Gregory Baltoro

Bottom Line

The Gregory Baltoro gets high praise for its convenient top-loading design and many compartments. It is large enough for weekend excursions, but if you are going more than five days, you may want a larger pack. Conversely, for your weekend trips, a smaller pack may be better suited. The Baltoro comes in 65- and 75-liter sizes.

Performance

Capable, but squeaky. Gregory is known for their excellent lumbar support, and the Gregory Baltoro hiking backpack is no exception. The pack is designed to comfortably carry up to 50 pounds, although some reviewers suggest a higher weight limit. A reviewer on SummitPost.org states, "The Baltoro will carry 40-50 pounds easily and loads of up to 60 pounds with comfort."

Ethan Newberry of GingerRunner.com notes the backpack tends to be a bit noisy when in use. One customer on BackCountry.com says, "The harness sometimes squeaks a little as you walk. You can fiddle with it and adjust it a little to mitigate it, but it come and goes." While this doesn't necessarily affect the performance, a persistent squeaking sound may become quite bothersome on longer hikes.

Ease Of Use

Easy access. The Gregory Baltoro has a top-loading design with a front and bottom zipper to access the main compartment. However, some find that the excessive number of pockets and compartments make the front-loading feature useless. Writing at Adventure Reports, one reviewer says, "It's a feature I specifically sought out but it is useless on a pack this size (especially with this many pockets) because once everything is loaded and cinched down the front access is inaccessible anyway." Most reviewers, however, say this is a minor trade-off given the level of organization and management the numerous compartments offer. Another popular feature: The backpack has a reservoir sleeve and two drinking tube ports.

Durability

No complaints; a good sign. Proven to be strong and durable, the Gregory Baltoro is composed of double-diamond ripstop nylon and flat-weave nylon materials. In his video review of the pack, Newberry explains how the Baltoro was regularly abused and thrown around during his trips. After multiple hikes the pack still looked clean and new. This is a testament to the pack's high threshold for wear and tear. Although reports go back many years, consumer reviews do not mention durability issues, which is a good sign.

Customer Service

Good for life. All Gregory packs carry a lifetime warranty, including the Gregory Baltoro. Depending on where you purchase the Baltoro, you may be able to try it out before deciding. There are few reviews about customer service.