Reviews > Packs > Internal and External Framed Backpacks > Gregory Deva 2006 > Kathleen Waters > Field Report

Field Report: Gregory Deva^TM 60 Women's Pack 
April 25, 2006

Contents:
Tester Biographical Information
Product Information
Field Conditions/Completed Tests Results
Summary to Date
Continuing Test Plan

Tester Biographical Information    <back to top>

Name: Kathleen Waters
Age: 55
Gender: Female
Torso: 18.5 in (47 cm)
Hips: 34 in (86 cm)
Weight: 128 lbs (58 kg)
Height: 5 ft 4 in (1.63 m)
Email address: kathy at ring dot com or TheMiddleSister at usaring dot com
City, State, Country: White Lake, MI USA

Backpacking Background: My husband and I started hiking in 1998, starting with Mt. Hahn just north of Steamboat Springs, CO. We return to Colorado at least twice a year, summer and winter to play outdoors - winters, we snowshoe.

At minimum, when home in Southeast Michigan, we make it a point to hike 2 or 3 weekdays, usually 6 to 8 miles (10 to 13 km). Weekday hikes take place in nearby Pontiac Lake Recreation Area, a decent mixture of moderately steep hills and flat terrain, heavily wooded. Weekend hikes can end up anywhere!

My style is as light as possible, but comfortable!

Product Information (from website)    <back to top>
http://www.gregorypacks.com

Manufacturer: Gregory Mountain Products Year of Manufacturer: 2006 Model: DevaTM 60 Sizes/Capacity/Weight: XS 3500 cu in/57 L 5 lb 0 oz/2.3 kg S 3700 cu in/60 L 5 lb 3 oz/2.4 kg M 3900 cu in/63 L 5 lb 6 oz/2.4 kg Color: Azure or Plum MSRP: $249.00 USD

Warranty:
THE GREGORY LIFETIME GUARANTEE
We build Gregory gear to last a lifetime and that's how long we stand behind it. We guarantee to you, the original purchaser, that this product will be free from defects in materials and workmanship, for as long as you own it.

If you think this product has any defects in materials and workmanship, then just send it to us post-paid and clean, with proof of purchase. If he product is defective, then we'll fix it or replace it with a new one and return it to you at our expense. This warranty does not cover damage due to unreasonable use or improper care (sorry, no free repairs if you have been using your pack as a feedbag for bears or cleaning it with white gas)

LIMITED WARRANTY
The manufacturer shall not be responsible for incidental or consequential damage nor the natural breakdown that occurs with extended use. Some states do not allow the exclusion of incidental or consequential damages, so the above limitation or exclusion may not apply to you.

Description:

Response™ Suspension System Precurved women’s specific 3D harness Precurved 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

Product Information (from tester)

Size: S
Weight: 5 lb 5 oz (2.3 kg)
Color: Azure

For a more detailed description of the Gregory Deva^TM 60 Women's Pack, please see my Initial Report.

Field Conditions/Completed Tests Results    <back to top>

During this long term test period, I continued to pack and use the Gregory Deva^TM 60 Women's Pack more than I normally would use a pack so that I could report on how the materials held up with extended usage. In addition to my trips to the Rocky Mountains in Colorado where hiking was the primary activity of the day, I used the Gregory Deva^TM 60 Women's Pack 2 or 3 days weekly while walking my dog on asphalt streets (2 M/3.2 km), and on 2 or 3 training hikes (a week) on trails in Pontiac Lake Recreation Area (4 to 6 M/6.4 km to 9.6 km).

Over all, the most miles put on the Deva^TM 60 were located in southeast Michigan where I currently live.

During my testing, temperatures ranged from 25 F (-4 C) to 59 F (15 C). I hiked in cold, rainy, even snowy conditions on several occasions.

In Michigan, I pretty much used the Gregory Deva^TM 60 Women's Pack in non-punishing situations; groomed trails, and at worst, snowshoeing on groomed trails. These hikes were generally flat with moderate hills and featured no boulders, loose rock or other hazards. However in Colorado, it was a different story terrain-wise and I really came to appreciate how well the Auto-Cant™ Harness System works in the Deva^TM 60. I never felt like I was constricted in my movements being able to scramble up major boulders. The pack moved with me, not, as with some packs that I have used, I moved with the pack!

On my last trip to Colorado, I spent four solid days hiking in the same 70 acres - half of it is now MY 35 acres! My husband and I decided to take the plunge and move to Colorado and we had to make sure we were choosing the best place to build. The terrain runs the gamut of flat prairie land to an almost 90 degree vertical cliff. In between are rolling juniper-covered hills and spring-melt ravines. We did have a bit of wet snow showers in Colorado where I was able to test the water-resistance of the Deva^TM 60

The Gregory DevaTM 60 Women's Pack has lots of flexibility and lots of ways to sort and store gear while on the trail. I had no problems jamming in gear in what I felt was an organized way. I carried generally around 25 lb (11 kg) worth of gear, even when on "training" hikes. This included my sleeping bag, pad, a change of clothes, rain gear, cooking gear, food, water, headlight, camera, and assorted personal items. My 2 qt (2 L) hydration pouch fits nicely in the DevaTM 60 and the port opening is conveniently placed. I've lashed my sleeping bag and pad to the outside of the DevaTM 60 using the compression straps and this worked out great. The sleeping bag was attached horizontally and the pad vertically. I still had room to lash my tent to the other side of the pack, but hey, hubby has to carry SOMETHING, no? However, despite the fact that the DevaTM 60 has Velcro straps to hold hiking poles, it doesn't have any system for carrying skis or my snowshoes.

This leads me to one complaint that I have against the Gregory DevaTM 60 Women's Pack and that is the confusing systems of straps and buckles. In my excitement, the first time I explored the pack, I didn't pay any attention to what and how I was tearing the pack apart. This was not a good idea as it turned out. The first time I tried to pack up for a hike, I couldn't figure out how to get the DevaTM 60 back to its original state! I was getting really frustrated and even my husband got in the act, but we still seemed to have an extra male buckle on the top front of the pack and a mismatched set of buckles on one side. I ended up having to go buckle to buckle following the graphic in the brochure that was enclosed when the DevaTM 60 arrived. Thank goodness, I hadn't thrown it out.

Summary to Date    <back to top>

The Gregory Deva^TM 60 Women's Pack is an incredibly comfortable pack to wear, particularly when packed with more than just a light weekend's worth of gear. The structure of the backframe with its 3D Precurved Waistbelt, allows the weight of the pack to rest on my hips rather than dragging down on my shoulders. The waistbelt thanks to the Auto-Cant™ Harness System "floats" on my hips, subtly shifting side to side with my natural hip motion making for a more comfortable hike.

I have gotten somewhat used to what I feel is a more difficult-than-need-be system of straps and buckles. The first several times I packed the Deva^TM 60, I needed to refer to pictures to figure out which male buckle mated to which female buckle. I love the detachable lid when used for a daypack. It comes in handy when I do side trips from a base camp. The lid is just big enough for some food bars, camera, hat, sunglasses, etc. If there were some way to holster a water bottle, the lid would be perfect!

The Gregory Deva^TM 60 Women's Pack will continue to be my pack of choice throughout the rest of the test period and will have a definite spot in my gear "wardrobe" even after testing is completed. It's a great lightweight weekend/day pack!

Continuing Test Plan    <back to top>

If all goes well, this will be my last year living in Michigan, then it's "westward ho" and off to Colorado! That said, there is still lots to see here in the Great Lakes State and I am looking forward to at least one 2-3 day hiking trip a month all the way through early fall. Tentative plans include the Lake Superior Trail in the Porcupine Mountains, the Little Carp Trail, also in the "Porkies" , day hikes on the Kal-Haven Trail and others.

In May, I'm planning a weeklong trip in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. I am also hoping in late April, to be in Colorado for a belated birthday trip to the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. My first Colorado hiking goal is to section hike the whole Rainbow Trail system in the Sangre de Cristo Wilderness, starting this spring!

Hiking will mostly take place in terrain that will include the sandy lakeshore dunes of Lake Michigan in western Lower Michigan, the rockier shore areas of Lake Superior in the UP and the Wet, Green, Sangre de Cristos and Rocky Mountain ranges of Colorado. Elevation will range from 177 ft to 13,000 ft (54 m to 3962 m) and I anticipate that temperatures over the remaining days of winter, spring and early summer will vary from 35 F to 81 F (2 C to 27 C) in Michigan and 38 F to 88 F (3 C to 31 C) in Colorado. I'm sure to experience cold, wind, rain and heat in Michigan. In the Sangres in Colorado, I expect to add some snow to the mix of weather conditions to be encountered.

Supplementally, I will continue to use the Gregory Deva^TM 60 Women's Pack on my weekday "training" hikes in Pontiac Lake Recreation Area. These are fully-loaded pack hikes consisting of 4 to 6 miles (10-13 k) of varied terrain two or three times a week after work.

Some questions still be to answered

Does the Gregory Deva^TM 60 Women's Pack continue to hold up to the rigors of my hiking experiences, particularly as I hike the more rugged terrain of Colorado?
I already know that the pack is water resistant in light precipitation, how well does the Deva^TM 60 hold up in really hard rains?
How long does it take for the Deva^TM 60 to dry out when soaked?
I haven't had any staining/heavy soiling yet, but how do I clean the Deva^TM 60? Now that the weather is getting warmer, does the ventilated back panel keep me dry during strenuous hiking and/or heavy loads?

I will also report any other issues that arise during the testing period.

Reviews > Packs > Internal and External Framed Backpacks > Gregory Deva 2006 > Kathleen Waters > Field Report