Great balance of fit, weight, & features - potential blockbuster pack for gregory? - Gregory Paragon 48 Backpack - Men's

Review
With this brand new release from Gregory, I am excited to provide what may be the first customer review of the Paragon 48L backpack. I consider myself to fall into the category of ‘lightweight’ backpacker, but definitely not UL. My typical three-season base weight is 16-17 lbs., plus consumables and fuel. I also typically hike and camp in more rugged terrain in the backcountry, with often times ‘spotty’ trails. Occasionally, I will also section hike. I’ve been hunting for a new pack, and have personally used various brands in the past (Osprey, Granite Gear, Kelty). All of these companies make great packs, but l kept having trouble finding a balance of rich features (ones that I’d actually use hiking), light weight, comfortable fit, durable to withstand heavy use off trail or in brush, etc. Knowing Gregory’s reputation of delivering great packs, I was immediately intrigued to check out the Paragon – could they have struck the perfect balance of lightweight, yet still deliver on the comfortable ride they are known for in their heavier packs? I had to find out!
Testing:
I tested the pack on a 30 mile solo + my dog weekend trip in PA, hiking a section of the famous Loyalsock Trail. Loading up the pack, I easily fit all my gear and food for three days (~5lbs.) Even taking my 1person+ tent and warmer gear for the time of season, I had ample room to carry even more gear or food. I have no doubt I could fit up to 7 days of food in this pack for three season trips.
Pros:
­-With the help of the adjustable harness, a complete and dialed in fit was easily achieved
­-Aerolon suspension worked well, pack rode ‘light’, moved well with me on all types of terrain and grades
­-Features: good mix of pockets, stretch stow pocket in front is great for quick access items
­-Very comfortable shoulder and hip belt straps
­-Compared to other packs I’ve tested, the compression straps are located in great positions to help keep gear secured and prevent shifting
­-Stow strap on shoulder strap is useful….I use it to cinch trek poles and free up my hands and keep moving
­-Durability of pack all round looks like it will hold up for a long time
­-Light: not the lightest, but at a little over three pounds it is much lighter than competitors with similar packs, plus supports and feels much more comfortable than packs lighter in weight
­-Integrated rain cover is better than most out there, fits well, plus the pocket for it is rather deep and can be used for many other items that you want to quickly access
Cons:
­-Key features that only come in the larger models of the Paragon: Horizontal H2O pockets – This should be standard in all your packs! The vertical pockets hold bottles securely, but like most other packs with this setup, it is difficult to reach them while hiking
­-One of the hip belt pockets is mesh. I’m struggling to think of anything specific you’d want in a mesh pocket, vs. a nylon water resistant one. Any weight savings would be minimal at best. Could also be a little larger
­-Adjustable hip belt: Again, only available on larger models of this pack. Why not offer on all of them?
­-Brain Lid pockets: they work fine, but I think the style Gregory uses in packs like the Zula are better and offer more room/organization
­-Add a second gear attachment loop on the back, instead of just the one

Bottom Line: When I first received the Paragon 48L, I was disappointed to discover some of the key and innovative features that are available in the larger models were not in this version. (Horizontal H20 pocket being the biggest let down.) However, after testing this out in the field, and because it still has many other great features while being light and one of the most comfortable I’ve ever worn, I have decided to keep this pack and make it my new ‘go to.’ I highly recommend you take a serious look at the Paragon for your next pack!

-‘BarkPacker’

This review was written in the old system and had content requirements that are different than reviews written today.