The Males’s Gregory Paragon 60 Backpack is a multi-day backpack that strikes a superb steadiness between gentle weight, improved match, and technical options. Weighing 3.7 lbs, it has an adjustable size torso and an adjustable size hip belt (which is uncommon) so you may dial in a customized match tailor-made to your private dimensions and preferences. Along with prime entry below the floating lid pocket, the Paragon supplies a sleeping bag hatch to entry contents on the base of the pack and a full size facet zipper to entry objects within the center, along with quite a few different comfort options. For those who want extra quantity, the Gregory Paragon 70 can be accessible.
- Gender: Males’s (Girls’s mannequin is called the Maven 58)
- Weight: 3 lbs 11.2 oz (Precise: 3 lbs 13.2 oz)
- Kind: Inside body backpack
- PFAS-Free: Sure
- Entry: High, Backside, Facet
- Adjustable torso size: Sure
- Adjustable hip belt size: Sure
- Pockets: 8
- Hydration prepared: Sure
- Floating prime lid: Sure
- Hip belt pockets: Sure
- Load lifters: Sure
- Rain cowl: Not included
- Torso size: S/M (15-19″), M/L (18-22″)
- Hip belt size: S/M (25-48″), M/L (27-53″)
- Most really helpful load: 40-50lbs
- Bear canister compatibility: BV500 suits horizontally in base of the pack
- Supplies: Physique: 100D high-density nylon/210D high-density nylon w/ C0 DWR; backside: 300D 40% recycled nylon ripstop w/ C0 DWR; lining: 40% put up shopper recycled 135D polyester w/ C0 DWR
- Execs: Snug bear canister carry, adjustable hip belt, facet zipper
- Cons: Restricted choices to hold water bottles, rain cowl not inclided
Newly up to date, the Paragon 60 sports activities Gregory’s FreeFloat hip belt that flexes with you, impartial of its inflexible body, so that you do’t need to work as onerous when scrambling or mountain climbing up hill. This new mannequin is PFAS free and incorporates considerably extra recycled materials than beforehand, reflecting Gregory’s dedication to full lifecycle administration.
Backpack Pockets and Group
The Paragon 60 is a top-loading backpack that additionally has facet zipper entry and a sleeping bag hatch, supplying you with three alternative ways to entry your packed gear. There are two facet mesh pockets, two zippered hip belt pockets, two pockets within the prime lid, and a entrance stretch mesh pocket that can be utilized to retailer layers or damp gear.
The Paragon 60 additionally has a sleeping bag hatch so you may entry gear on the backside of the pack with an elective sleeping bag shelf within the inside, held in place with dowels, you could take away if you wish to pack the inside as one giant primary compartment. If I’m not carrying a bear canister, I usually pack my tent on the base of my pack so I can set it up first in camp to get out of the rain.
Whereas the Paragon’s facet pockets are mesh and sized for 1L Nalgene bottles,I feel it’s a lot simpler to make use of the Paragon 60 with a water reservoir/hose for consuming on the go than water bottles. The appropriate-hand facet pocket has a facet reduce so you may simply attain in and pull out a bottle by means of the facet of the pocket moderately than the highest. The pocket is deep sufficient {that a} bottle just isn’t going to fall out of the facet reduce and there’s a safety loop the place you may anchor it down with a ‘biner for those who’re fearful about dropping it. The pocket on the left facet of the pack doesn’t have this facet reduce nevertheless and you really want to take the pack off to succeed in its contents.
The Paragon 60 has two giant hip belt pockets. Each are hard-faced (not mesh) for higher sturdiness and weatherproofing, with giant zipper pulls that make them straightforward to open and shut. There’s additionally a big entrance stretch mesh pocket the place you may retailer layers, snacks, or different objects you wish to keep on the outside of the pack.
Backpack Body and Suspension
The Paragon 60 has an adjustable torso size and an adjustable hip belt you could make longer or shorter for a greater match. There are only a few backpacks that present this stage of flexibility on the subject of fine-tuning your match and it’s an actual perk of this backpack. The shoulder straps are anchored to a velcro again panel that may be raised or lowered to match your torso size. Elevating it will increase the torso size whereas decreasing it decreases it. As soon as adjusted, the velcro locks into place and received’t slip regardless of how closely you load up the pack.
The size of the hip belt will also be adjusted by extending two sliding tabs which lengthen ahead from the buckle ends of the belt, very similar to Osprey’s fit-on-the-fly hip belt adjustment system. The tabs are additionally velcro-based, so that you’d unstick them, pull them ahead in order that they wrap over the entrance of your hip bones, after which refasten them. Sadly, you may’t reposition the location of the hip belt pockets and produce them ahead to to allow them to find yourself behind your midline relying in your waist-size. They’re giant sufficient to nonetheless be reachable, however their mounted placement is among the downsides of this hip belt adjustment technique.
Whereas the Paragon 60 doesn’t have a trampoline body with an enormous air hole behind the shoulder straps, the metal perimeter body does allow air to stream behind your again. The hip belt wings are additionally extremely pre-curved in order that they grip your sides nicely and are much less vulnerable to slippage. They really feel actually safe when worn, even over a slippery nylon shell. The hip belt additionally has some flex within the hip belt wings, giving the pack a really dynamic really feel that strikes with you when that you must scramble. Gregory calls this their FreeFloat system, the place the hip belt flexes and tracks your hips moderately than transferring with the body. It’s refined. However supplies enhanced consolation because the you hips are usually not tied to the actions of the body.
The Paragon 60 has a wire perimeter body which supplies it a springy really feel. The body additionally has a mid-back cross-brace to stop load barreling which is a large plus if you must carry a inflexible object like a bear canister on the within of your backpack.
Backpack Compression and Exterior Attachments
The Paragon 60 has two tiers of compression straps with straps which can be angled to clear the tops of the facet bottle pockets. The compression straps are angled, so the load is pulled up and in direction of your core offering higher hip belt load switch when used. It’s a small element however makes the pack’s carry extra environment friendly in a refined means.
The Paragon additionally comes with a pair of sleeping pad straps that are helpful to hold a cumbersome foam pad or a tent physique. They’re completely hooked up to the pack and never detachable.
Comparable Mid-Measurement Backpacks
Suggestion
The Gregory Paragon 60 is a multi-day backpack with an adjustable size torso and adjustable size hip belt which may be tailor-fit for folks with completely different physiques. It’s loaded with options together with three completely different technique of entry: from the highest, by means of a facet zipper, and from the underside by means of a sleeping bag hatch. That includes a light-weight, however dynamic wire perimeter body, the Paragon carries masses as much as 40-50 kilos in nice consolation. However the factor that impresses me probably the most about this backpack is how a lot gear you may carry inside or strapped to the outside. It feels lots bigger than a 60-liter backpack, which may be good for those who want a load-hauler however aren’t keen to compromise on gentle weight, options or consolation.
Disclosure: Gregory donated a backpack for evaluation.
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