This newly released lightweight backpack is equipped with user-friendly features without adding unnecessary weight. Supreme comfort meets a lighter base pack weight! This backpack is ideal for both the casual overnight hiker, and the long distance backpacker covering ground day-in, and day-out.

Pros

Extremely Comfortable
Feature Rich For Weight
Included Rain Cover

Cons

Long Term Durability Concerns
Poor Back Ventilation
Some Features Unnecessary For A Lightweight Pack
Minor Design Flaws* (See Review)

Gregory has entered the market with their new line of lightweight backpacks, the Men's Paragon & Women's Maven series. Recreational backpacking has become obsessed with becoming UL (ultralight) over the past several years, allowing hikers to achieve their personal goals without so much of the ‘pain-in-the-neck’. After approximately four months and about two hundred miles of testing, this pack has shown to be truly luxe in comfort, however Gregory has paid the price in long-term durability…

NOTE: Some of the design flaws noted in this review have been addressed By Gregory Packs, and we at Trailspace are waiting to hear back about further information regarding these fixes.

Winter backpacking on the Appalachian Trail

Specs

Volume- 58 Liters

Weight- 3lb 9oz (3lb 4oz minimum weight)

Measurements- 31”H x 13”W x 10” D

Load Range (Estimated by tester)- 12-40lbs

Frame Type- 7001 aluminum internal perimeter frame

Fabric- 210D CryptoRip nylon/100D high tenacity nylon

Included Rain Cover- Yes

Fit, Comfort, and Ride

The Gregory Paragon 58 is one of the only packs tested to have no break-in time, with truly out-of-the-box comfort. The MD/LRG 17"-21” pack size was tested, and the fit was right on the target for a 5’10” 155lb tester.

Fully loaded pack for 7 days was found to be superbly comfortable!

Each size available to the consumer has four inches of torso adjustment, allowing the user to use a simple hook & loop system to get that perfect fit.

Easy to read markings help for easy adjustment!

Gregory’s Quickadjust technology is also used for the hip belt suspension.

The Aerolon suspension in the Paragon 58 is very comfortable, using an aluminum perimeter frame.

Maximum pack weight of approximately 40lbs was used on several winter overnights, and did not overload the suspension system of the pack. As far as carriage is concerned, this is a near perfect system. Gregory specs the maximum carry of the 58L model to be 50lbs.

40lbs on a multi-day winter trip was still found to be very comfortable!

Although the webbing and straps for pack adjustment are more svelte for weight reduction, no flaws were evident with the redesign.

Gregory uses a silicone coated lumbar pad, using their proprietary ‘Gription’ technology.

One of the main concerns found testing the pack in regards to comfort is back ventilation. Gregory touts their Matrix ventilation system to provide ‘exceptional airflow’, however the results are far less than exciting.

Understanding the need for the back panel to provide structure for comfort, this ultimately is not a deal breaker considering how comfortable the ride is. The 58 liter volume spec seems to be true to size. When carrying less, the four compression straps (two per side) do an adequate job.

Note the lower straps act as double duty to retain tent poles or water bottles that are in the side pockets.

A lonely, cold winter night for the Gregory waiting for the Greyhound bus back home

The side pockets are medium in size, but will hold a 32oz Nalgene bottle. The right side pocket has a 45° angle second access point, which is user friendly to get access to water, or a snack.

The Paragon 58 is stripped down for a fast & light winter overnight

When removing the top lid, the front attachment straps can easily be removed. Two lower front accessory straps are also easily removable for weight savings.

The main & lower straps attach via larks head/girth hitch

Although not problematic, the attachment straps for the top lid don’t have a place to stow. Trailspace is waiting to hear back from Gregory about design changes.

Another design oversight is the functionality of the removable main compartment divider as a lid for the pack. When attempting to do so, the user will find the attachment clips are a different size, rendering this option useless. Once again, Trailspace is waiting to hear back from Gregory about design changes.

The divider can easily be removed using this floating clip

The clip gets attached at the load lifter

See the difference between the lid (top) and the flap (bottom)?

The Paragon has two generously sized hip belt pockets; one mesh, one water resistant.

The mesh pocket holds a PLB (Personal Locator Beacon), and much more

The elastic mesh front pocket is a nice place to store wet or quick-access items. Although this very stretchy material allows the user to store lots in the pocket, long-term durability is questionable.

Although somewhat hidden, there is a stash pocket under the mesh for storing the included rain cover.

Moving fast during a rainy winter day near Warner Gap

The included rain cover is highly water resistant

The main compartment of the backpack has two access points; the standard top opening, and the sleeping bag compartment at the bottom.

One hand pull open/one hand pull closed design is used for main pack access

Traditional lower pack access is available for buried items

There are several other notable features of the Paragon, like the useful sunglass quickstow, and the trekking pole attachments.

The sunglass stow is useful, and well designed

*The upper trekking pole attachment has a elastic hook system*

The lower trekking pole attachment manually adjusts to stay tight

Some people may find the hydration reservoir sleeve useful, which acts double-duty as an ultra-light summit pack.

A hydration reservoir is clipped to the top frame

Note the second zippered compartment on the summit bag

The summit pack is perfect for water resupply & a snack!

The main area of concern with this pack is it’s questionable long-term durability. Following the second or third use, the connection between the mesh pocket, and main upper mount point began to come undone. This is a critical area that has to withstand lots of daily stress! It is not possible to determine if this separation is a design flaw, or poor sewing…

The Gregory Paragon 58 has been tested during the winter 2016-2017 season over approximately 200 miles along the Appalachian Trail, and mid-Atlantic US.

Catching a quick view at High Rock, near the Mason Dixon Line on the AT

Whether going out for a quick overnight, or thru hiking a long distance trail, The Gregory Paragon 58 can do it all! Many thanks to the people out at Gregory for the opportunity to test this product for the Trailspace Gear Review Corps!