|
| Home | Guest - Not logged in | |||
|
» Register
» Login
Gear Reviews
Documents
Tools
» Contact
|
Reviews > Packs > Internal and External Framed Backpacks > Gregory Deva 2006 > Heather Oakes Palmer > Initial ReportInitial Report Gregory PackFebruary 20, 2006 Tester Info:
Name: Heather Oakes Palmer Backpacking Background: I consider myself an intermediate hiker and beginning backpacker for over five years; my longest backpacking trip being only three nights. Day hiking and weekend backpacking comprise most of my weekend warrior experience averaging one backpacking trip per month and two day hikes per month averaging between 10-15 miles (16.1- 24.2 km) per day. I tend to backpack in warm, humid climates, with a good amount of hiking in the southern Appalachian Mountains and I have rarely hiked in below freezing or snowy conditions yet. I am a lightweight backpacker and buy my gear accordingly, often splitting various objects and amounts of weight with my husband. Torso/Hip Measurements: 15.5-16 in (39.7- 40.6 cm)/ 29 in (74 cm) Product Information:
Manufacturer: Gregory Description from website: “Our bestselling pack redesigned and face-lifted for 2006. Updates include new response™ female specific suspension, increased capacity, front pocket and redesigned side pockets.” Features include: recurved 3D waistbelt , single 7001-T6 Stay, narrow ventilated backpanel, top, front and bottom zip-thru access points, low profile front and side pockets, cross-over compression, compression stiffening panels, hydration port and removable sleeve, 630 D / 210 D high tenacity nylon body fabric combo, waterproof Tarpaulin bottom, top pocket converts to a fanny pack, water bottle holster, and Response™ suspension system. “Response™ Suspension System Benefits include: Independent camming waistbelt system automatically registers hip angle, while customizable pivot control system that mirrors your body's movements, evenly distributes weight, increasing both load support and comfort. Independently camming waistbelt panels automatically registers your hip angle, providing an exact fit every time you strap on the pack. Natural pivot control lets you automatically adjust the amount of pack pivot as you hike. By combining these two features, the Response™ system flows with your bodies movements, providing superior weight transfer.
Initial Impressions: The Deva 60 in a small size arrived inside a large brown box wrapped in plastic, and had an attached hang-tag. The hang-tag contained information similar to that found on the website such as: general Gregory pack feature information, comparison of Gregory packs, Deva 60 features, suspension diagrams, adjustment information (hip to shoulder, shoulder to hip), a fitting diagram, and care instructions all in English only. The first thing I noticed about the pack after pulling it out of the box was that it had a lot more straps and buckles than I was used to. The lid of the pack attaches to the pack with a total of five clips. In addition to the adjustment straps for sizing and the two sets of side compression straps; the pack has a top compression strap, there are two Velcro straps in the back for hanging stuff like poles or trowels, and the bottom compression straps have extra length for lashing things on the bottom such a sleeping pad. I tried lashing a sleeping pad onto the bottom using the extra straps and happily found that the Deva 60 seems to be designed to prevent the sleeping pad from bumping my rear. Above the left side of the waist belt is another elastic pull, but I have no idea what to do with it. The pack has top, bottom, and back access. This pack has a lot of space and compartments with three side pockets, two side ‘holster’ like pockets, and one larger pocket in the back. Inside the pack is a removable hydration sleeve and a movable (unfortunately not removable) separator piece between the main section of the pack and the bottom section. The hydration tube opening on the Deva 60 is located on the top right side of the pack just above the shoulder strap if you are holding the pack by the straps. I did have trouble finding the opening since it is not located in a place I am used to nor did it have any indications such as colored stitching or piping on the opening. The separated bottom area has enough room for one of my sleeping bags, but the other sleeping bag does not fit in that space necessitating opening of the pack separator. Not being used to other packs in general, I had some initial confusion regarding the fitting of this pack. I packed it up with about two nights worth of food and cold weather gear and then put it on like it was my old pack. When the shoulder straps began to dig into my armpits and the waist belt seemed like it was meant for someone much skinnier, I decided to look at the helpful fitting diagram on the hang tag. The diagram shows what you are supposed to look like in a mirror if the pack is on correctly, for example if my knee is raised 90 degrees then the waist belt follows the top of my hip. I wear my current pack’s waist belt slightly lower, so I needed to raise the belt higher to match the diagram. Another concern was that my hip measurements had equated to a medium sized waist belt via the website sizing, and this pack did not indicate that the belt size was any different from the small torso size. The diagram reassured me that the Gregory waist belt panels were only supposed to cover the sides of my waist and not the front, and that there was supposed to be space between the straps and my shoulders. After adjusting the sternum strap and tinkering around with the shoulder straps, the pack felt extremely comfortable in the hip area but I do have concerns about the shoulder straps digging into the sides of my chest. To relieve the pressure on my chest, the straps had to be loose enough that it the pack might move around too much while hiking but I really won’t be able to test that until I start walking. The shoulder straps connect to the pack’s suspension system which runs along the back panel down to the waist cushion on the belt. The two shoulder straps are attached to a harness and have the ability to be moved up or down like adjusting size on a belt. The straps are built so that they have independent suspension adjusting to your body’s movements. There is a certain amount of space in between the back of the pack and the harness allowing for strap storage if I plan on going without the lid. Field Conditions: I plan on testing the pack primarily on overnight backpacking trips and day hikes in the Georgia and North Carolina Mountains. The average elevations I will be hiking in will range from 2000 – 5500 ft (610-1676 m) and winter weather can host ideal hypothermia conditions as the temperatures can drop to the low 20’s F (-6 C) overnight and hang out from 40-70 F (4-21 C) during the day. I could see rain, ice, and sad little snow flurries all in one day if it is not randomly warm. I will also likely be testing this pack while I am stuck in SW Florida over the course of the next few months. The temperature could be anywhere from high 80’s F to 50’s F (26.7-10 C) during the day and could drop to low 40’s F (4.4 C) at night, it won’t rain much and the humidity will probably still suck at 80% or more. I’ll be testing around the beaches, mangrove flats, swamp, some scrub forest type areas all probably below or at sea level. Test Plan: I’ll be taking the pack out on day hikes as well as backpacking trips to get a feel for how it balances in different types of hiking conditions. Comfort/Fit: Initial fittings of the pack went pretty well; I packed about two nights worth of spring/fall equipment including food and water with room to spare. Will the movement of the suspension system take some getting used to, or will I be sold on it quickly? Will the shoulder straps still rub me the wrong way, or can I figure out how to fiddle around with it pretty fast? How easy is it to fit every time I take it off and put it back on? I’ve tried on a lot of packs, will the back of the pack mold to my body or will there be space between my back and the pack? How easy is the hip belt to adjust? How comfortable is the hip belt, do I need it so tight that it leaves red marks in my skin? Will there be gaps between my hip belt and me? Will the hip belt rub or chafe? How comfortable are the shoulder straps, will they rub me under the arms or on the chest? Will the fancy compression panels help me size and balance the pack as my load varies? My current pack weighs in under 4 lbs (1.81 kg) and the Deva is at least 1 lb 4.8 oz (0.59 kg) more; will that weight difference affect the comfort of the pack? Technical Specifications: Since my current pack only loads from the top, I’m really interested in testing the multiple access points. I do tend to compartmentalize my gear so when I need something I have to take off the pack and rummage then re-pack; will the multiple access points cut down on this or take me even longer to rummage and re-pack? I’m excited to test the back-panel ventilation, will it help keep my back cool and sweat-free while carrying the pack? How useful would the removable hydration sleeve be; can it fit it into the convertible fanny pack or my daypack? A waterproof bottom is always useful for when you accidentally drop your bag in the creek, how much water could the bottom take before it gets wet? Will it protect the insides of my pack from a light drizzle, or me fording a river? How easy is the top part of the pack to convert to a fanny pack? How much stuff can the fanny pack carry? What is crossover compression, and how does it work? On any given trip with my husband I carry my personal gear, the cooking equipment, and the majority of the food so my load varies in size and weight over the trip; will the compression panels and crossover compression help me resize and rebalance my load? Is the capacity/volume enough for an average one night/two day backpacking trip? Will it hold enough gear for a two night/three day trip? Durability: How does it stand up to rain? How long does it take to dry? How does it stand up to being run into trees and brush, will it easily tear or get scratches? How well do the straps stand up repeated re-fitting, being lugged around, spending time as checked baggage, or being pulled by branches or me? Does the hip belt show signs of wear in the long term? Will the hip belt loosen up for no reason, or twist around? How quick will that rubber-like bottom get scuffed? Will some of the long straps get caught on everything I walk past? Will the shoulder straps with the independent suspension break off from the harness or show signs of wear during the testing period?
Reviews > Packs > Internal and External Framed Backpacks > Gregory Deva 2006 > Heather Oakes Palmer > Initial Report | |||
