Gregory up to 45% off on 28 styles at Sierra Trading Post

Pros: -Made with durable materials. Tough fabric and #10 YKK zippers. A little extra weight, but well worth it. -Great padding. Probably the best padding material I've ever found on a pack. Straps are also replaceable if damaged. -Suspension system carries heavy loads better than any internal frame I've tried. -Offers some organization with pockets. -Comfortable and secure fit to the body. -Transfers weight to hips very well. -Sleeping bag compartment/ bottom access to main body of pack. -Available in Earthy color schemes for those who don't care to look like a walking bag of skittles. Cons: -Side pockets are sewn tight to the main body of the pack so they won't hold much. -Zipper placement on the large back pocket limits usefulness. It should be along the top, not down the middle. -Squeaky suspension. -A little sweaty on the back. -Water bottle pockets not very ergonomic or secure. Also lacking in capacity. (I find this common among most packs) Working as a guide I got to demo close to 20 packs of this size/niche. The Baltoro makes the top 3. It's a tough durable pack. They hold up well over time and rough use compared to most civilian packs. Fit is very individual, but most people find it very comfortable. The only packs that beat it for weight bearing capabilities are external frames. My load was up to 37lbs at times and it could have easily handled more. Padding is the best on the market. This pack secures the load to your body very well during rigorous activity. It's an excellent pack and I gave it 5 stars, but it did have some flaws for me. There is a grippy section on the lumbar pad that helps keep it in place, but it did rub me at times. The belt and shoulder straps have rigid plastic supports behind the padding which adds to the comfort and load bearing capability, but they're always sticking out when not wearing the pack. Kind of annoying since I use my packs for urban travel as well as back country. There's a lot of adjustments for cinching down your load, but the abundance of straps can seem like a plate of spaghetti. I really like having good externally accessible organization and the pocket designs aren't great for my needs. Suspension system performance is excellent, but it squeaks which isn't ideal for hunting (this possibly could be mitigated though). This is a very good pack. Fit, needs, and preferences are a very personal thing. Ultimately I ended up going with an Osprey, but despite the personal drawbacks I found in the Baltoro, I could do very well with one. Best advice I can give anyone looking for a pack is to go try them on in person before you buy. And put some weight in them! When you've found a couple good candidates, STP is an excellent retailer both because of their great discounts and customer service.

Gregory

Average Gregory Review

Exclusive Email Only Specials!