Gregory Mountain Products Z 65 Backpack

I recently did some comparison shopping for a backpacking trip to the Grand Canyon. I am not a highly experienced hiker, so I relied on a lot of magazine reviews and online articles. I looked at several options, including much more expensive bags from other manufacturers. The main reasons that I chose the Gregory Z65 were a good blend of capacity (65l), weight (just over 4 pounds unpacked) and options. I love the suspension system and certain things like hiking pole areas, a rain cover that allows storage and multiple access points.

I recently loaded her up with 25 pounds of equipment and did a 10 mile hike close to home. I made quite a few adjustments to the waist belt and shoulder straps, but once everything was adjusted the pack was very comfortable.

The compression straps really help to keep your gear from moving around and the shape of the pack really works when going through small areas like caves. The padding on the straps is sturdy while also being comfortable.

I did a month worth of research before purchasing this one. I looked at Deuters, Acer'ytyx (or something like that) and North Face and found this to be the best blend of what I am seeking. I don't expect to be using this pack every weekend, so for a two or three times a year this is perfect for me.

For someone who does more outside, I would recommend the Gregory Baltoro in a similar size. I really liked the Baltoro, but couldn't justify the additional $100-$150 for that upgrade. However, most of my research indicates that it is money well spent.

The reasons I chose the Z65 versus the Baltoro were cost (about 2/3 of the cost of the Baltoro with similar options) and weight and capacity. I could have bought a larger pack, but then you have the associated increase in weight.

BTWI was able to purchase my Z65 from an online auction site, brand-new in the bag with the $230 retail tags still on it, for $120....I would have been in for $250-$300 for a similar Baltoro...

I used this for a 4 day Virginia section hike of the A/T and had no mechanical issues with it.

The material, seams, and connections are very solid. The is an extremely well made pack I expect to eventually pass down to my son.

The lack of a rain cover was not surprising, but still a little disappointing to have to make an additional purchase for such a simple item.

The lack of zippered pockets for small items was a problem. No safe place to put keys, wallet, phone, etc. Though there is a hanging clip for a key, it did not work for my type of key, so had to have a friend stow my valuables.

The side pouch, where I kept my Nalgene was too far back for me. I could barely get the anything out of the pocket and had to have a friend put it back in place.

The zippered pouches in the front waist strap were just right for a small camera and sunglasses.

Even with the minor issues, it is clear that this pack is a cut above the store brand packs, so was well worth the small extra cost.

One other note on this pack: It was cheaper in blue than in the other colors, which I assume is because the blue does not look as good in the pictures. I felt the same way about the color, though bought it anyway. In reality, the blue looks fine.

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I bought this pack for a once-in-a-lifetime hike/camp across the Grand Canyon and it worked beautifully. It held everything I needed for the 4 day trip. Food, cloths, tent, sleeping bag and all the hiking/camping accessories one would require. I tried many different packs and found this one to be very price competitive, durable and comfortable (as 50 pounds on your back could be :) It was easy to wear and remove at the end of the day. I'm 6'1" and choose the medium size, because it was on sale, held what I needed and I'm at the upper limit of its recomended torso size. If you're an avid hiker/camper I highly recommend it.

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Have taken this on a couple of trips, and I'm very pleased with the purchase. Found out about it from a backpacking blog site and bought it last year. I've tried several backpacking packs and none of them have been as comfortable and rugged as this one, plus the gold color looks really unique and cool. People will think you know what you're doing when they see you rocking the gold color, even if you've never backpacked before.

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This backpack was great. My husband headed out with it the next weekend and it held all he needed including the bear canister.

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Tumi Alpha Expandable Organizer Computer Brief 26141

As a consultant, I often work out of numerous offices in any given week, and travel between cities for client visits relatively frequently.

For single day / overnight travel, this briefcase cannot be beaten I am amazed at how often I see other consultants using the exact same case!

The case easily fits a laptop, a zippered legal pad, a handful of files as well as an iPad, Kindle, umbrella (in the waterproof front pocket a nice touch!), glasses case and chargers. The main compartment can be expanded via zip about 2 inches, which means a toiletry kit and Eagle Creek shirt folder (smallest size) easily fit in.

The "pocket" between the front panel and main compartment is a well designed feature when carrying the bag, the pocket is held closed by the front handle, but it is easy to access anything kept in the pocket when the bag is put down. Very handy when flying I keep my earphones and Kindle in there so I can grab them before I stow the case for take off.

I have used this case daily, and the material has held up well no tears or scuffs. It is with regard to durability however that I have only given the case 4 stars. The zipper tabs quickly become chipped showing the metal underneath, and as they are painted black, this is very noticeable and detracts greatly from the appearance of the bag. The old Tumi messenger I used to use daily had dark gunmetal zipper tabs while these became tarnished over time, this was hardly noticeable. The chipped tabs look very cheap for such an expensive bag the design, capacity and overall material durability of this case is worth the price, except for this issue. I have considered buying the leather version of this / other Tumi cases, but will hold off until there is a change back to the old zippers / the zips are upgraded.

Overall a great bag, however the use of cheap zippers is unfortunate.

I own 2 bags one for work and one for personal. This Tumi bag serves as my work bag and I have been using it for over 7 years now. This model is the probably the most popular and for good reason. It has ample room for a laptop and all your paperwork. The expandability feature comes in very handy when you have to transport binders and other large materials. I have even put a change of clothes into it on occasion for overnight trips. The Tumi quality is outstanding as expected. As I mentioned before I have used the bag for over 7 years and it still looks pretty new. I would highly recommend this bag to anyone looking for a high end briefcase!

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I cannot say enough about this briefcase! Every detail has been gone over with a fine toothed comb, and it originated some innovations that have been copied by competitors. The product has received slight updates since I bought it 10 years ago. I enjoy how well it's made each time I use it. Seriously, every time I pick it up, I am pleased how nice it is.

Some things I really appreciate:

The way the business card pouch is accessible from the outside

The water(proof?) water bottle (Coke Zero!) pouch

The many inside zippered and elastic pouches

The printed refined cloth fabrics on the inside

The TUMI tracer

The key loop (love it when I'm traveling via air and don't need my home/car keys)

The umbrella pouch (perfect for a small auto-closing Tumi umbrella)

The CD holders (used for many purposes other than CDs)

The expandability (turns it into a one-night bag)

The large front pouch (fits the new Tumi Monster headphone case, which is a Tumi Alpha case)

Headphone port (I used that back in 03 with a hard disc iPod, but use less often today)

Cable organizing pouch (I actually bought two more because I'm an Eagle Scout and have held to the motto, Be Prepared :-D)

Awesome no-catch zippers

Indestructible and always looking good Alpha ballistic nylon

Solid clips and structural support throughout (I'm not worries it will break under any weight)

The two clip that can be selected if the bag is expanded for the strap (it just sits better on the shoulder when expanded. Necessary? No. A pleasure to use? Yes.

The leather handles (The wear, which is mentioned below, may not be great, but the soft handles are well-made and don't have problematic edges that irritate and was a good choice).

A couple things I don't like about my 10 year old version that might have been fixed:

There is an outside pocket that has a zipper on the bottom for putting it through a rolling case handle. On mine, it the bottom zipper won't stay closed all the time, so I cannot use if for storage. some sort of lathing zipper would be neat.

The new version has a monogram spot on the U shaped pocket. This "patch" doesn't seem attractive to me

The laptop sleeve isn't a good size for my thin Mac laptops. I got another sleeve from Timbuk2 that offers a bit of padding and just swapped it in.

A Note On Wear

I have used this briefcase every working day (and then some) since 2003, and other than some wear on the handles and a replaced strap, it looks brand new. The only reason I mention the handles and strap are that they're made with leather. I could probably recondition the handles. It's easy to buy a new strap from Tumi. I waaaay overloaded one of the front pockets a couple years ago and tore the inside fabric stitching. I took it to the Santana Row (Santa Clara, CA) store, and they sent it to a repair facility that repaired it for free less some shipping. They should've charged me, especially since it was 8 years old and I knew better. Oh, and they gave me a loaner briefcase too!

It's hard to go wrong with this bag! I suppose one only needs to decide how much storage they need and how big their computer or iPad is to ensure the right size. Tumi really hit it out of the park with this one!

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Years ago I used to make fun of all those stiffs in suits carrying their expensive Tumi bags. Then I started working internationally, wearing suits and trying to travel without ever checking a bag. This little tote/briefcase is awesome for that.

Right now I have my Mac Air, iPad and my Kindle in it, with all the cords as well as a pair of running shoes, a sweater, some t-shirts and boxers. This, coupled with my duffel, means I go abroad for up to two weeks without ever checking a bag.

Face it, Tumi makes a great product with a lot of thought put into what you need. It's durable and well organized and perfect for extended business travel.

Resistance is futile.

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I was very happy with my Victorinox laptop brief, which I used for about 2 years without any problems, but lately I increased the quantity of things (electronics and work papers) I'm carrying with me when traveling, so I needed a bigger brief but light in weight and with the enough compartments for those important documents and basic things I travel with (passport, travel shaver, bluethooth headphones, chargers, etc.).

This Tumi brief was exactly what I was looking for, I had the chance to try it on a duty free shop and I even got a discount price (payed less than the online price). It holds my laptop, the AC adapter, 3 chargers, my travel shaver, documents, the huge Nokia bluetooth headset case and my computer's security cable with no problems and it doesn't look like a sardine can. Totally recommend it.

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Lipault Paris Foldable 2 Wheeled Carry on Trolly

I am able to fit an amazing amount of stuff in this suitcase enough for 4-5 days but it does require careful packing. It's basically a soft side suitcase on a rigid back for the handle and wheels. It is tapered so the top is shallower than the bottom. The zippered pocket on front is hard to use. Handles are large, padded and do not lie flat. Fits in the smaller overhead bins that some of the older planes have. Not sure it's worth the price but it suits my needs very well.

I fit more into this than expected. It is so lightweight, it is so easy to get into an overhead compartment and I love how it collapses for easy storage.

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I wanted to be able to use this for a long weekend trip. Since it's not expandable, it's just way too shallow to fit enough stuff. Too bad! It's so pretty.

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BBP Bags - Industries Backpack

I've had this bag since Christmas and it's served me well for everyday and travel use. I don't have back fatigue like I've had with courier or other backpack style bags. The laptop compartment can accomodate a laptop plus an iPad and the outer compartment can hold my t shirts, an audio interface and all of my cables. There's plenty of pockets to store miscellaneous items. The two side pockets double as water pocket and zip-able compartments. Very handy for last minute grabs of keys, wallet and all the other things I forget on the way out the door.

I like this bag a lot. I'm a high school senior, and unfortunately it doesn't have enough pockets for most of my stuff. It has the laptop pocket, but not enough space to put a charging cord. It has a books pocket, but it's hard to fit two to three textbooks, plus papers and a binder. There's not really anywhere for a brown bag sized lunch, which is a bummer. Still, the construction so far is top notch. It's very cool looking, and I like that. The metal zippers are a great touch, and all the materials feel high quality. The laptop portion is great for a smaller computer, 15" and smaller, but not much in terms of cable management. Overall, for $30, I think this is a good choice for a slim, quick, bag that gets the job done, if you don't have that much to carry.

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The straps are a little small and the water bottle holders need to be redesigned. When a laptop and books are in the bag the bottle holders are almost useless. Other than those 2 things this is a great bag.

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This is the best backpack I have ever owned. The two best qualities are the myriad number of pockets and how comfortable it is to carry. I walk a lot throughout the week while carrying my backpack, and I rarely feel any soreness in my back or neck. I usually don't even notice that I am carrying it. In addition, if you want to ensure that your backpack stays dry in the rain I also suggest buying the Camelbak Raincover. Camelbak Raincovers for Hydration System , Size: Sm/Md 60113

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You can look up my review of the STM Revolution bag here on Amazon, I got it as a replacement for my Evolution bag which finally split wide open after about four years of VERY heavy use. RIP Evolution, you will be sorely missed. The Revolution (newer design of the Evolution) is a fine bag in many regards but not even close to being a replacement for the Evolution. For my intended purpose, it's a horrible bag and I was left hunting for a replacement.

I went through several bags (thanks to Amazon Prime, I got to try them out risk free with two day shipping and hassle free returns) including the Timbuk2 Zeitgeist, Timbuk2 Q, Incase Campus and a few others I can't remember. Again, these bags had their pros and cons but none of them fit the void left by the venerable STM Evolution. After much Googling on the subject, I found a site that mentioned BBP Bags, a company I had previously never heard of but got some pretty serious praise from those who had bought their bags.

BBP makes mostly messenger and convertible bags, I think the Industries Backpack might be their only backpack. Out of the box, the first thing I noticed is that it's built like a tank. Not in the sense that it's heavy, bulky or overbuilt but just that it's made from materials that mean business, has chunky zipper pulls, fully taped and sewn seams, all the hallmarks of a bag designed to be carried every single day. It's got a great selection of compartments, TWO water bottle pouches (you hear that Timbuk2, Incase, STM and others?!?!?), high contrast white lining so you can find your stuff in poor lighting, well padded interior (more on that in a moment) and comfortable straps. Lastly, it's a seriously understated bag with a clean, industrial design. You won't grab unnecessary attention carrying this bag, no one is going to identify you as someone who might be carrying $5,000 worth of electronics on your back.

I do have a couple complaints:

The padding in the bottom of the laptop compartment is far from sufficient. I supplemented with a high-density foam pad I had been using in my STM bag so it's all good in my hood, but less MacGuyver-y folks may not be happy with the drop protection.

The shoulder straps aren't the most comfortable one's I've had. This is one area where Timbuk2 bags really stand out, and other bag makers need to rip off their strap design. BBP's sternum strap is great, but would be nice if it had some elastic to it like the STM does. I might actually swap them, now that I think of it.

Because of the way the zipper seams are sewn and taped, it can make it hard to open and close the zippers. This is seriously critical gripe, and some folks are rolling their eyes right now, but I'm in and out of my bag so many times a day that it does amount to a meaningful annoyance. This is one of the ways in which the STM stood out but I have to give BBP props for using a MUCH more durable design. I had to refuse the zippers on my STM twice in four years because they pulled away from the bag material.

So would I recommend the BBP? Would I buy it again? Absolutely on both counts, assuming I couldn't find an STM Evolution on eBay or Craigslist :-)

[UPDATE 3/25/13]

I managed to find a used STM Evolution bag, and not a moment too soon because the top handle on my BBP bag has started to disintegrate. More specifically, the synthetic leather material that's wrapped around the top handle has started falling apart, which makes the bag look kind of cheap.

I also had a zipper pull break, but BBP replaced it immediately. Their customer service was excellent.

The rest of the bag has held up fine. Ultimately I've got no regrets, but it's not my absolute ultimate bag (sorry, STM still takes that cake).

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Levi's Boys 8-20 Multi Plex Backpack

This is a great backpack that my son actually didn't destroy. He has used it for the 2012/2013 school year and it is still in great condition. We will be able to use it again next year. I recommend this one.

I recently ordered this back pack but had ordered another pack days earlier. I liked this one better. It seemed to be a little more rugged for my 6 yr. old grandson. Although it is a "normal" size, he will grow into it! I went through the "return" process to send the other one back. I can't say enough for Amazon!! I printed out the return label, no cost to me. Took it to a UPS store and within hrs. got a confirmation from Amazon. That simple!!! Love shopping with them. Everything I've ever ordered, either arrives by the expected delivery date OR days earlier! Tracking is easy and like the text messages from them.

A Happy Customer!

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it's OK. The first one is with crooked straps, Replaced for a new one already. But it's worth that price~

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It's larger than I have imagined, hope when my little son grow older will like it! Not expensive but looks good!

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All very good excellent, recommended. good material is ideal for classes. The color scheme is excellent and looks much better in person. I love this bag

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Osprey FlapJill LG Backpack

When I purchased this bag, I knew Osprey was a well renowned brand, but I had never personally owned one of their products before. After having it for several months, I don't think I'll every buy from another brand again.

The bag that I got was the Jet Black Version, and just an FYI to anyone interested, the actual color isn't as dark as it appears in the picture. To me it looks more like a very dark charcoal, not so much a jet black.

Pros:

The backpack, although smaller than other bags holds a surprising amount of stuff. I'm a college student and can easily fit an Alienware M14X (which is a pretty thick laptop), all of my textbooks and notebooks, and several folders in the main compartment and laptop sleeve. In addition to all of that, there is plenty of space in the front pockets for my keys, wallet, pens, pencils, a planner, a small umbrella, and a bunch of miscellaneous items.

The quality of the pack is also superb. It is made of a very heavy canvas type material that is very durable and fairly water resistant. I tend to pack it quite full and I haven't had any trouble with tearing where the straps meet the body as I have had in the past with other bags.

The way the bag distributes weight across your back is awesome. I typically carry quite a lot of heavy stuff in mine and when i put it on, I don't have any trouble with back strain or feeling like all the weight is focused on my shoulders. It seems to spread the weight over your entire back which makes it super comfortable to wear while walking across campus.

Osprey offers a lifetime warranty on all of their bags, so if it gets damaged, they with either fix it or replace it free of charge.

Cons:

I wish there were a few more pockets on the front and the sides or possibly several smaller compartments instead of the few larger ones that it has.

There is a small Velcro patch that closes one of the compartments on the outside of the bag. I've found that if I have any pens or pencils in one of the little slots that are intended for pens or pencils, it obstructs the Velcro and makes it difficult to seal.

This pack is a little on the pricy side.

Conclusion:

This bag is fantastic and I would buy it again in a heartbeat. Although there are a few minor cons, they pale in comparison to the massive number of pros. The higher price on this bag reflects its amazing quality. I would recommend it to anyone looking for a high quality, stylish, and all around awesome backpack.

Great bag to carry my laptop and other essentials. Recently returned to school via online classes, and all textbooks are online as well. If you are a college student looking for a bag to lug around a laptop PLUS a bunch of giant books, this is not the bag for you. If you have a laptop and a notebook or binder or two, and a few other miscellaneous smaller supplies, this bag is perfect! Well made, definitely worth the price.

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Wife likes it a lot. Nice material. Good looking. Water resistant. The padding is nice and comfortable. Happy we got it.

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This is the best backpack I have ever owned in terms of weight distribution and how it fits on my back. The only little defect is that it is a little narrow. But that forces me to carry only the books I am really going to need for the day and not put in it an extra million things, and my back is thankful!

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I did a lot of research before finally selecting this commuter pack....and I'm so glad I did. I use this backpack for commuting to work and since I work 12-shifts, I needed something that could handle the gear. I can fit work shoes, a soft-sided lunch bag, a book, change of scrubs, etc without problems. I was a little curious about the waterproof-ness of the backpack, but had that question answered this morning when I was caught in a downpour on the way home from work. I arrived home soaked, with black road grit splattered all up my backside and on the backpack. I held the pack over the sink and literally just rinsed the grit and stains off. Next time I looked at it, it was dry and perfect again. The inside of the pack stayed perfectly dry. I love the zippered pockets and little compartments to stash stuff. I use the laptop section for my scrubs instead of a computer, but it looks like it would work great for a laptop too. No complaints, you should buy this backpack. Just be careful in your selection...there is the "regular" version and the large version (which I have). I tried on the regular version at a local Recreational Equipment Incorporated store and it seemed kind of small for my needs.

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Guatemalan Hippie Inspired Backpacks

The backpackers was just what I wanted. But, even after adjusting the straps, the straps ripped away from the backpacker the very first time I used it.

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