Gregory Z55 Pack

Comments about Gregory Z55 Pack:

The only way to compare packs is by category. This pack is moderately light – don’t fault it for not being ultra light. Moderately durable – don’t fault it for not being bullet proof. Pretty easy to load and retrieve things – when you have to concentrate the weight on the pack’s bottom nothing is perfect. It is comfortable - I’ve carried total pack weight of from 29 to 40 pounds with no sore points and good weight distribution. And control? I’ve scrambled up “cliffs,” worked my way through boulder fields, cramponed up steep packed snow and balanced across log stream crossings. This is now my “go to” pack. I like the top pocket for easy to get items and the well positioned cinch-down straps. The only wear spot came while sliding it down a rock face on a rope.

Comments about Gregory Z55 Pack:

I’ve only had this pack out for an overnight in the mountains of south western Nevada so far, but I was mostly impressed by another great Gregory pack. I’m not a technical climber, just a walk-about kind of traveler. We did an easy 14.5 trail miles total (± 1500 ft elevation each day), so not a severe test but enough to get the feel of the equipment. My pack load was 21.4 lb dry and 38.1 lb wet. I am 6’2” and my Z55 is a large (60 L).

The Z55 handled the weight well and I was pretty comfortable uphill, downhill and on the flat. There seem to be a lot of compression straps and you can hook them up wrong, but they let you really manage the weight and bulk and are well worth the bother. The pack was as comfortable and manageable on the first day (full and heavy) as it was on the last day (skinny and light).

I carried my desert 3-season gear with no problem: bag, pad, Seedhouse 2, SP gigapower stove/pot, 3 L bladder, gravity filter (homemade), kitchen bag, maps and nav bag, fleece jacket, wind/rain parka, change of clothes, essentials bag, emergency kit, and consumables (5 L water, 2 sm fuel canisters, 2 days meals & snacks, TP, towellettes, and toothpowder). The volume fit well, but a lighter, compressible down bag (next on my list) would have been better; my old blue synthetic bag barely fit. The floating top hatch (my favorite feature) easily adjusts over the main. The belt pockets were great for small stuff (SA knife, trek light, lip balm). The side access is handy for a mid-day brew-up, but this is a top-loader with a small side access, not a side-loader with a top-load option. I like the top load because it’s lighter and it lets me pack the bag vertical close to the way it will settle out, rather than pack horizontal. [NOTE: You’re either a top-load fan or you’re not.]

Considerations:
­* Lack of accessible water bottle pockets – You either need to use a bladder, drop your pack or get help to get water out of the kangaroo pouch, hang a bottle on the shoulder straps, or buy another pack.
­* Lack of bottom bag compartment – This is an acceptable weight v. convenience trade for me, but it means a complete un-pack at camp.
* Low Volume, Low Weight – You don’t have be a weight/volume fanatic (e.g. cut the toothbrush in half, drill holes in spoon handles) to make this pack work for a 2-3 day or longer jaunt, but you do need to do some moderate trade-offs (e.g. down or synthetics v. cotton or wool, multi-use layers v. bulky clothes, nested pot and stove, necessary v. non-essential).

The Z55 is very well made at a reasonable price and comfortably carries a weekend’s load of gear (or longer) with moderate minimalist practices. It is easily the best mid-duration pack I've carried.

Comments about Gregory Z55 Pack:

I recently purchased this pack and just completed an 8-day, 90-mile section on the JMT. This pack put a serious dent in the weight I was carrying with an old 8-pound pack. I started the hike with about 43 pounds in it and it was relatively full. I wouldn't recommend carrying more than 45 pounds in this pack due to the lighter weight padding. For anything less than that, this pack is great. The harness and waist belt were very comfortable with no sore spots after 8 days. I recently returned a lighter "UltraLight" pack after a four day trip left me with sores on my hips. The compact size made it easy to manage and slip though gates and tight spots with ease.

The highlight of this pack is the huge front expandable "stash" pocket which I used to keep a large first aid kit, water filter, trowel, snacks, foot care products, and socks within quick reach at any stop. The pack also has numerous straps which can be used to compress the pack for shorter hikes or when less gear is needed.

If you use a large Bear Vault bear canister or a Bearikade canister I recommend making sure it fits into the pack before buying it. I used a Garcia canister which is slightly smaller and it just barely fit in sideways.

My back stayed cool since the pack allows for ventilation at the expense of a little capacity however I found the capacity of the pack to be just right for a trip sans the family. Overall I was very impressed with this pack and don't have any real complaints. All-in-all it was well woth the money spent.

TIP: I found putting my solo tent on the front above the stash packet using the three vertical straps worked much better than lashing it on under the pack with the two straps there. I had less wear on the tent and it kept the pack more balanced.

Comments about Gregory Z55 Pack:

I used this pack for the second half of my Pacific Crest trail hike this summer and loved it. 1300 miles of Pack bliss. Don't worry that there isn't a water bottle holder. Nalgenes are heavy and completely outdated. The hydration bag compartment will hold your Platypus bag well and when it starts to leak will catch all the water before your goodies get soaked. also there are to hose openings, which lets you decide which side you want your hoser on. Which is really cool. The weight loads were perfect. With food and water I never had more then 35 pounds in it, and it road perfectly. The top part has too small of a zipper for some objects, like when all my rain gear and packcover are in there but still works ok. Plus it is able to come off so you can get rid of that extra 3 ounces if you'd like. However, the remaining straps are long, and should be able to completely detach. The hip belt pockets are great and were constantly filled with snacks and other essentials. I started getting worried about losing not being able to cinch the hip belt tighter if I lost more weight, but plateaued off with an inch to spare on both sides. I like how it doesn't rub my lower back with it' "S-shaped" profile, but maybe it's form is a little to far from the back to carry loads properly. Still like it though. The two REI UL packs I had before it both busted on the trail, and left me hanging. The Gregory never failed.

Comments about Gregory Z55 Pack:

For years, I've been into all kinds of day hikes, requiring no more than a 30liter frame-sheet pack, and only recently decided to give over-night backpacking a try. I knew however, that a comfortable, efficient backpack would essential because of the often severe upper back problems I am recovering from - the result of a car crash four years ago. This pack quite litterally saves my back. A few days ago I took it on a somewhat short, yet steep and strenuous solo test/training hike in a nearby canyon. I was quite concerned with how well my back was going to hold up under the 30lb load, after nearly killing myself with a 60liter REI pack which I returend. The first few miles of the trail were a bit uncomfortable, but after making a few small adjustments I got the fit perfect and the pack seemed to almost dissapear. It was so comfortable that when I finally reached the campsites I didn't even take it off while I exploared the area. After my trip, I had no stiffness or soreness what-so-ever. The only thing I could see improved on this pack (as several others have mentioned) would be the addition of a few more pockets. I like to stay pretty organised, even out on the trail, and two outer pockets just weren't cutting it. Overall, from what I can tell, this pack has everything you would expect from its $3-450 counterparts, and allows an active gimp like me to do what I love.

Comments about Gregory Z55 Pack:

Just got back from a 5 night, 35+ mile trip in the Smokies. Our loop began and ended at the Deep Creek Trailhead and climaxed at Clingman's Dome. Pack weight was easily 50 lbs (including fly rod and fly gear). I cannot say enough about this pack (my pack size is a large). Having taken it on several one nighters, I was worried that it wouldn't be able to hold enough gear and food for 5 nights. My worrying was in vain.

The Z55's suspension distributed the weight of the pack evenly and more importantly, comfortably. Even after hiking almost entirely downhill for 9 miles in 4 hrs, I had no blisters and no back problems (just sore calves).

Another great feature that I grew to appreciate is how the back panel doesn't rest right up against my back. I could literally slide my arm in between my pack and back there was so much room.

I spent countless hours and time spent on the computer reading reviews of various packs and am so thankful that I decided to purchase this one. I am more than pleased with it so far.

My only real complaint with this pack is that the top pocket zipper length is a little too small. Might not sound too important but when I saw three bear cubs in a tree, I wanted to quickly get my camera out of the pocket, take a pic, and leave before mama bear discovered my loitering. Other than that this pack is a worthy purchase.

Comments about Gregory Z55 Pack:

This is the first pack I've owned so while I may be a bit of a novice, I will say this pack is a great introduction to the world of hiking. I took this pack and a 44 lb load into Havasupai without any discomfort. Although I like the option on the Osprey Atmos of moving the water bladder outside the main compartment, I did not find the loss of space too terribly inconvenient. In fact, it likely keeps me from packing too much gear. Hopefully the pack will be as durable as it is comfortable.

Comments about Gregory Z55 Pack:

I only went out once with this pack and it was for 4 days. I was pushing 44lbs on the first day and i was uncomfortable the entire time. Three things i would like to see changed about this pack. 1.- more pockets, i like to be organized and this one only has the main compartment, the top, and a pocket on the outside that doesn't do much good if the main compartment is full. 2- sleeping bag compartment, they come in handy. 3- more sturdy loops to hook equipment to on the outside. I struggled to find a place to hook my Nalgene . It a good pack if you plan on splitting the load between hikers and you can keep the weight under 35lbs. I'm now hiking with a Gregory Baltoro 70 and it is PERFECT- more pockets, sleeping bag compartment, and a beefier frame. Overall more comfortable. If you plan to push over 40 lbs the Baltoro is the way to go NO QUESTION. But don't get me wrong, The Z55 is an awesome pack if you can keep the weight down and you don't mind the lack of outside pockets.

Comments about Gregory Z55 Pack:

This pack is overall a wonderful purchase. I trekked 480 miles on the Colorado trail this summer and it held everything I needed. After about 15-17 miles the straps tended to become uncomfortable, and I was under 28lbs, but I'm also a pretty slender guy. Also, the hip belt buckle cracked, which worried me alot, but it's still holding up. The mesh backing is excellent for ventilation. I use it as a winter day pack now, and would recommend this pack.

Comments about Gregory Z55 Pack:

I picked up a Gregory Z55 pack in Damascus, VA (460 miles from beginning) during my AT thru-hike this year (2007). I liked it at first because it helped me cut down my pack weight (went from a 6.5 pound pack to a just-over 3 pound pack), gave me pockets on the hip belt, and made packing my gear easier. But I have several complaints about it:

- The chest strap constantly unhooked where it attaches to the shoulder straps, and it's a real pain to hook it back up.
- Both of my shoulder straps broke before the end of my thru-hike, and I was very careful to keep my pack weight under the 36-pound limit of the pack.
- The zipper of the brain (top lid) busted after about 550 miles of hiking with this pack.
- The pockets on the hip belts should be bigger.
- I had pretty bad pack rash around my waist, there were several days that I couldn't start hiking until I had put on zinc oxide (Desitin cream).

Although I have listed several negatives about this pack, overall I was very pleased with the pack. It's got a zipper on the side, which I never used, but I could see it being useful. While this is a good pack for day hikes or short, weekend hikes, I would not recommend it for an extended hike just. You can find a more durable pack for less money.