Gregory Reactor Tested

Gregory Reactor Tested

Gregory describes the Reactor as a 'sprint-length adventure race pack' but it's just as suitable for fast-movers like mountain bikers, runners and lightweight walkers. The capacity might only be quoted as 11-litres, but with clothing getting lighter and more compact all the time, that may well be enough.

Gregory is best known for well-developed backpacking sacs, but the Anti-Gravity range has more of a fast-moving, lightweight bent. That means lightweight, high-spec fabrics like the self-healng siliconised G30 body fabric - you can push a ballpoint pen through it, between the fibres, and it will self heal - and simple but effective compression straps.

Gregory has upped carrying capacity by the extensive use of stretch mesh pockets. Backsystem is a simple mesh-covered foam affair.

For a lightweight sac with a claimed 11-litre capacity, the Reactor swallows kit like a Tardis. Not only does the main body seem to take more like 20 litres, the external stash pockets mean that you never seem to run out of storage space. We like the mesh pockets on the waist belt as well, ideal for lip salve, energy bars and anything else you need ready access to you. It really does feel much larger than it actually is.

The simple yoke-based back system works extremely well too and when used with the excellent compression system cements the pack and its contents to your back. Handy on uneven terrain when only the balls should bounce, ahem.

It was also extremely adaptable and comfortable with different back lengths and body shapes and the pack became a firm favourite with OM's female testers as a result - many packs, even small ones are too long in the body for women.

The hydration pocket and routing were hassle free with a central exit point easily allowing the bite valve through and allowing straightforward routing to either side.

We did have a few minor niggles. The waist strap ends tend to flap around and need some sort of tethering arrangement and a few stitches on the back pocket zip have started to fray, though the problem doesn't seem to be getting worse. The rest of the pack seems fine helped by the use of tougher materials on the base of the sac.

Don't be put off by the claimed 11-litre capacity, the Reactor seems to eat as much equipment as larger sacs and as long as you stick to lightweight gear will hack it as a day pack most of the time.

All in all, a top quality lightweight fast-movers' sac that reinforces Gregory's reputation for building quality packs and fits women as well as the fellas.

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