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

Product Name:

Gregory Halo (Daypack)

Personal Biographical Information:

Name: John (Jack) Corrigan

Age: 41 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: 20DEC2004

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:

Field testing was conducted in Virginia, Pennsylvania and Minnesota. Locations included Fort Belvoir (VA), Prince William Forest Park (VA) and Base Camp PA (Wyoming State Forest). In Minnesota, Itasca State Park, St Croix National Scenic Riverway and the Superior Hiking Trail/Split Rock River Loop.

Description of Location:
The terrain in these testing locations was varied, and included grassy fields and forested areas. Elevations ranged from 150 to 1500 feet (46 to 460 meters). Trail systems range from established footpaths to undeveloped logging roads and even the occasional bushwhack.

Weather Conditions:
This field test was conducted from August into November.

Conditions included both fair (clear and comfortable) and foul (cloudy with rain) weather. High humidity resulting in the ever so comfortable muggy, sticky, steamy rainforest feeling was also experienced. The "warmest" temperature was around 85°F (29°C) while the "coolest" was 40°F (4°C).

Product Experience:

The Gregory Halo "All Terrain Series" daypack has seen a lot of use. During the long term test period I have again used the Halo as my primary daypack (for obvious reasons) and as my training pack for search team training days. The "load" has ranged from 8-16 pounds (4-7 kilograms) for this test period. There has not been any material failure just some dirt and scuffs!

The Halo was my first panel access pack and I can't really say I was swayed one way or the other when compared to a top loader. Both styles have their good and bad points. I really like being able to see the entire contents at a glance but over the course of the day everything seemed to work its way down to the bottom. Maybe some more internal storage pockets or panels would help keep things organized.

I found the Gregory Halo to be one of the better fitting and comfortable wearing daypacks that I have used. The stable fit was especially noticeable when crawling under and over various natural and man-made obstacles while following my dog on training search tasks. The loads did not shift and snagging was at a very minimum.

The Halo pulled double duty as an excellent carry-on (fits nicely under the seat in front of you), as well as beneath your legs when seated in a kayak. I was very pleased with the performance of the Gregory Halo "All Terrain Series" daypack. It proved to be a great all round general purpose daypack.

TEAM JackQuest
http://www.jackquest.com