Owner Review: Gregory Mountain Products Palisade® Backpack

 

 

Reviewer Information

Name: Emily Mitzel
Age: 32
Gender: Female
Height: 5'4" (162cm)

Weight: 125 lbs (56 kg)

Email address: emitzel@yahoo.com
City, State, Country: Sandy, Utah, USA
Date: Aug 9, 2005
Backpacking Background:

My first real backpacking trip was almost 10 years ago on the Hermit trail in the Grand Canyon.  Ever since then I have a real love for backpacking.  My longest backpacking trips were two thirty day treks in the Himalayas of Nepal.   I enjoy long day hikes, overnights, and week plus backpacking trips.  Even though I have a lot of lightweight gear, my style of backpacking is usually heavy because of the number of days that I am traveling and the amount of food associated with longer hikes.  I typically sleep in lightweight tents.  Along with backpacking I enjoy spending my free time mountain biking, bike touring, trail running, backcountry and resort skiing, and alpine climbing.

 

 

Product Information

Manufacturer: Gregory Mountain Products
Year of manufacture: 1999
URL: http://www.gregorypacks.com/
Listed weight:  6 lbs 3 oz (2.8 kg) (2005 version)

Weight as delivered: 7 lbs 1 oz (3.2 kg) (1999 version)

MSRP: $289.00

Size: Waist Belt - Small
         Shoulder Harness - Small
         Frame - Small
Product description:

The Gregory Mountain Products Palisade® backpack is 4850 cu in (79 L) and is scarlet red in color.  It has a removable pack lid that converts into a fanny pack with a built-in 2 in (5.1 cm) web belt, a large middle compartment with a large front pocket, and bottom access with a detachable internal divider.  The bottom compartment for the sleeping bag is easily accessible and holds more than just a small sleeping bag.  The large middle compartment is only accessible from the top.  It has a large daisy chain on the front pocket and great straps on the bottom portion of the backpack which extend from the bottom back of the pack to above the bottom sleeping bag compartment.  I have used these straps for everything from a sleeping pad to camp shoes.  The compression straps on the sides and at the top of the pack work very well to snug the pack together.

 

Since I have purchased my backpack it has been significantly redesigned.  The front pocket contains a zip-through to provide additional access to the main pack body and two daisy chains.  The fabric of the 2005 Palisade® backpack is a lighter weight material.

 

This backpack has what is called the Auto-Cant™ feature which rotates the shoulder harness to automatically mirror one’s shoulder slope and neck width, eliminating the pinching and chafing frequently experienced with sewn-in harnesses.  I feel that this is what makes this backpack so comfortable.

 

The shoulder harness, waist belt, lumbar pad, and back panel of the Palisade® backpack are made from Flo-Form® II which the manufacturer claims are ergonomically correct, patented components that maximizes durability and comfort.  This is a layering system which places the softest layer next to your body and the more supportive layer away from the body.  The hip belt and shoulder straps are adjustable to two different sizes at the point of the backpack connection. 

 

The water bottle pockets are poorly designed in that they stand straight upright and are both of heavy material (although one has a mesh interior for a tighter fit).  They make it practically impossible to get bottles into while wearing the backpack.

 

 

Field information

I’ve used this backpack in the deserts of Utah, the forests and lakes of Minnesota, the Himalayas of Nepal, and everywhere in between.  It has been used in snow, rain, hail, in temperatures ranging from 0 to 100 F (-17 to 37 C) and altitudes ranging from 0 to 18000 ft (5486 m). 

 

I just returned from an 8 day backpacking trip in the Uinta Mountains of Utah and I was reminded how comfortable this backpack was.  I started out with 45 lb (20 kg) and that lessened as the trip progressed down to approximately 30 lb (14 kg).   The Palisade® backpack was comfortable and compressible at every stage.  The fit of the backpack remained the same with the larger weight.  I utilize the load lifters, sternum strap, and hip snugger while on the trail to distribute the weight throughout the day.

 

The backpack material appears to be water resistant but I use a pack cover to prevent any moisture from getting into the pack.

 

I place my 100 oz (3 L) hydration bladder in the lid of the pack which works very well for the flow of hydration but it does not leave much room for anything else to be stored in the pack lid.  This means that the only area that is very accessible is the back pocket.

 

I have used the pack for over 240 nights over the past 6 years and during that use it has been thrown on rocks, in the mud, in canoes, on the top of busses, in the back of trucks, on roof racks of cars and everywhere in between.  I’ve cleaned the backpack with a scrub brush and water numerous times.  Even after all of that abuse the pack shows very little wear and tear.  The only wear is on the very bottom of the backpack from setting it on rocks and other hard, abrasive surfaces.  The components such as the zippers, buckles, and webbing do not show any wear.

 

 

Summary

Pros:

·    The padding in the shoulder harness, waist belt, lumbar pad, and back panel make this backpack very comfortable.

·    The shoulder straps and hip belt are adjustable to create a custom fit.

·    The removable pack lid converts to a lumbar pack (containing its own straps) and is great for short hikes away from camp.

 

Cons:

·    The stiff waistband is not good for traveling when the backpack is not on the back since it does not fold out of the way.

·    The weight of the backpack (7 lbs 1 oz / 3.2 kg or even the 6 lbs 3 oz / 2.8 kg of the 2005 version) starts the wearer out with a heavy backpack.

·    The pack lid is too small to hold anything more than a 100 oz (3 L) hydration bladder.