Gregory  Wander 70 Pack - Kids'

This is an excellently constructed pack. Materials, layout and construction are identical to any adult professional pack. Lighter than a comparable Osprey and REI Scout pack but about 15% more expensive. (Yes, I am a dedicated Osprey user myself for many many years...but this pack is the bomb!!) This is an adjustable pack meaning as your scout grows, the torso length will adjust to just about adulthood...from about 4'10" to 5'11'' or so. Good for the long haul and can be passed down. This is a BETTER option for very short, skinny or young scouts as the shoulder straps have about six additional inches of adjustment vs the REI scout pack. Need to try both on to be properly fitted yourself. Comes with a semi-attached rain cover. Large top pack/hood is permanently attached. No bottom zipper for sleeping bag; HOWEVER, the entire pack unzips like a duffle bag with two parallel zippers. You may find this a great advantage for less experienced backpackers as they have visual access to their entire gear at one time without un and re packing. I highly recommend this pack for all, and especially for BSA High Adventure Scouts for strength, lack of weight and roomy accomodations.

I bought this for my son for his first 3 day camping trip without dad. The pack held everything with room to spare. Lots of spaces to place stuff but not too many so you cant find something. The middle of the pack zipper is great so you can go right to the top or bottom for something without unpacking everything to get to the bottom. My son just turned 11 and about 75 pounds, the folks at REI helped us find a pack that fits his torso and it has enough adjustment that he can use it for his entire time in scouts and then some. Also there is a rain fly included so no need to buy one. It came in handy already because he took it out and covered a friends sleeping bag in the rain who didn't have a satisfactory pack. Straps were easy to operate plus the guys at REI showed him some solid tips.

I am 5'1" with a short torso. Adult sized bags just don't adjust short enough for me. So when I found this pack, I thought it was the answer. The pack has two compression straps on the side and the straps on the bottom can compress the pack smaller as needed, which keeps things inside from shifting around. Adjusting the straps and the waist belt is relatively simple and easily makes the pack comfortable. A couple of things that I think need to be changed that would make this pack the love of my life. First my back gets really sweaty with the pack flush against your back. Some air channels or something would be nice. Next with a large backpack, why isn't there more padding on the straps? Also the seams on the straps rub. I really like this pack, but I would like it better if I could put different straps on it.

I bought this for my son (4 foot 10 inches)for his first backpack adventures. He used it on a 3 day 25 mile trip on Lake Superior's North Shore and a 6 day 50 mile trip in the Black Hills. The pack performed flawlessly on both trips. The torso adjustment system makes it possible to custom fit the pack to a particular user wirh great precision and does not slip over time. Once my son figured out that the hip belt was not for show he had no complaints regarding comfort. In fact, he quickly learned to adjust the various straps to fit the pack to the trail conditions, his load and to minimize daily aches and pains. The bag has an unusually large capacity for a youth bag and comes with a rain bag which is a nice plus. After trip inspection revealed no strained seams and I anticipate that my son will outgrow this bag rather than wear it out.

When the REI store employee told me they wanted to fit me in a youth pack, I was dubious. But after a couple of excursions, I am pleasantly surprised with this pack in terms of both comfort and features. Things I like: Multiple adjustment points make this pack fit comfortably and securely, zippered front access makes it easy to get to my things without continually packing/unpacking, and there's plenty of volume for extended trips. I'm not as thrilled with the back panel. As others have suggested, some air channels or something would be very welcome. After a shakedown hike in cool weather, my back was pretty sweaty. Bottom line is, don't discount this pack if you are a shorter adult.

I got this pack as a birthday gift for my 12-year-old son -- actually as a replacement for an REI pack that we couldn't get fitted properly. I bought it because the smaller pack he had was too small for the extended backpacking trips we started taking. It's a little pricey for a kid's pack, but if you know your son is in to backpacking, it's well worth the cost. It has a very large capacity -- actually, bigger than my own pack, and has a wide range of torso sizes, so it will last quite a while. It fits nicely, and he thinks it's very comfortable. He's pretty skinny, and the belt cinches down small enough to stay snug around his waist. A couple of nice extra features are the rain cover and an outside pocket that's useful for small things like a first-aid kit, knife, poncho, etc. The only thing he really doesn't like about it are the drawstring cinch tabs. They're not the normal push-button type, so they take a little getting used to. Personally, I also don't really care for the detachable top, but it doesn't seem to bother him. Overall, this is a great pack that I expect him to get several years of use out of.

We got the navy one for our son for his 12th birthday. This is what he wanted. He went to REI and tried on several packs, but this is the one that fit him the best. It's not the lightest, but at 12, we thought comfort over minimalist was best. He likes the big "U" zipper, it's easy to access stuff after it's packed without dumping everything out. We're all active with his Boy Scout Troop, and do plenty of backpacking on our own too. This pack looks like it should last him at least a few years...his 15 year-old brother is 6'2" (so a consideration in the adjustability). The only thing he wishes it had was the sleeping bag compartment. He has used it on one short (under 15 miles) backpack and 2 car-camping scout trips so far. No complaints yet...we'll see how it lasts for 64 miles this summer!

Great backpack, very functional and light. My 13 year old son used it and was very happy with it. Integrated rain cover is great. Lots of useful adjustable straps. would recommend.

Excellent pack for the shorter adults as well as for kids… Easily adjustable, BUILT-IN rain cover is awesome too!