Do you pack your backpack perfectly, placing the things you’ll need first on top, so you don’t have to dig for something? Don’t lie. Many have attempted, but few have accomplished the perfect packing technique. Wouldn’t it be great to have a backpack that opens like a duffel, so you can see all the contents at once? You’ve got that with the Gregory Compass 30 pack.
The pack’s single main compartment has zippered duffel access, so if you’ve yet to get the packing order right, you can easily get anything inside without too much trouble. There’s also an external-access padded 15-inch laptop compartment that’ll easily fit your tablet if you’re not into bringing the larger laptop along.
Need to keep a few things separate for quick access? Use the top accessory pocket, which has a key clip and internal zippered mesh security pocket—or for larger items, try the zippered mesh organizer pocket inside the main compartment lid.
The amount of stuff you need to bring along is easy to vary, with the pack’s side compression straps, and the straps don’t cut into your shoulders if you happen to overpack a little. The ventilated back panel is a good thing to have when you’re in warmer climates, or just sweating it out on a fast hike.
Toss the pack easily into the overhead bin on your flight with the top and bottom grab handles. The semi-rigid front panel comes in handy when someone plops their bag on top of yours without thinking to ask if you’re carrying something fragile.
The Gregory Compass 30 pack lists for $99 on the Gregory website. It’s also available on Amazon for $74 and on Backcountry. It hold 30 liters, comes in three colors, and weighs less than a kilo (1 pound 10 ounces).
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