Gregory Z55 Backpack Review
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The Gregory Z55 is the ideal pack for those looking to cut down on weight and keep up with functionality. The Gregory Z55 is meant to be used for those looking to go out for a 2-3 day weekender trip and if you are really good at cutting down on weight and space, you should be able to get a week or more out of it. With a 3,350 cubic inch capacity, it can hold pretty much everything you would need for the weekend trip with the exception of winter camping where you tend to carry a lot of bulky gear. One of the downfalls in our mind is the lack of a sleeping bag compartment, which is nice to have when organizing and unloading your pack. If this is not an important feature to you, this should not bother you much. One of the features we enjoyed was the mesh panel on the back that keeps the pack from sticking to our backs. After a long day of hiking/backpacking, the last thing you want is your shirt to be completely soaked with sweat. Although it’s a small feature, we liked the mesh pockets on the hip belts where you can stash a camera, GPS, energy bar, etc. There are plenty of other pockets and stashes to store all the smaller items you want to keep separate from your gear such as wet socks, food, and water. One of the things we liked is the outside pocket is large enough to hold a days worth of dirty clothes, keeping your clean clothes from mixing in the the dirty clothes. We first tested this pack out with the suggested pack load of about 30-35 lbs and again when the Gregory rep asked us to see how the pack performed with a little extra weight, about 35-40 lbs. We are surprised and happy to report that this pack carries up to 40lbs comfortably with an even weight distribution of your gear. Overall, we feel this is a great option for those looking for a durable, functional, and super lightweight pack. For more information on the Z55 and other Gregory packs, visit www.gregorypacks.com or www.amazon.com/gregory.
