Gregory Baltoro 70 Pack

Comments about Gregory Baltoro 70 Pack:

Designed as a medium load pack, the Baltoro 70 carries 45-50# with ease and has the quality and features of a high end expedition pack. Although several packs now have a pivoting hip belt design, none comes even close to the stability, comfort and effectiveness of the Gregory double pivot system. Each side of the hip belt works independently, keeping the load centered and providing considerable relief to the hips. The hip belt also pivots forward which helps maintain your center of gravity as you bend at the waist. If you have any hip or lower back issues, this is the pack of choice. The pack bag is wider and shorter than is typical, but the load remains very stable in all planes and provides total head clearance.

Minor issues: There is no shovel compartment but one can be created by opening the front access zipper. The sleeping bag compartment is small for a winter bag.

In short, the pack is highly suitable for all backcountry activities and steep ascents.

Comments about Gregory Baltoro 70 Pack:

I make my living at carrying heavy items long distances by foot in the most demanding areas in the world where your life is on the line. When I was looking for a new pack I went to REI. There I was able to fall in love with my new pack which I have been using for almost two years. This pack gets used and abused carrying no less than 60lbs at any given time. This pack has seen the desert, mountains, snow and never failed. I would highly recommend this to anybody who is looking for an extremely comfortable, versital, heavy duty pack that will not break. Not even when taking repeated impacts and falls. I also like the fact that this pack does not restrict your head as much and doesn't go excessively high above your shoulders. bottom line this should be part of your next hiking experience.

Comments about Gregory Baltoro 70 Pack:

I tend to pack a little heavy on my 3 and four day trips. I switched from the Gregory Z55 because anything over 30lbs with it became uncomfortable. This pack holds weight very well. Just for kicks i loaded it to 50lbs. and it handled it with ease. The waste belts are beefy and minimize those uncomfortable pressure points. It has ample storage and a pretty nice dual access to the main compartment. The pack itself would be equally nice on light one or two day trips. Gregory makes an awesome pack. So if you think you might want to creep into the 35-50lb range this pack is the way to go NO QUESTIONS ASKED! I LOVE IT. I'm 6'1, 162lbs., pack size- L

Comments about Gregory Baltoro 70 Pack:

After a lot of research and assistance in store I decided on this pack. I am so happy I did. Just to get them out of the way. Two things I would have liked to see on the pack were some manner to secure a drinking tube on the shoulder straps, I had to tuck mine underneath the strap against my body to keep it from flapping around. (If I felt more creative I am sure I can come up with a better solution as well) Second, I would have liked the top section to be able to be used as a hip/fanny pack as well. So since it's okay to not get everything you want...I love this pack. I can't believe how comfortable it is. It's a little twisted, but even when I didn't need to, I would put this on just to feel how comfortable it is. Carried 50 pounds for a three night trip, no problems at all. Someone mentioned squeaking as a problem, I had no such problem. I also experienced no problems with zippers or pulls or any such things. I have had no problems, zero. I found amble exterior pockets for my needs, plenty of ways to attach gear to the exterior, and the sleeping back compartment worked perfectly for me, I had some extra room and shoved some essentials like toilet paper and an armadillo pillow (which I don't recommend) in there for easy access. I like the multiple ways to access the main compartment as well, that made life much easier a number of times. So bottom line...I love this pack, it is the most comfortable pack I have ever worn, it makes 50 pounds disappear. I am thrilled to own it and have it to use for many, many years to come, and would recommend it without hesitation.

Comments about Gregory Baltoro 70 Pack:

I've been trekking for over 30 years, this is the best pack that i have ever put on my back. easy access to all pockets, plenty of room for 4, 5 even 6 nights trip, if packed right. 50 - 60lbs is about the max. very well balanced and the hip pads are the best. I'm 6' 200lb in a med frame pack.

Comments about Gregory Baltoro 70 Pack:

I have backpacked for over 25 years, and this pack is by far the most comfortable I have used. I take a lot of gear even for weekends and have no problem with 55 lbs. I used a Gregory Everest previously and like this much more. Even talked a friend into buying one.

Comments about Gregory Baltoro 70 Pack:

I bought this pack on a whim to replace my old REI pack, which has seen a few miles and was in dire need of replacement. I spent some time doing the research and was down to the Arcterex Bora 80 and this pack. Both are made of high quality material and are built to last. I'm 6'3" and couldn't get enough adjustment out of the Arcterex to work with my torso length. The Baltoro 70 size Large was a perfect fit and has all the features I was looking for. The pack is very expandable so you can get it nice and tight if you don't want to carry much and are just going out for a long day with some climbing gear. I'm a huge fan a versatility, external loading is a must, nobody wants to put a wet tent back in the pack with your dry gear, this pack has about 5 different spots to attach gear on the outside. If you are shopping for packs and trying to keep it under $200, this may be the pack for you. It'll outlast most competition, what is an extra $70 over the next 10 years you'll have this pack?

Comments about Gregory Baltoro 70 Pack:

My wife bought this pack for me for my birthday and it is the best pack that I have ever owned! My previous pack was an Atmos 65 and the Baltoro blows it out of the water.

I used it on a multi-day winter trip and I had no issues with carrying all of the equipment that I needed. I actually ended up carrying gear of other people in my group because their pack couldn't handle the weight/wasn't big enough. I was carrying probably around 40 lbs fully loaded and I have to agree with Backpacker Magazine, it made it feel downright feathery.

The pack squeaked for the first mile of an 8 mile hike and than after that it was not a problem the rest of the trip. I love being able to access the main compartment through the front zipper pocket, and the sleeping bag compartment is great. This is the all around best pack that you can purchase (in my opinion), I know that it is on the pricey side but do yourself a favor and go for it!

Comments about Gregory Baltoro 70 Pack:

I purchased the Baltoro after a fairly serious late summer lower-back injury made me begin to rethink my pack weights (I was NOT canning the trip!). I was taking an extended trip over the continental divide and, since my altitudes would vary as high as 13,000 ft, would be carrying a lot of winter gear thus putting my pack weight up around 45-50 lbs for nearly a week of fairly tough hiking. Needless to say, I did NOT want to throw my back out in the Rockies at 12,000 ft, so I searched for a pack that would allow for good weight carrying characterisitics.

I hit a home run with the Baltoro. The first think I noticed on my trial hike (tested with 50 lbs over 3 miles), was how the weight was so comfortable when compared to my other packs. Also, most importantly for me given my back issue, the unique suspension system allowed the weight to "ride" on my back taking what seemed to be a lot of pressure of my spine. This payed huge dividends throughout the week. One note if interest: On the last day of hiking we hit a pretty decent shower, and the rocks became very slippery. I lost my footing at one point and took a header right towards a boulder (I was trying to read my topo-map and descend at the same time, VERY stupid). I am convinced that my ability to pivot in the air with 50 lbs on my back and turn to avoid the edges of the rock was due in no small part to the way the suspension system allows the pack to move so easily with your body. The Baltoro's design may have saved me a fractured hand or arm; It at least allowed me to avoid any injury at all.

The design of the pack was excellent as well. I found that I could stuff the pack very full and it took the punishment well. The unique multiple entry pockets allowed me to avoid ever having to unpack my pack to "find" what it was I needed. I was able to compartmentalize all my items: Food at the top, extra clothing left, hygeine on the right, and sleeping gear on the bottom. I thus never had to spend time digging for items, they were always right at a zippered pocket.

Comfort, low weight, excellent design: The Baltoro has now become my pack of choice. I will be taking it into the Grand Canyon this spring.

Comments about Gregory Baltoro 70 Pack:

The first trip I used the pack on was a six day and five night hiking trip on the AT. Due to the fact that the pack is easily adjustable it didn't take long for me to get the 45 lbs. comfortable on my back. Generally I don't carry that much weight but I had taken some extra camera gear so it was also nice to have all the pockets on the outside so that when changing camera equipment on the trail I didn't have to fumble through the whole pack to find what I needed. I could go on but I think you get the point.