Gregory  Z30 Pack

Down right fantastic pack. I've had it for a few weeks now and use it for school as well as hiking. It fits all of my school stuff nicely, and i've never had a shortage of room when i've taken it on hikes so far. My only complaint is that the front slip "pocket" with the buckle over it doesn't expand for enough out for me, but that is no big deal considering how much the pros outweight that one con. I plan on doing a two night backpack with this pack, and have already tested to see if everything will fit, including food. All i have to do is strap my backpack to the outside and i've got plenty of room for everything inside. Another grand slam Gregory.

I bought this because I needed a daypack with a padded belt to carry my heavy camera and lenses while I'm hiking. Aside from the accessibility issues, I like it pretty well... it is very comfortable and fits a short torso. However, the way it is set up, I have a hard time getting to my camera (naturally, at the bottom of the pack), and completely impossible when I have my camelbak in the nifty bladder pocket. I'm sure there's a way to work around this (like keeping the bladder outside the main compartment) but I'm miffed that I have to do it.

Wonderful pack! I'm a petite female with a short torso so finding a pack that could fit the curve of my back was crucial and this "fit" the bill. I'm using it for a three week Europe trip and yes, it does fit everything I need (traveling ultralight). We will be traveling all over in those three weeks and I wanted something I could walk with for long periods of time and was not too cumbersome. I highly recommend this bag. Expect many years of hiking and travelling with this bag.

This pack is great. I was looking for a pack for long and/or strenuous day hikes. It holds a lot of water in the hydration compartment for the full day. Also it has a main compartment for extra layers and room to spare. There are several easy access pockets to get into. Two near the hips (great for camera, can reach it easily, along with a couple on the back. I really like the air space to keep my back cool instead of sitting directly on my back.

I've used this pack on several daytrips. Comfort and ride has been excellent. The top of the pack is a little difficult to close, particularly when there are items in the top compartment. The hydration pouch will fit a 3 liter bladder but it is very snug. The bottom of the pack is big enough to hold your lunch or cooking gear plus your rainsuit or an extra fleece sweater. I also like the hooks on the outside to secure your trekking poles.

I really like this pack. Great for long day hikes. It is very comfortable and well ventilated. The pack works well with a water bladder or bottles. There are well placed pockets, especially on the hipbelt. It is very light and really transfers the weight to the hipbelt (makes you forget the pack is on). The only negative is the shape of the interior is a little funky because of the concave frame design.

I am a volunteer harbor seal counter at Pt Reyes National Seashore, which involves lugging a heavy spotting scope and tripod (as well as binoculars, food and layers of clothing for all sorts of conditions) on day hikes that range up to 8 or 9 miles, some off trail. Carrying this equipment, especially the heavy scope, in my traditional day pack caused intense shoulder pain after a few miles. I also tried an old frame backpack which was big and awkward and let me feeling very wobbly as I stood on the edge of the Tomales Bay cliffs. But the Gregory Z30 solved these problems. Now I carry most of the weight on hips and legs, which is much more comfortable. The relatively small size and body-hugging fit of the pack keeps the weight close to me so I have much better balance. This is a great pack if you are carrying a lot of weight in relation to volume (there really is not that much carrying capacity for more than a day hike, in my opinion).

This pack is very comfortable, perfect for day hikes. Plenty of room for 10 E's, plus a few non E's when desired. My only complaint is the staps are a bit long, especially the waist belt. Scissors + sewing machine make short work of that. The pack holds everything rock solid, no shifting. It's definitely made me a Gregory fan.

I nearly passed this up thinking it was too small. After further inspection, I was amazed by it's design and functionability. I'm a small female, and my biggest complaint about most packs are that they could not fit my small frame. Or that the shoulder pads were too thick that they rubbed against my neck uncomfortably. Not this one, it was as if it were made for me. My favorite part about this pack is the lightweight frame with the jet stream ventilation. Finally, I no longer have to hike with my backpack bouncing on my back and making me sweaty. I also love that it has a hydration sleeve and elastic bands to keep tube nice and neat. This daypack has just the right amount of space for your day hike essentials. Pockets on waistbelt are perfect for compass, keys, cell phone, or other palm size items. Plenty of loops to attach things to like whistle, clip-on flashlight and hiking poles. Material is lighteright, water beads up, and fabric dries quickly. It's worth every penny in my book!!!

Though there is a lot of room at the bottom of the pack, I found it sometimes frustrating to put things in the top when a water bladder was in place. The opening of the pack becomes very narrow. Another small thing, there is no hook for my keys.