Gregory Paragon 60 Backpack Evaluation

Backside Line

Sporting a superb steadiness of options, capability, and cargo hauling, the Gregory Paragon 60 (and girls’s equal, Maven 58) shines as probably the most snug pack in our lineup, incomes our editor’s selection award. The whole lot about this pack felt easy and pleasant. Once 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 wonderful, 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 an excellent steadiness for a midweight backpack. The facet zippers are nice to see for accessing objects 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 objects to the skin if you wish to push the capability a bit. 

It is available in at a value that’s consistent with lots of its friends but additionally at a weight that’s considerably larger. It’s not as heavy as beefier load hauler packs, like its sibling the Baltoro. As an alternative, it sits in between light-weight packs and packs meant for hauling heavy hundreds. Slightly than getting misplaced in that center floor, the Paragon distinguished itself and got here out on prime in our facet by facet testing. If you happen to’re a conventional backpacker on the lookout for a snug pack the place every thing works nicely, the Paragon tops our record of the greatest backpacking backpacks.

How We Examined

We examined the Paragon on forested trails in Minnesota through 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 every thing about this pack felt luxurious. We have been impressed after we loaded it up with 30 kilos and located that the load distributed evenly via 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 nicely for one particular person gained’t essentially work nicely for an additional. Because of this it’s at all times necessary to strive on packs with acceptable weights your self. That being mentioned, the Paragon has all the components of a design that ought to work nicely 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 a good 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 making an attempt to be probably the most feature-rich expertise on the market, nevertheless it’s additionally not afraid so as to add in additional totally 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 are velcroed in that may improve or take away help for varied sizes of hips as vital. It is a nice characteristic to accommodate totally different physique shapes and might particularly be useful on lengthy adventures when your personal physique form could change all through the course of the hike. 

Curiously a vertical water bottle opening is barely discovered on the precise facet of the pack. That is most likely the place most individuals will want to achieve 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 twine that’s routed beneath the material. It is a nice characteristic that enables to be used of the pocket with out compromising the compression means of the pack. It’s a type of considerate design options that solely comes from listening to your customers or utilizing the merchandise within the area. 

Total, 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, nevertheless it’s nonetheless a pleasant characteristic when pack designs do enable this.

Sturdiness

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

Irrespective of how we pulled and confused the seams, we didn’t see any thread motion, which could be a sign of future failure. Gregory makes use of top quality 100D and 210D nylon for the pack physique, and a properly thick 420D nylon for the pack backside. The pack backside is created 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. A minimum of the DWR is PFAS free.

Sadly, we do see a bit extra mesh used on pockets than we’d have favored. Often water bottle pockets are acceptable right here, however we’re disillusioned 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 top quality, however it’s more likely to fail far before the physique cloth.

Ease of Use

With its fastidiously thought of characteristic set, we have been happy that each facet of the Paragon 60 was easy and simple 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 top quality and didn’t require cautious positioning to snap into place. Though we normally want roll tops, the cinch mechanism was easy and simple 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 every thing else works so nicely.

Water bottle pockets are an space wherein 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 a little bit bit, so be certain to check your bottles earlier than committing to them on a visit.

Ought to You Purchase the Gregory Paragon 60 Backpack?

If you happen to’re out there for a conventional backpack, we will’t consider a better option for most individuals than the Paragon 60. It manages to execute nicely on every thing 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 expect 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 most effective one for you. Because the Paragon topped our record in that regard, it’s straightforward to see why it earned our editor’s selection right here. That being mentioned, The Paragon remains to be moderately heavy for a backpack and different fashions will carry out equally for much less weight – and in lots of instances, much less cash. Hikers who’re extra weight aware ought to contemplate 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 could prime our lists, however we advocate loads of different fashions in our full information to the greatest backpacking backpacks, together with these:

REI Flash 55 Evaluation – Our price range purchase pack is critically value a glance even for those who contemplate your self extra of a traditionalist. Sporting an amazing characteristic set and a good higher value, we expect the Flash is a pack that can make lots of people joyful. 

ULA Circuit Evaluation – If the wonderful steadiness of options and luxury within the Paragon enchantment to you, the Circuit strikes an identical steadiness however with thru-hikers and light-weight backpackers in thoughts.