You may be asking, "If you love this pack, why didn't you give it 5 stars?" Well...I'm not infatuated with it. In a way love can be defined as accepting someone despite of their shortcomings or flaws. That being said, I do think that there are some things about this pack that are not perfect but there are so many things about it that work so well.Here are some things about the pack I would change if I could:
1. The 'secret' pocket along the right side of the pack behind the waist belt seems like a gimmick to me...there aren't many things I would put in there as a backpacker...it could fit a wallet or something, but I don't see much use for it. Now if you're worried that a stranger will root through your pack, then that could be helpful.
2. The hip pockets are mesh which cuts down on weight but don't put anything in there that you aren't willing to put through the elements. Stick your cell phone/camera in a baggie!
3. The side mesh pockets are not elastic so putting a water bottle in them is really hard once the main compartment is packed. I put water bottles in those pockets before I pack the main compartment and it makes things a little more snug in there. I'd like to have more space in my main compartment. So why don't I just get a hydration bladder? Next point...
4. It's hard to get a hydration bladder in and out of the hydration pouch. And the hydration pouch actually sits in the main compartment, so once again, pack it before you pack the main compartment. And a packed hydration pouch means a little less space in the main compartment.
5. This last one is really ticky-tack but the top compartment has a zipper designed to keep out water. Once again, I think that's more of a gimmick because you can actually roll it and tuck it in which could keep it away from water anyway.
Now that I have gotten that out of the way, I can talk about why I love this pack! First and foremost, it fits me and my needs really well. The suspension fits well and feels good on my back. I love the way it aligns with the small of my back and at my shoulders. And at 48 liters, I can have just about everything I need for an overnight/weekend trip with the fam or a more intense, less comfortable 3 day trip with my buddies. Here are some fragmented thoughts on what I like:
-I recently took the Savant out on an overnight trip where temps dipped into the low teens at night, and I had it packed as full as I could get it with anything that could keep me warm (I don't have any winter gear). Loaded with about 30 lbs of gear (carried some extra stuff for people) the pack held up quite nicely. The suspension is basically two thick wires that make a wishbone shape. They did not bend or shift, and the suspension did not bulge...I was worried it would happen but was pleased it did not. Surprisingly, the 30 lbs felt relatively comfortable on the hike if that's even possible. My muscles were tired from fatigue but not because of discomfort. 30 lbs is at the high end of this pack's weight capability and it performed beautifully.
-All of the straps seem to work really well. I haven't experienced much shifting of gear, and the straps stay pretty snug. When I had 30 lbs in it I had to readjust my waist strap but I am a 30 inch waist and pretty slender so I blame that more on my hips...and the fact that I had a bunch of layers on to protect me from the elements.
-You can get into the main compartment in two ways: the top, and there's a zipper that opens up like a horseshoe to get access to the main without opening the top and unpacking everything. I find that very helpful.
-Unlike the side mesh pockets, the outer front pocket has some elastic on it so you can fit a good amount of things in there even with a full main compartment.
-I haven't used the rain cover yet, but I'm sure glad it's there!
Overall, I think this is a great pack. The things I'd change about this pack did not deter me from getting it because there are many things I love about it. This pack fits me really well, it's durable and for the most part the design is really well thought out. I wouldn't have reservations about recommending this pack to anyone interested in a weekend pack.
**UPDATE** I recently went on an overnight backpacking trip and on the way back the clouds opened up and poured. The rain cover worked great as the water beaded up and simply rolled off of the cover. Worked quite nicely.
Buy Gregory Savant 48 Backpack Now
Fits great, very comfortable. Used it on a trip to Havasupai, a 10 mile hike into the campground in the Grand Canyon. It was our first trip of this type. Pack worked great and had plenty of room for my stuff. Any bigger and I would fall over since I am only 5 feet tall. Lots of pockets and easy access to pack and unpack.I've used my new pack on six snowshoe daytrips. Its exactly what I needed to haul extra cold weather gear and a hydration bladder without having to hang gloves and jackets from straps and carabiners on the outside of the pack. I like the main entry port of the Savant which top-loads or has access from a midway zipper. Great purchase at a good price!!
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