Gregory Diablo Pack Review

by Shannon

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The Diablo is an ultralight hydration pack within Gregory’s Active Trail pack line. The pack weighs a mere 1 lb (the lightest one they make) and will not weigh you down while out on the trail. Despite its’ modest weight, the Diablo has a slew of features that any trail runner, hiker, or mountain biker will love.

The close fit of the pack along your back is what impressed me first. The pack has a flexible hip belt that sits on the tops of your hips. I’m 5’9″ and 135 lbs., I had a tough time getting the hip belt to stay put on my hips while running; as a result, the belt rode up onto my belly. However, while riding or hiking I had no problems. Other testers did not have that same problem, making me a bit curious.

The sternum strap can also easily be slid up and down along its’ track making it easier to get a custom fit. While running, the packs low profile and its’ ability to cinch down tight against your back, hips, and chest, really eliminated any bounce factor, or movement of the pack on your back. The hip belt and back panel also have Aero Mesh fabric which really helped keep me cool and dry.

The hip belt also has two zippered pockets that can fit bars, energy gels, and even a camera or cell phone. The main compartment has small mesh compartments to keep your small items secured and from bouncing around, which I loved. Nothing like NOT having to dig for your gel, sunscreen, or lip balm while taking a quick breather. There is also a separate pouch for a hydration pack. When we got the pack, there was a 50 oz bladder already in it. The 50 oz fits like a charm, but if you would like to take a little more H20 with you, a 70 oz bladder was the largest that we could fit into the pack without taking up all of the main compartments storage. The pack has more of a square shape design and may better accommodate square shaped bladders, which seems to be the trend these days. One problem we did notice was that not all of our hydration tubes fit through the tube management system, as Gregory calls it, or the added loops on the shoulder strap.

The Diablo is a 6 L pack, which some may find a bit too small for their pursuits. If you are seeking something a bit bigger, take a step up in Gregory’s Active Pack line with the Rufous, an 8 L pack designed by one of Gregory’s sponsored trail runners.

The Diablo was the perfect size for my longer weekend trail runs, lasting 2-4 hours. I was able to bungee a light shell on the outside (see photo above), place some food, sunscreen, map, cell, phone, and dog treats for the pups all inside the main compartment. The mesh outer compartment, under the bungees, can also be used for over flow items, or dog leashes in my case. Even when using these added compartments, I didn’t feel that the bag became awkward or lost its’ close fit (minus the hip belt problem!)

If you are looking for one of the lightest hydration packs available, you should definitely check this one out and try it on! With a reasonable price, you won’t be breaking the bank either. For more information on the Diablo Pack and other packs from Gregory, visit www.gregorypacks.com or www.amazon.com/gregory.

Specs and Features