Reviews > Packs > Frameless Backpacks and Day Packs > Gregory Halo > Jack Corrigan > Initial Report

Product Name:

Gregory Halo (Daypack)

Personal Biographical Information:

Name: John (Jack) Corrigan

Age: 40 years old

Gender: Male

Height: 5 feet 10 inches (1.8 meters)

Weight: 175 pounds (79 kilograms)

Torso: 20 inches (51 centimeters)

Email: jack@jackquest.com

Region: Fredericksburg, Virginia (Spotsylvania County)

Report Date: 5FEB2004

Background:

I have always been one to do the outdoor thing as compared to the organized sport thing. It started as a youngster in the Boy Scouts and continues today as an adult. The majority of my experience has been in Pennsylvania but I have hiked, camped or paddled in New York, California and even Alaska. I am also currently a volunteer search and rescue canine handler. Although search and rescue doesn't always result in an overnight or multi-day trip, I am required to be prepared, equipped and trained for it. Training a search dog results in many hours of trekking through the outdoors.

My "style" is best described as recreational camping, mid-weight backpacking (2-3 day treks), day hiking, flat water paddling, hunting and canine search and rescue activities. My last extended (more than 1 week) outing was the summer of 2001, as a volunteer for the Armed Forces Eco-Challenge in interior Alaska. I also include two of my four dogs in most of my outdoor activities.

Product Information:

Manufactured By: Gregory

Manufactured Date: 2004

Manufacturer URL: http://www.gregorypacks.com

Listed Weight: 3 pounds 6 ounces (1.5 kilograms)

Delivered Weight: 3 pounds 4 ounces (1.5 kilograms)

Note: Weighed on a digital 0-25 pound postal scale.

Additional Product Information:

Color: Aurora Red

Volume: 1800 cubic inches (29 liters)

Load Capacity: 25 pounds (11 kilograms) or less

Size: Medium/Large

Field Information:

Location:

For the most part, the proposed testing locations will be in the Mid-Atlantic region primarily northern Virginia and northeastern Pennsylvania. Base Camp VA (home) is conveniently located near many local, state and federal recreation areas. In addition the Appalachian Trail and Shenandoah National Park are only a few hours away. Base Camp PA (cabin), which is located in the Endless Mountain Region of Pennsylvania is also located near state parks and state forest areas, as well as lesser-known trail systems such as the Loyalsock Trail.

Now that I am living in Virginia trips to our cabin are less frequent, maybe once or twice every three or four months. But Shenandoah National Park, Washington National Forest and Jefferson National Forest are soon to be regular trekking spots.

Description of Location:

The terrain of the proposed testing locations is varied, and ranges from flat low grass and lightly forested regions to mountain "elevations" of 200 to 3500 feet (60 to 1100 meters). Trail systems range from established footpaths to undeveloped logging roads and even the occasional bushwhack.

Weather Conditions:

This test series (initial report through long term report) will be conducted from approximately May through November.

I am not as familiar with the weather in Northern Virginia as I was with the weather in Pennsylvania. I am anticipating hot and humid conditions continuing into early fall, extended mild temperatures into early winter with brief cold periods during mid to late winter. Then again, I'm not a meteorologist! However, I am an all season, all weather tester and will record actual weather conditions in the specific test reports.

I have lived in Northern Virginia for almost a year now. Summers usually average 85°F-98°F (29°C-37°C) with humidity. Winters usually average 35°F-55F°F (2°C-13°C) with frigid nights and a couple of snowfalls a year. Spring and fall will be very changeable and fall somewhere in between! I am anticipating wet spring, hot and humid conditions during the summer and a mild fall. Then again, I'm not a meteorologist! However, I am an all season, all weather tester and will record actual weather conditions in the specific test reports.

Product Experience:

The Gregory Halo "All Terrain Series" daypack arrived in excellent condition. The packaging was basic, a pack in a clear plastic bag in a cardboard box! Attached to the pack was a "user guide" printed on card stock. The user guide was easy to understand and had good illustrations. It contained promotional "Why to Buy a Gregory" detailing fit and durability information such as the Auto Cant Harness System, Exo-Frame Design, Multiple Frame and Shoulder Harness Sizes, Center Lock Bar Tack (stitching), Custom Fabrics and Components. There is a detail drawing of all the Gregory Active Suspension Parts as well as detailed fitting instructions. The last page of the user guide is devoted to care and warranty information. The user guide appears to have more technical information than I could easily find surfing around the manufacturer's website.

The Halo far surpassed my expectations. This is my first Gregory pack and visual inspection of the materials/construction did not show any shortcomings or defects. The materials are 640-denier HT and 210 Rip-Stop Nylon. The Halo is much longer than I expected, measuring in at about 24 inches (61 centimeters). The aurora red color is more of an orange-red and is really just an accent color (two side panels on each side) and the rest of the pack is black. There is a fleece lined "sunglasses pocket" at the top of the pack. There is plenty of room in this pocket for cell phone or GPS also. This pocket has a water resistant zipper. There are two "water bottle" pockets at the bottom of each side. The pockets are made of a stretch nylon and have a mesh bottom. There are two removable hiking pole/ice axe loops on each side at the bottom with one addition hook and loop strap half way up each side the pack. This daypack is a front access pack. To fully open the pack, a top snap buckle must be opened, a small hook and loop strip separated and two parallel zippers unzipped. The center panel folds back out of the way. This panel has a zippered mesh pocket sewn on the inside and a single vertical eight loop daisy chain on the outside. With the pack fully open, the hydration sleeve can be easily accessed.

For my torso length, the pack size tested is a medium/large. The harness size is a medium. The harness straps are padded and curved. The Auto Cant allows the harness angle to be set in two different positions. I tried both positions, with no load, and couldn't really tell any difference. The waistbelt is padded and has a small zippered pocket (key/money/ID size) on the left side. Adjustments can also be made with two shoulder stabilizer straps (top of harness), two shoulder harness adjustment straps (bottom of harness) and two waistbelt stabilizer straps (back of waistbelt). There is also an adjustable/removable sternum strap.

Nothing has really changed from my original test plan with the exception that I will be able to take more stuff due to the unexpected increased size! The Halo will be used as my primary daypack as well as search and rescue training pack during the test period. I will be varying the load/gear and will be using the pack with and without a hydration bladder.

TEAM JackQuest
http://www.jackquest.com

Reviews > Packs > Frameless Backpacks and Day Packs > Gregory Halo > Jack Corrigan > Initial Report