I’m 5’3” 124lbs pint size woman and the women Gregory Maven 55 was extremely uncomfortable with 25lbs loaded in it. Did a lot of adjusting and still uncomfortable. The straps seemed like they were to close to each other width wise. This pack isn’t made for women with some muscles. Lucky for me and my 17 1/4” torso, I was able to fit in the men’s small/medium version of this pack the Gregory Paragon 58. So ladies if the women size doesn’t work try the men’s on. I’m a big fan of Gregory backpacks and they are the only packs I’ve used in my 40 years of backpacking. My 72 year old dad has had his eyes on the Osprey Atmos AG 50 pack for 2 years. He finally decided to get fitted for one. Knowing he didn’t want to carry more than 25lbs, we loaded the pack up and let him walk around the store for a good 30 minutes. I kept asking him if he was comfortable. Finally he said “No”. I replied “Good, now try on the Rolls Royce of backpacks a Gregory Pack. I handed him a Gregory Paragon 58, put 25lbs in it and let him take it for a spin. 30 minutes later he bought it. He was shock that it was a bigger yet a lighter pack than the Osprey. He finally gets why I only use Gregory packs. I just wish he would listen to me more when I suggest something. It took me 9 years of telling him to have a well dug before he finally got one dug, then he acts like it was his idea! lol
Thanks for making this video! I bought this pack a few weeks ago and absolutely love it. I didn't even notice the water bottle side pocket or the ability to adjust the waist straps in til you pointed them out.. lol
I know Gregory is all into the hydration pack idea. Which because of a gap in my hiking history I somewhat missed understanding when I picked this pack up in 2019. I bought from REI on the way to an overnight hike and using the slanted bottle pocket while walking is a bit of a contortion for me. I'm now on the search for a Platypus insert for the pack with a bite valve. Otherwise, two 32oz bottle do fit the pockets and balance out if you're packing water to a dry camp. Drinking on the go needs the bladder or a extra bottle hookup up front. Like, the carabiner with a collar for a 20 oz plastic bottle. But up front the bag's labeling somewhat hit you in the face, "look we made this thing for a hydration system." They made pass throughs for the tubing very well. So it is on me to downgrade to Nalgene bottles because I'm behind the times... Just stop and take the pack off to get a drink. But maybe the point is for people to customize their pack. They worked hard to stay under four pounds. To get there it is in lacking a bit in pockets that are super accessible when the pack is on and super useful pockets up front. Provided waist pocket worked for a point and shoot camera on one side and some energy gel packets and small odds and ends on the other. I am on the search for a easy pocket to attach for a cell phone doubling as a GPS map. So maybe pack a fanny pack or something clever to clip to the upper arm strap loops. They sort of missed it by having the secure sunglass holder but not something on the other side that would have nailed the easy map device access. But on the upside I abused this pack like a newbie these first trips and nothing failed. The internal bag doubled as my luggage in my post-hike hotel stay. The pack rain cover was instant success on a second practice hike. A lightweight, warm-weather hammock with underquilt and tarp setup fits this pack. It's got a great number of straps to tighten anything that wiggles. Build quality satisfies what I paid for it. Just know you'll spend a few hikes to customize for full ease of use.
Thanks for the thorough review. I bought this pack from another retailer and noticed the sleeping bag divider doesn’t snap off from the inside. Could it be an older version?
As far as we know, there is only one version of the Maven 55 pack, and the sleeping bag divider should absolutely be removable. Sometimes different countries have slightly different versions of products, did you purchase your pack form a US vendor?
I bought this pack from REI this month, and the sleeping bag divider doesn't come out. It unsnaps on one side, but the other side seems firmly attached to me.
It had me struggle with it, too. My pack's divider/slim top has double sided square buckles on one side. If you push the webbing over hard enough you find have a division in one side of the bar to slide the buckle off the interior loop. Which makes sense because that buckle attaches to the webbing at the top of the pack when you remove the "brain" lid. I also read the topper can attach to the summit pack/interior bladder bag. I only heard about the brain replacement recently.
@@42wolves It took me a while to figure it out, but on the side of the divider that doesn't have buckles, there is a break in the plastic piece that attaches the webbing. It's hard to see because the webbing strap covers it up!
Thank you for the review. I am 5'3" Asian lady and I would like to know if this would be ok for my body type/size. I can only buy this through online and no chance to try. Please give me expert suggestion. Aprreciate for your help.
Hi Myat Noe, When it comes to choosing a backpack that will fit your shape, we recommend measuring your torso length (have a friend help you): www.backcountryedge.com/videos/how-to-measure-your-torso-for-backpack-fitting Feel free to contact us if you have any further questions. Thanks for watching!
Has anyone had the issue of the hip belt pocket area being super hard and digging into your hip bones? Not sure if maybe it just need broke in or if it’s just rock hard 🥴
I have that issue. I’m very thin, so I’m not sure if it’s the lack of padding over my hips or just this pack being too hard. My base weight is about 14 lbs.
I’m 5’3” 124lbs pint size woman and the women Gregory Maven 55 was extremely uncomfortable with 25lbs loaded in it. Did a lot of adjusting and still uncomfortable. The straps seemed like they were to close to each other width wise. This pack isn’t made for women with some muscles. Lucky for me and my 17 1/4” torso, I was able to fit in the men’s small/medium version of this pack the Gregory Paragon 58. So ladies if the women size doesn’t work try the men’s on. I’m a big fan of Gregory backpacks and they are the only packs I’ve used in my 40 years of backpacking. My 72 year old dad has had his eyes on the Osprey Atmos AG 50 pack for 2 years. He finally decided to get fitted for one. Knowing he didn’t want to carry more than 25lbs, we loaded the pack up and let him walk around the store for a good 30 minutes. I kept asking him if he was comfortable. Finally he said “No”. I replied “Good, now try on the Rolls Royce of backpacks a Gregory Pack. I handed him a Gregory Paragon 58, put 25lbs in it and let him take it for a spin. 30 minutes later he bought it. He was shock that it was a bigger yet a lighter pack than the Osprey. He finally gets why I only use Gregory packs. I just wish he would listen to me more when I suggest something. It took me 9 years of telling him to have a well dug before he finally got one dug, then he acts like it was his idea! lol
Thanks to your video, I noticed that my pack didn't come with a rain cover!! I just called REI and they are going to give me one as soon as i come in!
Bought this as a small framed man.
Works great.
Lots of adjustments and really light
Thanks for making this video! I bought this pack a few weeks ago and absolutely love it. I didn't even notice the water bottle side pocket or the ability to adjust the waist straps in til you pointed them out.. lol
I know Gregory is all into the hydration pack idea. Which because of a gap in my hiking history I somewhat missed understanding when I picked this pack up in 2019. I bought from REI on the way to an overnight hike and using the slanted bottle pocket while walking is a bit of a contortion for me. I'm now on the search for a Platypus insert for the pack with a bite valve. Otherwise, two 32oz bottle do fit the pockets and balance out if you're packing water to a dry camp. Drinking on the go needs the bladder or a extra bottle hookup up front. Like, the carabiner with a collar for a 20 oz plastic bottle. But up front the bag's labeling somewhat hit you in the face, "look we made this thing for a hydration system." They made pass throughs for the tubing very well. So it is on me to downgrade to Nalgene bottles because I'm behind the times... Just stop and take the pack off to get a drink.
But maybe the point is for people to customize their pack. They worked hard to stay under four pounds. To get there it is in lacking a bit in pockets that are super accessible when the pack is on and super useful pockets up front. Provided waist pocket worked for a point and shoot camera on one side and some energy gel packets and small odds and ends on the other. I am on the search for a easy pocket to attach for a cell phone doubling as a GPS map. So maybe pack a fanny pack or something clever to clip to the upper arm strap loops. They sort of missed it by having the secure sunglass holder but not something on the other side that would have nailed the easy map device access. But on the upside I abused this pack like a newbie these first trips and nothing failed. The internal bag doubled as my luggage in my post-hike hotel stay. The pack rain cover was instant success on a second practice hike. A lightweight, warm-weather hammock with underquilt and tarp setup fits this pack. It's got a great number of straps to tighten anything that wiggles. Build quality satisfies what I paid for it. Just know you'll spend a few hikes to customize for full ease of use.
Thanks for the thorough review. I bought this pack from another retailer and noticed the sleeping bag divider doesn’t snap off from the inside. Could it be an older version?
As far as we know, there is only one version of the Maven 55 pack, and the sleeping bag divider should absolutely be removable. Sometimes different countries have slightly different versions of products, did you purchase your pack form a US vendor?
I bought this pack from REI this month, and the sleeping bag divider doesn't come out. It unsnaps on one side, but the other side seems firmly attached to me.
It had me struggle with it, too. My pack's divider/slim top has double sided square buckles on one side. If you push the webbing over hard enough you find have a division in one side of the bar to slide the buckle off the interior loop. Which makes sense because that buckle attaches to the webbing at the top of the pack when you remove the "brain" lid. I also read the topper can attach to the summit pack/interior bladder bag. I only heard about the brain replacement recently.
@@42wolves It took me a while to figure it out, but on the side of the divider that doesn't have buckles, there is a break in the plastic piece that attaches the webbing. It's hard to see because the webbing strap covers it up!
Two buckles on one side and 2 firmly secured and I can’t unbreak them without breaking them. Useless feature for me.
Is the top lid included in the 55 liter capacity? If not how much extra capacity is the top lid?
The 55 L capacity includes only the main compartment. Gregory doesn't list a capacity for the top lid, but it is probably around 3-5 liters
Thank you for the review. I am 5'3" Asian lady and I would like to know if this would be ok for my body type/size.
I can only buy this through online and no chance to try. Please give me expert suggestion. Aprreciate for your help.
Hi Myat Noe,
When it comes to choosing a backpack that will fit your shape, we recommend measuring your torso length (have a friend help you): www.backcountryedge.com/videos/how-to-measure-your-torso-for-backpack-fitting
Feel free to contact us if you have any further questions. Thanks for watching!
Backcountry Edge thank you so much
myat noe l
Has anyone had the issue of the hip belt pocket area being super hard and digging into your hip bones? Not sure if maybe it just need broke in or if it’s just rock hard 🥴
I have that issue. I’m very thin, so I’m not sure if it’s the lack of padding over my hips or just this pack being too hard. My base weight is about 14 lbs.
How much is backpack mountaineering gregory 65 liters?