages include a supportive suspension, foam stiffness, and well-designed shoulder straps and waist belts. This also helps with longer food carries or that first day of a week-long backpacking trip when those seven days worth of food are heavy no matter what the rest of your gear weighs. However, when it comes to tailor-like fitting, the adjustment options of the Osprey Aether 65 reign supreme. So while I cant really comment on that brand specifically, I did, for many years, use sizable front packs for carrying camera equipment, which is a setup similar to the way AARN packs distribute weight front and back. Read my complete review of The North Face Banchee 50. Amazon.com : Gregory Mountain Products Zulu 65 Liter Men's Overnight Hiking Backpack, Empire Blue, Small/Medium : Sports & Outdoors . And the trampoline-style back panel provides great ventilation across your back. At the same time, the close fitting upper backpanel keeps the bulk of the weight close against your back to help you save energy along the way. Thanks to its impressive design, the Granite Gear Blaze 60 is once again the best overall backpacking backpack in our review. Each pack review in this article links to that packs complete review at The Big Outside. 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