I bought my Gregory Deva 60 backpack after I saw the rave reviews from Backpacker Magazine, and I decided that I should check it out for myself. I was only intending to just try it on in the store, but after loading it up with 40 pounds of deadweight at the store, walking around and feeling like I was hardly carrying anything, I knew that there was something amazing about this bag.
The Good:
- It is truly a women’s specific design. It has a curved waistbelt that molds to my hips, so weight is distributed perfectly. Plus, the shoulder straps are contoured, and designed so weight doesn’t fall on the tops of the shoulders.
- It is very easy to keep organized. There is a separate sleeping bag compartment at the bottom, where I stuff my Marmot Teton sleeping bag (inside a compression sack). There are side pockets, waistbelt pockets (I keep my camera in one and chapstick and sunscreen in the other), and a pocket on the rear of the pack where I keep snacks. Unlike most top loading backpacks where gear can sometimes be hard to reach, because of the quick open zipper I can access items that are in the middle of my pack.
- It is highly durable. I’ve used mine hiking through rocky areas and in the snow, I’ve filled it to the max and then some, and I have yet to have any issues with the material wearing out or zippers busting.
My Fully Loaded Gregory Deva Pack!
- Heavy pack weight. The pack weighs 5.5 pounds empty. However, I’ve stuffed my Gregory Deva with 40+ pounds and it is still comfortable (the max for the 60L bag is 50 pounds, and I’d likely fall over with that much weight!) For me the additional comfort is well worth it!
- Price! But as they say, you get what you pay for. I consider my pack to be an investment
I want to buy a comfortable, well fitting hiking bag. I also want to kit myself out with the correct equipment, starting with shoes. If you have any more information please will you let me know.
Thank you
Stephanie
Hi Stephanie! Please check out Hiking 101. There you can learn all about hiking shoes/boots, apparel, backpacks, and more. Happy trails!
Thanks for the tips Hiking Lady! They are just fabulous!
Definitly lookings to get this pack now. Thanks for the detailed review!
Glad the review was helpful, Whitney. I’d love to hear how you like the Gregory Deva once you try it out!
So happy I found this review. Was considering buying either this bag or an Asivik Hiker 60. The price difference is very big, so I was actually tempted to buy the Asivik. But now I will probably be buying this one. Just wanted to hear, if you would recommend this bag for a very short person (5.3)?
Hi Anna, great question.
I’m the same height as you and works great for me!
I never thought of myself as “very short” just “petite”
Have fun out there! Let me know how the backpack works for you!
Hey there!
Today I went into al 3 local hike shops in my town, each of which carried different brands for hiking backpacks. At first I really liked the Arcteryx 65 liter pack, but at the final shop I found the Gregory Deva 70 and I have never felt so comfortable in a pack. If I had had the money I may have just bought it right then! I am 6’3″ and would be purchasing the medium size.
I am looking for a new pack because I will be going to Alaska this summer and will be spending about 6 weeks backpacking, in 4-7 day increments. When I told a friend about what I found, he had said he had terrible experiences with the brand, with the zippers breaking and the material not being durable. My other gear is not terribly light, so I am worried about this now.
I am wondering if this pack will be falling apart half way through my trip, which I cannot afford. What has your experience been with this pack in consideration of length of trips and amount of weight? I put deadweight in the pack at the store and it felt like there was hardly anything in my pack! But I won’t be taking it easy on this pack, and I won’t be using it merely for travel, I will be in rugged Alaska backcountry! Have any of your bells and whistles failed you on the 60? Also, how hard are you using your pack?
Any advice on this would be so helpful!
Thank you!
Hi Stephany! You’re going to have so much fun in Alaska!
I love my Gregory Deva 60. I’ve put it through a lot of abuse on backpacking trips, including several snow camping trips. I did have a zipper bust once, and it was shortly after I purchased it. I stuffed the pack way too full and tried to close the front compartment (the convenient easy access opening on the front of the pack). The zipper busted because I had overstuffed the pack. I called Gregory and mailed the backpack to them and they fixed it free of charge. Since then I’ve learned to not overstuff the backpack…
My friend hiked the John Muir Trail with the men’s version of this pack, which he had already been using for a few years. During his 22 day trip his hip belt broke, but that was because he told me he threw down the fully loaded pack (weighed about 60 pounds!) and dropped it right on the hip belt on granite rocks. Not a smart idea…he mailed his to Gregory when his trip was over and they fixed it for free.
So, the backpack is a great one if you don’t abuse it too much. Hope that helps!
Happy trails.
Just bought this pack last night! I cant wait to test it. I bought it REI…a little expensive but theyll take it back for any reason. I noticed a huge difference just walking around the store for an hour! The contoured shoulder straps are a must! Happy hiking