Gregory Paragon 68

Great pack for several day backpacking trips where weight is a key consideration. However, the pack does not sacrifice comfort or storage for the reduction in bulk. It was easy to pack up and traveled wonderfully with no discomfort for a humid 7-mile Alabama hike.

The backpack fits comfortably on your hips and did not cause any blisters or painful spots during my hike. I am 5'8" and found that by adjusting the frame to the smallest setting the pack fit very comfortably on my back. If you were any smaller though it would probably be too big.

Additionally, the pack is designed to have a significant amount of adjustment potential so even though it fit me and I am small it would easily work for someone twice my size as well. The straps are all long enough to be extended significantly while still tightening enough to fit my body size.

This was one of the most comfortable packs I have tried on at this weight class. It has tons of padding and kept both my shoulders and hips comfortable for the entire trip. I did get fairly sweaty but that was most likely due to the fact that I was hiking in Alabama in July. The back of the pack does vent well though.

In terms of packability the design is very well done and is perfect for a several day trip. The sleeping bag section can be divided off if necessary and there is plenty of room in the main pocket to get all your gear in.

One thing that could be a positive or negative is that the only access to the main pocket is either through the top or the sleeping bag compartment so things stay organized but you have to be careful when you pack that the items you will need more often are at the top.

Besides the main pocket there is also a stretch front pocket that is easily accessible and can hold several items including jackets, snacks, and maps. There is also a top storage/cover that I used for first aid, flashlights, and other items that I wanted to have in a zippered pocket but easily accessible. This top compartment can also be left at home if you want to reduce the pack weight even more.

Once everything was loaded up the straps on the side make it easy to compress down all the gear and keep things from shaking while hiking. There is then a single drawstring and buckle on top to keep the top closed then the cover goes over top or you can put the sleeping bag compartment cover over top if you want the reduced weight pack.

I have only been able to get the pack out for one trip but it appears to be made with high quality materials and the contraction appears very durable. I imagine this pack will last me for many years and many adventures to come.

Really nice blend of compactness, balance, and storability.

Top reasons I like this pack:

Comfort—The most welcomed feature is that no matter how I packed it, the bag was balanced and solid on my back. I liked all the extra ways to make it sit better, like extending the length of the backpack straps themselves through a strap on each that connected to the main pack.

Padding—There was wicking and padding everywhere, and because of #1 on this list, no part of my body got sore or squished. The pack has a firm aluminum backing, upping the even feel.

Portability—It holds much more than you think, in a more streamlined way too, if that makes sense. The main material is slick, making it easier to put things in and take them out. While I didn't prefer the top and bottom section to only be separated by a square piece of material attached at four corners (having the sections completely separate and zip open-able is what I'm used to), I can also see that cloth-like square as easily removable, quickly opening up more storage possibilities.

Versatility—There's a smaller string pack inside, for little side trips in the event you'd like to leave the main pack behind. Of course, we took that out right away and now it's in a different location at our place. So we like it already. ; )

I personally will be using this for scouting and hunting purposes, which is not the usual backpack for that, but it is very comfortable and I did not have a problem with anything.

Honestly I have nothing bad to say about this backpack.

First of all, I do a lot of hiking, scouting, hunting, and fishing; I enjoy the outdoors a lot. I took this backpack for several scouts before hunting season starts and I am impressed on how this backpack is so comfortable. The shoulder area has padding and keeps your shoulders from hurting. I have a regular hunting backpack that I take hunting and it is always uncomfortable around the shoulders and I’m glad I got this one which is a big upgrade.

I also like that it is adjustable around the waist and chest which also has some padding around the waist area. That’s what makes it very comfortable. This pack has many compartments for storage and it is distributed in different areas which decreases the chances of it being heavy on one side or the other.

Background

I have been on several scouting adventures before deer hunting begins and this backpack has been awesome. Have not had any negative encounters yet and not planning on so.