Terrible Sizing System

There is a fundamental flaw in the design of Gregory packs. Purchased extra small body needs, but when I put in 35 pounds for a longer hike when I needed to carry food and lifted it up by the straps to put it on my body, the sizing system, which is Velcro, pulled away, exposing the bell and leaving the pack too big. So not only was it too big for my body, but it was ruining my shirts, pulling the fibres away and leaving gaping holes in the backs of them. Checked I contacted Gregory and they told me to send it into a repair place. It was returned back to me saying that it was sized incorrectly, which is not right. It was sized perfectly. But of course no longer perfect once the Velcro pulled away and it became larger again.

Favorite Backpacking Pack

Would buy again without thinking twice. Has held up well to everything I have put it through.

this is a great pack. wish it had a rain cover built in.

Disappointed

Pretty disappointed in this pack. I work trails for the National Park Service and I rely on this pack nearly everyday during the summer season. Typically I can get by with a pack for 5-6 seasons without things wearing out (zippers, buckles, padding, etc). Not even by the end of my second season with this pack, the top zipper broke, the strap connecting the brain to the shoulder snaps busted, the color faded. I would NOT recommend this pack for outdoor work. Their warranty isn’t nearly as good as Osprey either. Four thumbs down.

Great overall ride and quality. Bought for the Kalalau trail hike in Kuaui, held everything we needed and has great organization. The straps and suspension system worked well and it distributed the weight evenly. This is a great pack for entry level backpackers or more advanced backpackers, big enough to carry all comfort items you would want for a 2-3 day trip. Hip pads were big enough for cell phones and other items which was handy.

Love

Amazing pack. So excited to use it on my cross country road camping trip. It has everything and more!!

Incredibly Loud, Nearly Ruined Trip

I just finished a section hike of the PCT where I was out for 12 days straight. I'm so grateful to get home for a few days so I can swap this pack out before I head out again. The butterfly shoulder harness squeaked so loudly the entire time I walked that I couldn't hear other hikers coming up behind me. There was zero chance of enjoying the wilderness unless I took my pack off or stood completely still. The frustrating part is that the shoulder harness and belt weren't very comfortable in exchange for all this weight and noise. The rotation system which made all the noise tended to pull the straps too close together instead of letting them widen out as they should. I'd pull them apart and they'd sit at a comfortable distance for about 20 minutes before eventually pinching again. I did not have good luck with the 360 float system either. No matter how much I tightened the waist strap and the load lifters, the only touch points were the belt band and the upper shoulder blade. I could not get good contact between my lower back and the pack, which is where most of the weight should be transferred to the body. I only bought the pack because I had such a huge food carry that I needed something with more weight capacity than the 30lbs capacity of my REI flash 55. The Flash 55, despite its lower weight, has a more comfortable fit and much, much better outside mesh pockets. The single mesh side pocket on this one is so narrow I could only fit in a map or other thin item like socks when the pack is loaded. It's TINY and there isn't another one on the other side for some unfathomable reason. Also, the back mesh pocket, which is a normal size, got a hole in it almost immediately. So I'm not thrilled with the durability either. I'm switching back to my other pack even though it says it's not designed for larger loads. I'll risk damaging it to be comfortable and have better use of external pockets.

Great Lightweight Backpack

This backpack has a ton of extras on it and secures and cinches tight. The best part is that it can be customized for your body type and does not wear on you even when hiking over 10 miles a day through rough terrain.

Sweet!

The Kalmia offered great space/ volume per weight, and fit me so well! The adjustable backplate offered needed personalization for fit, and the padding protected me from hotspots without being bulky. The rotating shoulder straps made a difference; I could feel the pack moving with me, instead of against me. The Kalmia 50 is my new go to pack! While this pack offers some personalization, it isn't the pack for everyone. I highly recommend trying the pack on before purchasing, and walking around a bit with some weight added to see how she rides. Overall: well made, great weight to capacity ratio, helpful personalization through various adjustment and tension points, moves with the hiker.