New for review, Gregory's interesting air-gap back system does away with mesh for 2010.
Fresh from
Gregory
for this spring is an
updated
range of the classic light-packing
Z-Packs using an
interesting new back system called
JetStream LTS and we have a new
Z45 in for review
right now.
The new back system is an interesting take on ventilated packs. Gregory
has abandoned the use of trampolene-type mesh back systems in favour of
carefully designed back and lumbar pads that hold the pack away from
your back leaving the middle of your back completely open to air
currents.
Inside there's a curved combination of hollow aluminium alloy stays and
a frame sheet that Gregory says offers better support and load transfer
than trampolene-style back systems which hold hold the pack in constant
tension. LTS, by the way, stands for Load Transfer System, presumably
the Jetstream bit refers to the passage of air across your back.
It's not quite a new system, Lowe Alpine tried something similar a few
years back before going back to mesh trampolenes, primarily - we think
- to match up with customer expectations as the Lowe Alpine system did
work quite well.
Feels Good
First impressions of the pack are positive. It does have a
really high quality feel to it in a 'light but not flimsy' sort of way.
At 1750 grammes for a medium, it's not ridiculously light, but nor is
it lardy. Suggested loads are up to around 18 kilograms or 40lb, so
more than enough for a lightpacking multi-day load.
The back system - as you'd expect - has a pronounced curve to hold the
pack away from your back and create the air gap, though the pads aren't
as dense as the ones Lowe used - Gregory's system relies more on the
frame plate curve, which is a probably a good thing, the Lowe Alpine
packs had a straighter body and used firm padding to create the gap.
The pronounced lumbar pad is a dual-density design with softer foam
closest to the body for comfort and denser foam beneath to maintain the
air gap. Straps use perforated foam and sinuous ergonomic
contours and the waist belt, also vented and covered with wicking mesh,
has three waistbelt size adjustment options.
As far as pack features go, the single-compartment pack has pretty much
everything you'd expect including stretch pockets with compression
straps that can run over or under the pocket - neat - a removable lid
with pocket, compression straps, hydration system pocket and, last but
not least, direct access to the main pack via a side-opening zip along
with the conventional top opening.
Brief use suggests that the pack carries pretty well, but we want to
load it up and try it out in hot conditions when the air-gap element of
the design makes most sense, that may take a few weeks though...
If the 45 seems a tad small or big to you, there's also a 35, 55, 65
and three women's-specific models, the Jade 40, 50 and 60.
Full review to follow. More information about Gregory Packs at
www.gregorypacks.com
