Perfect pack for me? (Osprey Aura v. Gregory Jade v. Deuter ACT Lite SL)

[Vinya]

So sorry about my unweidly subject line. I recently was at NOC in Gatlinburg looking at packs and tried out the Gregory Jade 50, the Osprey Aura 50, and the Deuter ACT Lite 60+10 SL. I loved the accesibility of the bottom with the Deuter and the Osprey as well as the places to store wet things, but I felt more balanced with the Gregory whereas the other two felt more top heavy. I want a pack I can use more casually, so I really would not want to go larger than these packs, and all three fall at the same price ($189-199). This is the firt pack I've ever bought and I really want to make the right choice!

I'm a tall-ish girl (5'9) and I have wide hips so comfort and balance (I tend to fall over a lot) are a must. The employees and I packed all three bags and tested them out and they were more or less similar in ride with the exception of the slight top-heaviness that I felt with the Osprey and Deuter. Granted I am a newbie at packing so it will take a few tries on my own to get it right, but I just want to make sure I'm overall making the best choice here.

So basically what I'm asking is if any women here have had any experience with these packs, what features really wowed them (the Deuter's air flow for the back, for example, or the Osprey's adjustibility, or if the Gregory is spot on despite it's lack of said features) or if I really can't go wrong with any of them. As of now I'm leaning towards the Gregory but am not completely certain. I would like to someday complete a thru hike on the AT so getting opinions on these packs would really help! Thanks!

[CornerCreek27]

hiya,
my girlfriend seems to be going through the same process as you; shes the same body type i imagine and wants a pack that will work out on the AT and for plane/bus/city traveling.

All of the packs you are looking at will most likely serve your needs, they are good brands. When I look at packs I take that in first, many of the "bells and whistles' are mere gimmicks to sell more. (you will always have a sweaty back etc.)

She tried on all those packs and finally has settled between 2 REI packs that are simular; the Crestrail and last years Flash. Both of these packs are around 48-50L. I would agree with her that features such as bottom entry are important if you are doing other things besides long distance backpacking. Also a second pocket such as what the osprey has is handy for organizing gear when you have primarily clothing items.

She is going to try the Flash on tonight and walk around with it. Many others on here will say that the fit is most important; before other features. She really wanted to love the gregory but the lower back support totally messed with her. So I would say go in, fill it with like 30 pounds and walk around for a while, then you will know if the packs suspension and tech actually work for you!

[moongoddess]

Go with the pack that feels the best on your back. And be wary of "features" - too often they translate into "things that add unnecessary weight to the pack" and "doo-dads which will break and render the pack useless when you are 2 day's walk from the nearest trailhead". Panel and side access zippers, in particular, add weight, are more likely to split open than a sewn seam, and are additional points where rain can leak into your pack, and so offer no real advantage on a thru-hike. (For other types of travel, panel and bottom access can be nice, but thru-hikers generally prefer top-loaders for a reason.)

[chaco727]

I started out looking at the same 3 packs you are. Went to an outfitters and loaded up the Gregory and Deuter, and found that while both fit my back really well, the Deuter was the only one that transfered the weight to my hips. Both had about 25lbs in them; the Gregory felt like it had 25lbs, the Deuter felt like it only had 5-10lbs. So that made my decision for me. The Deuter pack will be bigger, but you don't have to fill it up. I also thought I would like the seperate bottom compartment, but it turns out that I have the divider unzipped 90% of the time as my stuff packs better that way (less wasted space).

Overall I love the Deuter. I love the stretchy front panel thing that I can tuck a fleece shirt or rain jacket into for easy access. The one main issue I have with the design is the side pockets and the bottom compression straps. You can cinch the straps down, but you lose the ability to use the pockets. (The Gregory pack does not have this issue as the strap goes through the side pocket, not over it.) And if I do decided to not tighten the straps and use the pockets for a water bottle, I'd better have a hiking partner, as I can get the bottles out, but not back in the pockets while wearing the pack.

But as others have said, go for what fits and is most comfortable. Best of luck to ya!

[Blissful]

I carried the Gregory Jade for both my hikes. Did fine. But I do like my ULA Catalyst now. Much lighter weight.

[waasj]

I am partial to Osprey's (I have 2, but can't remember the models just now) and have had good experiences with both. Gregory makes a good product as does Dieter and REI. You will find the one that works for you based on how it feels to you. Rmember, I am not going to be carrying it (most likely). Good luck!

[birdygal]

I recently went thru the same thing, I tried, gregory jade and Deva, Osprey forgot which model and a deuter , the Gregory deva felt lighter with 30 lbs in it than all of them and it was the heaviest pack all the others just didn't fit right,

[Farr Away]

I have the Gregory Jade - love it. Pack weight is usually 25-30 lbs, and it carries very well for me. The weight transfers to my hips, and I don't really notice it until I take the pack off and suddenly feel very light on my feet.

My favorite feature is the hip belt pockets. Camera goes in one; snacks in the other.

-FA

[sterling98]

Hey,
When I looked to try on packs, I looked at the Gregory Jade, Deuter actlite 60 +10 and a different Osprey. I chose the Deuter, being the most comfortable pack for me and it's worked out great. Try packing the heavy stuff closer to your back if you want something less top-heavy. The Act-Lite pike is also, true to its name, pretty light at 3 lbs 12 oz. If I were you, I would just go with whatever feels best though. The bottom entry compartment won't do any good if the pack doesn't fit right or you fall in a stream or something. Additionally, in the long run, the weight of the pack is largely irrelevant (in my mind) because if it doesn't fit right, it will feel like you're carrying more weight. I would rather carry 40 pounds in my Deuter with than 20 in any other pack.

[Sassafras Lass]

Hi! I was in your exact same position over a year ago.

Hubby and I attempted a NOBO thru last spring. Prior to that, I visited REI, Uncle Dan's and Moosejaw in Chicago and tried on nearly 2 dozen packs, looking for something that worked. I really liked the Osprey Aura 50 (though it didn't fit perfectly) and ended up ordering a medium torso. I got it, loaded it up with my gear and went hiking. The shoulder straps - no matter how I configured the pack - barely rode on my shoulders, they were too tall. So I discount sold the pack to my mother-in-law and went back to Chicago. Settled on the Gregory Jade 50 (essentially the Aura 50 equiv) and got a short torso. Well guess what . . . it fit my shoulders . . . . but only if I didn't lift my arms above my chest! I hiked nearly 200 miles with that pack and it never did feel right.

So I sold it, thoroughly researched this ULA company that everyone was raving about, and bit the bullet and bought one. THE One. The ULA Circuit. (I'd show you here but it doesn't like my file no matter how I size it.)

I feel foolish for wasting so much time and money on other packs when this one was waiting for me all along. Not only can you get different hipbelts for it (and there's plenty of adjustment room in the hipbelt, anyways) but I went back to the medium torso and it actually fits me. And the torso height is adjustable too! The hipbelt pockets are huge, the outer pockets can easily swallow a Nalgene and then some - plus they have a cord to compress the pocket 'mouth' and I can actually reach back and get the water while I'm wearing the pack - couldn't do that with my Gregory, hubby always had to grab my water.

Now I bought mine before Christmas when he was still offering colors. (Isn't that purple gorgeous??) But he's offering camo soon, if you're game, and people have never not liked their pack because of the draft-paper-esque color pattern that is standard.

For reference, I'm 5'6.25" and my hips are around 41 (I think?), and I'm at my heaviest right now (my healthy weight is around 140, right now I'm about 30 lbs overweight. Wow . . . . looks worse when you type it.)

Anyways, I'd say you'd be quite happy with a ULA pack, the Circuit especially. You have to order them (unless they're available at Mountain Crossings in Neel's Gap), but work with the owner, he's reasonable and relies on this word-of-mouth for his business and is interested in happy customers.

Hope this helps!

[Sassafras Lass]

Oh, and the Circuit is 36 oz. Yep, 2 lbs. I was able to lose 1 lb 14 oz. alone just switching to this pack. But it's very well-made and rugged and expect it to last me a long time. (Believe me, if it doesn't, ya'll will be hearing about it.)

[Sassafras Lass]

Whoops! 2 lbs, 4 oz. My math is failing. So I saved 1 lb, 10 oz. Still enough to make me happy!

[Vinya]

Wow! thanks for all the in-put, ladies! I am heading over to an REI tomorrow so I will give the Deuter another go and try out the ULA (I've also heard good things about them but have not had a chance to try one in person). I will definitely be keeping these things in mind when I'm shopping thanks!

[twoperthapooper2]

I started my thru-hike last year with a Deuter and it pretty much fell apart by the time i reached virginia, so i bought an osprey and it lasted me the rest of the way. just another thing to think about

[scooterdogma]

HI Vinya, you might want to check out http://www.aarnusa.com . I have several of their packs and here is the reason why ... the design of the pack splits the weight of your load and makes you perfectly balanced. Yep, read that as walking with your spine and neck aligned in your normal position. No weight or strain on your neck, shoulders, or back. Less strain on your body equals more energy to put toward your hiking. This is an amazing design. I started out with the Natural Agility Model and have since gone to the Featherweight and, now, the Marathon Magic. An added bonus is all the stuff you need for the day is in the front balance packs, you never need to get into the "back" pack until you set up camp. This featured saved me a lot of time on the trail.

ULA and Gregory make great packs, you can't go wrong with either choice. I have had both and loved them until I found the AARN. Happy hiking!

[Slow n' Steady]

Blissful, I have been looking for a lightweight pack that can carry more stuff and have read about the ULA Catalyst. I'm not sure how much the main compartment carries because all I read about the Catalyst from the ULA site is that it carries more than it really does. The site adds the pockets into the total carry amount which is deceptive. My Granite Gear Ki carries 3800 cu. in., and I need more space. Would you know how the Catalyst compares to that? Thanks for your help. Slow n' Steady

[svspag91]

Hey,
I haven't read any of the replies so it may have already been mentioned but this is my input. We are of similar size: I'm also 5'9" and have wide hips. Recently I bought a pack, the Osprey Ariel 55, and I chose it because Osprey designed this pack with women in mind.

http://www.ospreypacks.com/en/product/womens/ariel_55_1
Quoted from Osprey "Superb women's custom fit is achieved through torso specific sizing, and contoured women's harness and hip belt"

This pack fit me the best, it was contoured to my body, and with 30lbs of weight in it I was very comfortable. I'm also a new backpacker and this is my first pack. As for being top heavy I think that depends on how you're distributing the weight.
This might help: http://www.ospreypacks.com/en/web/how_to_pack_your_pack
This pack also has Osprey Custom Molding achieved with heat molding (BioForm or IsoForm) and the dealer can custom fit your hip belt using some kind of Osprey heat gadget thing.

And lastly, Osprey is well known for backing up their product with the All Mighty Guarantee. Quoted from Osprey "Osprey will repair for any reason, free of charge, any damage or defect in our product – whether it was purchased in 1974 or yesterday. If we are unable to perform a functional repair on your pack, we will happily replace it. We proudly stand behind this guarantee, so much so that it bears the signature of company founder and head designer, Mike Pfotenhauer.
If you have a deadline, like say you're on a thru-hike on the AT, they will try to get it back as soon as it can be done. I've read reviews that back this up too.

So, if this pack is available near you I highly recommend it because I love mine. Lots of information but lots of pros I think.

[Ferrousknight]

Ugh, the NOC is Gatlinburg is horribly overpriced and the selection mediocre. Though I am spoiled with having Campmor about an hour's drive from home. If you're in Gatlinburg, there's a neat little place to check out a mile or two down the road called the day hiker. Unlike NOC, they actually have a nice selection of replacement buckles and some small gear like Nalgene cantenes that could be very useful for hikers. it's not somewhere to pick out a backpack and boots, though.

[Turner]

I'm much shorter than you 5'3'' but probably have wider hips than you. When packed correctly and not a bunch of heavy beanbags I really struggled to find something that 'fit like a glove'. I liked the Osprey Aura but didn't really have the adjustability that other packs I liked...BUT Osprey came out in Jan. with their new Aura 2012..It's perfect. Adjustable hip strap and torso length with the lightweight-ness.. Bought it and have been hiking all month.. LOVE IT!

[Demeter]

I LOVE my Gregory Jade, but everyone is different. My daughter detests it!

The best advice is to ask who the most experienced pack fitter is in the store, then come back a couple more times to have the "current" specialist outfit you. I received good advice from 3 different salespeople at the same store on different days. Loaded up the packs different ways, then wore them around the store while I browsed for about an hour each time.

Sounds like overkill, but I kept going back to the Jade. Have used on two backpacking trips and I'm so much more comfy than I remember packing with my old pack.

The downside is that it is smallish, also only has one big compartment with limited external pockets. This really bothers me, because I like to have everything organized. Just get several stuff bags in different colors...