Gregory Z55 Pack

Access:	Top, Front and Side access
Access / Loading:	Top/side
Access Types:	Top, side
Adjustable torso:	No
Approximate volume:	3,350 cubic inches
Approximate volume - metric:	55 liters
Average weight:	3 lbs. 5 oz.
Average weight - metric:	1.5 kilograms
Backpack style:	Lightweight backpack
Bottom Access:	No
Capacity:	3050 cu in (Small); 3350 cu in (Medium); 3660 cu in (Large)
Cargo Capacity:	S 3,050 cu. in.M 3,350 cu. in.L 3,660 cu. in.
Cell Phone Pocket/Sleeve:	No
Comfort Zone:	40-50 pounds
Country of Origin:	China
Detachable Pack:	No
External Pockets:	2 Front, 1 top, 2 waist-belt
Fabric:	Silicone impregnated G 30 fabric body
Fit:	Men's
Fits torso:	16-18 inches (Small); 18-20 inches (Medium); 20-22 inches (Large)
Fits waist/hips:	28 - 34 inches
Frame Sheet:	Yes
Frame Type:	Internal
Frame material:	Aluminum/high-density polyethylene
Front Access:	No
Gear Loops:	Yes
Hydration Compatible:	Yes
Ice Axe Loops:	No
LG:	3660 cu. in. or 60 L Weight
Linear inches:	46"
Load-lifter Straps:	Yes
MD:	3350 cu. in. or 55 L Weight
Manufacturer Warranty:	Lifetime
Material:	210D Double box HT ripstop fabric
Number of pockets:	5 + main compartment
Number of stays:	1
Organizer Panel:	No
Other Electronics Pocket(S):	0
Pack Fabric (Primary):	210D HT ripstop nylon
Padded Laptop Compartment:	No
Primary Use:	Backpacking
Rain Cover:	No
Recommended Use:	Fast-packing, through-hiking, weekend backpacking, rock climbing, all-day hiking
SM:	3050 cu. in. or 50 L Weight
Shovel Pocket:	No
Size:	25" x 11" x 10"
Ski Carry:	No
Sleeping Bag Compartment:	No
Snowboard Carry:	No
Spindriftcollar:	Yes
Stays:	Single T6 aircraft aluminum hollow stay
Sternum Strap:	Yes
Sunglasses Pocket, Lined:	No
Suspension:	Ventilated Jet Stream Suspension system, Auto-Fit harness systems
Top Access:	Yes
Torso Fit Range:	[Med] 17 1/2” – 19 1/2” [Lg] 19 1/2” – 21 1/2” (Waist) [Med] 28” – 34” [Lg] 34” – 40”
Torso Length:	S 15.5-17.5 in.M 17.5-19.5 in.L19.5-21.5 in.
Trip Length:	Weekend
Volume:	[S] 3050cu in (50L); [M] 3350cu in (55L); [L] 3660cu in (60L)
Waist Belt:	Yes
Warranty:	Lifetime guarantee against defects in materials and workmanship
Weight:	[S] 3lb 2oz (1400g); [M] 3lb 5oz (1500g); [L] 3lb 8oz (1600g)

Color	Size
Small	Medium	Large	N/A
Saffron	159.16 199.00 3 More...	159.16 199.00 2 More...	159.16 199.00 2 More...
Saffron-Yellow		198.90	198.90
Citron-Yellow	199.00	198.90
Moroccan Blue	159.16 198.95 4 More...	159.16 198.95 5 More...	159.16 198.95 5 More...	219.00
Moroccan-Blue		198.90
Pagoda Blue	199.00	199.00 199.00	199.00
Flint Gray	198.95 198.95 4 More...	198.95 199.00 2 More...	198.95 199.00 2 More...
Flint-Gray		198.90
Blue	159.99	159.99	148.95
Grey		148.95	148.95

I should be studying for my math finale instead I'm fantasizing about this pack and the AT!
Rating:
I use the Z55 as my primary pack. I purchased it one year ago after it was picked by National Geographic for the gear of the Year 2008. I have taken this pack on week long adventures and it distributes the weight like a dream. Honestly like a dream! Over the last year I have been switching out much of my light gear to accommodate even lighter gear.For example My new tent weighs 13oz plus stakes and using trekking poles (tyvek floor)(old tent was 39oz), My pad is the small aircore (16oz) (and yes I am aware of the neoair - I'm just not very fond of it), my pot is a titan kettle (used to be GSI soloist). I use the MSR miniworks filter (I know heavy at 15oz - I'll explain later), my sleeping bag is a Montbell UL down hugger #2 (for me the perfect all around 3 season compromise) My base weight three season is now a respectable 6-7lbs(not including my pack which I will get to). The real weight comes in when I need to carry food for a week w/out resupply (plus 1 - 3 liters of water). figure depending on the cuisine about 1.5 - 2lbs a day if I am treating myself really well - and why not I deserve it. Bare with me there is a point to all this - Im going get to the point of this review shortly. People have different reasons for hiking and many chose to hike light and honestly I began my hiking foray within the last two years looking to hike light from the onset. Some people have weak knees, others are survivalists, others race trails and each oz costs them time, while some just enjoy seeing to what extreme they can push themselves (regarding clothing, shelter and food). My reason is pure and simple I am lazy, I have no desire to spend a week in Yellowstone, the Appalachian trail, Rocky Mountain National Park or wherever hauling 40 - 60lbs like some sort of human donkey. frankly if that was the only way to hike Id rather stay in bed, watch TV and eat bonbons. Plus being a former NYC urban rollerblader traveling for me means being swift, and nimble - jumping curbs, and weaving through midtown traffic, and grabbing NYC transit bus rear wheel wells so I dont have to blade uphill to get to the MOMA or class. My approach to hiking is the same I want to be able jump a stream, stomp through shrubs, slide down a steep hill rather than take the long way or even bend down and smell a flower with my pack on. I dont want to be separated from nature because I am carrying crap I dont need like three pairs of pants, two fleece and a frying pan. I WILL BE WEARING THE SAME SMELLY CRAP I STARTED MY HIKE IN TWO WEEKS AGO - AND ILL LOVE EVERY SECOND OF IT - if i need to I will find a stream and break out the bronners and scrub my one pair of pants in my boxers (two pair if you must know) like they did in the old west. Don't get me wrong I enjoy comfort as well which is why I carry the air core since it allows this side sleeper to sleep like a baby, and the filter because I want my water to BE CLEAN, taste clean, and smell clean. Chemicals, and 3oz UV pens may kill god knows what creatures eggs are in the water but the dead eggs are still in the water - plus what sane person chooses to drink water with bleach in it - not I. Now to the Z55 after reducing my weight this winter I figured perhaps it's time for a new pack. So I ordered the touted Osprey EXOS 46. It came in the mail I loaded it up 25lbs and the straps cut into my shoulders (and trust I adjusted the straps every which way for 45 min. I wanted the pack to work)I even ordered the larger size to see if it was a fit issue (it wasn't). much of the weight was not placed on my hips with the exos - it was on my shoulders further the pack wobbled and bobbled on my back when I tested it on steep stairs (then again packs are like shoes and the Exos was not the pair for me). No way am I reducing weight just to suffer that completely defeats the purpose - hiking is not about pain for me it's about pleasure. So instead I removed the lid on my Z55, and cut the remaining excess straps (and there are a lot). This pack hugs my body, my back breaths, and the waist straps are a dream. It carries everything flawlessly, I am now considering the Z35 for a pack with less volume (and yes pack suggestions are welcome if you understand my hiking philosophy) only those that own this pack will truly understand how sweet it is and where I came coming from, and until the day comes that a lighter pack provides me the same comfort while strapped to my back for 10 - 12 hours while I hike for multiple days - I will stay devoted to the Z55. - so if you are considering it go for it. There is one annoying issue I have with it - theres no bottle mesh, they expect that everyone wishes to soley rely on a platy. I would like a water bottle mesh pocket. This pack is great overall and you can take that to the bank. Shoot I got a math test in 5 hours!
slinky at Backcountry.com on 05/07/2009
love it
Rating:
Where do I start? First off, big kudos to these guys for having such amazing customer service and helpful employees. Our packs were lost in transit by UPS. Zach managed to find me a replacement pack, along with a pack for my gf, and got it to me overnight. What could have been a terribly disappointing set back, turned out to be no problem at all! Bought this pack to replace a Northface pack I had for several years. It's first trip was to the Sabine National Forest and the Indian Mounds Wilderness. During our week trip I put this pack through serious hell. It was ziplined through the trees, hauled through the mud, dropped, slept on, stuffed to excruciating levels, and hauled up the side of white cliffs. This pack is very versatile. It rained the first few days we were out, and all my gear stayed perfectly dry. A few things worth noting; Zippers are rugged and do not leak. A lot can be strapped to the outside of this pack, and I do mean a lot. The bags compression ratio when not full is amazing, and can and has been used for day excursions. The bladder sack is huge, but is on the outer most point of the pack, store your water bladder in a box or cooler or stiff container during transit nozzle up. When in use, place a 10x14 piece of cardboard between the material of your pack and your bladder to help protect the bladder from thorn, nail, branch, etc, punctures. This also adds a little durability to the backside of the pack in case you find it necessary to bail on your pack while being chased by bees. (amazing how fast you can move through the forest when being pursued by bees isn't it?) The waist belt is awesome with lots of storage. The bright color keeps it highly visible even in foggy conditions. The suspension of the pack is fantastic, even with about 50-60lbs of gear loaded down on the pack, the load remained balanced and easily managed. The one thing I have against this pack is I ran out of pockets! I'm a little OCD about having things stored properly, so I'll be investing in some stuff sacks to better separate the goods. Over-all I'm loving this pack! Another bit of advice, practice disassembly and reassembly of the pack before your first trip with it. The amount of buckles and loops all being very close together can be somewhat confusing, and in my gf's case, very irritating. Great buy! especially for the price!
gwebb2208064 at Backcountry.com on 06/12/2008
Nice pack with a couple quirks....
Rating:
I've had this pack for a while now and mainly use it for overnight to 3 day trips. I find it carries weight very well and i get a good amount of ventilation on my back due to mesh back panel. I'll post a pic soon to show the open area between the mesh and backpack frame. The pockets on the hipbelt are great for storing small items you need close at hand. I use them for my camera and compact gorillapod tripod which i also love. The shoulder straps have areas to clip small items onto, i usually clip on my knife. I also find that the strap setup for securing trekking poles to the back of the pack works well. I do have two gripes with the pack design though. One, there are no easy access pockets for water bottles. I don't know about everyone else but i don't like using hydration bladders when backpacking because i drink alot of water and donât like having to pull stuff out of the pack just to get the full bladder back into the sleeve every time i refill it. I like my nalgene so i just purchased a fabric bottle holder and attach it to the strap that connects the hipbelt to the bottom of the pack. Works great and keeps my bottle close at hand. Second, the straps on the bottom of the pack donât have buckles, they just have slide adjusters for the webbing. I like attaching my pad to the outside of the pack and getting my z-lite in those straps was hard when the pack was full, even when the straps were fully lengthened. I solved the problem by just cutting the straps, removing the sliders, and attaching some plastic buckles to the ends. Now i just buckle the pad on. Overall a very good pack.
JP at Backcountry.com on 01/09/2009
Been a great pack for me.
Rating:
Used this pack on 6 different trips. It is my "3-4 day pack." Definitely one of the lightest packs out there for weekend trips. Pros - it is extremely light I have had no problems with its durability yet. I also like the hip belt pockets. I'm only 5'6" and this pack fits me extremely well. Cons - It is a little challenging to get my sleeping bag in the bottom. this is due to the curved design (to reduce sweating by keeping the pack off of your back). I like the design, but it does make it a bit tougher to get things down in the bottom. Hip belt - you've heard it before. It is not a beefy hip belt. I overloaded it on my last trip (I had over 50 pounds in it) and the hip belt struggled. nylon zipper pulls - two of these have pulled off already. Overall, I love this pack. I knew exactly what I was getting (I knew it couldn't do big loads, and I knew about the curved design). So this pack has been everything I expected it to be. IT has done great in the rain, and has plenty of capacity for a three or four night trip. I would certainly recommend...in fact I have - two of my friends have both bought this pack and have been pleased.
EZ Hayes at REI on 10/17/2009
Great pack when used as intended
Rating:
This is a great pack if used and adjusted correctly. Often bad reviews are from folks that do not use their gear properly. You push past 35lbs. with this pack and it's not that comfortable. It can done for sure, just adjust and pack properly. If you are carrying heavy loads then you might want a different pack for such loads. I'm usually well below 30lbs. with food and water for 3 days and this pack feels great. I see huge packs on people for 2 day backpacking trips, lighten up and you'll have way more fun not to mention less pain:-) I'd actually like to see this pack be lighter and have a removable back sheet but again, if I want ultra lightweight I'd go with a Go Lie JAM pack, which I just ordered. I have had several Gregory packs over the last 15 years and I have loved them all. So glad some of their packs are finally getting lighter though but you will not find a better built longer lasting pack if taken care of. I have learned that a lot of folks don't take care of their gear and it often fails and they blame the gear or use it as not intended... lesson learned. You all have fun.
crowleykirk at REI on 10/20/2009
Very nice
Rating:
I really liked this pack, unfortunately I had to send it back because I needed a little more room than I thought, would have gone with the z-65 if backcountry had it. I like how this pack is lightweight, but extremely comfortable. I felt as if everything was close to me and my balance wasn't thrown off because I had a bulging bag on my back. There was plenty of space for most of my stuff and 30 pounds felt feathery. The waist belt is very comfortable and easy to adjust, and the pockets on the belt come in handy. The only issues I had were: There wasn't a side pocket for a water bottle. In order to store stuff with somewhat easy access, you would have to put it in the front pouch but this would still require you to take off the pack in order to gain access to it. The only other problem was the amount of straps. While it was nice that you were able to adjust basically everything, it was kind of annoying to have 10 straps hanging down.
Ian Mangiardi at Backcountry.com on 01/29/2009
Best Pack Ever!
Rating:
Packs need to be tried, since no one pack is right for every person. That said, my Z pack the best pack I've ever used. I used it to hike the JMT last summer with 38 pounds on re-supply day. I used it this winter for a six week expedition in Chile and Argentina. It held all my gear for the entire trip! I've attached a stuff sack/bottle carrier on the belt, since I prefer not to use the bladder option. The front belt pockets hold my camera and glasses. When there is bulky stuff to carry the huge back pocket expands. The pack is so adjustable, I use it as a daypack by tightening all the adjusting pulls. It is a good idea to familiarize yourself with all the straps before you set out. It is very sturdy and has held up well under rough conditions. Pretty water tight in the few light rain situations I found myself. It's a little heaver than my two ultralight packs, but OH so much more comfortable!
David Frederick at Backcountry.com on 05/28/2009
I like it just fine.
Rating:
This was, and is my first pack. I've been on two moderate to strenuous hikes of about five miles each with elevations of more than 1000 feet. Now, if this is your first pack also, I recommend watching the video on REI.com on how to adjust your pack. By the end of my first hike, my shoulders were screaming, but through no fault of the pack. Once I took the time to review how the pack should be properly worn, the second hike was a breeze and with no discomfort. By the way, it makes a great pillow as well! The only major regret I have is not buying the larger version in case I want to do a several day hike. The other slight con is the lack of easy to access pockets on the exterior, but this is kind of nitpicking. All in all, I'm anxious for some time off so I can hit the trail with my Gregory as soon as I can! Oh yeah, it does keep you cool.
Timotheus at REI on 07/04/2009
Impressive in the wet
Rating:
I love this pack anyway (Great design and suspension, well thought out, light and capacious and a great deal, relative to Osprey and Arcteryx) but I have to give it extra kudos for putting up with a 3.5 hours hike in pouring rain this weekend with no cover. It did a pretty good imitation of of being waterproof. The only thing wet in the main compartment of my pack was the insulated synthetic jacket, which was up against the fabric on the base, which seems to be a lot less water resistant than the fabric the rest of the pack is cut from. So, on top of the fact that this is my favorite pack in the world at the moment, it just added "almost-waterproof" to the pro side of things. Well worth checking out if you are looking for an overnight or light weekend pack, especially if you are thinking about the Osprey Atmos/Stratos duo. Two thumbs up, Gregory.
Niall MacRae at Backcountry.com on 09/09/2009
Now a Gregory Fan!
Rating:
This is a great pack. I was previously using an Osprey Kestrel series which wasnt great for more than an overnighter but if you had too much weight it in it was a bear. Either way, I packed the Z55 up a couple weeks ago with about 30lbs of stuff for a weekend and put together a nice 25 mile hike. This pack acted like it didnt exist on my back. It held everything with room to spare (more stuff than I realistically needed). This will be my go to pack for everything now. From ultralight overnighters to big weeks. I think this thing could handle it all. Also on my weekend venture I did some serious bushwacking and the pack did not get a nick or scrape what so ever! All around buy this pack.
Maverick225 at Backcountry.com on 10/02/2009

Show all positive reviews...

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(2008)	$132.99 27% off
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	$180.00 2% off
	$198.90
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	$219.00
	$219.00


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"This bag is highly adjustable and adaptable to different sizes and needs. I really like the fact that it can be packed lightly and used as carry on luggage or a daypack, but can be expanded and used for longer backpacking trips as well. Looks good, feels good- all in all, it's highly recommended."
Anonymous Customer from Fresno, CA at eBags.com on 03/18/2008
"This pack went all over Europe with me. Very durable with lots of room inside. Only negative is that it is a little on the heavy side, but not enough to make me not want to carry it. Would purchase this pack again."
Anonymous Customer from Lake Orion, MI at eBags.com on 10/23/2007

"Made great, features not so much"
Rating:
The pack is absolutely awesome, I love the material, the construction, and the fit. The coolest part is that the chest clip patent name is the 'Rock Lockster', how cool is that. My biggest complaints is that there is no side pockets for a water bottle. This is crazy annoying because now I have to stuff my bottle somewhere it doesn't belong. Secondly, there is no bottom straps to strap down a sleeping pad, tent, or anything else bulky that belongs on the outside.
Matt at Moosejaw on 07/09/2009
NOT A GOOD FIT FOR ME
Rating:
I tried this pack out last year with about 35 pounds on one extended trip. After a few hours it ripped into my shoulders, presumably because I could not get the belt to adjust properly to hold the load properly. Not only was it extremely uncomfortable, one of the loops to lash things onto the outside of the pack ripped. This pack was a huge disappointment.
A Colorado Backpacker at REI on 04/18/2009

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Mountains Plus Outdoor Gear

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Notes:

Gregory Z55 Pack Reviews Summary:

Positive Reviews:

I should be studying for my math finale instead I'm fantasizing about this pack and the AT!

love it

Nice pack with a couple quirks....

Been a great pack for me.

Great pack when used as intended

Very nice

Best Pack Ever!

I like it just fine.

Impressive in the wet

Now a Gregory Fan!

Other Reviews:

Neutral Reviews:

"Made great, features not so much"

NOT A GOOD FIT FOR ME