Gregory  Nano 28 Pack

This is a great day pack or even travel backpack. The pockets and size are great and it is very light. I only have one issue with the shape. Even when full, you cannot place it on it's bottom without propping it up. It is curved because the back panel extends farther down than the main pocket itself. This makes the bottom rest on your belt line and you cannot leave it sitting up like most packs that flatten out when loaded. Not a huge problem except when stopping for a rest and you can't set it down to dig around without it trying to escape and roll away.

I've been a bit disappointed with this pack, to be honest. I got it as a daypack for some international travel after my Patagonia Black Hole 25L finally kicked the bucket after a decade. This pack is definitely well-constructed and sturdy, which I appreciate. However, the awkward design makes me think I won't be using this much moving forward. The bag cannot stand up due to the slope of the bottom front, so it always falls forward. I didn't think this would be an issue for me but, turns out, it actually is quite an inconvenience since you can't even prop it up on things when it's full without it falling forward. The curved back panel also makes it fold itself in half if the pack just has a couple of heavier things on the bottom and you put something slightly bulky (like a wallet) in the brain pocket. The bottom 2 inches of the foam back panel is covered with the same thicker fabric that the bottom of the bag is made out of. I assume this is for durability, but it rubs against your lower back after a couple hours of wear no matter how full the pack is. As for the inside – there are also no internal pockets in the main cinch compartment, not even a large sleeve against the back. I had really high hopes for this pack, and while the materials and construction are certainly withstanding a beating so far, the actual design is poorly-conceived and makes it impractical for extended use.