Gregory  Jade 60 Pack - Women's

I have finished 500 miles on the Pacific Crest Trail using this pack. It is very comfortable yet lightweight. I can pack extra water and food and the comfort does not diminish. I just finished the PCT section from Kennedy Meadows to Crabtree Meadows and exited to Whitney Portal. A Garcia bear canister fit sideways in the bottom of the pack--I did not have to hassle with carrying it on the outside of the pack, which my hiking partner had to do. He also ignored the reviews of his new pack that had said it didn't have enough padding and he had to stuff extra socks and gloves under his hip belt--I gloated with the comfort of the Jade 60.

I bought this pack as an upgrade from a bulky, heavy mens pack that I had been using. I am pretty short (5'2") so I was looking for a women's specific pack that would be lightweight, but still had enough capacity to carry everything I needed. I loved this pack from the moment I tried it on. It is comfortable on the shoulders and hips, the airflow in the back is great, and even with 30+ pounds, it never feels that heavy. I've used it on trips in the Smokies and mid-Atlantic area. It's also been great for traveling because it is still small enough to get away with being a carry on. I tried on a lot of women's packs before deciding on this one, and I couldn't be happier.

I did the 20 mile Pine Ridge Trail in Big Sur, CA last week with this pack and found out I really liked it. This was my first long hike with the pack and I was a little worried how it would go. It was very comfortable and easy to maneuver up the steep inclines. I tried several packs before purchasing this one, and the big seller for me was the added padding in the shoulders. Some of the other packs hurt my small shoulders just walking around the store! All in all this is a great choice if you are looking for lightweight with comfort. I am looking forward to getting lots of use out of this great pack.

I purchased this bag for my anniversary backpacking trip. After a trip with a men's pack that broke on the way home, I tried on every women's pack in the store. The comfort of the back support is fabulous, and the adjustability of the hip belt helped me get a really great fit. I was so happy when I got home from the store my husband (who wasn't planning to get a new pack soon) purchased the men's version (Z65). I was able to hike more comfortably with a heavier load than the previous trip. The water bottle pockets are large enough to hold my 1 liter bottles securely, the compression straps keep things from flopping around, and the front pocket is perfect for fitting maps. The horseshoe zipper on the front is a little small; once my sleeping bag and pad are in the bottom you can't get to much else, but that is a very small inconvenience.

So, I waited until after I had returned from a year of galavanting around the world and living out of my Jade 60 to write this review, and I'm happy to report that this pack served me well. First of all, for a 60L pack, it seems a lot smaller. Since the frame is 21.5 inches high, it easily fits into the overhead bin of an airplane (as long as you haven't absolutely stuffed it to the seams). When it was full it never felt too heavy, and when it wasn't full it neatly compressed down without seeming saggy or sloppy. This is due to the uncluttered design, though ideally I would like one or two more pockets for organization. (The Gregory Z40 has a pocket on the inside of the floating hood which is nice for stashing valuables away, as well as a sleeping bag compartment at the bottom with its own zipper, which is great for easy access or separation of wet/dry gear It also has a tiny compartment on the front for a rain cover. I would have loved to see those three features in the Jade 60.) Overall though, loading the pack and accessing my stuff was not problematic, though the bottom access point would have made digging around for things a bit simpler now and then. But minor design issues aside, the pack was comfortable and stood up to some pretty vigorous treatment. Airplanes, the roof of buses, weeks of trekking, etc. Since I didn't pack it completely full, it was small enough that I could perch it on my lap while crammed into a crowded rickshaw or keep it right by my side during long train rides. I never had any issues with seams or zippers. My year or roughing it around the world has come to a close, but this is still my go-to bag for weekend trips and carry-on-only plane travel. As for the capacity: I traveled extensively but did not bring much in the way of gear (sleeping bags, tent, etc), and for this minimalistic style of travel I found the 60L to be more than enough.

I used this pack a few weeks back on a overnight. I'm 54, 5'5" and weigh 130.This pack was very comfortable and was well padded. Plenty of storage pockets and easy to load. The design allows for good air flow to help keep you cool and the lumbar support helps to prevent a tired aching back. I love the pac and very happy that I made the purchase as my old was not comfortable. The pack may be a little heavier than some but it did not feel heavy on my back. Very Comfortable.

I love this backpack! I have taken it on multi-day backpacks in all types of terrain and it has been not failed me in any way. It is the most comfortable pack I have ever owned. It is easy to load and unload, the zippered pouches on the waist strap are very convenient, and the interior water pouch pocket is deep and water-proof. It is very lightweight, which means that I can load it to the gills and still feel comfortable on the trail. The seams can take the strain. It is very adjustable and I have cinched it down and used it for day hikes too.

I bought this pack for a backpacking trip through Ireland, so I needed a pack that could go through the airports, cities, and countryside easily. [...] I was able to carry on all my gear for the 2 week trip and navigated train stations and city streets without any trouble. When in the countryside, the pack was comfortable and distributed weight well, even on the uneven terrain. It also has handy little pockets on the hip belt that make it easy to keep lip balm on hand. The only downside is that it was easy to overpack because it's so roomy!

I was torn on spending this much on a pack, but I know it will last forever and is a good investment. A pack that fits well is an essential on backpacking trips. I have a low center of gravity (aka, I'm short), and this pack has a large capacity (60L) but is designed in a way that is ideal for low centers of gravity. A friend picked up my pack and couldn't believe how heavy my pack was, but it felt light to me when it was strapped in. I recommend this pack to everyone that is shorter than average.

Couldn't be any happier with my purchase! My last trip my pack weighed 63 pounds (I'm 5'6" 152 pounds) and I could hardly notice I had a pack on! The way they've designed the back is very comfortable and is wonderful at keeping your back vented and cool. Gotta LOVE all the extra pockets! Especially the hip belt pockets, talk about CONVENIENCE!!! I store my camera, some snacks, chapstick, etc. My last trip was blessed with POURING rain, and BLIZZARDING snow... yet all my contents stayed dry. The second day I did put rain gear on my pack, but there still was NO dampness in my pack the next day. Last comment, even though I could go on FOREVER about this pack, is how adjustable it is. Even though they have different sizes available (S, M, L) it seems within each size the pack would fit DOZENS of body types!!