Backpacks – Gregory Z55 – Best All-around Weekend Pack

July 24th, 2010 Posted in Outdoors

Backpacks Overview

To get the most pleasure from your particular chosen trip whether it be just a day’s hike or a more adventurous multi day camping experience you will want a comfortable and convenient way to carry your supplies regardless of the quantitly you are taking.
Choosing the right backpack for your particular excursion can definately make all the difference to your experience.

There are many shapes and sizes of backpacks. From the brands available there are packs to suit everyone. There are a variety of materials and colours these packs can be made from and a range of accessories available for both men’s packs and women’s packs. Sometimes the choices can be overwhelming especially for the novice.

Okay, where to start?
A few things to consider when purchasing your pack:
What type of trip are you doing?
A one-day hike? An over-nighter? Two to three nights out or perhaps a week or longer?

A small pack, as previously mentioned, is all that will be required to carry necessities if you are only hiking for a day’s outing. Considering overnighting? Then allowance for extra items is necessary. Such things as a sleeping bag, if you’re not staying in a hut a tent will be needed, something to cook with and eat on and of course extra food. In case nature calls, a roll of toilet paper can be very handy if you’re not so keen on making use of the plant life.. (A word of caution here that sometimes it pays to test plants on the back of your hand in case of irritation )
With all these things to consider the Gregory Z55 backpack is a great pack to look at.

For an extended ‘several days’ hike, you may find it advantageous to choose a backpack with a detachable smaller pack or lumbar pack that can be used for short day excursions from your base camp.

About the Gregory Backpack:
Being the first company, as sited on the GregoryPacks website, to incorporate a variety of waist belt, harness and frame sizes to suit most people, the Gregory backpacks make carrying heavy loads easier due to their focus on comfort.

The Gregory brand provides over two dozen different models of backpacks in sizes from small to large and for both women and men, so you are likely to find just the right pack for your requirements.

The main varieties are: Mountaineering packs, Backpacking packs, Ventilated hiking packs, Technical day packs, Active trail packs, Winter packs and Lifestyle packs for everyday use.
All packs have multiple storage compartments and some can be either ventilated or non-ventilated.

The heaviest pack weighs eight pounds when empty and weight can be reduced on the many that have detachable parts.

‘Backpacker’ voted the Gregory Z55 Pack as the best all-around weekend pack.

 

Sizing Gregory Backpacks: An important step to choosing a mountaineering or backpacking pack is selecting the proper fit.

To do so, you can follow these steps:

Measure your torso and choose a frame that is right for that length. If your torso is more than 21 inches you are better suited to a large pack and likewise you will be better suited to a small pack if your torso is less than 18 inches.)

Put the shoulder harness in the correct slot, based on the length of your torso.

With 20 pounds evenly distributed into the pack, try the pack on your back.

Tighten the shoulder straps and the waistbelt.

The waistbelt pad is best positioned right where the pelvis and hip meet.

Bend one leg at a 90 degree angle at the thigh, making sure the waistbelt hits at this point.

The shoulder harness’s curve should be at the armpit.

The shoulder straps should be tightened just enough to notice a bit of tension. Allow some looseness at the bottom of about two inches.

The sign that the pack is not the right size is that any of these steps are hard to do.

Gregory backpacks are worth your consideration.