Gregory  Z30 Pack

I'm tall (6'3") and have a 21" torso, so I got the z30 Large (which is actually 32 Liters). I tried on other packs in the store (Arc'Teryx, Deuter) but Gregory fit me the best. I love this pack- perfect size for everything I need to bring with me on a day hike. It's lightweight, durable and keeps my back cool due to its unique suspension that keeps the pack away from my back to allow air to circulate inbetween. It has plenty of pockets and a nice "clamshell" pocket on top (next to the main compartment) that can hold smaller items and offers access to them without me having to search around/take off the pack and dig around for them.

I am preparing to buy my third Z pack since Gregory introduced them. IMO these packs stand alone with regards to comfort, design, and weight; however, they are not the most durable. Both of my previous Z packs had material failures: one at a seam on the lid, the other when a plastic buckle broke in half. I live in CO and do a lot of day hiking/climbing in the 14ers around here, and find this to be the perfect pack for light and fast trips. If Gregory would reinforce the stitching in a few areas and beef up the buckles a bit, this great pack would be even better...For now, I'll just remember to take along my repair kit.

So far this year I've hiked 13 of the 48 peaks over 4000 feet in New Hampshire and the Z30 has been there every step of the way. It is extremely comfortable. I especially like the hip belt which is well padded and has the two pockets which hold my digital camera and snack bars. I've owned other daypacks but this is the most technical pack I've owned. It was designed for heavy use and it holds up well. I'll be leaving it home next weekend and switching out to my new Gregory Baltoro 70 for a two day backpack across the Bonds. Can't wait to try out another Gregory product!

I have been very pleased with this pack. I purchased the large, which is perfect for me at 6'2. The large is also 35L which gives a little more space for us big guys. Loaded this baby with 28 lbs and headed up Whitney. Plenty of pockets and ways to pack everything up nicely. I love the suspension system. Gives you room behind your back which keeps the air flowing and the sweat to a minimum. Pack was on my back for 22 miles and felt great. Handled the weight perfect and probably could have handled 5-10 more pounds ok. Good size for long day hikes or a quick overnight trip. I would have a hard time fitting gear for anything longer, but you minimalist packers probably could. Everything REI carries is pretty good quality, but Gregory is top of the food chain for me.

I purchased this pack for long day hikes. I wanted something that had hydration and could carry the essentials. Though I initially went to REI for a different pack this one was the best fit and most comfortable. The sale price was great. After just completing my first day hike I'm very happy with my purchase. The bag was extremely comfortable, kept my back cool and all the pockets were exactly where I needed them to be. We had a small injury on the trail and it was easy to access my first aid pouch. The side mesh pockets stored my camera on one side and chapstick and sunblock on the other with room to spare. I hadn't owned a Gregory before but now I'd like to upgrade my multi-day pack as well. Great product! Just for reference I'm a female, 5'9" and I purchased a medium.

I was looking for a day pack that would support all of my gear for fall & winter hikes here in the desert Southwest. This entails roughly 10-18 pounds of food, water (in a 100 oz. bladder) and equipment, some of which is a bit bulky. I really like the suspension system on this pack. It's like a big backpack but scaled down to a size appropriate for day hiking. The suspension keeps the pack off of your back so you remain dry, and positions the pack perfectly- you can hardly tell it's there! The variety of compartments and pockets keep everything well organized and balanced. I like the large, open main compartment as I prefer to organize in stuff sacks rather than internal pockets. The hiking pole attachments give you a means to store your poles away should you need both hands free to scramble up a steep slope- a big plus. I highly recommend!

I wanted a small pack for day hikes to allow me to take longer walks in more remote areas to strengthen a recovering shattered heel and bad back. Because of my back I needed something with good support and not too much weight, and I wanted to carry the 10 essentials, additional first-aid supplies in case of a foot or back injury, plenty of water, and an alcohol stove so I could enjoy a cup of coffee while taking a rest. The suspension in this pack is awesome, and its ventilated design has been greatly appreciated during the recent hot spell. I was concerned that organizing and packing my gear in the bag might be a challenge, but instead of the advertized five compartments I count nine: the main compartment, a hydration bladder sleeve, two side external water bottle pockets, two waist belt pockets, an external front compartment, a large kangaroo-type compartment between the front and main compartments, and a top compartment. As a bonus, there's enough room that I believe I can pack enough to make an overnight trip after my foot and back get into better shape. This is an excellent bag. If I ever buy another, I will start by shopping Gregory's offerings.

I love this pack, and this is a great pack to invest into if you love fast moving day hikes, with the benifits of comfort like I do. I generally take this on my longer day hikes along the Metacomet-Monodnock, or Appalachian trails. I cannot wait to take this along with me out in the 'Whites' this summer. What I love the most about this pack is that I am able to bring everything I need without having akward un-used space that leave gear moving about. I generally make sure that I have safety and comfort all accounted for by bringing along first aid, gizmos and gagets, extra layers of clothing and rain gear, lunch, small cooking tools like a jet boil for a quick dinner if need be, and most importantly it is designed to fit a water resevior. I would even go as far as using this as an overnight if you're really having a blast out on the trail and the weather is to your benifit. (Please make sure you consider this predisposition you might have while you're packing for the day. Please don't make decisions like this half way through your hike or when you just start up on the trail!) The two loops at the end can be used to support an ultra-light shelter and sleeping pad by using bunggie cords wrapped throught the spacing in-between the jet-stream frame and the pack frame. Even with all my gear approaching around 20 - 25 lbs (mainly during the winter) the weight is distributed in the center of the body thanks to the design of the pack which doesn't sacrifice the speed and agility I look for in a hike. Awesome pack and performance! Don't let the size fool you. Be innovative!

I'm 5'10", 210#, and the large works great for me. I use this for day hikes carrying photo gear (Nikon D90, usually 2 lenses & close-up lens (canon 500D)). The Lowepro Toploader Zoom 50 AW in Blue fits perfectly in the Z30's pouch if you don't have a big load inside, and its nearly invisible there if you want to be discrete. Or, it can clip on the outside if you use some S-beaners at the top and 1/2" straps to the bottom. The s-beaners and straps hold the 50AW snuggly to the middle outside, and I can easily jog with the pack & camera on, no problem. You can also use web rings on the front straps plus Tamrac N-11 backpack camera straps to hold the camera on the front of the pack while taking pictures. I find this really convenient and better than a camera strap, though if moving fast or on rough terrain the camera will keep bumping your sternum. A Slik Mini II tripod fits very well in one of the side compression pockets and can hook in to the poll loop for secure storage. Due to weight (yes it's light...), I only carry this if I know I'll be doing low-light shooting. With 2L water, rain gear, camera gear, some extra layers, and necessities, it comes it around 16#-17#. I've had it up to about 22#, and it worked fine, but that was a bit heavy for a longer hike. The Gregory strap at the top of the outside pouch is long, and I have used it to hold a down sleeping bag (Kealty Galactic) with the camera case then on top of that and strapped down. It worked, but made the pack top heavy and pulling away from shoulders, so I'd say camera gear with sleeping bag is too much for it.