Customer Reviews

Gregory Z55 Backpack

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This pack is just perfect for me! I'm lightening up quite a bit in order to reach places farther away, pack 20 mile days, etc and this is sweet! I did quite a bit of research before buying and I'm glad I did and that I ended up w/ this pack. It's not the lightest out there but the tiny bit of extra weight over the REALLY light packs gives you much better comfort, sability, storage, durability, on and on and on. Make sure you get the right size, check the Gregory website. Customer Service at Gregory can't be beat either! This pack is an instant classic.

I could have gone bigger with (far) better support for carrying more weight by buying the Gregory Baltoro 70 Backpacking Pack, but, like Jeffery, I decided to stay smaller (lighter) and cooler for overnight to week long desert treks. And, I'm glad I did. This is a far more versatile pack (bag expands well, comfortably carrying 40 pounds). It has top and side access to a single compartment with a wide back bucket pocket (not removable, forming an area underneath) and a good sized top lid pocket. With all these different shaped/sized areas, however, it did take a bit of time to figure out how to best pack.

Very crucial for me living in the desert is how the Z55 has an oversized bladder pocket (seems even bigger than what's in the larger Baltoro) that easily swallows my 4 liter platypus (which I no longer use because it always leaks - a commonly reported problem) or my new 6 liter Camelbak 200 oz/6.0L MG Omega Replacement Reservoir (designed to military specs for the modern "warfighter" aka merc) so I don't plan on using side bottle pockets (but they would have been nice to have). The pocket could also carry two 2-liter bladders.

I don't mind the smaller hip pads but I wish the straps were a bit more padded under the shoulders. And, it would be nice, say, if the top made into a day pack. Take Jeffery's advice about getting the right size - a too small Z55 can hurt. But these cons are minor... it's easy to see why this very well made, stable, and well-ventilated pack has become so popular. A Best Buy (esp considering I paid less than a C note at Sierra Trading)!

I hike a lot in the Sierras, and this pack is just about perfect for the 2-3 night outing. The past weekend I went x-country skiing to the Glacier Point and hit by an epic blizzard (see the weather report in the Yosemite last week of January), and the pack held up no problem. I really appreciated the side access to get the stuff out in intense snow storm with the gloves on without emptying the entire bag. From the High Sierras to Death Valley, this durable bag got me through with comfort and ease. I very highly recommend this bag.

I have owned this backpack for 3.5 years now. I bought it brand new at a local sporting goods store for $200. I got the gold color even tho I didn't particularly like it because at the time, it was the last one left and I was so impressed with it and I'm really impatient.

I have used this backpack for hiking probably a total of 130 times. I have used it in all types of weather conditions, which are pretty harsh sometimes here in Alaska. I have had it crammed full of winter stuff, and have used it nearly empty at other times. Usually the amount of stuff I cram in there is somewhere in the middle. What I like about it is that it is simple. The one big compartment is for your main gear,and there is also a small zipper area on the bottom side for you to get at items buried within. There is a front pouchy thing that is semi elastic for your maps and snacks and other grab items you don't want to have to unzip for. There is an area for you to put your CamelBak on the inside and a tube hole and even a little elastic band on the shoulder straps to hold the straw. The lid has a pretty large zippered storage area and a key chain holder. The zippered pocket on the front of the pack holds a medium size amount of narrow items, such as a map or your phone. The zipper has a little waterproof hood thing around it, as well as does the top zippered part. I have found these to actually work in my experiences with wet rainy weather. The waist belt is pretty comfortable and each side has a small zippered pouch. (I like to stash peanut M&M's in them!)The bag has plenty of buckles and straps to custom fit it to your load and comfort. I bought a size M as I am 5'8 and regular sized. The material itself has held up extremely well after all its been through. I have only gotten one small puncture in it. VERY durable! I feel it distributes the weight really well around my hips, even when I have a heavier load. I haven't had ANY problems or complaints with this backpack after 3.5 years. I love it so much, I bought my girlfriend a Gregory backpack too. Great warranty, too!

If you want a fairly simple, fairly light, very adjustable for customization to your body and gear, highly versatile backpack at a pretty decent price, I would choose this Gregory backpack, or any of Gregory's other bags,over any other brand of backpack, based on my great experience with this bag!

This bag is perfect for my needs. My trips are between 2 and 5 nights and this pack holds the necessary gear. My usual load out consists of sleeping bag (packed down in compression bag), sleeping bad, pillow, food, cook pot/stove/fuel, extra clothing (varies by time of year), and pump water filter. I pack the tent on the outside of the pack.

The lid is a great place to keep a map, snacks, multitool, or anything else you would want easy access to. The waist belt has two zippered pockets- each big enough to hold two cliff bars, or a point-and-shoot digital camera.

The pack rides really well, too. All the straps make it possible to cinch the load in very tight and this pack really hugs my hips.

One downside: the pack is not completely water proof. If you were to get caught in a torrential down pour the water would probably soak through. When expecting rainy weather I pack a water proof pack cover, but I've never had to use it.

In conclusion, this is a terrific pack. For those of you taking longer trips you will might want a bigger pack that can hold more equipment.

I've taken only two trips with this pack so far. One was a weekend in Letchworth State Park, NY. The other was a week on the Appalachian Trail. There is a lot of room in this "small pack". I really like the pockets on the waistbelt. I was able to keep some essentials handy (like headlamp, compass, energy bar). I will admit I am not an ultralight person. I was looking for something lighter than the 5lb pack I've been using for the past 5-6 years. You can't go wrong with this choice. I usually keep my raingear in the top flap pocket. Making it easy to reach. Also I keep my stove/fuel bottle packed close to the side pocket of the main compartment in order to reach it quickly; and not have to unpack everything to get to it. Lastly I noted that the pack is very slim lined. You won't have to worry about a tree branch catching your pack as you walk by.

A great pack for short trips. The interior is big enough to accommodate plenty of gear, and there are a few medium-sized external pockets for important stuff. The front exterior pocket is a little difficult to access when the bag is full.

The back support is fantastic - as good as any pack I've ever used. When fitted properly, It's extremely comfortable.

this is a good pack. i use it for travel only, and not camping, but it's perfect for travel. it can take a lot of weight which rests on the base of your spine, perfect.