Gregory Paragon 58 Backpack Overview

Backside Line

Sporting a wonderful stability of options, capability, and cargo hauling, the Gregory Paragon 58 shines as probably the most snug pack in our lineup, incomes our editor’s alternative award. Every little thing about this pack felt easy and pleasant. After we loaded it up with 30 kilos of weight, the suspension system dealt with it simply. The hip belt was splendidly snug, the again panel glorious, and the shoulder straps continued the excellent news. We actually couldn’t complain about our consolation expertise when testing and reviewing the Paragon. 

Though the Paragon isn’t probably the most feature-rich pack, it strikes a great stability for a midweight backpack. The facet zippers are nice to see for accessing gadgets with out opening up the principle compartment, and the underside sleeping bag pocket will please followers of that characteristic. We nonetheless see ample compression choices and a few respectable exterior lashing factors for strapping bigger gadgets to the skin if you wish to push the capability a bit. 

It is available in at a worth that’s in step with lots of its friends but additionally at a weight that’s considerably greater. It’s not as heavy as beefier load hauler packs, like its sibling the Baltoro. As a substitute, it sits in between light-weight packs and packs meant for hauling heavy masses. Slightly than getting misplaced in that center floor, the Paragon distinguished itself and got here out on high in our facet by facet testing. When you’re a conventional backpacker searching for a cushty pack the place the whole lot works properly, the Paragon tops our record of the finest backpacking backpacks.

How We Examined

We examined the Paragon on forested trails in Minnesota throughout the winter months whereas updating all of our backpack opinions.

Consolation

Though the competitors was shut, the Gregory Paragon ended up being probably the most snug pack that we examined. The mixture of the wonderful mesh again panel and splendidly supportive hit belt meant that the whole lot about this pack felt luxurious. We have been impressed after we loaded it up with 30 kilos and located that the load distributed evenly by way of the pack’s suspension system. The pack shifted many of the weight to our hips – because it ought to – and the rest stayed on the shoulder straps with out creating any hotspots. 

It’s value remembering that consolation is a really subjective metric. What works properly for one particular person received’t essentially work properly for one more. This is the reason it’s at all times vital to strive on packs with applicable weights your self. That being stated, the Paragon has all the parts of a design that ought to work properly for many individuals, so we’re assured in our consolation evaluation. 

Though the mesh again panel isn’t as suspended as another backpacks – even ones made by Gregory – it nonetheless provided an honest quantity of air flow. The mesh on each the shoulder straps and hip belt additionally added to breathability. What we’re left with is a pack that stunned us and impressed us with the quantity of consolation provided.

Options

The Paragon is a midweight pack with a characteristic set to match. It’s not attempting to be probably the most feature-rich expertise on the market, however it’s additionally not afraid so as to add in additional absolutely fleshed out concepts on the sacrifice of weight. 

Maybe probably the most noticeable are the 2 zippers that run down the facet of the backpack in an l form, providing entry to the inside with out opening up the highest a part of the pack. Moreover, the hip belt has extensions which might be velcroed in that may enhance or take away help for varied sizes of hips as essential. This can be a nice characteristic to accommodate totally different physique shapes and may particularly be useful on lengthy adventures when your personal physique form might change all through the course of the hike. 

Curiously a vertical water bottle opening is barely discovered on the best facet of the pack. That is in all probability the place most individuals will favor to succeed in for his or her water bottles, however we want Gregory would have added this to the opposite facet for extra versatility. Happily, that water bottle pocket additionally has one other characteristic – a compression wire that’s routed beneath the material. This can be a nice characteristic that permits to be used of the pocket with out compromising the compression potential of the pack. It’s a kind of considerate design options that solely comes from listening to your customers or utilizing the merchandise within the subject. 

General, the one nitpick we got here up with is that the hip belt pocket zippers don’t shut one-handed. This isn’t probably the most essential take a look at, however it’s nonetheless a pleasant characteristic when pack designs do enable this.

Sturdiness

Gregory is understood for making stable merchandise, and the Paragon isn’t any totally different. Being a mid-weight backpack, it invests somewhat bit greater than some light-weight fashions into extra sturdy supplies and building. The development high quality on this pack is just glorious. 

Irrespective of how we pulled and confused the seams, we didn’t see any thread motion, which will be a sign of future failure. Gregory makes use of prime quality 100d and 210d nylon for the pack physique, and a properly thick 420d nylon for the pack backside. The pack backside is constructed from 40% recycled supplies, and the liner can be 40% recycled. We’d wish to see higher numbers from Gregory right here sooner or later since rivals provide a lot better. At the least the DWR is PFAS free.

Sadly, we do see a bit extra mesh used on pockets than we might have appreciated. Often water bottle pockets are acceptable right here, however we’re dissatisfied that the again pocket is nearly totally mesh. Different producers have switched to extra sturdy face materials together with smaller quantities of mesh or elastic supplies for improved sturdiness. The mesh right here does really feel very prime quality, however it’s more likely to fail far earlier than the physique cloth.

Ease of Use

With its rigorously thought-about characteristic set, we have been happy that each side of the Paragon was easy and straightforward to make use of. Adjusting the torso measurement was so quick that we might see ourselves making micro changes on path to dial in our match. The included buckles have been prime quality and didn’t require cautious positioning to snap into place. Though we often favor roll tops, the cinch mechanism was easy and straightforward to make use of each time. Once more the one nitpick is that the hip belt pocket zippers don’t shut one-handed. However that’s is fairly straightforward to miss when the whole lot else works so properly.

Water bottle pockets are an space through which many packs stumble, however fortunately the Paragon confirmed an above-average efficiency right here. Though just one facet has a vertical opening for a bottle, we discovered it straightforward to get a Nalgene or a Smartwater bottle out and in whereas strolling. A caveat to that is that longer 1 l Sensible water bottles can stick out somewhat bit, so ensure that to check your bottles earlier than committing to them on a visit.

Ought to You Purchase the Gregory Paragon 58 Backpack?

When you’re out there for a conventional backpack, we are able to’t consider a better option for most individuals than the Paragon 58. It manages to execute properly on the whole lot that it units out to do, delivering a supremely snug expertise, nice characteristic set, and stable sturdiness whereas remaining straightforward to make use of. 

The truth that we predict will persuade most individuals is that incredible consolation. One of many truths about backpacking is that more often than not probably the most snug pack is the very best one for you. Because the Paragon topped our record in that regard, it’s straightforward to see why it earned our editor’s alternative right here. That being stated, The Paragon continues to be moderately heavy for a backpack and different fashions will carry out equally for much less weight – and in lots of circumstances, much less cash. Hikers who’re extra weight acutely aware ought to take into account different fashions along with this one. However most conventional backpackers will love the Gregory Paragon 58.

What Different Backpacking packs Ought to You Think about?

The Paragon might high our lists, however we advocate loads of different fashions in our full information to the finest backpacking backpacks, together with these:

REI Flash 55 Overview – Our funds purchase pack is significantly value a glance even in the event you take into account your self extra of a traditionalist. Sporting an incredible characteristic set and a good higher worth, we predict the Flash is a pack that can make lots of people completely happy. 

ULA Circuit Overview – If the wonderful stability of options and luxury within the Paragon attraction to you, the Circuit strikes the same stability however with thru-hikers and light-weight backpackers in thoughts.