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Gregory Z Pack
Initial Report - December 23, 2003
Contents
Reviewer Information [return to top]
Name: Chuck Kime
Nickname: Fuzzy
Age: 37
Gender: Male
Height: 5'8" (1.72 m)
Weight: 229 lb (104 kg)
Torso: 20½-21" (52-53 cm)
Email address: ckime AT nelsononline DOT com
City, State, Country: Norwood (Philadelphia suburb), Pennsylvania, U.S.A.
Date: December 23, 2003
Product Information [return to top]
Manufacturer: Gregory Mountain Products
Model: Z Pack
Year of Manufacture: 2003
URL: http://www.gregorypacks.com
Listed capacity (size L): 3,950 cu in (65 L)
Listed weight (size L): 3 lb 5 oz (1.5 kg)
Measured weight (size L): 3 lb 5.3 oz (1.52 kg), scale accurate to 0.1 oz
Color: Flame (red)
Other colors available: Castor Grey
MSRP: $169 USD
Features (from web site) [return to top]
- SUSPENSION
- Sewn-in Sport harness
- Gullwing™ Plus harness
- Single, hollow 1/2" 7075-T6 stay
- Remove the stay to save 1.4 ounces
- FOAM-X hourglass framesheet
- Chimney ventilated backpanel
- PACK
- Top and side access
- Front "bucket" pocket
- Secondary front pocket with water resistant zipper
- 140d Dyneema® body fabric
- 210d HT nylon fabric reinforcements
- Water resistant top pocket zippers and side access
Arrival [return to top]
The Z Pack arrived December 11, 2003 – my mother’s birthday (hey, Ma... look what I got for your birthday). It came in a thin plastic bag inside a plain corrugated box, approximately 22½ in x 14½ in x 12½ in (57 cm x 37 cm x 32 cm). Attached were two hang tags of the type I would expect to find if I obtained the Z Pack through a retailer, one for Dyneema (the main fabric used in the pack) and the other for the pack itself. The first is a single fold card, 2¾ in x 2½ in (7 cm x 6.5 cm), touting the high tenacity and low weight of the Dyneema fiber used in the majority of the pack bag’s construction. The second, 4½ in x 6¾ in (11.5 cm x 17 cm), is a top-riveted flip-book that has six pages (three sheets) between the covers, which are also printed. There is a ton (lots) of information in this book about Gregory products and materials, pack fitting, pack care, warranty, and some about Wayne Gregory himself. After leafing through this book, I registered for the warranty through the Gregory web site, then loosened up all the straps (boy, this thing has a lot of straps) and started learning about my new pack.
Description [return to top]
The Dyneema fabric used for the majority of the main pack body – exclusive of the suspension – is red, with white threads (the Dyneema material) running throughout in a ¼ in (6 mm) grid pattern. The rest of the materials used in the pack are black, unless otherwise noted. All straps (boy, this thing has a lot of straps) used on the Z Pack are ¾ in (2 cm) wide unless otherwise noted. All buckles, clips and hardware are plastic, unless otherwise noted. All zipper pulls are silver in color, with 2 in (5 cm) cord loops instead of tabs. Front, back, left, and right are all indicated as though the pack is worn, i.e. the shoulder straps are on the front.
The main body of the pack measures 24 in (61 cm) tall at the frame sheet, which is 11 in (28 cm) wide at the top. The bag measures 11 in wide x 7 in deep (28 cm x 18 cm) at this point. The extension collar, made of nylon, rises 7½ in (19 cm) further from this point and tops off with a cord and cordlock.
Starting on the left, and moving top to bottom: There is a waterproof, double-opening side access zipper that runs in an arc from the top of the frame sheet, extending about 5 in (13 cm) towards the back of the pack, then rejoining the frame sheet 15½ in (39 cm) below the top. An elastic-topped mesh panel that forms part of a large back pocket joins the zipper about half way down, follows the zipper to where it rejoins the front panel, then continues down another 4 in (10 cm) to where the Dyneema fabric meets the nylon panel used for the bottom of the pack. There are two compression straps running slightly downward from the front panel, across the side access panel, and attaching to the main fabric of the large back pocket with side-release buckles.
Inside, top to bottom: There is pocket running the full width of the frame sheet, about 11 in (28 cm) deep, which I presume is intended for hydration bladders, although there is no hose port that I can find. The front panel has a narrow, curved opening at the top and bottom, exposing both the frame sheet and the ends of the sleeve that holds the aluminum stay. The stay is supposed to be removable, although I have not yet been able to budge it.
On to the back, top to bottom: The Dyneema fabric used in the pack bag makes up almost all of the back and a fair portion of the sides, and is covered by a “bucket pocket” made of nylon with mesh extending from both sides. The top of the Dyneema has a strap that attaches to a side-release clip at the top of the frame sheet, providing closure for the main compartment, and then extends downward to another clip at the top of the bucket pocket. The bucket pocket has a one-way, vertical, top-opening waterproof zipper that allows access to the inside of the nylon panel, which is about 8 in (20 cm) wide. Two compression straps attach to the pocket on each side where the nylon meets the mesh – the two on the left (which cross over the side access panel) using side-release buckles, while the two on the right use ladder-type buckles. Each of the top buckles has a triglide on its attachment strap with a short strap, about 10 in (25 cm) long, looped through the triglide and its own ladder-type buckle. I assume these loops are for trekking poles, based on my experience with other packs. Attached to the pocket just above each of the lower compression straps is a long vertical strap with a side-release buckle for clipping to the back of the removable lid pocket. Near the bottom of the bucket pocket, below the zipper, “Z-pack” is embroidered in silver-grey thread. Finally, where both the bucket pocket and the main pack panel meet the bottom panel, there are two ice axe loops, one on each side.
Right side, top to bottom: The right side is a mirror image of the left, except for the access panel being replaced by a stitched-in panel
On the front, top to bottom: A large carry loop (plenty large enough for my meaty hands) of unpadded webbing is located at the top. Attached to the panel, between the loop attachment points, is the female portion of the side-release buckle used to hold the main compartment shut. On either side of the carry loop are the stabilizer strap connections, and below that the shoulder strap attachment points. Between and on either side of the shoulder strap attachments are the three straps that attach to the front of the removable lid pocket. The shoulder straps, along with the pads below the straps, are lined with a soft, ventilated fabric.
Continuing down the shoulder strap, from the stabilizer strap attachment to the bottom of the padded section of the strap, is sewn a length of webbing. This webbing is anchored (sewn laterally) in eight places, creating six loops along the length of the shoulder strap that the sternum strap (or anything else, really) may be slipped through. The sternum strap, which uses elastic for the left portion and closes with a side-release buckle, may be unsnapped and moved to any position along the shoulder straps.
The spaces between the two back pads and the lumbar pad form an inverted ‘Y’ shape, creating the chimney venting. The lumbar pad (which is located at the very bottom of the frame sheet) and padded portions of the hip belt are lined with the same fabric as the shoulder straps and back pads, and are long enough to just go over my hip bones. The belt itself, 1½ in (4 cm) wide, is sewn to the pads toward the forward ends and closes with a side release buckle. Both portions of the buckle adjust using the ladder-lock portion of the buckle. On each side, at the point where the hip belt is sewn to the pad, a strap extends towards the pack, running through a ladder-type buckle and stabilizing the bottom of the pack.
Finally, on top: The removable lid pocket is made primarily of nylon, with a strip of Dyneema running from one side to the other around the front of the pocket. The Dyneema has a waterproof, double-opening zipper that runs all the way across the front and part way around both sides, providing access to the interior of the lid. There are three ladder-type buckles along the lower front edge of the lid, along with two side-release buckles along the lower rear. With the attachment straps adjusted all of the way out, the lid pocket may be positioned as much as 8 in (20 cm) above the top of the extension collar, greatly increasing the carrying capacity of the Z Pack.
First Impressions [return to top]
Did I mention this thing has a lot of straps? Let’s see... 4 here... 5 there... carry the three... 24 straps? Wow! In looking the Z Pack over, though, they all seem to add something to the functionality of the pack. My girlfriend and I discussed the concept of something having so many useful features that it becomes unusable, but I don’t think this is the case with this pack. Yes, it has lots of straps, but they all serve a purpose.
The pack appears very well constructed, with straight seams and no noticeable hanging threads. I did notice one small detail that I really liked about this pack, relative to the various straps: the small straps (loops for trekking poles, I think) are cut diagonally at the free end, and are easily unthreaded from their buckles; the straps that hold the lid pocket to the pack are folded over once before being stitched at the free end, which provides a little resistance; and all other straps, which are not generally going to be removed from their buckles, are folded over twice before being stitched, making it much less likely that the strap will slip out of the buckle. This attention to detail is something I would expect from someone who has been designing packs for as long as Mr. Gregory has been.
The Z Pack is pretty much what I expected, based on the web site. Time will tell if it will be comfortable with a full load. So far, I like it enough to consider leaving my ALICE pack behind.
Field information [return to top]
Our Boy Scout troop camps monthly. Almost all of these outings include a minimum of 2 nights of camping, with temperatures expected to be from lows around 25 to 30 ºF (-4 to –1 ºC) to highs around 95 to 100 ºF (35 to 38 ºC). Elevations will range from sea level to approximately 2,000’ (610 m). I plan to pack for these trips as I would on a solo or 2-person hike, i.e. stove, cooking gear, ground sheet, tent, etc., in addition to what I need for troop camping, so that I can test the suitability of the pack for long distance use, for the capacity I need. While I truly love the 32-liter (1,950 cu in) day pack I currently use, I have not yet reduced the bulk of my load to fit a week of 3-season equipment and food in it, and a winter weekend load may also be a bit much. The 65-liter (3,950 cu in) capacity (size Large) of the Z Pack is just over twice that of my day pack (same weight, though), and should therefore be plenty of pack to take everything I plan to take along, plus allow extra room for duplicates of any items I am testing for BGT (to provide comparisons or fall-backs).
I tend to generate a lot of heat when moving, due both to large muscle mass and plenty of – ahem – ‘natural insulation’, so I will be especially interested in the capability of the chimney ventilated backpanel to keep me cool and dry, especially since I am used to a frame pack.
The web site offers a fitting/measurement guide. I have followed their method in the past using a flexible tape to obtain my 20½-21 in (52-53 cm) torso measurement, although I recall reading that the Gregory Fit-O-Matic can give different results than a tape. I will endeavor to locate a local retailer with this device prior to my Field Report. First impressions with an unloaded pack do seem to confirm that I have the correct size for my torso.
I will be attentive to and/or test the following:
- Fit. Does the sizing seem accurate based on my torso measurement? This will be particularly important if the Fit-O-Matic disagrees with my tape measure.
- Fabric. Is the Dyneema durable (I have no prior experience with the fabric)? Does it stretch? Does it fade? Is it waterproof? Does it pill, pull, or snag readily? How about the HT nylon reinforcements?
- Zippers. Are they truly waterproof? Do they function smoothly? Are they durable? Repairable?
- Capacity. What can I get in it? Does it pack/unpack easily?
- Carry/comfort. Does it move around much when properly adjusted? How about when improperly adjusted? How much weight can I carry comfortably? How much can I put up with (i.e. re-supply days)? Can it be adjusted down to fit a reduced load?
- Washability. Are there special instructions? Are they easy to follow? Does it hold much dirt in the first place
?
Things I like [return to top]
- Lightweight.
- Lots of space.
- Color. Hey, I like red.
Things I don't like [return to top]
- Boy, there sure are lots of straps. Perhaps color-coding would make figuring out the straps a little easier, but once everything is in use, it’s not too bad.
Backpacking Background [return to top]
I started car/trailer camping with the family when I was about 5. I enlisted in the Army Reserve during my first year of college and spent 17 years fine-tuning my packing methodology - by the time I separated from the service, I was down to what I thought was a respectable 75-80 lb (34-36 kg) load. When my son started Cub Scouts, I brought my 60 lb (27 kg) ALICE pack for a weekend. We got to Boy Scouts in the Spring of 2002 and now camp monthly in locations ranging from the Chesapeake Bay area (flat and lightly wooded) to the Pocono Mts (flat spots hard to find and very wooded), in all seasons.
Lightweight (and ultralightweight) sites, along with a day hike up Pikes Peak in July 2003, have led me to seriously rethink my gear choices. I plan to start doing more hiking/backpacking on our monthly scout trips, taking along as many scouts as are willing, to a) get in shape (yeah, yeah, I know... round IS a shape), and b) determine what I really need to take along. I am relatively confident that I will be able to reduce my 3-season pack to 20 lb (9 kg), before food, fuel and water, by the time this season is over.
Thank you for your time.
Chuck Kime
a.k.a. Fuzzy
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