We offer Free Shipping on orders over $50 shipped within the contiguous United States...that's the lower 48 to you and me. If your order is received before 5 PM Eastern Standard Time, we will make every effort to get it out the same day. Make sure to take Free Shipping into account when comparing prices.
Free Shipping (Economy) must be selected inside the shopping cart.
Sorry, but some restrictions do apply:
Good only in the contiguous (lower 48) United States
Excludes freight items (i.e. kayaks, cargo boxes, car racks, some bikes, and some surfboards)
Due to contracts with the following brands, we are unable to ship any of their products outside the US.
more...
Int'l Shipping
DepartmentOfGoods.com uses UPS Worldwide Express or Worldwide Expedited
for all shipping outside the United States. We have found this method to be quick,
secure, and cost effective.
A cool carry and front access makes the Gregory Z65 Backpack a good choice for your summer weekend backpacking trips. With the lightweight, mid-sized Z65, you can kiss the city goodbye for a weekend of climbing, mountaineering, or backwoods exploring. The convenient front access lets you easily get to any item you might need along the trail, even if it is all the way on the bottom.
JetStream LTS suspension eliminates unnecessary points of contact, which leads to more air between your back and the pack so you sweat less
Lightweight thermo-formed and die-cut HDPE framesheet with 7001-T6 hollow aluminum stay keep the packs shape regardless of the load
Dual-density foam lumbar cushions the weight as it is transferred to the hip-belt
Perforated foam hip-belt and shoulder harness feature moisture-wicking mesh to keep you cool and dry on your hike
Hip-belt is heavily padded and adjustable to comfortably transfer the pack load
Removable top lid lets you trim down the weight on day hikes or climbs
Packs larger than it looks. Carries nice and cool, fits like a glove when sized properly. Not a lot of e external tie points beyond the basic axe loops. Great for weekenders.
Hi there, I ordered a large as I am in between sizes. I hiked
Hi there, I ordered a large as I am in between sizes. I hiked a 17 miler in the ADK's and had hot spots and trouble with weigt ditribution. I think I should have gone with a medium. Am I able to exchange it?
Yep, just go to the HELP menu in the top right corner and there are step by step directions to return it under FAQ. Talk to a rep via live chat if you need additional help.
Hi there, I ordered a large as I am in between sizes. I hiked
Hi there, I ordered a large as I am in between sizes. I hiked a 17 miler in the ADK's and had hot spots and trouble with weigt ditribution. I think I should have gone with a medium. Am I able to exchange it?
Backcountry has a unlimited return policy. You should be able to return it for a complet refund. For more information if you look at the bottom of any page under the SHOP tab theres a return policy link.
Working into my third season with this pack. Weight is great, fit is near perfect. Breathable back pad is awesome.
Only bad: Water bottle holders don't work too well (not accessible easily), but I use them to store tent poles and fishing rod etc. and they work fine for that.
Removable upper compartment could (and will) make a great side hike daypack with a little modification.
Water pouch takes some room from the rest of the pack and isn't the greatest hydration system. Solve this by bringing a steripen and less water.
This is one of the few packs that actually fit me due to my small size. Space wise it has a slightly smaller capacity than my friends Osprey Aether 60s. This pack however is simple and has many features that make it a great pack. Pros: - Comfortable hipbelt and shoulder straps. First time out the straps would need to be tightened every few miles. Second time, straps stayed in place and I didnt worry about them. - Pockets on the hipbelts - Lots of compression straps, 4 side (top and bottom), 2 top on lid and 1 on top and drawstring closure, and 2 bottom. This allows you to stabilize the load you are carrying. Also allows me to make the pack much smaller if Im taking the pack for a short trip. - Hipbelt is size adjustable. If you have a short torso but larger on the hips you can adjust from small, medium, and large by removing belt from velcro and adjusting accordingly - Can access pack from top and from zip in front. Allows access to most areas of the pack. - Frame allows airflow on your back. You can feel the breeze pass through as you are hiking which is welcomed on hot days. - Hydration compatible with pass throughs on the left and right side. Can easily fit a 3 liter bladder in the bladder pocket.
Cons: - It is impossible to reach the water bottle pockets while it is on. Not a problem if you're using a hydration pack - Water bottle pockets arent that deep. It might be because Im using a size small, but the pockets arent deep compared to the Osprey Aether pockets. I have to make sure my bottle is tethered to the compression straps in case it might fall out. - Top lid is removable if you want to save weight but you cant use it as a day pack for hikes after you setup camp. - Not really a con, but the sonora gold is really a greenish color than yellow. Have used this backpacking in the winter time and had more than enough space to carry everything. I would try out the pack first to make sure it fits your body. Will have to see how durable this pack will be in the long haul but so far so good.
It would be bigger inside but when between sizes like you are, the rule of thumb is to pick the smaller size to get a better fit. I'd worry more about the fit than a couple of cubic inches.
First off I really love this pack, the suspension system is great the pack truly is part of you. I took it on some harry trails in the ADK's with about 40-42 pounds in it and it was awesome. Hardly know it is on your back, holds all my gear. The only drawback is the access, not 100% sure how I feel about the main compartment, it is fine when you are in camp but can be a pain when you need to get something while on the move. The compartment is not very wide, I had my sleeping pads and tent on the outside to accomodate my bear canister and other supplies inside. Overall Gregory kills it with the suspension system. Very satisfied overall with this pack.
I'm 6'2" so I assume I'll need a large, but my waist is just 30". Will the hip belt of the large be too big for me? Should I get the medium? any help would be greatly appreciated.
Don't assume anything. Measure your torso before you make any sizing decisions. You may also be able to get a smaller waist belt from Gregory if you end up needing a large pack but a medium belt.
This is a great pack. The pockets on the hip belt are awesome and fits a little point and shoot. energy bar, or knife. The lid does not make a fanny pack, which i have never needed but usually bring a small day pack. Overall very comfortable no matter what the weight. It is top loading but opens up, so makes it easy to access when setting up camp. Would suggest, but always suggest trying them on with weight, I tried several on at the store This one fit the best with lots of weight and medium weight. I am a smaller athletic fit so Medium fit perfect.
This can easily be fixed by clicking on the "Chat Now" button at the top right corner of the window. The representatives are extremely helpful and patient.
I bought my Z65 in 2008, the first year Gregory offered it. From the pictures it looks like they've updated a few things since the original offering (the one I bought), so someone please feel free to correct me if any of what I'm about to say is no longer accurate.
The Good: --The most comfortable hip belt and shoulder straps I think I've ever worn. Even after three years and many stuffings into my trunk, they still hold their original contours and hug my not-so-curvy curves like they were always meant to. The hip belt is the first one I've used that stays put on my hips. Even with two bear canisters and eight days of food, along with tent and cooking gear, my shoulders were comfy for a backpack through Kings Canyon National Park. --Lots of compression straps for load stabilization. Put in your stuff, tighten down the straps, and your load will hug your back like a monkey. --Can be panel or top loaded. --Lots of air flow. My back still gets sweaty, but it's much much better than my old North Face Inversion. --Hydration system compatible with pass-throughs on both sides. The sleeve is wide enough for a Platypus or MSR Dromedary system, too. --The hip-belt pockets are perfect for stashing snacks, a small camera, or anything else you want handy but not in your pants.
The Not-So-Good: --The side water bottle pockets are nigh impossible to reach with the pack on unless you're a member of Cirque de Sole. They also seem rather weak; the hem on both sides started coming unstitched after my second trip, but that's the only sign of wear on the pack. --The lid, while detachable, doesn't have a belt for day-pack use. --Seams are stiched instead of welded. --Strapping my Z-rest on the side is tricky; does OK on the bottom, though.
Overall a great pack. I can get all my gear for a solo trip through the Sierra, including the mandated bear canister, inside the pack without having to play gear Tetris. While it's not the lightest pack on the market by any means, it handles whatever load you have with ease.
Definitely not made in the US. It's actually made in China. I was just at an EMS the other day and checked specifically for that. Still a great-looking pack, seems comfortable and well-built enough. But if you're looking for a non-China product, this is not the one for you. Seems kind of odd for them, too, because so many packs are now made in Thailand or the Philippines. The super low price should be a dead giveaway...
Went on a 3 day trek on AT by the second day we had problems.
Pro's -comfortable and sits well -lots of space -straps or cinches down good
Con's -lumbar pad ripped from rubbing on belt -waist buckle snapped during moderate use -doesn't really fit a bladder -really only two main cargo holds -overpriced (unless on SAC)
So from the pictures of the baltoro and the z65, it looks like
So from the pictures of the baltoro and the z65, it looks like the z65's straps are much thinner (and maybe nicer feeling). Can anyone confirm or deny this? Which one would you recommend, and why?
Yes. The Baltoro's straps are horrible IMO. Much to thick and much to hard for anything but mega loads. The Z series straps are oh so much nicer. In fact I am currently trying to figure out if I can get Z straps and mount them to my Baltoro 70 so it is a comfortable as my Z35R.
Gregory has something great going on with their JetStream system. It keeps your back nice and dry, and also contours to your back quite nicely. The lumbar support is great, and there is a special little pad located just above the hipbelt/lumbar area that keeps your back in an upright position, avoiding the typical backpack slump. It is hard to describe, but you've got to try it on to believe it. I wouldn't load tooo much into the pack, don't get me wrong its great, but I would really only use it for summer backpacking. It feels too lightweight for anything that requires burly gear. This is my go to pack for weekend trips, and even multiday trips with others who can split the gear load. I would recommend this to anyone.
This is obviously an update to the previous Z65 by Gregory -
This is obviously an update to the previous Z65 by Gregory - what improvements/changes have been made and has it been for better or for worse? I can pick up the older version for 50 bucks cheaper and am wondering if this new version is worth it. It looks like the water resistant zippers are no longer there (a downgrade) but everything else appears the same.
orig: I purchased then returned the new Z65 because the shoulder straps were attached too close together on the back of the pack to allow for a comfortable fit around my neck. No amount of adjusting stopped the straps from rubbing my neck raw - not a good feeling when you're hiking. The rest of the pack felt great and was constructed well, but I decided to keep my current Gregory. I suggest test driving the pack in a collarless shirt too see if you have the same issues with the shoulder straps and neck.
Comment on Greg Lampman's review >