Is your trusty women’s backpacking pack getting a little worn and not quite as comfortable as it used to be? Or perhaps you’re looking for a backpack for the first time? Gregory’s Deva line has been fully redesigned, and may be the one for you.
The Gregory 70 Pack helps increase comfort, decrease pack weight, and still has all the features you’re looking for to help you have an enjoyable time on the trail. Across the line, Gregory dropped the pack weight by 12 percent from the previous version. That makes a great difference when you’re carrying all your gear on your shoulders. The newer version is also less expensive, and includes a removable rain cover.
The pack’s Response A3 Suspension System has a perimeter aluminum wishbone frame, height-adjusting harness, a ventilated back panel with an anti-slip lumbar pad, and a pre-curved adjustable hip belt and shoulder harness. The mobility of the hip belt allows it to react to your body’s movement, keeping your center of gravity aligned, which takes less energy to walk down the trail.
The women’s specific elements of the pack include shoulder harness curving and hip belt canting, so they fit your form much better than those straight lines that often come with men’s packs. With the Deva, you can swap out hip belt and shoulder harness sizes if what comes with your pack isn’t exactly what your body needs.
The top lid has double pockets in which to keep your gear. The underside of the top lid has a secure pocket with a key clip to keep your valuables tucked away. The pack is top loading, which means everything gets packed in from the cinched entry under the top lid, but there’s also a front-panel U-zip access at the bottom. The pack has an ultra-light, removable daypack (which doubles as a hanging reservoir sleeve), for short excursions when you want to leave the bulk of your things at camp.
Other great elements: sternum strap comes with a hydration tube clip, a water-repellent weather-shield pocket on the hip belt (great for small electronics), dual ice axe loops and a stowable ergonomic bottle holster.
The Gregory Deva 70 comes in charcoal gray, Egyptian blue and ruby red, and lists for $319 on the Gregory site. The Deva also comes in 60- and 80-liter sizes for slightly different prices, so choose the pack size you need most. The pack is also available at Moosejaw, Sunny Sports, and REI.