Load Management

Make light work of big hauls

- ELIZABETH MILLER AND JUSTIN NYBERG

Gregory Maven 65 $250 Built for comfort-minded backpackers who carry heaps of gear, the women’s Maven 65 (and men’s Paragon 68) has one of the most effective trampoline-style suspension systems we’ve ever seen. Wings of stretchy nylon at the lumbar produce a snug, wraparound fit for superior weight distribution and allow the sturdy, padded mesh hipbelt to pivot with each stride, keeping the pack blissfully stable under oxen-grade loads. “It feels like a bear hug on your back,” a tester said. Gregory goes full bore on the feature set, with side- and bottom-access zippers, a floating lid, phone-size pockets on the hipbelt, an adjustable back panel, and an integrated rain cover. But because it’s built on a flexible aluminum frame, the pack remains feather light. 3.7 lbs (men’s) / 3.5 lbs (women’s)

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