You only briefly mention Deuter as originator of the concept. Could you not have compared how the originator now stands in comparison with it's competitiors? As a recent purchaser of a Deuter pack with an airflow back I'm very interested in devlopments of this idea. I've had to give up wearing my Osprey Atmos 25 in warm weather as the back means I overheat. My new Deuter pack is more comfortable and it sounds as though the Gregory may be better still. If it is I'll have to get one as in warm weather I overheat quite badly. Still if I can lose a bit of weight things may not be so bad. 
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One other alternative: on my Haglofs Ace M - and on the 18-litre Ace L as well - the pack sits so low that half your back is vented simply because there's nothing covering it! No mesh or anything but seems to work fine. Daypacks for a typical day out don't need to be bigger than 20 litres anyway if you're not carrying a bunch of climbing kit, I find.
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I've also found the Deuter system to be cooler and more comfortable than the Osprey one (Exos in my case, much the same system as the Atmos). Another interesting approach is from Vaude. Their Aeroflex back system allows you to adjust how much the pack stands off from the back, so you can pick your own compromise. I've not used one in the real world, but the packs I've tried on in the shop seem very comfortable. Looking at the new Gregory packs, it seems like there's a pretty large padded area in contact with the back, more so than on the mesh systems, so I don't know if it would be better or not. I wonder why Lowe Alpine stopped doing there version of that system? As a slight aside, I've been looking to get a smaller, lighter pack to supplement my Deuter Futura 32. In particular, the Berghaus Freeflow Velocity 25 and the Karrimor Airspace Lite 25 look good, as they look to have more substantial hip belts than most. Despite all my searching, however, I can't find a single online source for the Berghaus and only one place for the Karrimor - and that's out of stock... It seems odd to develop a pack that no-one stocks!
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The Deuter pack I bought is actually a woman's pack. It sits slightly higher than I'd normally wear so there's less of a 'sweat band' around the waist. I like the lower zipped compartment to store all my clothing and all the pockets in it. And so far it's proved to be very comfortable.
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I've had a Mammut 'Save-your-energy' cycling rucksac with this sort of mesh back panel for a few years now and it's a nice idea in theory but I don't find it all that great on the bike (the small pack volume is a particular issue) and don't think I'd be that impressed with it on a walking pack. My solution to a sweaty back has been to develop a range of mesh-backed fleeces which give good protection from wind at the front/arms but where the rucksac sits, the fleece is replaced by a transmissive mesh panel. Obviously, when you take your pack off, it's a bit chilly but they were developed for alpine mountaineering, where I don't tend to take my pack off between leaving the hut and returning to it, rather than hiking. And obviously, they're not high street friendly 
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Fiona, I'm guessing you made these fleeces yourself? I do use a Marmot vest that is made of Pertex and the front has a microfibre lining for warmth. It works quite well.
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I think the effectiveness of these packs depends on how hot you run, and how much you sweat. I reckon I'm right at the top on both counts  I'd say that at least 60-70% of my walking is done in a base layer only (yes, even in winter), so it makes a real difference to have some air behind my back.
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I have an old 25 litre pack with a Deuter Air-Comfort System back and remember being impressed with its performance, compared to a standard sweaty-back type, when I bought it. However, it does hold the load well away from my back and is not as comfortable overall as a modern, close-fitting design. For the best part of 3 years I’ve used a 32 litre Osprey Stratos. It sits very close to my back and is wonderfully stable but isn’t as effective at keeping my back “dry” as the old Deuter system because it isn’t as open. So I can see some merit in the latest developments, if they give stability with improved airflow. I use the inverted commas for “dry” as no pack has ever kept my back dry on a hot day. I notice that the OM article mentions that the hip area on the Osprey Atmos can be problematic if you're shaped wrongly. A previous article on another Osprey pack mentioned something similar and I have found that the curved base of the frame on my Stratos is too narrow and the ends stick into my pelvis if the strap adjustments aren’t spot-on. Although I’m generally pleased with my Osprey pack the finish isn’t anything to boast about. Because the pack is narrow I often need to access the bottom half of the main compartment via an inner zip in a side pocket. However, the inner zip isn’t finished neatly like the outer one and I gashed my finger on an open end. The waterproofing on the top zip also wore through very quickly.
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 The existing Gregory Packs system is very effective in practice although, as a poster pointed out, there are a couple of sizable pads in contact with your back and they do get pretty sweaty. I've recently bought an Osprey Exos 58 as an alternative to my Gregory Z55 and, unlike the Gregory, the Osprey Airspeed system has mesh only in contact with your back so in theory should be cooler than the Gregory. It's also a fair bit lighter but I have yet to try it out in the field.
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Sounds like they are re-inventing the old external frame system. The frame just touched at hips and shoulders. I've still got one cheap old frame, had the advantage of being able to carry different size packs. I'm still using - though not often enough - my old Karrimor Jaguar VI pack, which I wouldn't swap. Just cinch the hip belt up tight, slacken off the shoulder straps just enough to clear your back - voila - air gap, cool, and a comfortable carry. If you get too cold, close the gap. What's more - it's a lot lighter empty than any of the modern sacks I've lifted. Hasn't got removeable side pockets, or chest strap, or ... but it's comfortable and capacious.
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 Give me a rucksack, any rucksack and a sharp pointy knife and I'll give you a ventilated rucksack. 
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Another interesting approach is from Vaude. Their Aeroflex back system allows you to adjust how much the pack stands off from the back, so you can pick your own compromise.
Hmm.. that's the last time I believe a salesman in a shop  I popped in to look at the Vaude packs again, and I can find no evidence of this kind of adjustment. Sorry if I misled anyone!
(Having said that, I still like the Vaude Aeroflex system).
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Another interesting approach is from Vaude. Their Aeroflex back system allows you to adjust how much the pack stands off from the back, so you can pick your own compromise.
Hmm.. that's the last time I believe a salesman in a shop I popped in to look at the Vaude packs again, and I can find no evidence of this kind of adjustment. Sorry if I misled anyone!
(Having said that, I still like the Vaude Aeroflex system).
You're right; I have 2 Vaude Triset packs and there is no way to adjust the width of the air gap. They are pretty good packs, though and very good value for money.
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You're right; I have 2 Vaude Triset packs and there is no way to adjust the width of the air gap. They are pretty good packs, though and very good value for money. At the risk of going off-topic, which packs do you have? Any issues with them?
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