Gregory Baltoro, REI Ridgeline

Would appreciate some feedback from anyone who has used these packs? What do you think of them for 7-10 day trips - tent, sleeping bag, food, camera equipment, clothing, small stove etc.

REI equipment doesn't have a particularly good reputation although I've used a tent, sleeping bag and at least five of their clothing items extensively with no serious complaints.

They used to have slight tendency to seek cutting-edge design on the cheap, and results weren't always impressive.

The Ridgeline pack I note, has "perimeter-style, lightweight tubular aluminum frame" which I've never heard of and for various reasons, wouldn't consider buying.

Gregory has a better reputation than REI.

Also, a 10-day supply of food is very bulky. You might get it into a 4000 cubic inch pack, depending on specifics, but it could be quite a squeeze for the first few days. Still, an expedition-sized pack is on the whole, less utilitarian. I use a couple of 3000 cu i packs far more often than my bigger pack.
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I think both packs are decent packs for the vaule. I have two tents from REI and they held up great for me and my family. The Gregory is a better pack in my opinion, but a little more money. I am wondering if you actually tried these packs on yet loaded. I would not buy a pack without first loading it up with 20 pounds of weight and walking for 20 minutes or so in the store.

both are great pack and both are designed differently. I have noticed rei's are designed allot like the osprey packs and thats were the tubular frame comes from. the gregory pack has a much strong frame torsionally but its also designed to carry a larger load. I would use the Ridgeline as a four day pack with less than 30-35lbs in it the baltoro still really isn't your 7-10 day pack but it could probabally do it still if you want a 7-10 day pack look at the palisade but it all depends on the size of your gear and the overall weight (7-10 days of food isn't light) i hope this helps if you haven't already got a pack

"REI equipment doesn't have a particularly good reputation" - I suppose this depends on the circles you run in - we (family + myself) have purchased quite a few items at REI (especially years ago, before outdoors clothes became trendy) - never really had a problem.

Seven to ten days can be tough to pack for - as you no doubt well know. I still lug an external frame pack around - I've owned it for so long and carried it so much it's almost part of me - but even with an external that's a load of food -

My personal suggestion (which is only an opinion) - purchase whatever pack fits you best and is capable of supporting a healthy load. You can always attach a food back to the outside of the main pack bag for light/bulky stuff - keep the core weight centralized and near your back - the external bag will shrink pretty fast as you rip through your bulky / semi-fresh foods - eventually leaving you with just the contents of your main pack bag. That way you're not stuck lugging around an expedition sized backpack for overnights (as I do - which can really make it tempting to over pack).

Keep us posted

Steve

Mountain Equipment Co-Op of Vancouver, similar to REI, currently makes better packs at better prices than REI if you can deal with shipping price or visit Canada. I own and endorse their Brio fifty-plus sack...I had superlight REI tent in cotton from early seventies which I used on a couple of long summer backpacks in Rockies, and I continue to use their cursedly spartan winter down bag from almost the same era. SO I think I'm qualified to have qualified opinion of their goods. For some years recently I've relied when outdoors on a cheaper REI Scholler jacket, which has slightly shoddy zippers etc. MEC makes a similar line which I bet is slightly better.

1. It has been suggested before but the only thing you can really do is load it down with some weight and walk around the store for at least 20 minutes. After all adjustments have been made if there is any digging, pinching, etc then try a different pack. If you are going to be hiking with more than 40lbs and are not going to bushwacking into the deep forest then I would go with a external frame pack. If you are going to be carrying 10 days of food + camera gear + all the essentials I think you may have a hard time keeping under the 40lb mark...but you have to decide the final weight on your own.

2. Do not buy a piece of gear or pass on another because of a reported "reputation." Every company comes out with gear that is golden and every company comes out with complete crap; simple as that. Everyone is built differently and what may have a good reputation for others may not fit you at all.

3. Take advantage of REI's return policy. You may find a problem with a pack that you didn't notice in the store or you may find that the pack you picked up is falling apart after one use. It is easy enough to return the pack (even Sport Chalets near me have a no questions asked return policy now) to a nearby REI...dealing with returns to a company in Canada wont be that easy and replacements can take a while to get (I've been down this road before).