Reviews > Packs > Internal and External Framed Backpacks > Gregory Z-Pack > Thomas Vickers > Long Term Report

Gregory Z- Pack Backpack - Long Term Report

June 21, 2004

Thomas Vickers
36 years old
Male
5 feet 11 inches tall (1.8 m)
170 lb (77 kg)
redroach@pobox.com
Southeast Texas, Houston Area

Background: 
I grew up in the piney woods of southeast Texas. Camping was a quick trip into the mosquito-infested woods behind the house.  I started hiking in my college years and my style has evolved over the past 17 years - from my discovery, heavy gear period (internal frame packs, sleeping bags and tents) to - believe it or not - heavier, more expensive gear.  Over the last 3 or 4 years, I have begun to take a lighter weight approach to hiking gear (I still use sleeping bags and tents, just lighter versions) and I have rediscovered the pleasure that can be involved in being outdoors with your gear.  While I have flirted with lightweight hiking, I feel that I am more of a mid-weight hiker now. My philosophy is one of comfort, while carrying the lightest load possible

Manufacturer Details:
Website:www.gregorypacks.com
Year of Manufacture: 2003
Size: S, M, L

Volume:
Small: 3560 cubic in (58 l)
Medium: 3750 cubic in (62 l)
Large: 3950 cubic in (65 l)

Weight: 
Small: 2 lb 14 oz (1.3 kg)
Medium:  3 lb 2 oz (1.4 kg)
Large: 3 lb 5 oz (1.5 kg)

Colors: Castor Gray and Flame
Access: Top and Side

Details from Tester:
(all measurements are approximate)
Size: M

Volume:
Top Pocket/Lid:  540 cubic in (8.85  l)
Main Pack Body: 3132 cubic in (51 l)

Measurements: (Depth x Width x Height)
Top Pocket/Lid: 9 x 12 x 5 in (23 x 30.5 x 13 cm)
Main Pack Body: 9 x 12 x 29 in (23 x 30.5 x 74 cm)

Weight:
Pack (includes Top Pocket and Stay): 2 lb 12 oz (1.25 kg)
Top Pocket/Lid Weight:  5.4 oz (153 g)

Color: Castor Gray

General Impressions:

I continued my nightly training hikes to the best of my ability during the last part of the test period.  I carried the following load approximately 3 miles (5 kilometers) each night.  The temperatures ranged from 60 F to 80 F (16 C to 26 C).
Most weeks I was able to keep this schedule for at least four nights a week.
 
This is the gear/packing list for the Z Pack on these hikes:

I also carried this load while mowing my yard on a couple of occasions.  That meant wearing the pack in 80 F + (26 C +) temperatures for over 3 hours with a few short rest breaks sprinkled in for good measure.

In more specific terms, the Gregory Z Pack surprised me with its comfort.  I wore it when mowing the yard the pack did not sway side to side as much as I had expected (I push a mower, no riding for me), even when I was pushing up hill or maneuvering around obstacles.   It rode securely on my back and did not  move no matter what type of activity I was participating in.

"Practicing" with the Gregory Z Pack in this way also let me know that I would sweat along my back just like with other internal frame packs, but the construction of the Z Pack's back panels made this pack quite a bit cooler.  It did not feel like the pack was sandwiching a thick layer of sweat between the back-panel and my back.   There was some airflow and it made a difference when the pack was on for prolonged periods of time. 

My last trip with the Gregory Z Pack was the most serious hiking trip I took during the testing period.  26.8 miles (43 kilometers) along the Eagle Rock Loop in Arkansas.  The altitude ranged from 1000 feet (305 meters) to nearly 2000 feet (610 meters) along the trail.  The summer temperatures ranged from about 70 F  (21 C) in the mornings to 85 F (29 C) in the afternoon.

This is the gear list for this hike:

This was my base load and the heaviest that I had carried in the Z Pack during the testing period. This load fluctuated based on my water supply and the state of my hiking partner's back. His back began to go out during the second day of the trip, so I decided to carry a larger portion of his load as the day went on.

I consider this trip a real test of this pack. In just under 2 1/2 days I carried the 30 pounds + (13.5 kilograms +) load 24.8 miles (40 kilometers).   In one day I traveled over 10 miles (16 kilometers), most of which was up and down the sides of at least 5 mountains.  There were no switch backs and the trail went straight up and straight down for most of this route.  It was hot, humid and just not the best conditions for a hiking trip.  I was even caught in a surprise thunderstorm that soaked everything I owned.  I could not have created a more ideal test for this pack if I had wanted to.

Comfort:
The Gregory Z Pack can be the most comfortable pack I have ever worn.  As the load breaks the 25 pound (11 kilogram) mark, I found that the comfort of the pack suffered a bit, mainly because I found it difficult to keep the waist belt adjusted properly.  The heavier the load was, the harder it was to get the waist belt tight.  I wound up carrying too much of the weight on my shoulders because I couldn't get the waist belt tight and cinching down the shoulder straps made it 'wear' better for a short while. 

I do need to say that even in the 30 pounds + (13.5 kilograms +) range, I could get the Z Pack adjusted correctly for short periods of time and when I did, it felt great.  This was really helpful when slogging straight up a mountain. There was no loss of balance or shifting of the pack.  It was just plain wonderful to have on my back.

So the pack doesn't actually get less comfortable as the weight increases, but my ability to adjust it did, which affected the comfort. 

Under 25 pounds (11 kilograms) I had no problem getting the waist belt adjusted and keeping it that way.  There were times when I really didn't realize that the pack was there. The waist belt and shoulder straps didn't bite into my flesh, it didn't shift around, and I never banged my elbows on the pack. 

As for sweating, it is impossible to stop with an internal frame pack. I do feel that the Gregory Z Pack offers exceptional ventilation and as I struggled up mountains in Arkansas, I knew I was sweaty, but my back (under the pack) was not the center of my suffering as is most often the case.  Air got between my back and the pack and it made a huge difference as I heated up.

Load/Size:
The size of the Gregory Z Pack is a bit deceiving.  Even when the main compartment is fully loaded, the top pocket, bucket pocket, and rear zip pocket are all easy to access and will carry a large amount of "stuff."  I was really expecting the last two areas to be rather difficult to put things into once the pack body was loaded, but as I had to take gear off of my partner, a lot of it found its way into the zip pocket or bucket pocket.  There are just tons of room inside and outside of this pack. 

The top pocket is something that still amazes me.  The two-way zipper allows me to zip it wide open and stuff it, stuff it, and stuff it, then zip it with a huge load.

The compression straps also help control the load.  There are not too many of them and they really did allow me to cinch my loads down and keep them in manageable shapes.  I never felt that something was unneeded or there for looks on the Z Pack.  If the strap was on the pack, it had a function and it worked well at it. 

Water Resistance:
During the last day of my Arkansas trip, a thunderstorm roared down the Little Missouri River and blind sided me.  Within minutes the powerful winds had knocked down my tent three times and then the rain started.  I was soaked within a couple of minutes and by the time the tent was up and filled with gear, everything in the tent that was not in my pack was soaked. I lay there wet and fuming for quite a while till I finally decided to get my sleeping bag out. It had been in the Z Pack through the worst of rain and I figured I was in for a bad night.  As I pulled the bag and other gear out, I found that they were still dry.  Due to the huge amount of water in the tent (We bailed over 2 gallons (7.5 liters) out before we gave up) everything wound up getting wet anyway. It was still a morale booster to start the night in dry sleeping bag though.

In the morning my partner and I dragged ourselves out of the tent, pulled all the gear out to dry and got ready to finish the trip.  My one hope was that my extra socks in the top pocket would be dry.  The entire pack had lain in water all night and I figured I was doomed.  The last thing I did before leaving camp was to take off my wet socks and dig out my reserve pair.  They were dry.  All night soaking in a puddle and the furious rain storm that had caused all the trouble did not penetrate the material or the zipper of the top pocket.  I was a very happy hiker for the last 3 hours of this trip.  Dry socks never meant so much to me.

Final Impressions:
Over all, I really enjoyed testing the Gregory Z Pack.  It has proven itself durable, comfortable, and large enough to meet my hiking needs.  It is flexible enough to be used in a wide variety of conditions and I have put it to hard use in those varied conditions.

One of the key items when I decided on a pack is capacity versus weight.  The Z Pack makes this decision easy to make. The size is a bit larger than I expect at its weight.   I was quite happy with my existing pack due to the capacity versus weight criteria I use, but the Z Pack is going to replace it and be my main pack for a long time to come.  

I also like the comfort of the Z Pack.  I do feel that it was hard to adjust as the loads I carried got heavier, but once I got it adjusted right, it was extremely comfortable.   When I first saw the Z Pack I was concerned that the shoulder straps were not big enough, but after carrying it for so long, I never had a problem with the shoulder straps at all. They did not bite into my shoulders even when I was carrying most of my pack weight on them. 

The adjustable sternum strap was another big plus for me. As my load weight went up, I adjusted the sternum strap further down on the shoulder straps.  It was quick and easy to do and never turned into one of my "adjusting a strap" horror stories that I often encounter on other packs. 

My one main concern is the lack of exterior attachment points. I just don't like carrying my sleeping pad on the inside of my pack, but this is something that I never found a work around for on the Z Pack. My sleeping pad always went inside, which I felt ate up valuable pack space.  It also left me with only one spot (the rear bucket pocket) to hang wet socks and clothing.  If there was one thing I would change about this pack, it would be the exterior attachment points. 

I would have to recommend the Gregory Z Pack to anyone who is looking for a light weight, well priced, and durable pack.   It is hard to believe that a pack can be so comfortable, carry so much, and not smother you with its weight.

Reviews > Packs > Internal and External Framed Backpacks > Gregory Z-Pack > Thomas Vickers > Long Term Report