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Combining weeklong volume with a streamlined profile, the men's Gregory Zulu 65 pack has FreeFloat suspension and a comfort cradle hipbelt to make long days on the trail feel like an overnight.
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View the Gregory Zulu Product LineView all Gregory Backpacking PacksBest Use | Backpacking |
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Frame Type | Internal Frame |
Gear Capacity (L) | S/M: 63 liters M/L: 65 liters |
Gear Capacity (cu. in.) | S/M: 3,845 cubic inches M/L: 3,967 cubic inches |
Weight | S/M: 4 lbs. 3.4 oz. M/L: 4 lbs. 11.7 oz. |
Adjustable Torso Length | Yes |
Fits Torso Length (in.) | S/M: 15-19 inches M/L: 18-22 inches |
Fits Waist/Hips | S/M: 25-48 inches M/L: 27-53 inches |
Material(s) | Nylon/closed-cell foam |
Frame Material | 4 mm alloy steel and fiberglass anti-barreling stay and HDPE |
Number of Stays | 1 perimeter wire |
Reservoir Compatible | Yes |
Suspended Mesh Back Panel | Yes |
Pack Access | Top/panel |
Number of Exterior Pockets | 6 + main compartment |
Sleeping Bag Compartment | Yes |
Raincover Included | No |
Hipbelt Pockets | Yes |
Dimensions | S/M: 26 x 15.4 x 9.8 inches M/L: 26.8 x 15.4 x 9.8 inches |
Gender | Men's |
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Simply put: I have really enjoyed this amazing backpack. The innovative suspension system is just awesome. I was a little worried at first that it would be too heavy, but I was surprised at how well the suspension disperses the load and makes the pack feel lighter than it is. I get a little hesitant with packs that have a ton of features, because sometimes the tradeoff is increased weight which often leads to decreased comfort, but not with this Zulu! The FreeFloat suspension is really something you need to experience. The way it pivots and flexes with your body is ingenious. Your hips naturally pivot in relation to your back, so having a hip belt that pivots along with you while securely holding the weight of the pack is pretty incredible, especially when considering the normal strains and pains a 65L pack puts on your body (hot spots, anyone?). I especially love the mesh panel on the back of the pack that allows for greater airflow. It was quite noticeable on my most recent hike in the beautiful Caribou Mountains in Idaho, especially when I took the pack off and didn’t have to peel it off my usually-sticky-sweaty back! Lol. The whole suspension system is simply great. You can tell Gregory put a ton of work and research into this design, and it paid off. The innovation and construction are top notch. Other features I appreciate about this pack are the myriad ways you can access the main compartment, and the generous pockets on the hip belt. We are all used to the normal stuff-everything-in-through-the-top-of-the-bag design, which is functional if not convenient, so having the u-shaped zipper opening on the front of the bag is fantastic when you need to grab something out the pack that you stuffed halfway down, not realizing that you may actually need your food before your pajamas. ;) Even the bottom compartment can be opened easily to access the main pocket if needed. The hip pockets may seem silly to some, but for me they are a plus. I love having easy access to smaller convenient items lick chopstick, hard candies, hand sanitizer, small multitool, etc. They are plenty big enough to carry quite a few items without adding much weight. A worthy tradeoff for me. Overall, I would describe the Zulu 65 as a highly innovative pack with a ton of well-thought-out features that outweigh any additional pack weight (no pun intended). The suspension really is amazing. The whole free-floating adjustable design is awesome. The construction quality is top-notch. If you are looking for a capable, comfortable, easy-to-use, durable pack that you can stuff a week’s worth of gear and clothes in and hardly notice any extra strain on your hips and back, I would definitely consider this one. Happy camping!
I received these products for free from the REI Trailblazers sampling program in exchange for my honest review. This is a really nice pack. Seems very well built but also fairly lightweight, especially to the older internal frame packs I've used. Plenty of space for sleeping bag, (smaller) tent components, a big pocket for water bottles etc. on either side. You have the typical easily accessible compartment for rain fly, headlamp, all that. On either side of the waist strap there is a small cl.partment you could keep snacks or navigational aids in. Kind of a lot going on in terms of clips and straps but everything seems to have its use at least. Haven't gotten to go for an extended trip yet, just took it out for a day to see how it feels, but I'd definitely recommend this pack.
Overall, I think this is a great bag with a few minor but annoying issues. Materials: The quality of the materials and zippers, clasps, etc. held up to some targeted abuse. In fact I was especially harsh on the zippers (more on that below) and I didn't get any separation. The fabric didn't get worn at all from brushing up on branches. Storage: I like the accessible bottom port, which most people would use for a sleeping bag but I actually found this to be a great place to store food and food prep items (it's not uncommon to take a lunch or dinner break without setting up camp). This one is large enough to fit dried, packaged food for about 2-3 days including my pot and stove. The large outer pocket fit my admittedly heavier rain jacket without spilling out. The main compartment was large enough for my water bladder, 2P tent, extra clothes and sleeping bag/pad. On this trip I did not use any hiking sticks but I will note it has the latching for it as well as your hose clamp on the chest strap. I had to knock half a start because the most used pocked in my pack are the ones on the hip straps. Neither side would shut using only one hand whether the pocket was full or empty. This is pretty annoying and lead to me really pulling hard on the zippers only to have to reach with the other hand to hold the fabric back. Comfort/Ease of use: All in, My bag weighed 27 lbs. The suspension system and the strap system is average fare. I didn't notice anything particularly innovative here. At first I was concerned about how well the hook-and-loop would hold the shoulder straps in use since it was fairly easy to disengage when I adjusted the length of the bag, but it held up just fine. I was also concerned that the internal frame would hit my neck/head as I was walking, but that fortunately wasn't an issue. I did find the hip straps and shoulders often loosened as the pack swung from side to side. I didn't see a clear way to adjust this, so in scrambling I had to take this into account. The suspension system felt great, but I tend to prefer a tighter bag if I'm scrambling a lot. The pack did do a great job of keeping my back dry. Other: I don't love the top "lid" portion has a lot of extra material in it. I think the bag could have been made a little lighter overall but I'm talking about 5-8 ounces from just those choices. It's not a big deal but a slimmer lid design would have been worth it. It is, however, a large lid with ample storage. If you like to get into the top of the bag for things like snacks, toiletries, etc. you might enjoy this lid.
I recently used the Gregory Zulu 65 men’s pack on a multi-day hike in Zaleski State Park. I’m also using it at Rowe Woods as I prep for a weeklong section of the AT in Virginia. The adjustable torso length along with the FreeFloat suspension and 3D comfort cradle hip belt insured the pack fit me well and moved with me as I navigated the many ups and downs of the trails. The open-air ventilated mesh pack panel ‘wicked’ moisture away from my pack, keeping it from becoming a hot mess like I’ve experienced in the past! The 2 large zippered compartments on the front of the hip belt accommodated my somewhat large smart phone and bags of trail mix. I was surprised at how easily the zippers opened and closed with just one hand! The hydration sleeve easily accommodates my Gregory 3D Hydro reservoir (which itself is best in glass) and both shoulder straps have elastic loops to hold the hydration tube in place. I love all the storage compartments including the one for my sleeping bag. I also love all the straps to attach my trekking poles, tent and even my sun glasses. The one challenge I had with the bag was being able to re-stow water bottles in the slanted side packets. I plan to look for water bottles that are longer and less squat to overcome this slight issue. Overall I highly recommend this pack!
I have used the Zulu 65 for multiple years now, taking it around the state of Oregon on week-long through hikes, and it has been nothing but reliable. The included rain cover works great, and stows away nicely. The enlarged access from the top, front, and bottom make for ease of access. It easily stores two nalgenes in each pocket, along with much room for snacks in the hipbelt pockets. One thing I was concerned about was the durability of the mesh on the front of the pack, facing away from the wearer, but it has proved to be just as durable as the rest of the pack. Overall, this is a phenomenal pack for anyone getting into backpacking like myself, and has the capacity to hold a LOT of stuff.
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] I am pretty impressed with this pack. I have a few very high end hunting packs and they always seem to cut off some hip circulation. With a 3 night off trial campsite this pack was fantastic! I was skeptical but this pack performed very well. I really liked the U-zip access, huge hip pockets, and the side pockets that I can grab a waterbottle from while wearing the pack. A couple of things I didn't like: those huge hip pockets left no room for a bear spray holster, there is no way for the lid to double as a separate pack for little jaunts from camp, and the hip belt was maxed tight on my 34" waist in the Med/LG frame choice. I could get the waist belt tight enough but if I stopped eating cookies...
Gregory makes a great product and the latest edition of the Zulu is no exception. If you’re a diehard ultralighter than this pack probably isn’t for you. But…if you’re looking for a lightweight, very well built and comfortable pack for a good price this should be on your list. The pack has plenty of room for a multiday hike, easy access to your main compartment with the U-shaped front entry zipper and a huge brain with more than enough space. My only real complaint is the size of the sleep system compartment located at the bottom of the bag. It’s perfect for an ultra compact bag, quilt or maybe an outer layer jacket but not so much for most 40 degree bags or below. Overall the comfort, quality and price make this a great choice for most anyone who hits the trail and isn’t hyper focused on being ultralight.
I found this Gregory backpack to be versatile and ideal for extended weekend trips. The 65L volume is sufficient for standard backpacking necessities (bag, cooking and stove, clothing and other essentials). A built in sleeve, plastic hook and pass-through port makes integrating a water bladder both easy to install and access for refilling. The durable side pockets are made of stretchable fabric that can accommodate varying widths of storage of easy accessibility items, like water bottles, first aid kit, layering type clothing, etc. Additionally, there are straps that allow for securing items in both side pockets. The material stretches without compromising its strength. The netting appears to be strong and I haven’t seen any wearing or micro holes. Internal sectioning allows for keeping items segmented. Traditional pocket for storage of a bag, pad and other sleeping items is easily accessible externally, near the bottom of the pack, with sectioning to ensure these items remain in place and don’t shift around. The “Free Float” structure provides for essential airflow, minimizing the heat and sweat on your back. While I do like the hip straps and Connie ent storage pockets, I believe the shoulder harness could provide for a tad bit more cushion on the shoulders. I was able to keep the pack secured on my hips and reduce the weight from shifting to my shoulders. Strong Velcro allow for adjusting the height of the positioning and is versatile for my height above 6’. The top lid storage compartment (“brain”) is very easy to access from both the top and bottom (accessed when the lid flipped upside down), and can be adjusted to accommodate the height of the pack when fully stuffed. Unfortunately, the lid doesn’t have any easy way to be removed, which is convenient if you have items you want to take back/forth into your tent. The tent restraints on the bottoms are good, but I question how sturdy they will be and ability to hold-up overtime to stowing my 3-person lightweight tent. While there is ample external storage for the needed quick accessible items, I wish the pack had side-pack zippers to access the internal contents without having to remove the lid and other contents that may be stacked at the top of the pack. Overall I found the Gregory Zulu 65L to be very versatile and of good quality. I did intentionally stuff the pack to capacity to test the seams and haven’t noticed and weak points. Improvements would be more padding on the shoulder straps and side zippers to gain access to the internal storage area. My pack is Forage Green, which is pleasant versus other brightly colored packs. I would definitely recommend this pack for those looking for versatility and good quality.
I've been using my Zulu 65 for the past few months... some late summer & fall backpacking trips and winter river trip. It's one of the most comfortable packs I've used before, and it has great pockets for side gear and wallet/phone/keys access. I've used it for one to three day backpacking trips and it's been perfect. I plan on putting it to the test for a week trip coming up soon. Gregory just makes solid packs!
I am a huge fan of Gregory backpacks, with the Zulu 65 being an addition to my Baltoro 75. I bought the Zulu 65 last year and have used it about 400 miles on the PCT and a few other very small trips. By far this is the most comfortable pack I have owned to date. Overall, I like the features, especially the hipbelt pockets which fit my phone (small iPhone) perfectly and other miscellaneous items, like my Spot and pocket knife. The side pockets, made of stretchy material, are perfect for easily slipping water bottles in and out. The mesh back panel, is a bit slippery, but is comfortable and it keeps your back cool. Another reviewer said the backpack did not come with a rain cover, but mine did. My only complaint, is that after a few hundred miles of use, is that the hipbelt seams are starting to tear at the bottom (unfortunately I could not add pics to this review). I have never overloaded this pack, thus I am quite surprised at the weak sewing job. I had planned on using this pack to complete the PCT this year, however, I do not trust this pack to make it to the finish line.
We're sorry to hear about the hipbelt on your Zulu! This is potentially a warranty issue. Please reach out to our customer service team for assistance with the issue.