User Review: Gregory Reactor (9)

Gregory Reactor
Above: The current Reactor, which may differ slightly from the version reviewed.

Reviewed April 6, 2008 by Ray Beckerman

Rating:
Design: Adventure racing pack
Size: 700 cu in / 11 liters
Number of Pockets: 2 compartments, 2 side mesh, 1 back mesh, 2 small mesh on waistband (plus compartments within main compartment including water reservoir if desired)
Max. Load Carried: I don't know but specs say 28 lbs
Height of Owner: 5'8"
Price Paid: $34.97

The Gregory Reactor 9 racing pack is fantastic. It's extremely lightweight yet rugged, has lots of places to put things, yet gives the straps you need to hold it all together compactly. Very easy on the back. Sternum strap can be adjusted for your body's shape.

I have a herniated disk. I just ran 16.5 miles with the Gregory 9 packed to the gills, including 1.5 quarts of water, and never felt a thing. And hours later, it's clear I'm not going to either. It's the perfect running pack. It even has cool mesh pockets in the waistband.

I disagree with the first reviewer, who gave it only 3 stars because it's not good for carrying books and because he couldn't access the main compartments quickly enough because of the straps.

1. It's not a bag for carrying a bunch of books. It's for running.

2. The straps just pop in and out very very easily. I'm sure they are a big factor in why the pack is so compact when running with it. In my book that makes them a plus not a minus. The split second it takes to snap them open and shut is nothing compared to hours and hours of comfortable running.