Backpacking is definitely my favourite pastime, whether or not it’s a single evening within the woods or a 2,600 mile thru-hike. It’s the finest feeling to hold every part you should survive in your again then stroll out into the wilderness. Alongside the way in which you’re at all times certain to see and expertise some fairly superb issues.
Your backpack is arguably an important piece of substances to contemplate when making ready in your backpacking journey. It’s your contact level to the remainder of your stuff throughout your whole journey. I’ve had the pleasure of attempting plenty of packs and am fairly choosy in relation to what I like and don’t like.
When selecting a pack for backpacking journeys you will need to have your entire different gear in thoughts. As soon as you realize what sort of gear you’ve got, or need to spend money on, you’ll know the way a lot house you want, how light-weight you need your pack to be, and what small options will work finest together with your package.
That is my Gregory Katmai evaluate. I examined the 55L pack, however it additionally is available in a 65L regular and plus size. I’ll begin by saying that the Katmai was a nice shock! Right here’s what I believed.
Gregory Katmai Evaluation Abstract
Gregory is a family identify in relation to backpacks. They try to make packs which can be “worn not carried,” they usually do that by way of modern chassis programs that work together with your physique as you carry the pack versus towards it.
Gregory, together with many of the outside gear trade, has begun to put a higher emphasis on sustainability. They’ve an extensive pack repair program to assist preserve packs from getting thrown away. In case your pack is just not repairable on the finish of its life, Gregory recycles or repurposes numerous parts of the pack!
The Katmai (men’s) and Kalmia (women’s) are two of Gregory’s finest luggage. The Gregory Katmai is a traditional backpacking backpack with high, backside, and facet entry factors. It boasts many attachment factors and pockets for gear, in addition to loads of storage in your water.
Since its inception, this bag has turn out to be a staple for a lot of thru-hikers. It has many thoughtfully-designed options that make it stand out from primary packs that fall in the identical value vary.
This bag evaluate offers you the entire breakdown of the Gregory Katmai Backpacking Bag!
Gregory Katmai Professionals and Cons
Professionals
- The suspended mesh again panel paired with auto-rotating shoulder straps, referred to as the FreeFloat 360 system, is snug and ergonomic. An everyday backpack is fastened in place and strikes wherever your physique strikes. With the FreeFloat 360, the pack strikes by itself so it really works with you to remain balanced.
- The group and pockets on this pack are nice. I like the skin mesh and zippered pockets that give a number of easy-access storage choices whereas climbing and touring.
- The Katmai comes with a rain fly and has a pleasant storage place for it to go when not in use.
Cons
- The stowable water bottle holder on the proper facet of the pack, though a novel and intuitive function, form of sits proper the place your elbow goes. I hit my elbow many instances whereas testing the pack. It additionally isn’t fairly tight sufficient to carry a slim water bottle, so it might transfer round or fall out once you bend over. It was actually designed for a full-sized Nalgene bottle.
- This pack by itself weighs 4.68 lbs. I’ve spent a very long time refining my backpacking gear. I attempt to get my pack as mild as potential whereas climbing longer distances, and over 4 lbs is fairly heavy for a pack. As an example, the Osprey Exos I carried on the Pacific Crest Path weighs about 2.5 lbs.
Gregory Katmai 55L Backpack Specs
| Capability | 55L |
| Materials | Nylon |
| Dimensions | 28.7″ x 12.6″ x 16.5″ |
| Weight | 4.61 lbs |
| Max Carry Weight | 45 lbs |
Is the Gregory Katmai Proper for You?
The Gregory Katmai is an superior pack for anybody trying to get into backpacking. Though it weighs fairly a bit for a backpacking pack, it’s nice if you happen to don’t fairly have all of your gear dialed in but.
The pack has loads of quantity to strive totally different gear setups and can be utilized as each a journey pack in addition to a trekking pack.
The FreeFloat 360 suspension system is nice as a result of it means that you can carry heavier stuff with out sacrificing consolation. The best way the pack strikes in your again is also nice to assist make a heavy load really feel lighter.
The Katmai pack is particularly made for males’s our bodies, and Gregory’s Kalmia Backpack is the sister pack constructed for ladies.
This pack is just not nicely fitted to somebody searching for an Ultralight pack. In case your gear is usually light-weight, you’ll most likely discover that you’ve plenty of further room on this pack and may look to get a smaller, extra compact bag within the 2 lbs vary.
Gregory Katmai Options
Backpack Entry Factors
The Gregory Katmai permits entry into the principle compartment from three zippered entry factors.
It’s arrange like a typical top-loading pack with a drawstring closure and a lid pocket. That is fairly normal for many backpacking packs. Typically this may be irritating if you happen to’re attempting to get to a chunk of substances not situated on the high of the bag, however that’s the place the opposite entry factors come into play (which many different luggage don’t supply)!
It has a zippered backside sleeping bag compartment, which has a detachable nylon divider that provides you the choice to separate the objects on the very backside from the remainder of the pack.
Then there’s a nifty side-access zipper that permits you fast and quick access to the within of your pack. It is a widespread function for digicam backpacks in order that photographers have entry to their gear at a second’s discover, and it’s a welcome addition to a backpacking bag!
A facet entry pocket means you’ve got one other technique of reaching your gear so that you don’t must fully unload your pack to get to issues deeper down or pressed towards the edges (I’ve skilled this problem with previous backpacks I’ve owned and it’s a complete ache)!
Exterior Storage
Subsequent to the facet entry pocket there’s a stealthy one-hand water bottle holder that may be tucked away when not in use. I touched on this earlier, however one problem I’ve with this design, though I needed to adore it, was that I typically hit my elbow on my water bottle when climbing! I want it was positioned elsewhere so it was extra snug!
On the bag’s different facet is a stretchy mesh pocket nice for snacks, poles, a rain jacket, or one other water bottle. The entrance outdoors of the pack has a stretchy mesh pouch and a small zippered pocket.
On either side of the pack, there are two adjustable buckled straps to connect issues to the facet of the pack in addition to compress the pack if you’re not carrying as cumbersome of a load.
The underside of the pack additionally has buckled compression straps to connect a tent or sleeping pad. There are additionally two spots on the pack to connect trekking poles or an ice axe for winter adventures. These kinds of straps are important to backpacking pack!
The lid pocket consists of three totally different compartments. The smallest one on the highest holds very small issues like keys, a pockets, and sun shades. The primary pocket within the lid is nice for simple entry to issues like lunch or snacks.
Trying Inside The Pack
If you open the highest, you’ll discover a pocket on the underside on the lid the place Gregory has positioned the bag’s rainfly. I opted to really transfer this to a different place within the bag and use this pocket as an alternative for my small toiletries.
Within the bag, there’s a sleeve for a hydration bladder with a SpeedClip. Until you already personal one, I sometimes suggest getting the hydration bladder made by the corporate of the bag you’re utilizing. On this occasion, Gregory’s 3D Hydro 3L Reservoir.
Certainly one of my favourite comfort options of this pack is the outsized hip belt pockets. Either side can simply match regular-sized iPhones and Android telephones. The opposite pocket is ideal for fast snacks or your headlamp.
I really like having massive hip belt pockets in order that I don’t must take my pack off to get snacks or pull out my cellphone to take an image whereas on the path.
Harness
The harness of a pack is all the issues that contact your physique whereas sporting it. This contains the shoulder straps, the hip belt, the sternum strap, and the again panel.
That is most likely the very best a part of the Katmai. They built-in a FreeFloat 360 system with a suspended mesh again panel and auto-rotating shoulder straps.
The FreeFloat 360 is fairly superior. Most corporations sew their shoulder straps proper onto the physique of the pack, however Gregory attaches the straps with rivets that enable them to rotate as your physique strikes facet to facet.
I’ve carried plenty of packs and was very excited once I had this loaded up for my first hike. It made the pack really feel just a little lighter and the way in which it moved together with your physique made it really feel extra like an extension of your physique versus a static object in your again.
The shoulder straps themselves are thick and nicely padded. Gregory made them rounded on the edges in order that they don’t dig into your shoulders.
The precise again panel is a suspended mesh panel on an aluminum body with fiberglass horizontal stays. I like mesh again panels as a result of they conform to your again completely versus a standard pack that sits stiff proper up towards your again. It additionally permits air to move between the bag and your again, serving to preserve you cool and fewer sweaty.
Gregory calls the hip belt their 3D Consolation Cradle. The again panel extends down into the hip belt making a seamless mesh panel that hugs you all the way in which round your hips. It’s padded and sits actually properly in your hips.
For backpacking, this type of hip belt is superb. It feels safe round your physique and does job of taking weight off of your shoulders. Since it’s one mesh panel all the way in which down the again there is no such thing as a place the place the pack can pinch you.
The design of the hip belt makes it so you possibly can’t take away it. This may be problematic when taking a pack like this on airplanes, as a result of it doesn’t tuck out of the way in which. I’ve tried to place an Osprey Atmos (related hip belt design) into an overhead storage bin for a couple of minutes earlier than I had to surrender and gate-check the bag.
The final piece of the harness is the chest strap. It strikes up and right down to get the strap in the proper place and has an built-in whistle in case of emergency.
Pockets
For me, one of the crucial enjoyable facets of backpacking is tetrising your entire gear into your pack. The pockets on any pack are one of the crucial essential issues to contemplate when shopping for a backpacking bag.
The Katmai has seven exterior pockets—nicely, seven and a half, if you happen to depend the tuck-away water bottle holder.
The lid of the pack has two outdoors pockets. The smaller one on high is for objects like keys, pockets, and permits. The primary lid pocket is sweet and roomy, though the rain cowl saved within the pocket below the lid form of eats into this house.
They put a zippered pocket on the very outdoors of the pack with a mesh sleeve inside. I like this pocket as a result of it’s very accessible and massive—I ended up placing my camp footwear on this pocket.
On high of that pocket, Gregory put a small stretchy mesh pouch. I really like this kind of pocket as a result of they’re so handy to place no matter you need in it and the stretchy mesh holds every part in.
I already touched on the 2 hip belt pockets however I’ll say once more this stuff are nice! They’re so massive you possibly can match every kind of nicknacks in them.
Group
The Katmai is an enormous pack, making group all that extra essential. Gregory does job with all the totally different pockets on the skin of the pack that enable you preserve essential objects out of the litter of the principle compartment.
The underside entry for the sleeping bag is nice and the zippered facet entry additionally helps to not must dump the contents of your pack out.
I stay in bear nation and lots of of my favourite locations to go backpacking require me to hold a bear canister. As a lot as I hate attempting to suit it into my pack (they’re heavy and ponderous) the Katmai can match one of many massive measurement canisters simply. You’ll be able to retailer it in the principle compartment or match it below the lid pocket and safe it down.
Gregory Katmai Evaluation
Supplies: What’s It Made Of?
The Gregory Katmai is just not constructed from typical backpacking backpack supplies. The supplies used within the Katmai are a nod to Gregory’s dedication to sustainability.
The primary pack physique is made from a mix of 210D nylon and 420D nylon. Of the 210D nylon, 40 p.c is recycled nylon. The 410D nylon is 45 p.c recycled. The liner of the pack is a 135D polyester that’s 45 p.c post-consumer recycled as nicely.
The body is constructed from aluminum with horizontal fiberglass that stays for anti-barreling.
The again panel and the straps are made with Polygien Keep Contemporary Know-how, an odor management air mesh therapy that inhibits the expansion of odor inflicting micro organism. Though the mesh helps to maintain you again much less sweaty whereas backpacking, your again nonetheless does sweat and that is superb to maintain the again panel of your pack stink-free.
Gregory topped all of it off with a PFC-free DWR coating. With time, the DWR (sturdy water repellent) coating wears off your bag. Conventional DWR finishes are petroleum-based, and once they rub off resulting from rain, they get into the watersheds and might hurt crops and animals.
Nonetheless, the PCF-free coating used on the Katmai don’t include environmentally dangerous chemical compounds!
Consolation: Is It Simple To Put on?
The Katmai is a really snug pack to put on. The suspended mesh again panel conforms to the form of your again, and the auto-rotating shoulder straps preserve the pack balanced in your again and assist stabilize you whereas strolling. The hip belt hugs your hips making it really feel like an extension of your physique.
I’ve been carrying Ultralight packs just like the ULA Circut for the previous couple of years and I forgot what it was like to hold a totally padded full-suspension backpacking pack! I actually loved it.
Sturdiness
The Gregory Katmai is a strong pack when it comes to workmanship. Gregory used high-quality supplies for every part on the pack.
The buckles, the straps, and the zippers all appear very sturdy. Gregory paid consideration to the little particulars and put the thicker materials at high-stress factors on the pack.
Total I really feel like this pack will final me a very long time!
Model & Aesthetics
The evaluate wouldn’t be full with out speaking in regards to the aesthetics of the pack.
The Gregory Katmai is available in 2 colours: Volcano Black and Blaze Blue. The blue is a brighter, enjoyable choice, whereas the black is sleeker and blends in just a little extra.
The Katmai seems clear but rugged. The compression straps and the trekking pole and ice axe loops make it appear like a backpacking pack.
I had the Volcano Black colour for this evaluate, and I actually just like the pink inside! It form of made the bag pop just a little extra when the pockets had been opened up.
Gregory Katmai Equipment
There are a number of equipment that you simply would possibly need to purchase alongside the Katmai. I at all times suggest getting equipment from the identical model as your pack if potential, so listed here are my high picks from Gregory!
Gregory 3D Hydro 3L Reservoir
The Katmai comes with a SpeedClip and a compartment for a water bladder. This Gregory branded bladder suits completely into the pack but in addition comes with Gregory’s fast connection technique. If you will be utilizing a water bladder whereas backpacking, the Gergory branded ones offers you the very best match within the Gregory pack.
Gregory Nano 14
The Katmai comes outfitted with NANO join, a system of inside toggles that means that you can connect the Gregory Nano 14 to the within of the pack.
The Gregory Nano is a small easy drawstring closure pack that’s good as a small day pack. Whether or not you’re strolling round a brand new metropolis or bagging a fast peak out of your campsite, it’s at all times good to have a smaller bag so that you don’t have to hold your 55L pack round for a shorter journey.
Gregory Katmai Alternate options
Listed below are a number of product choices which can be much like the Gregory Katmai 55L, and the way they form up as compared.
Mountain Hardware PCT 55L Backpack
This heavy obligation backpacking bag is one other nice 55L pack. Roughly the identical weight and measurement, this pack serves related capabilities to the Gregory Katmai, however gives a bit totally different group.
I really like that this backpack has two giant an identical facet pockets which can be good for water bottles. They’ve a high and facet entry choice, which is extraordinarily handy for sliding out your water bottle.
A full trampoline backpanel offers help and air flow, and the hip belt provides further stabilization to your pack.
This pack has a extremely distinctive entrance compartment that’s nearly like a mini pack on high of the backpack. I like this concept as a result of you possibly can put all the stuff you want throughout the day on this entrance compartment so that you don’t must root round the principle compartment to seek out these necessities.
It additionally has a backside entry level and sleeping bag storage space, however doesn’t have a facet entry level just like the Katmai does, which is a bummer.
Total it is a fairly related different to the Katmai with some design variations which can be as much as choice!
Deuter Aircontact Core 50 + 10 SL Pack
The Deuter Aircontact (men’s and women’s) is a modern but practical bag that gives plenty of nice options for a backpacking bag.
It is a base 50L bag that may go as much as 60L with its expandable collar on the principle compartment. It has a number of exterior straps to connect gear like trekking poles and a sleeping pad, and options elastic mesh facet pockets for water bottles.
A entrance stretch pocket and high zip pocket present extra group in your objects, nevertheless this one does present general much less pockets and group than the Katmai or PCT packs.
The entire straps are adjustable and constructed from snug padded supplies, and over 50% of the pack’s materials is recycled!
Total it is a nice newbie bag whereas determining your favourite gear, as you possibly can broaden it to suit extra if you happen to want and fix issues to the skin of the bag.
Gregory Katmai FAQ
What Type of Guarantee Does Gregory Provide?
Gregory gives what they name the Gregory Lifetime Guarantee. It covers every part apart from regular put on and tear, unreasonable or abusive use, and improper cleansing or storage.
It’s , not nice guarantee. It basically covers you if the workmanship or the supplies are faulty once you get your pack. In comparison with the All-Mighty assure (they may substitute or restore and pack for any purpose from any period) that Osprey gives on their packs, this isn’t an important guarantee.
Does Gregory Ship Internationally?
Gregory ships to all over the place in the USA, Alaska and Hawaii included, in addition to to Puerto Rico and Guam. Right now Gregory doesn’t ship internationally. Nonetheless, many retailers carry Gregory each on-line and in brick-and-mortar shops.
Gregory Katmai Evaluation Abstract: Last Ideas
The Gregory Katmai was a really nice shock. The pack is nicely thought out and ideal if you happen to’re searching for a pack that you could possibly simply as simply tackle a backcountry journey as they may on a tour of Europe.
The FreeFloat 360 is the actual better part for me. The consolation on the again and the way in which it strikes together with your physique are superior and I liked climbing with it!
If you’re searching for an Ultralight pack or one thing to tackle a thru-hike, I’d look elsewhere. The Katmai is just a bit too heavy—however it’s nice for shorter backpacking journeys.
Total I preferred this pack. The Katmai is a superb choice for individuals simply beginning on their backpacking and touring journeys. So have enjoyable, and bear in mind to at all times go away it higher than you discovered it!
