|
| Home | Guest - Not logged in | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
» Register
» Login
Gear Reviews
Documents
Tools
» Contact
|
Reviews > Packs > Internal and External Framed Backpacks > Gregory Keeler > Coy Starnes > Field ReportGregory
Keeler™
Field Report January, 29, 2005
Tester Bio I live outside a small town in northeast Alabama. I enjoy hunting, fishing, canoeing and most other outdoor activities. Backpacking is my favorite pastime. I enjoy hiking with my friends and family or solo. I hike throughout the year and actually hike the least in the hot humid months of summer. My style is slow and steady and my gear is light. However, I will sacrifice weight for comfort and durability. A typical 3 season load for me is around 20 lb (9 kg) not counting food or water. I usually sleep in a hammock and cook with an alcohol stove. My backpacking trips are usually 2, 3 or 4 days in length. Product Information
Product Description The Keeler™ is the newest of four packs in the Escape Series of packs. Gregory describes the series as "Our aptly named Escape Series packs are your getaway vehicles. Made for the kinds of short trips that keep you sane, their pared down single-stay suspension systems offer comfort, fit and performance—without weight and bulk. So you can move fast when time is short. They’re designed to carry loads less than 40 pounds, and three models offer different capacities and features for different kinds of trips. Count on them to facilitate your disappearing act. How long you stay gone is up to you." The website goes on to describe the the Keeler™ as "NEW FOR 2005. The Keeler™ rounds out the Escape series with a more full featured version of the Forester™, like the Whitney™ in the Adventure series. It offers expanded access, pockets and organization." I would describe the pack as a mid-sized to large pack which seems to uphold the Gregory tradition of well designed packs. My test pack consists of the large frame, bag and suspension components. It is rather hefty which is understandable given all the features on the pack. Briefly, it is an internal frame, top loader (with access from both sides) hydration ready pack. In addition to the main compartment, there is a top lid, a separate compartment in the bottom of the pack (usually called a sleeping bag compartment) and a fairly big front pocket which I always want to call a rear pocket due to the orientation of the pocket when the pack is being carried. Please see my Initial Report for a more in-depth description of all the packs features. Field Testing Locations and Conditions Testing was conducted on local trails within a 50 mile (81 km) radius of my home in Grant, in the northeast corner of Alabama.  I also used the Keeler™ for several overnight
hikes in the woods within walking distance of my home. The
temperatures were mostly warm for winter but a few hikes were in cold
weather. The lowest temperature encountered was about 29 F (-2 C)
as I hiked 2 miles (3 km) uphill at The Walls of Jericho. The
warmest temperature encountered was 70 F (21 F) on an afternoon hike to
the holler behind my home. I encountered very little rain but did
hike when the woods were soaked from recent rains. In fact, dry
trail conditions were rare. Trail conditions in all areas hiked were a mixed bag, steep in places and had plenty of rocks and roots. They were also wet and slick most of the time. The hike to the Walls of Jericho was especially slick from a 2 in (5 cm) rain the day before my hike. On the hike in Bucks Pocket I had to cross a stream with ice on the rocks in a couple of places. I encountered blow downs and other obstacles and even had to remove my pack once where the trail went under a log with no easy way around readily available. Field Test Results My hiking gear for each trip has almost never been the same and that is a testament to the versatility of the Keeler™. I used different shelters, sleeping pads, and clothing along with various other odds and ends that I usually take. For instance, on different trips, I used a tent, two different hammocks and two different sleep pads. I also finally carried a full sized tripod for the first time on my last trip. Most of my hikes with the Keeler™ have been fairly short. I started with several day hikes of around 3 miles (5 km) each with fairly light loads of around 25 lb (11 kg). My overnight campouts were also of similar distance only the loads were slightly heavier. Packing the Keeler™ I found I could pack everything inside the Keeler™, including extra winter clothes and my trusty winter pad. This "winter" pad is the the Hinman from Big Agnes and not a typical backpacking pad. It measures 25 in (64 cm) wide by 78 in (198 cm) long by 2.5 in (6.3 cm) thick and weighs in at a brick like 5 lb 10 oz (2.55 kg). The Hinman pad would not fit under the Keeler™ where I could put my more traditional sized foam pad because of its large rolled up size of approximately 24 in (61 cm) circumference. I considered strapping it on with bungee cords across the back of the Keeler™ but the pack is not set up to make this practical. In fact, the Keeler™ is pretty streamlined as far as outside attachment points go. After much head scratching I unsnapped the divider shelf and found it worked great to just roll the Hinman pad up loosely and slide it inside the Keeler™ and then cram all my gear in the resulting hollow cylinder the pad made. As I crammed my gear in the pad would expand to accommodate my gear. I tried this with my closed cell foam pad and it did not work as easily. The foam pad wanted to stick to itself instead of sliding into a cylinder matching the packs interior. I did use my blue foam pad on the trip to The Walls of Jericho and carried it rolled up and strapped under the Keeler™ with the straps which seem intended for that purpose. On a different trip to Bucks Pocket I carried the Hinman pad inside the pack but did carry my camera tripod on one side of the pack. In fact, before using the Keeler™, I had never taken my full size tripod backpacking. I used one of the reinforced gear loops (there is one on each side, covered with a plastic sheath to protect the loops and whatever is hung from them) to help hold my tripod by putting one leg inside the gear loop and using the side compression strap to secure it up higher. This proved to be very stable and I had no concern that the tripod would come off. I was careful not to catch it on anything when I got into thick stuff. With all my main gear inside the Keeler™ I used the rear pocket and the top lid pocket for my toiletries, snacks, maps, first aid supplies, and anything else I felt I might need during the day. I never did fill either pocket completely full. I did add my gloves and a watch cap to the tip lid to help fill it. It just looks better when it is reasonably full. I usually carried my 24 oz (710 ml) water bottles on each side of the pack in the deep mesh pockets. I never could get them back in without removing the pack. I also carried my umbrella here. The tripod I carried the one time rode over one of the outside mesh pockets. I didn't carry a water bottle on that side so it would ride flat against the pack, instead I just substituted a 32 oz (946 ml) water bottle on the other side. I used the interior mesh pockets for my truck keys and wallet on one side and extra socks in the other one. It was handy to help keep these smaller items from getting lost in the pile of gear in the main compartment. Alternate Packing Styles I don't really have a specific packing method but over the years have noticed I usually pack certain things in pretty much the same fashion, depending on my pack. When I used the bottom compartment on the Keeler™ this changed a little. I normally put my food and cooking gear in the bottom of my single compartment packs followed by my shelter and clothes toped of by my down sleeping bag. With the Keeler™, I packed this way only when I placed my Hinman pad inside the pack with the compartment separator shelf unhooked. However, on several hikes I carried my blue foam pad strapped under the pack and carried my sleeping bag and a down jacket in the bottom compartment. This left the top compartment and various pockets for my food, other clothes, snacks, and toiletries. I was still left using the mesh pocket for my water bottles and no good place for my camera. I settled on wearing my camera in its case, hung from my neck in the front. I kept it from bouncing by unsnapping the belt loop and working it under my belt on my pants. I may go back to using my fanny pack worn backward as I continue testing the Keeler™ but was trying to use the pack as it is designed. Actually, I will feel a little silly using my fanny pack because the Keeler™ has so much room I really don’t need the extra volume from my waist pack. Nevertheless, I do need a better way to access my camera and water while hiking. Access to Pack Content The Keeler™ does make life in camp simpler. I could dig out my tent or hammock from the main compartment without disturbing my sleeping bag or all the small gear I kept in the various other compartments. It also makes packing up the next day a breeze. I didn't have to carefully plan where to put everything. On the trail I did not really need to dig anything out of the main compartment because I had all my toiletries etc in the easily accessible back pocket and top lid. Comfort on the Trail My longest single day hike was 4 miles (6 km) in approximately 5 hours. OK, I'm slow, but I stop to take pictures and rest when I fell like it. My total pack weight on overnight hikes seemed to always be around 35 lb (16 kg) no matter which gear setup I used. I would have chosen lighter gear for a long distance hike to offset the extra food I would have needed. My first couple of practice hikes with approximately 25 lb (11 kg) did not reveal any problems with comfort. I adjusted the shoulder straps to where I could easily slide a finger under them and used the load lifter straps to transfer most of the weight to the hip belt. Then a few weeks later on an overnight hike with 33 lb (15 kg) I became concerned when my right arm went to sleep within the first 30 minute of hiking. It was much cooler than previously and I started the hike wearing a loose fitting wool top with another loose fitting button up wool shirt over that. Apparently the thicker layer of clothing combined with a slightly heavier pack made a difference in how the pack needed adjusted. After adjusting the pack to give my arms a little more room I was fine. On the hike back to my truck the next morning it was all uphill. I soon lost (put it in the pack) the extra wool shirt. It was very easy to just snug the shoulder straps just a little to get the fit back just the way I liked it. My neck is pretty big and I found the self adjusting Auto-Cant™ harness worked flawlessly. In fact the whole shoulder harness setup on the Keeler™ is easy to adjust. The self adjusting Auto-Cant™ harness just meant I didn't have to fiddle with picking a width setting like I have done on some packs. The hip belt on the Keeler™ is superb. I usually adjusted the pack so that most of the weight rode on the hip belt. It is sturdy enough to really settle the weight firmly on my hips and soft enough to not cause any discomfort. I can not imagine how the fancier Adjust-A-Cant™ system would be any more comfortable. The back panel was very comfortable. I won't say it is the most ventilated back panel but I had no more sweat build up than I normally do. Like the hip belt, it is soft but not too soft. The frame sheet also did a fantastic job in keeping sharp objects in my pack from annoying me while I hiked. The frame sheet and single 7001-T6 stay is fairly stiff and stabilizes the load from the hip belt very effectively. The complete suspension system is not as flexible as the ever popular speed/race type packs but it makes up for that in overall comfort. Durability Thus Far This pack is made of some pretty hefty materials and while no pack is "bomb proof" this pack fits that moniker thrown around when describing heavy duty gear pretty well. I did not intentionally abuse the Keeler™ but it did see some tough trail conditions and handled it all with ease. Even the side mesh pockets did not tear despite hanging them on brush etc several times. The tote handle held up while swinging the pack on and while putting it in my truck. All zippers are still functioning flawlessly but honestly, I never did cram the pack to the maximum to stress them. So far a quick wipe with a wet wash cloth has worked in removing the mud and trail grime from the pack. Future Testing As winter fades into spring I anticipate getting out even more. I will not need the Hinman pad so will most likely use my blue foam pad. This will make loading the Keeler™ to capacity a challenge but maybe I will be able to take a few longer hikes and carry more food. Regardless, I will continue to monitor the pack for any signs of failure. I have already convinced myself that the Keeler™ is a very comfortable and versatile pack. I will continue to look for better ways to pack my water and camera. Read more reviews of Gregory gear Read more gear reviews by Coy Ray Starnes Reviews > Packs > Internal and External Framed Backpacks > Gregory Keeler > Coy Starnes > Field Report | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||