How to Choose a Backpack

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A pack that makes your long weekend plans lighter and a lot more comfortable, the Gregory Paragon 68 has a host of plush features rarely found in a pack this light to keep you happy and organized.
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View the Gregory Paragon Product LineView all Gregory Backpacking PacksBest Use | Backpacking |
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Frame Type | Internal Frame |
Weight | 3 lbs. 10 oz. |
Adjustable Torso Length | Yes |
Material(s) | Nylon |
Frame Material | Aluminum |
Reservoir Compatible | Yes |
Pack Access | Top / Bottom |
Number of Exterior Pockets | 6 |
Sleeping Bag Compartment | Yes |
Raincover Included | Yes |
Hipbelt Pockets | Yes |
Removable Daypack | Yes |
Gender | Men's |
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As a Ranger for The Dyrt, I get to test products and recently got the Gregory Paragon 68 to try out on a backpacking trip. First off, for the weight of the pack it is incredibly comfortable and after a 7 mile hike I barely noticed that I had been wearing it for that long. The pack also has some cool features to reduce the weight even further if you really are trying to get it ultralight. You can remove the top compartment and use the sleeping bag divider as a cover instead. You can also remove the summit pack and rainfly. One of the favorite things about the design of this pack is how all the clips and pockets are intuitive to use and don’t require looking through a manual to figure out where everything clips. I had it loaded up and ready to go in only about 10 min of packing. It was also a joy to have on the trail since I was able to go further without getting fatigued. Overall I would highly recommend checking out the Paragon if you are looking for an upgrade to your current backpacking pack.
I would not recommend this bag or any Gregory Backpacking backpack. The shoulder strap on this and all Gregory backpacking packs have a very weak shoulder strap. It is literally sewed on with one stitching where it is attached to bag. The strap tears off very easily when you lift the bag up. I returned the first bag to REI thinking it was a flawed bag but the new bag replaced did the same thing. Gregory quickly replaced it under their warranty second bag. Each time i only used the bag on 2 trips out. I never over loaded either one. This is not a good thing to go wrong when you are 20 plus miles from your vehicle. I wrote to Gregory's customer service rep that was helping me about the problem and i was assured the new 3rd bag would not have the same problem. The new model of this bag sent was already tearing at the exact same spot brand new out of the bag. Same single poor quality stitching. I contacted the customer service rep from Gregory again and sent her pics of new bag and it already being torn. She immediately told me they would take the bag back and to pick new bag of my choice from their website. I checked al their bags for backpacking and every pack has the shoulder strap sewn on the same way. This is a big problem when you are backpacking. Do not buy. This bag is actually a really nice bag and very comfortable but if the most weight bearing parts of the bag are poor quality then the whole bag is useless.. I will now have see if a seamstress can properly attach it so i can use the bag. No point on sending this bag back to get one with the same problem.
This was perfect for a family gold mining trip in Alaska this weekend. Is durable, lightweight, and comfortable. I needed diapers and wipes out of the bottom of the pack and cringed for a second until I realize there were these amazing zippers on each side and one on the front for easy access to all parts of the bag without ripping it apart searching. This bag was used with a family of five for the weekend and fit all of our essentials. My husband wore this multiple times throughout the day and never complained. The fabric seems hardy, I can’t get over the easy access, and I am definitely going to recommend this product!
I've owned Gregory packs for years, and am happy that they have a pack now that qualifies as sort of light. It's not an ultra light 2 lb frameless thing, but is fairly light and is very comfortable. I used it on a recent trip to an Alpine Lake in Colorado, carrying about 40lbs full on a 7.5 mile hike in up to 11,500'. It was comfortable the whole way. I especially like that the lumbar support and hip belt kind of flex with your movement. The only change I would like to see is not having the zippered sleeping bag compartment at the bottom. To me it's unnecessary and just adds the zipper weight. But for a 68L pack that is very comfortable to be under 4lbs and also have a tiny daypack and pack cover is just great. Love it.
Purchased this pack recently and have hiked 50 plus miles with it loaded with varying weights up to 35lbs. I was just about to buy the Baltoro model when I saw this one. It's significantly lighter and every bit if not more comfortable than the Baltoro in addition to being quite adjustable. I can definitely feel it when loaded with 35 lbs but it is still very comfortable. Only reason for 4 stars is the side pockets where I store water bottles are slightly awkward to reach. If you use a bladder then no issue at all. If I could rate it a 4.5 I would.
I took my Paragon 68 on it's first Sierra backpack trip this September for one week on the JMT. The pack fits and rides well with a 30 lb. load. It also holds well against my pack and doesn't feel like it's trying to pull away from my back. That's been a problem for me with other packs. All of the straps adjusted properly and were padded enough for comfort. Storage wise, I'm really glad I bought the Paragon 68 rather than the 58. I was able to fit my gear and supplies into the pack but just barely. I've been doing this a while so I don't carry a lot of extra stuff I don't need. The only draw back with it for me was that getting water bottles out of the side pockets with the pack on was really hard. I wish the side pockets were a little more forward. But, I'm old. Maybe I'm just not very flexible anymore.
This pack actually ended up being a lot better than I expected it to be. I’m 5’9” and 160 and the M/L fit perfectly. This pack performed so much better than I expected it to, the comfort for me was on par with any osprey I’ve tried. With packs that have a bunch of bells and whistles I’ve found their performance to be lackluster but this pack is completely different. The comfort, performance, weight, and value for your money is all worth it.
I really dig this backpack. It's only 68L so don't expect to cram in everything but that's the point. The more space in your pack the more unnecessary stuff you may be tempted to cram in there. That being said, I do have larger packs depending on the need of the outing, but if you pack smart and really want to minimize the amount of gear you put on your back, this will work for sure. I have space in this pack for my sleeping system (backpacking sleeping bag, inflatable pad and insulating foam pad), tent, 10 essentials in a fanny pack, kitchen (backpacking stove, cookware, freeze dried backpacking meals), extra clothes, water, and backpacking chair with a little room leftover for incidentals from outing to outing. The main reason I got this pack is because the weight of this pack is very light. Many times, I find people not taking into account the weight of the backpack (and stuff that goes in your pockets too) that gives a false sense of your trail weight. This comes with a pack cover and a day pack too which adds to the value. The pack is very well made and the side pockets are large enough to store your water, or even the small backpacking chairs which I carry in one of mine. There is plenty of "additional" space where you can strap things to or tuck things into as well. The adjustable frame is a great option because I can adjust the pack to make it work for me at 6'. If you are looking for a lightweight backpack that has a workable amount of space, this is a great one.
Top reasons I like this pack: Comfort - the most welcomed feature is that no matter how I packed it, the bag was balanced and solid on my back. I liked all the extra ways to make it sit better, like extending the length of the backpack straps themselves through a strap on each that connected to the main pack. Padding - there was wicking and padding everywhere, and because of #1 on this list, no part of my body got sore or squished. The pack has a firm aluminum backing, upping the even feel. Portability - it holds much more that you think, in a more streamlined way too, if that makes sense. The main material is slickery, making it easier to put things in and take them out. While I didn't prefer the top and bottom section to only be separated by a square piece of material attached at four corners (having the sections completely separate and zip open-able is what I'm used to), I also note that cloth-like square is easily removable, quickly opening up more storage possibilities. Versatility - there's a smaller string pack inside, for little side trips in the event you'd like to leave the main pack behind. Of course, we took that out right away and now it's in a different location at our place. So we like it already. ; )
At 165 lbs, I hit the Appalachian trail for a one nighter & did about 5 miles with 20% of my weight. The pack performed well & felt comfortable. I have an old Gregory "Shasta" which I had to upgrade due to its weight at over 6lbs. This pack is a welcome to its light weight & suspension system. REI had a great sale on it. Very happy I made the decision to purchase it.