Gregory Paragon 60

How much the empty rucksack adds to what you carry, as sold. 6: A bit better than average.

Gregory lists 1,690 g for the M/L (60 L), in the 1,500 to 1,999 g band. The Great Outdoors weighed its M/L at 1.83 kg on its own scales, Section Hiker weighed its pack at about 1,735 g and OutdoorGearLab measured 1.59 kg: all in the same band. Gregory lists the 90 g rain cover as a separate figure and does not say whether the 1,690 g includes it. If the cover is extra, the pack as sold weighs about 1,780 g, which is in the same band.

How well it carries a full camping load over a long day: hip belt, shoulder straps, back and how the weight sits. 9: Among the best you can buy for this.

Five reviews carried a real load. CleverHiker used about 13.6 kg and rates comfort 4.9 of 5. BetterTrail carried about 18 kg over 3 days and about 37 km: stable and supportive, with some pressure at the hip belt seams by day three (its own comfort rating is 4.5 of 5, which we count as 4 because a half rounds down). Backpacker took up to about 18 kg of mountaineering gear up Mt Rainier and had no hot spots. The Big Outside began a 4-day, 64 km Grand Canyon walk at about 16 kg including some group gear and says it would stay comfortable with a little more weight, but would choose Gregory's Baltoro for routinely carrying 23 kg. The Great Outdoors found it comfortable with 16 kg in the Cairngorms and thinks it would take more. Not counted: OutdoorGearLab (no load given; it says the straps dig in and the loaded back bounces at capacity) and Section Hiker (no load given).

How well the fabric, zips, buckles and frame hold up over seasons of use. 5: Does the job. Average for wild-camping gear.

Three reports of real use, with mixed results. BetterTrail: about 80 km of use including a 3-day trek, only minor scuffing on the stitching at the bottom of the frame, zips, buckles and stitching strong (its own durability rating is 3.5 of 5, which we count as 3 because a half rounds down). Backpacker: the body fabric was fine on an extended bushwhack but the base got a few holes in a slide of about 30 m, and it lists not the most durable as a con. The Great Outdoors: no problems yet, but expects the pocket mesh to snag and tear as it did on earlier Paragon models. Not counted: CleverHiker (rates durability from years with earlier versions), The Big Outside (describes the fabrics only), and Section Hiker and OutdoorGearLab (no wear report).