Gregory  Katmai 55 Pack - Men's

I got to try this pack during an overnight backpacking trip in Emigrant Wilderness and used it as my main travel luggage during a flight. It’s a very well-made backpack with a full spectrum of features you would expect from its class. Loved the easy-access points on the bag to load/unload/reach through the top, the huge side zipper, and the bottom. I was able to easily reach anything I needed from any corner of the bag without unpacking the whole thing. Lots of places to attach and/or strap to the outside and sides. I didn't expect to be fully dry during strenuous or long hikes, but it provided a great level of ventilation during hot weather (I am in California). The adjustable sizing was such a great perk!!! Loved being able to adjust it exactly to my torso size. This advantage comes with a cost, the adjustable straps are secured by a large, wide Velcro section (which runs along the whole width of the bag). I didn’t have any issues with it during my hike and travel, but only time will tell how well the Velcro will hold the straps attached to the backpack. Overall, I would go for it, it’s super comfortable and well made. If you are planning extremely long backpacking trips with weighty gear, you might consider something with straps attached to the pack (rather than Velcro); but you might sacrifice the comfort which comes with Velcro allowing flexibility/adjustability to your body. If you have a chance to try it on in-store, I would highly recommend doing so as you can get a feel for the size and fantastic custom fit!

If you’re looking for a pack with plenty of storage (understanding those nooks and crannies add a slight amount of weight), with great suspension and ventilation, this is a pack you should consider. This pack was put through the paces in the Colorado mountains, including a trek to the Mt Zirkel Wilderness, and it performed great. No hot spots, pack was easily adjusted for weight distribution, and hauled everything like a champ. On a couple of uphills the sternum strap did pop off where it attaches to the rail, and this was easily put back on, but it was a hassle. Also, the small plastic piece that attaches the hip belt to the frame popped out on a couple of occasions. Not sure If this was specific to this pack, or something that the design team needs to take a look at. But overall, solid pack that will be on the trails again shortly.

This bag has not been rejected as a carry-on bag for flying. When flying, I don't have traditional luggage. Always used a backpack. I hate checking in bags, especially after this weekend with all the flight delays and cancellations. Prior to this bag, my biggest is a 42L which isn't enough for longer trips. My wife bought me a Baltoro 75 as a wedding gift. It was big. Used it 2x, and it just encouraged me to bring more that I needed. Just eyeballing it, knew it would not fit in an overhead, so I traded it in for this one. Katmai 55 has fit on every plane the last 2 years without even a question or look from flight staff. Fit wise, have the medium/large size. 6'1, 190. Had to do a 1/4 mile run with it this morning with 25pds to make a flight connection, and it didn't break my old back. I did like the full open front zip on the Baltoro, but the side zip on this bag works really well to access items buried towards the bottom. Waist belt is great. 55L holds more than I need. Very happy with the bag.

I received this pack in exchange for an “honest” review. Having said that, I’ve owned 3 other Gregory backpacks since the 1980s (and I did pay full price for them). So I do think Gregory makes a quality product, and they do stand the test of time. My last purchase was a Baltoro a few years ago, which is similar. This Katmai 55 pack is a full featured pack that is well made and very comfortable. I’ve worn this pack for 55 miles, carrying 25 - 45 lbs. Most recently, I wore it on the Loowit trail around Mt. St. Helens (30 miles), where I carried 30 lbs. Unlike my backpacks of yesteryear, I didn’t have sore spots on my shoulders or hips in the morning on day 2 (wow!). The mesh back panel is a worthy innovation. You will still get a sweaty back, but at least it won’t be drenched, so your shirt will dry out during lunch. I’m sure the mesh back will really be nice in warmer climates. Among other features, this pack has a zippered side panel, a zippered sleeping bag compartment (with removable divider), a quart water bottle pocket, hydration tube ready, zippered hip pockets, a front zippered pocket and stretch mesh pocket, a stretch side pocket. The top pouch has 3 pockets, one for your keys/wallet, and one on the very top with lots of room for a large phone or a small tablet (or even a paper map!) And that’s all great and handy, but what you’re really buying here, is the hip belt and shoulder straps. I’m no industry expert, but these have to be among the best! Generally, everything is well designed and works like it should. The hip belt pockets for example, will fit an afternoon’s GORP bag, your camera, gps, and the like (you know, the stuff you want, or want to stash without having to stop, drop and dig). But they’re also not so big that they bump into your arms while walking. Some people love all those pockets and features. And they are handy, but the down side is they add weight and the zippers can be failure points. Other down sides (and these are minor complaints): For the first 20 miles or so, the shoulder straps made an annoying clicking noise, like a bad knee. It seems like it has worn in now and has gone away. One zipper on the hip pocket has a sticky spot, so it requires 2 hands to close (surprisingly, my Osprey wearing friends had the exact same complaint). And finally, the sleeping pad straps are strangely short. I can barely fit an old ridge rest in there. A thicker foam pad would never fit. Most people these days carry inflatable pads, which wouldn’t pose a problem. However – if your plan is to sometimes overload the pack by strapping gear on the outside, you might have to work something else out. Overall, yes this is a great pack. My two hiking partners both had similarly sized Ospreys, one a lightweight version and the other, a full featured unit. It quickly became apparent that the industry has peaked, because they seem to be copying each other’s best features. I guess that’s a good thing. At least they’re copying the good features. For me, it’s a balance between weight, comfort and convenience. By my scale this weighs 4.6 lbs (Gregory website lists 4.61 lbs). That’s not bad for a 55L pack. If you’re obsessing about every gram, this isn’t for you. If you want a great pack that will be a joy to wear, even when loaded beyond your stamina, this should serve you well. I still think it’s amazing they can cram all those features and comfort into less than 5 lbs!

Right out of the package you could tell this bag was something special. Top-notch construction, it felt sturdy without a misplaced stitch. Strapping it on, the bag was sized perfectly for my frame (a fairly athletic 5'6", 160lbs). Weighing it down with camping gear, be it day hikes or weekend trails, will be no problem for this one, with 55 liters of capacity and an empty weight of less than 5lbs. It was comfortable empty, and the same goes for full, with smartly placed straps to distribute the weight and a nice water repellant cover. Highly recommend this one!

The first thing that separates this pack from my others is the rigid and ventilation frame suspension, along with a very well designed and adjustable shoulder straps setup. Originally thought it’d be perfect for general trail use but really found appreciation for it while combat fishing Alaskan sockeye salmon. This pack is well designed and easily holds all the specific fishing gear required and is also comfortable enough for use in the River where the constant flossing for reds requires quite a bit of mobility, the articulation of the shoulder straps is really nice for this use. The first run of reds happened fast and the second run should be showing up any day, my stuff is already in the pack ready to go. Nice job with Katmai 55

With many adjustments available, I was able to stay comfortable and ventilated. Has good structure with synch straps to secure load. Many quick access pockets for convenience. They have thought of everything.

I replaced a Flash 55 that had a manufacturing flaw in the padding. I use a Miko30 for hiking and love it so I decided to try a Gregory for backpacking. A couple of random thoughts: the side zipper is neat in concept but would be way better use of real estate for an external zipper unless you pack like an IKEA engineer. Love the multiple zipper containers in the brain. Pop out bottle holder is perfect, just wish it had two with one on each side. The ability to dial in the fit for torso and hips is noteworthy and really make getting the perfect fit a breeze. The only reason I didn’t give 5 stars is for some concern about reliability. The very first time I used the sleeping bag compartment zipper the pull failed (which I hope I can get spares from Gregory) and after my trip, the mesh pocket had some tearing despite a really open trail.

Really wanted to choose this backpack but ultimately decided to go with another brand for two reasons. First, the top lid is not removable. Second, the torso adjustment is velcro, which made me skeptical of its strength over the long-term.