Gregory  Z65 Pack

Great lightweight pack. My only complaint is that the online picture's color does not match the actual pack. I bought the green one. The picture shows a muted/military green, while the actual pack is a bright green. I would have preferred the darker green shown in the picture but the actual color is not bad. The pack itself is awesome and well thought out. It is one of the more streamlined of those available. It has everything you would expect: venting back, water carrier holder/tube hole, padded waist belt, etc. Could be a little lighter for those ultralight hikers, but great if you want a little more support than those typically offered by GoLite brands and others.

I've only just begun running this pack through the mill, but on a recent hike it outperformed the 5-6 packs I've used over the past 8+yrs. The super-convenient front loading panel was a big selling point for me, and was just as useful as I'd hoped it would be. Both the front panel and the top pouch held way more than I had anticipated, and straps on the side readily devour any longitudinal loading. Tack on one of the..scratch that, the MOST comfortable suspension system on any pack I've ever used or tried on, and I would say that this is THE pack for most light-ultralight backpackers.

This pack replaced my 12 year old Gregory Shasta and was a huge improvement in almost every area. I just finished the packs maiden voyage...75 miles through the whole GSMNP on the AT over 6 nights. The pack was all day comfortable and carried well while being very adjustable for comfort during the day. I missed having a dedicated sleeping bag area in the bottom which would make packing a little easier. My other complaint is probably my fault but I forced traditional 32oz. Nalgene bottles into the flimsy spandex pockets and they completely blew out during the trip. I sent it back to Gregory and they are fixing it for free. I guess it's time to stuff the Camelbak in there. Basically, it's almost perfect.

I chose this pack over many, its main rival was the Baltoro 70... but I felt that Z65 felt lighter, clung tighter and would compress down better than the Baltoro when I carried lighter loads. The Baltoro felt more bulky and more like a dedicated extended night one-trick-pony pack... unlike the Z65 which could do both lighterweight nights and extended stays. Build quality is awesome. I prefer the more streamlined feeling pack to the bloated, bulging pocketed feel/look so the lack of external pockets is a plus. Overall, a great pack. Give it a whirl...you'll love it!

I used this on the southern third of the AT for a late winter early spring hike. It carried all my gear as I left town (35-37 LBS) and compressed down as I got close to the next resupply town. I was a little concerned with putting pressure on the seams and zippers but they all did great. My only complaint was after a couple hundred miles the chest strap would ride up in the guides on the shoulder straps. While in Damascus this was fixed by tacking it in place. I am sure this is not the ideal fix but it has worked fine since. I plan to take it back to finish the trail this coming summer with lighter loads. I am sure there are better packs available but I more than happy enough with this one and do not foresee having to find another for a decade or more.

This pack is the best I have ever owned! My only complaint is that I pack too much junk (just means I need to cut down tho right? ) It will handle a decent load up to about 45 or 50 lbs with no discomfort. Could barely feel the pack with a load of about 25 or 30 lbs on long day hikes and SAR training hikes/trails. Super easy to adjust and tighten down loads. Love the U opening on the front - makes it easy to drop it and grab a what you need in a hurry. GREAT PACK!

I've taken this pack on two trips now and it seems the more I use it the more comfortable it gets.The first trip was 10 days and I started with about 45#. It carried the weight great! The second trip was shorter & lighter, about 30#. I could hardly tell it was there. Its got great lumbar support and breaths well. The zippers never bind, it's tough & compresses well. Bottom line, its very well made and I couldn't imagine a more comfortable pack for me.

I have about 500+ miles on this pack so this is a good time to review. Excellent air flow, have hiked 13 hours straight at times and was impressed by it's ability to keep the back of my shirt from becoming a swamp. I have never missed not having a seperate compartment for my sleeping bag. Main compartment easily fits my big four items plus clothes and food/stove. Belt pockets are extremely handy and easy to reach, outside compartments work well for items you want quickly like water filter, Topos/compass etc. I use the side pockets for water bottles, I could get a bottle out (with effort) while hiking but cannot put them back in without taking off the pack. The pack handled best when weight was below 35lbs, below 30 is ideal. Easy to adjust the straps on the fly. Material quality has been excellent but for one snapped elastic cord. All in all this pack has been awesome - if it fits you.

It is not fully evident how they get the weight down. This pack is well made and very comfortable with a 35 lb load. The frame creates a large area for air circulation between your back and the pack. Well thought out and the large front access panel is great. It will replace my Gregory Palisade with more comfort and shed 3 lbs!

This pack is the most comfortable pack I have ever used. Once it is properly fitted, there are enough straps and adjustments to make a heavy load feel lighter. It could easily hold a week's worth of supplies for the trail. I used a bear canister and it fit best by standing the canister up on top of the sleeping bag and stuffing other items on each side of the canister. The support and mesh in the back keeps hard objects away from your back and allows air circulation for a cooler experience. However, I am a water bottle user and when the pack is full, it is hard to get the bottles in and out of the water bottle pockets. You can not get to the water bottles without taking the pack off or having someone else remove them for you. Also, the stitching on the top of the pockets came out and caused the material to flap and enlarge. I have carried 40 lbs.in this pack and that is about the upward limit. This pack could easily be a 5 Star if the stitching was re-enforced on the water bottle pockets.