The Anti-Gravity suspension feels more like putting on a jacket than a backpack. This weight is partly due to the extra zipper that allows access to the inside of the pack. We have spent well at least 200 hours testing backpacks in that time. Comparing the buckles on two waist belts. Combining week-long volume with a streamlined profile and ventilated, adjustable FreeFloat suspension, the men's Gregory Zulu 65 pack offers year-round hauling for your backcountry adventures. His next journey starts in just a couple of months, where he will attempt to complete the Triple Crown of Backpacking by thru-hiking the Continental Divide Trail. Theres no such thing as a best backpack, but these are the best-of-the-best that weve reviewed and recommend. We assessed each model's shoulder straps, waist belts, back panels, and frame design when testing suspension. The Baltoro/Deva collection is designed with a Response A3 The Baltoro/Deva collection is designed with a Response A3 suspension. When you purchase through our links, we may earn a commission. The Flash 55 does a great job of keeping the price low, but the durability and support issues are still true. Shop All Backpacking Packs. 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. 4 oz.backcountry.com. Osprey has always done a good job of marrying durability, adjustability, and large load comfort, and the Osprey Aether 65 is the perfect example. Most of these packs also have another opening near the top of this pocket to securely hold oblong shaped items outside the pack, like tent poles or a snow picket. The floating hip belt and extendable hip belt cushioned sections make this pack ultra-comfortable. 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. Material on GearLab is copyrighted. Would you please list? The ideal pack for a long weekend with enough capacity to extend your trip. I also point out two excellent packs for kids and small adults (at the bottom of the Gregory Paragon/Maven review). For example, many backpacks have J-shaped shoulder straps and sternum straps designed for men that crush female breasts. Over the last decade, many hikers have made a concerted effort to carry less weight than their predecessors. Our experts test thousands of products each year using thoughtful test plans that bring out key performance differences between competing products. These lighter packs are excellent options for folks who want to go super light but still need a comfortable and supportive pack with a frame and more robust padding for trips when you need to carry more weight. Check out the latest price at: REI | Amazon, Check out the lastest price at: REI | Amazon, Check out the latest price at: Gossamer Gear, Check out the latest price at: ULA Equipment, Check out the latest price at: Zpacks.com. The side bottle pockets are also the most easily accessible in the group. $167.26 $ 167. If its going to be more like around 35-40 pounds, but occasionally a bit more, Id choose the Granite Gear Blaze 60. Hope that helps. For a full list of weights according to collection and liter size please visit the product pages on our website. The benefit of this subtle feature is even more noticeable when negotiating rough terrain with heavier loads. As a result, we were able to find items more quickly than we could with a more traditional full-length pocket. Barely tipping the scales at 2.8 pounds, the ULA Catalyst is an excellent pack for lightweight enthusiasts. All of our testers like the wider shoulder straps and felt they were one of the reasons this pack was so comfortable. The Gregory Baltoro 65 pack offers plenty of space in a feature-rich silhouette that's optimized for comfortable carrying. Free Shipping On All Orders - No Minimum! Next page. Many models also have a separate small pocket on the underside of the lid, offering a secondary place to keep small items that don't need to be accessed as frequently, like car keys. It weighs a mere 2.6 pounds. 3 For carrying loads of 50 pounds or more, I want a pack thats supportive, comfortable, and tricked out. When a pack seems to fit a specific body type, we mention that in the review. He has guided more than 1,000 clients and helped them select and fit packs for their adventures. How important is pack weight and getting a frame or hip belt that can be adjusted to fit your personal dimensions. Our testers enjoyed the two zippered pockets on the top of the lid. We enjoyed this pack's great set of features for their practicality and usability. When the 3400 Windrider was delivered to my house, the box looked much too small to contain a backpack. It also has a fantastic pocket design and easy accessibility to all your gear and knick-knacks. Gregory Baltoro 65/Deva 60. If you are just starting out as a backpacker, youll find this to be a great option for multiday trips and extended trails with re-supply stops. The comparison chart below offers a quick look at stats and features that distinguish these packs from one another. That's thanks to an . (There is a larger model, The North Face Banchee 65.). These pockets keep you organized and keep essential items accessible. Our backpack review team consists of Sam Schild, Ian Nicholson, Adam Paashaus, Ben Applebaum-Bauch, and Bennett Fisher. However, we found it was also pretty easy for a water bottle to fall out of this pocket if you lean over too far. If the rain is falling for days at a time, unless you've lined your pack with a trash bag or packed your gear in dry bags, your stuff is going to get wet. Though it is pricier than some packs, this model doesn't give up anything in terms of suspension and comfort. If your regularly carrying that much weight, I would try it and other big packs in this review on loaded with some weight and see which feels better on you, and also consider which feature set you prefer. 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 . Its tough Dyneema Composite Fabrics is fully waterproof. Thanks, Julie. Click here to learn how I can help you plan your next trip. The Baltoro is heavier, but much more padded. Yup, theyre very good. Hyperlite Mountain Gear 3400 Windrider$379, 55L/3,400 c.i., 1 lb. All the backpacking backpacks in our review are top-loading, and many have a separate sleeping bag compartment with bottom access zipper. Some prefer lots of pockets for organizing their gear and others dont. 65 s . 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. And, it can comfortably carry loads up to 30 pounds. Backpacks come in many sizes and designs for a reason: so do backpackers. They are very lightweight and good for moderate gear loads. These packs would probably be a good match if you'll be hauling heavy loads over a long period of time (for at least, say, 3 full days). Want a well-priced, adjustable pack with a good fit and more access and features than these ultralight packs? Amazon.com : Gregory Mountain Products Zulu 65 Liter Men's Overnight Hiking Backpack, Empire Blue, Small/Medium : Sports & Outdoors . Zippered sleeping bag compartment. FEATURES FreeFloat ventilated suspension featuring . What sets the Atmos 65 AG apart the most, though, is Osprey's innovative anti-gravity (AG) suspension, which helps spread the load more evenly across the hips and shoulders while also venting excess heat that tends to build behind your back and under the hip belt. While ease of access is an important consideration, it's not as important as weight. We won't accept manufacturer's freebies. Three big, external mesh pockets add nearly 10 liters of capacity, and the roomy, zippered hipbelt pockets offer convenience. outlet. Tall people can have short torsos and short people can halve long torsos, so it pays to measure this correctly. I used and liked the previous version of the Flash 45, too, which is very similar to the pack you have if you have the same generation of that pack series. 1 oz.moosejaw.com. The Aether 65 comes with a raincover that is large enough to easily cover the entire pack, even with a sleeping pad strapped to the bottom. 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. 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. 8 oz.moosejaw.com. 4.8 out of 5 stars 43. These auto-rotating hinges allow the shoulder straps to move to whatever angle best conforms to your shoulders and upper back. Every pocket is a good size and thoughtfully placed. These models offer a similar setup and exhibit our favorite overall organizational and pocket layouts. 17500 ,Gregory 65 M, ,Gregory M 65 - clearcreekdental.com . 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 any mens Osprey Exos backpack at osprey.com, backcountry.com, or moosejaw.com, or any womens Osprey Eja backpack at osprey.com, backcountry.com, or moosejaw.com. The Baltoro 65 weighs in at 4.9 pounds for a size medium. Each pack mentioned above offers subtle advantages that will help transfer the load to your hips and keep you moving towards camp in relative comfort. More importantly, the weight is distributed more evenly, producing fewer hot spots. Our reviews can help you select the best backpack, and we'll also help you complete your "Big 3" pieces of backpacking gear: pack, shelter, and sleep system. This contender is on the less expensive side of the models with similarly robust suspension systems. They have the most significant impact on a pack's comfort (or lack thereof). The face fabric is also among the best in the review and performed above average. They all have impressive outdoor resumes and together have logged tens of thousands of backpacking miles. They sport six external pockets, including two on the hipbelt and a large, stretch-mesh front pocket, and useful features like shoulder-strap attachments for trekking poles and sunglasses. THE VERDICT. We also looked at the range of torso lengths available. When comparing fabric durability, those with higher denier counts (100D vs 210D) tend to be most abrasion and puncture resistant. 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. . 1-48 of 70 results for "Gregory Baltoro 65" RESULTS. And, it has a lot of pockets and access points--those zippers aren't light. Some manufacturers only count closed storage while others add in all of the open pockets too. NOTE: I tested gear for Backpacker magazine for 20 years. From this I cant quite tell which you think is more comfortable. BUY IT NOW You can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking any of these affiliate links to buy a Gregory Baltoro 65 at backcountry.com, moosejaw.com, or gregorypacks.com; a Gregory Deva 60 at backcountry.com, moosejaw.com, or gregorypacks.com; or larger versions of the Baltoro at backcountry.com, moosejaw.com, or gregorypacks.com or the Deva at backcountry.com, moosejaw.com, or gregorypacks.com. I am just starting to get into backpacking and am looking for a pack that can function in a variety of trips, from a weekend to 5 days. For full-day adventures or summer overnights, with an adjustable, dynamic FreeFloat suspension. Hello Michael thank you for the great reviews. Though it can comfortably handle loads many lighter packs couldn't dream of carrying, there is no denying this pack is heavy. No "sponsored" content. 15 oz.backcountry.com. When it comes to picking out the perfect backpacking pack, we want to make sure you have all the big questions answered. The forward-facing pocket makes your water bottle very easy to remove. The Baltoro 65 is a nylon and polyester backpack for men. The Exos and Eja also come in 48-liter ($240) and 38-liter ($220) versions. The Gregory Baltoro 65 Also has a very wide opening zipper on its lid. Padded hip belts and shoulder straps are worth very little without a good suspension to go along with them. This feature-rich contender is one of our favorites for its overall comfort and its excellent heavy load-hauling ability. The straps underneath and around the sleeping bag compartment are long enough to fit over a closed-cell foam pad. This is the classic pack from Gregory, but the Baltoro is also offered in larger 75 and 85 liter capacities. BUY IT NOWYou can support my work on this blog, at no cost to you, by clicking any of these affiliate links to purchase a mens Granite Gear Blaze 60 backpack at moosejaw.com or backcountry.com, or a womens-specific Granite Gear Blaze 60 backpack at moosejaw.com or backcountry.com, or the short version of the Blaze 60 at moosejaw.com. 11 oz.moosejaw.com. Reproduction without permission is prohibited. The Baltoro has a mesh water bottle holder on one side of the pack and a stowable forward-facing bottle pocket on the other. Adjustable for torso and hipbelt length in two sizes, both packs have breathable mesh and foam throughout the harness and a trampoline-style back panel that allows air flow over your back and hips. But no matter which type of backpacker you are, this review covers the best packs in each of those categories. If you have to carry bulky or awkwardly shaped gear like a foam pad, a large tent, a packraft, paddle, snowshoes, trekking poles, and ice ax, or bear canister, it pays to get a backpack that has special straps or places that you can attach gear to. What we don't: Heavy at nearly 5 pounds. If you are looking for a backpack that offers a good balance between features, weight, suspension, and price, this is the pack for you. We also tested a range of excellent wallet-friendly designs, such as the excellent REI Flash 55. The lightweight alloy frame is connected to the hipbelt providing a soft breathable platform to carry the packs weight but still allows you to be quick and nimble on your feet. Our Editors independently research, test, and rate the best products. If you plan to hike in tough desert or mountainous terrain or off-trail, its best to get a backpack that has as little external mesh (pockets) as possible, because these are usually the first things to get ripped up on a backpack. Whether youre a beginner or seasoned backpacker, youll learn new tricks for making all of your trips go better in my How to Plan a Backpacking Trip12 Expert Tips, A Practical Guide to Lightweight and Ultralight Backpacking, and How to Know How Hard a Hike Will Be. With a paid subscription to The Big Outside, you can read all of those three stories for free; if you dont have a subscription, you can download the e-guide versions of How to Plan a Backpacking Trip12 Expert Tips, the lightweight backpacking guide, and How to Know How Hard a Hike Will Be.. 14 oz. Gregory Backpacks, Bags, Boxes, & Storage. Every pack, other than the ULA Catalyst, has a top lid with a zippered pocket, and many of them can be removed and left at home to reduce weight. 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