It is a good pack for stuff weekends to weeklong trips . It is also at an affordable price . I reccomend this pack over the shasta and palisade .. Masonry Contractor

None so far

This is a really comfortable pack. I use it heavily and it's serving me well- the heavy fabric on the bottom is nice, no worries about wear and tear. It's meant for 40-50 lb, I usually carry at least 60 (until I get a bigger pack) and I'm still comfortable enough- it expands beautifully without feeling top-heavy. At 40-50 lb, I can hardly tell I'm wearing it. I usually carry a filled 2 liter Platypus plus my need-to-reach items like chapstick and headlamp in the brain. Overall, it's a great pack for minimalists on long trips, or anyone on a 3-4 day trip.

Customer Service

I haven't used it yet

An excellent pack for the 3 day hike. I found that it was very comfortable and easy to adjust. Even my friend of a similar build, 5 ft. 10 in. remarked about its comfort. Also, it is user friendly with the different access pockets. Only thing lacking is bungy mesh on the back.

Customer Service

I hear that Gregory has excellent customer service. I plan to keep this pack for a long time.

The two things you should never skimp on are your pack and your boots. I really like the Gregory packs because of their quality and fit. I gave my old Palisades to my son and bought this one to save a little weight. Although it is a heavier than other packs I looked at, it fits so well that it carries heavy loads with more comfort and support than lighter packs. There are also more organizational features which helps, especially when you need to get into you pack without having to unpack the whole thing. I did remove the Ice Axe strap and the little plastic tube loops under the mesh pockets because I can't find a use for them. Gregory rates this pack for 45 pound loads, but I have had 50 pounds in it with no real loss of support. This is a great pack, well designed, well made and lightened up enough to make a difference but not to cause problems. A note of caution is that pack fit is a very personal thing. Make sure any pack you buy is fitted by someone who know's what their doing. If doesn't feel right, don't buy it.

Customer Service

Never had to deal with them. However, a friend had a problem with a hydration pack and they took care of it quickly with no hassle.

Similar Products Used:

Gregory Palasades, Kelty Haiku, Some REI Pack that I can't remember the name of and the Go-Lite Speed.

Light and well thoughtout. It's my wifes pack(medium). I tried it on a trip to Kings Peak, UT. I really enjoyed the weight savings over my Palisades(large). I'm right on the margin between a Gregory medium and large; 19 3/4" torso. I like my Palisdes, but I think the weight savings is worth the loss of a few bells and whistles. Carried 48 lbs from the trailhead to Dollar lake;no sore spots. On the day hike to the peak, I carried the Forester with just water, snacks and rain gear. Palisades bottle holder(right) is much easier to use than the mesh pockets on the Forester. Forester lid has a clear bottom. Easy to find snacks, hat etc. You can lay a topo map against the cleat plastic and it will stay relatively dry in the rain.
Lid won't turn into a fanny pack. If you've never owned a Gregory before, go to a knowledgeable store to get fitted. REI has fitting templates to make sure you get the right size. Or.. spend some time on the Gregory web site to under stand fit and adjustment.

Similar Products Used:

None

Let's get this started...I just picked up the new Forester pack and it is a dream come true. Earlier, I got rid of a way too big Jansport Alaska, then tried a not-so-good quality Kelty. After researching a lot of different packs, I opted to go with Gregory for their combination of great reviews and outstanding reputation. I was close to buying a Reality, but then heard of its bigger sibling the Forester hitting the market. After a short wait, my local outfitter finally received their first shipments, and I was among the first to purchase the new pack. I decided to go with the Forester for its slightly larger capacity. It gives me plenty of space for a week-long trip, and enough compression for shorter long-weekend camps. All in all, it's very much like the Reality...same suspension, overall design, etc. The Forester adds a much welcome sleeping bag access compartment/zipper. The side compression straps don't get in the way of the mesh pockets as much as on the Reality. There is a neat see-thru window in the top lid so you can see the contents, and you can top load or panel load with this hybrid. I heard a comment somewhere that you don't carry a Gregory pack, you wear it. How true. The fit and comfort is absolutely incredible...even fully loaded! I would not hesitate to recommend this pack to anyone looking for a great long-weekend to week-long pack. Check out the Blue pack...a lot nicer looking than the green ones.

Similar Products Used:

Jansport Alaska
Kelty Coyote
very old frame pack from my Boy Scout years

I had a Shasta. A good pack, but too heavy for my tastes. Found an
outfitter that gave me full price on a trade-in for the Forester, which
weighs 5 lbs 3 ounces--two pounds less than the Shasta. At 4900 cubic inches (for the medium), it holds 40 pounds comfortably. It easily holds a week's worth of food and all your gear for three-season backpacking.

Similar Products Used:

Gregory Shasta
Kelty Tioga (a great winter pack)

FITS LIKE A GLOVE
my first backpacking experienc was with this pack last summer
being an idiot i loaded enough supplies to last two weeks (my trip was only 4 days)
the pack was very comfortable once adjusted
gel/foam pads are very soft
since then i have used it five more times with no complaints
and have reduced my pack weight by 50%
the water bottle akward, but if your hiking with someone who cares
make sure the pack fits your torso, my girlfriend was persuaded into buying a larger forrester and she has not enjoyed the sore hips and shoulders
as for me I NEVER KNEW BACKPACKING WAS THIS EASY

Similar Products Used:

None

Okay, this pack is good, but definently didn't live up to the Gregory reputation. I just got back from a five day, 65 mile section hike of the AT and my shoulders are sore. I had about 40 lbs in this pack, and while it did the trick and worked fine, it wasn't the luxury ride I was expecting. I was hoping that the divider between the main pocket and the lower sleeping bag pocket would keep the weight of my clothes and gear off my food. However, my ramen got crushed :( and my spray butter got squeezed and leaked a little, the divider did not keep the weight off my grub. After that I can say that this pack otherwise did a very solid job, the load lifters rock, the hip belt is solid, the back padding rocks. My shoulders came out a bit sore and bruised, but I'm tough so it was no biggie, just a bit of a surprise coming from a brand of backpack that is so well know for its comfort.

Similar Products Used:

old school JanSport external

This pack fits great and is nice to carry. I have the same problem as someone has already indicted. Not enough separate compartments, it's like a giant sack. The water bottle holders are too far back and tough to get out and nearly impossible to put back in. But other than those things, it a great pack and seems very well made.

Similar Products Used:

Jansport