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Reviews > Packs > Internal and External Framed Backpacks > Gregory Electra > Cheri Tyre-Roberts > Field ReportField Report Gregory
Electra Women's Backpack -Small
Name: Cheri Tyre-Roberts
Age: 43 Gender: Female Height: 5'7" (1.7 m) Weight: 137 lbs (62 kg) Email address: tyrerob at earthlink dot net Location: North Central Florida, USA Date: 2/23/2004 Backpacking Background: I have been backpacking for over 20 years. The majority of my trips have been 3-6 day trips with "the big one" still looming in my future. I backpack mostly in Florida, in extremely hot conditions such as the Florida Trail in July, or the North Carolina mountains. The terrain in Florida is varied, trail conditions are extremely sandy, swampy, muddy, or completely wet. In North Carolina the terrain is muddy and rocky with drastic elevation changes. I also backpack with my dogs and young children ages 8 & 9. I pack light but am not obsessed with it as I enjoy some of the "creature comforts". Product Information Manufacturer: Year: 2004
Manufacturers Website: http://www.gregorypacks.com
Materials: 210d "Double Box" HT Nylon Body
Fabric, Shelter-Rite bottom, 7001-T6 Stays, and a floating
framesheet.
Listed Weight: 5 pounds, 15 ounces
(2.7 kilograms)
Listed Volume: 4365 cubic inches (72
liters)
Weight as delivered: 6 pounds, 1
ounce ( 2.8
kilograms)
Weight measured with U.S. Postal Scale
Actual Measurements:
small waistbelt (smallest to largest
adjustment) 23 to 59 inches ( 62 - 149 centimeters)
backpanel and lumbar pad 19.75 inches
(50 centimeters) tall, 10.5 inches (27 centimeters) wide
Listed pack size: 4365 cubic inches
(72 liters)
Color: Formula Red
MSRP: $299 US
Product Features and
Construction
The Gregory Electra impressed
me immediately with its comfort, fit and balance, all of which made it seem very
light. The Electra is an internal frame extended backcountry type of
pack with a load capacity of up to 65 pounds (29 kilograms).
The Electra is designed to fit women. I found the
following features very helpful in adjusting the pack to a custom
fit; a narrow backpanel, Flo-Form II Women's Harness, Adjust-A-Cant waistbelt
that functions to change the angle that the waistbelt rides making a
custom fit for the "curve" of my hips.
The Electra is designed with a large center
compartment that opens to the top with a partially separated sleeping bag
compartment at the bottom. The sleeping bag compartment is covered by a very
durable looking black material (Shelter-Rite) on the bottom and lower
edges. These surfaces would come in contact with the ground when the pack
is placed on the ground in the upright position. The sleeping bag
compartment has an external pair of heavy duty zippers. The main
compartment has a large hydration sleeve that fits next to the stays keeping the
bladder weight close to the back. There is also a small port that looks
large enough to fit any tube and valve.
Other than from the top, the body of
this main compartment can also be accessed from the outside by a
zippered opening located on each side of the bag. The top of the main
compartment is closed with a drawstring sewn into the extended top of the bag
liner. The main compartment is also closed
with a drawstring sewn into the heavier "double box" HT Nylon Body
Fabric. The top compartment also functions as a fanny pack and can be
separated from the main pack. It has a double exterior zipper that opens
in a U shape. Inside this top compartment is a small clip for attaching a
key or other small item.
The outside of the Electra is a very attractive red
with black pocket covers, zippers, straps and harness systems. The Gregory
logo and Electra name are embroidered in white on the top
compartment. There are two outside pockets with zippers on the back
of the main compartment separated by a piece of fabric that has six "daisy
chain" loops. These outside pockets are not big enough to fit a water
bottle. On the right (while wearing) hand side of the Electra is a
water bottle sleeve with an elastic "lock" cord to prevent the bottle from
falling out. On the left is a mesh pocket that is large enough to carry a
fuel bottle and poles.
The Gregory Electra has straps everywhere!
There are two compression type straps that run under the sleeping bag
compartment to carry a pad or tent on the outside of the pack if needed.
The sides of the pack are laced with compression straps to help secure the load
closer to the body. All of the zippers appear very well made and are
threaded with cord and a rubber "thumb grip" to allow easy access in challenging
weather.
Field Trial Conditions: I used the Gregory Electra on a 4 day, 42 mile (68 kilometer) backpacking trip on a section of the Florida Trail in early January. The temperature during this trip ranged from 70 to 40 degrees Fahrenheit (21 to 4.4 degree Celsius). There was not any rain on this outing. The Electra was packed with 27 pounds (12 kilograms) of gear. All gear fit inside the backpack with the exception of the tent poles and fuel canister that I carried in the outside mesh pocket. These items were further held in place with the compression straps located on the side of the backpack. I stored the backpack inside the tent each night. Product Performance: I was very pleased with the comfort of the Gregory Electra. The shoulder harness adjusted easily while hiking to change the weight distribution. The hip belt fit comfortably and also was very easy to adjust while hiking. The load rode very well which I credit to the narrower back panel and harness designed to fit women. The Electra performed well on the trail and took the abuse of being dropped to the ground during breaks with out any sign of damage on the Shelter-Rite material that covers the bottom of the pack. All zippers and pull cords worked well and the compression straps helped "snug" the backpack to my body keeping the load from shifting. I did not use a water bladder fitted into the internal pocket as I didn't have a spare bladder to use. This posed a problem of where to put my three water bottles. One fits in the external water sleeve but the other two I had to place on the inside of the pack. The two outside pockets with zippers located on the back of the pack are too small to hold my water bottle. My water bottles are the standard Nalgene Lexan Widemouth 32 ounce (1 liter) bottles 7.87 x 3.62 inches (20 x 9 centimeters). The bottle fits well in the sleeve but not in the two exterior zipped pockets. In fact I was sort of at a loss as to what does fit in these two zippered pockets. I ended up putting small items such as lighter, matches, and a rain poncho in one. All of the other compartments on the Electra are spacious and performed very well for the duration of this trip. Extended Test Plan Over the next months I plan to continue to
test the Gregory Electra under a variety of conditions. On
my next trip I plan to use the internal pocket and use a water bladder to carry
a portion of my water. This may be the solution to my water bottle pocket
problem. I will be hiking the Appalachian Trail this spring and summer
covering the Smokey's on the 2nd year of my section hike. It will be interesting
to evaluate how the Electra performs for this hike in mountains rather than the
flat lands along the Florida Trail. On this extended trip I generally
carry a load that will be 32-35 pounds (15-16 kilograms). I will have
to figure out a way to pack and fit the compartments of the Electra. I
usually carry two water bottles in the back pocket of my backpack and one
in the sleeve made for a water bottle. I have never backpacked with a
hydration bladder, so this will be a fun experiment.
Throughout the test period I will evaluate the Electra for durability, comfort,
balance, ventilation, and load carrying capacity.
Suggestions for Improvement: Make the two zippered pockets on the back big enough to carry a water bottles or add a mesh pocket in this same area. Read more reviews of Gregory gear Read more gear reviews by Cheri Tyre-Roberts Reviews > Packs > Internal and External Framed Backpacks > Gregory Electra > Cheri Tyre-Roberts > Field Report | |||