Initial Report

Gregory Deva 60 Escape Series Overnight Pack
Initial Report
3/30/04

Personal Information:

Leesa Joiner
ljo@midmaine.com
Southwestern Maine
41 years old
Female
5'7" (1.7 M)
150 lb (68 kg)

Background:

My camping, hiking and backpacking experience has included trips varying in length from one day hikes to 2-week trips. My experience hiking began with my father, when I was about 6 years old. We hiked along the river pathways in northeastern Ohio and western Pennsylvania. During cold weather, I backpack, hike, snowshoe, cross-country ski, go ice fishing and winter camp with friends and family. Although I am not a lightweight backpacker, I am trying to ‘lighten up’ and even have converted to using a hammock while camping. I find that I spend almost as much time outside during the long Maine winters as I do during the summers.

Product Information:

Manufacturer: Gregory
Product: Deva 60
Year of manufacture: 2004
URL: http://www.gregorypacks.com

Size: Medium
Listed weight: 5 lb 2 oz (2.3 kg)
Weight as measured: 5.1 lb (2 kg)

    The Deva 60 is advertised by Gregory as a women's overnight pack that is designed to 'fit like a glove'. It offers multiple pockets and top, front and bottom access to keep gear organized.

Initial Impressions:

    The pack arrived just as I was leaving the house for the evening. I quickly put it on and was really surprised to find it fit very well without many adjustments. I do believe this was a coincidence and should not be considered common. I did need to loosen the waist belt. At this point I checked to make sure all zippers and other fasteners worked, which they did. The next afternoon I was able to fill the pack with all my overnight gear. This includes: Change of clothes, rain gear (top and bottoms), extra socks, sleeping bag and pad, gloves and hat, first aid kit, personal hygiene bag, camera, book, GPS, compass, notebook, pens, small stove and fuel, food preparation and eating equipment, food and water. I found there was plenty of room and it was easy to access different items without disturbing the rest. I will continue to rearrange what is in each pocket until I find the configuration that works best.
    The hang tag which came with this pack is great. It provides a lot of information, which is presented in a clear manner. It includes a bit of information about the company and its founder, Wayne Gregory. The tag also describes the features of the pack, how to select the right size and type of pack, how to adjust it and how to pack your pack.
    The Deva 60 appears to be well represented by the Gregory web site.

    The features of this pack are many and include:

*Pockets and Access:

Large bottom pocket that holds my sleeping bag. I use a Mt. Washington Sleeping Bag, Down 0 F ( -17.7 C) Degree Compressible Expedition Bag with a length of 75 in (1.9m) and a width of 32 in (.8 m). It weighs 4 lb 3 oz (1.9 kg ). Although it is a snug fit, it is easy enough to put the bag into that compartment.

The bottom of the sleeping bag compartment is made of 'Shelter-Rite' material, which is designed to be durable and waterproof. There are also two straps that are positioned on the sleeping bag compartment that allow attaching a sleeping pad.

Pockets- on the sides include two pockets for storage, with zip closures. The longer mesh pocket is suitable for a hydration system. A long, narrow pocket with a zip opening on the front of the pack, opens to another zipper section. The inner section provides access to the main compartment of the pack.   This may prove useful for spur of the moment access to a first aid kit, or rain gear; anything that I might not foresee needing ahead of time. On the outside of this pocket is a six loop daisy chain. There is also a water bottle holster that is positioned at an angle for easy access. The top opening of this pack is large! The zipper runs around the top edge of the pack, providing a good amount of access. This is great for bulky items and allows for good visibility into the pack.

* Materials include:

    210 Denier "Double Box" body fabric, designed to be lightweight and durable. Shelter-Rite bottom intended to provide waterproofness and durability to the bottom of the pack. 7000 Series Aluminum Stay which is advertised as being 'stiff yet torsionally flexible to support the load'. Hourglass Flex frame sheet, which is also torsionally flexible.

*Fit:

Auto-Cant- harness adjustment that is designed to eliminate pinching and chafing. Multi-Cant waist belt is used to adjust the waist belt's angle. Sport Backpanel is designed narrower to better fit a woman, and incorporates a chimney ventilation channel.

Test Plan:
Test Locations:
    During the next six months, I have made plans to camp for a week in Vermont during April. Also planned are 3 weekend trips in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, along with a week long trip in June to the same location. I also spend at least one weekend a month camping in Maine. I have trips to Ohio and Missouri planned for later in the summer. During the summer, my children and I take off for a few days and head into the White Mountain National Forest in Western Maine. My time on the trail is divided between hammock, tent and cabin camping. I plan on using the Deva 60 on all these trips, along with day hikes closer to home. I will be observing how well the pack holds up to frequent use, and how well all the pack features work. Advertised as an overnight pack, it appears to be capable of carrying enough for at least a weekend trip. At 3650 cu. in. (60 L) capacity, it is made to hold a good amount. Because I usually set up a 'base camp' and hike out from there, this pack will be used on overnight and multi-day trips.

Test Conditions:

       The majority of my testing will be done in northern New England, where current day temperatures are in the 30 to 40 F ( -1 to 4 C) range, with night temperatures falling to the low 20s ( approx. 6 C ). Over the next six months the temperatures I backpack in will rise to close to 100 F (38 C) at times. We are due for a lot of wet hiking this spring, once the frost starts coming up out of the ground. Most of my hiking is done below 3000 ft. (914 M), but the trips to Mt. Washington will be at over 4000 ft (1219 M). There is a wide range of types of terrain on these hikes. Everything from well maintained trails to hiking through heavily wooded areas. At times, the trails follow the rivers' edges, which makes for some wet hiking also. Some trips will involve backpacking into campsites and at other times I will set up camp and hike out from there. Later in the test period, I will be backpacking in warm, humid conditions and will be able to check out the chimney ventilation system, finding out whether it really reduces perspiration and discomfort.

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