Gregory Miwok / Maya
Pack - Review
|
Price:
£60
|
|
Weight:
710 grammes (measured)
|
Features: 18-litre pack
with BioSynch Technology Syster,. Aero Mesh back panel, adjustable
sternum strap, hydration port and sleeve with back-fill access, tube
management system, internal, on the fly, compression system, expandable
front mesh pocket with compression, dual stretch mesh waist belt
pockets with cargo stabiliser loops, fleece -lined
media pocket, webbing loop for bike light, front pocket with mesh
organiser, key clip and reflective accents.
|
What's It
For?
The Miwok and its women's-specific sister, the Maya, are part of
Gregory's new Active Trail range and are lightweight day packs aimed
squarely at fast movers like runners, lightweight walkers, mountain
bikers and orienteers. The idea is that they sit snugly on your back no
matter how uneven the terrain and jerky your movement.
Other packs in the range come in 12, 8 and 6-litre sizes and all are
available in both men's and women's versions.
The Techy
Bits
Gregory has gone to town on features and neat ideas, but there are few
really stand-outs. The new packs are all about stretch. The theory is
that stretchy straps and waist-belt work to accommodate body movement
while running and walking, leaving the pack planted stably on your back.
That's at the heart of the whole thing, but there's plenty more going
on. The hydration pocket, for example, is at the rear of the pack and a
zip-open flap allows re-filling of the bladder without taking it out of
the pack. Then there are plenty of pockets and compartments for easy
storage of bits and bobs including a fleece-lined gadget pocket at the
top of the pack, which'll hold, say, an iPod in scratchless luxury.
How It
Performed
We sent the Gregory Maya - below - off to New Zealand for
four weeks for a proper thrashing, here's what our guest tester had to
say. Fundamentally she liked the flexibility of the BioSynch back
stretch system which she says 'really works with your body rather than
against it.... The elastic in the hip and shoulder harness acts like a
suspension system: the elastic, where the shoulder and waist harness’
join the pack absorbs the bounce that normally occurs with a full pack
during movement. Paired with the pack sitting low on your back and the
ease at which you can get a snug, yet not constricting fit, makes for a
stable, comfortable to wear pack.'
She liked the mesh back panel - though if you're sweaty you may find it
gets uncomfortably damp in our experience, some will prefer a more
vented system - used the hip pockets for bars and gels and liked the
little stowage pocket that stops the waist belt end from flapping. Also
getting a thumbs up were the YKK zips all round and the on-the-fly
compression system which works by 'adjusting two drawcords at the side
of the mesh pockets. This reduces volume at the bottom of the
pack making it more aerodynamic and prevents a reduced load from
bobbing around inside.'
Also the side compression straps double as a way of carrying thinner
objects, baguettes for example. The bladder pocket takes a 3-litre
system without problems and it can be refilled in situ, though you need
to be careful not to soak your pack in the process.
Less popular were a number of features which were never used, like the
removable zip-pocket and which add cost and weight. She also felt the
side stuff pockets could be taller and more secure.
Using the Miwok, we'd broadly agree. It's nice having lots of pockets
and features, but there's almost too much going on. The shoulder straps
felt slightly too narrow to us when loaded up and the pack a little
short in the body - try before buying.
We liked the bladder pocket, but found with a full pack and bladder the
back system tended to get slightly barrel shaped and didn't sit quite
right.
These packs are really nicely made with bound sleeves and real
attention to detail, lots of detail. Maybe too much in fact. Though
it's only 18 litres, it easily swallows a daypack load, yet still packs
down nice and small when not in use. Where it really shines is in
dynamic use when the BioSynch system absorbs a lot of the inevitable
bounce keeping the pack stable and comfortble. The women's version in
particular, works really well with narrower female shoulders.
Buy if
you're after a multi-activity day sac with great build quality and a
hot of ingenious features that you may or may not use, but are there if
you want them.
|
Great build quality, excellent stretch back system, lots of pockets,
compression and features.
 A tad over
complicated, slightly narrow straps, barrel-shaped when overfilled,
back wets in heat.
|
|
Performance
|
|
|
Value
|
|
Know more or want to?
If you'd like to add your own
experiences of this
product check out our user review system and post your opinions to
the world. If you have questions you can mail
us direct, ask
Richard Gear or try
a posting to our
gear
forum.
