Gregory Z55

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Reviewed by 13 Trailspace users

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Description

The Z55 is an internal frame backpack made by Gregory. It has an average rating of 4.5 stars (out of 5), based on 13 user reviews

Manufacturer's Description:
With an all-new ventilated Jet Stream™ Suspension, this durable, yet lightweight pack carries like a dream. Thru hikes, lightweight three day weekends, or trips to the crag are just a few places you'll enjoy wearing this fully redesigned classic.

FEATURES: Jet Stream™ suspension system, Auto.Fit harness system, ventilated, moisture wicking harness and waistbelt system, 1/2” 7001 T6 aircraft aluminum hollow stay, weight-reducing molded V-beam framesheet, top and side access, expandable front ”Bucket” pocket, secondary front pocket, water-resistant top pocket and front pocket zippers, water-resistant side access zipper, dual quick access waistbelt pockets, 210D HT ”double box” ripstop nylon, 210D HT nylon twill.

Small: 3050 cu in / 50 L; 3 lbs 2 oz / 1.4 kg
Medium: 3350 cu in / 55 L; 3 lbs 5 oz / 1.5 kg
Large: 3660 cu in / 60 L; 3 lb. 8 oz / 1.6 kg
MSRP: $189

Here's what other sites are saying:

From Backcountry.com:
"The lightweight Gregory Z 55 Backpack holds all the gear you need for a day at the crags, an overnight backpacking trip, or a longer ultralight backpacking adventure. The Z 55 comfortably carries about 35 pounds of gear and weighs less than four pounds. Gregory gave this backpack its Jet Stream suspension system, which includes a perforated frame sheet and a mesh back panel in order to promote ventilation. Padding in the lumbar region and at the shoulder blades makes carrying your load more comfortable. Aluminum stays give you lightweight vertical load support. The padded harness and waist-belt feature moisture-wicking mesh, so you won't get all sweaty underneath your pack. Get into your pack from the top or the side, and load items you want quick access to-such as snacks, your camera, and a shell-in the external pockets or your waist-belt pockets. Gregory made the Z 55 with high-quality nylon for an ideal combination of strength and low weight."

From Oregon Mountain Community:
"The Gregory Z55 : With an all-new ventilated Jet Stream™ Suspension, this durable, yet lightweight pack carries like a dream. Thru hikes, lightweight three day weekends, or trips to the crag are just a few places you'll enjoy wearing this fully redesigned classic. Gregory Z55 Features: Jetstream LTS suspension. Auto-Fit harness system. Dual hydration ports and sleeve. Expandable front bucket pocket. Side and bottom compression. Quick access waistbelt pockets. Dual axe/tool attachment points. Welded water resistant zippers. 210d HT double box ripstop and broken twill nylon fabrics. Specifications: Volume: S: 3050 cu/in M: 3350 cu/in L: 3660 cu/in. Weight: S: 3lbs 2oz M: 3lbs 5oz L: 3lbs 8oz Torso: S: 16-18in M: 18-20in L: 20-22in"

From Moosejaw:
"On Sale. Free Shipping. Gregory Z55 Pack (Fall 2009) With their ventilated JetStream LTS Suspension, the Z55 Pack by Gregory carries like a dream. Thru hikes, lightweight three day weekends, or tripsto the crag are just a few places you'll enjoy wearing this classic. Features: JetStream LTS Suspension Auto-Fit harness system Aero-tech mesh backpanel Ventilated, moisture wickingharness and waistbelt 7001-T6 hollow, aluminum stay Dual hydration ports and sleeve Expandable front bucket pocket Side and bottom compression Q uick access waistbelt pockets Exterior water bottle pockets Dual axe/tool attachment points Welded, water-resistant zippers 210d HT double box ripstop andbroken twill nylon fabrics Specifications - Small: Volume: 3050 in / 50 L Weight: 3 lbs 2 oz / 1.42 kg Specifications - Medium: Volume: 3350 in / 55 L Weight: 3 lbs 5 oz / 1.50 kg Specifications - Large: Volume: 3660 in / 60 L Weight: 3 lbs 8 oz / 1.59 kg"

From Altrec Outdoors:
"A tough top-loader that is the smartest and most versatile pack around, the Gregory Z 55 Backpacking Backpack is perfect choice for toting your cragging gear or loading up during weight conscious weekend escapes. Incredibly lightweight, yet durable this pack manages up to 3660 cubic inches of storage and up to 47 lbs comfortably. To handle heavier weights in this light configuration a Jetstream Suspension System with auto-fitting harness provides solid support, an Aerotech mesh backpanel allows free air flow, and padded scapula and lumbar pads provide exceptional comfortable. With top and side access, expandable front "Bucket" pocket, secondary front pocket, and dual quick access waistbelt pockets, the Z55 boasts the National Geographic Best of Adventure Gear Award 2007 and Backpacker 5.0 Perfect Rating."

User Reviews

Men's Z55

Reviewed by D&G in the Smokys
October 10, 2009

I have put this pack through more than 20 miles of Smoky Mountain hiking, even in a light rain. This pack is awesome. I originally had the Osprey Atmos 50, but the lower frame bars poked my kidneys bad. No issues with the Z55, with the "jet stream" air gap design the frame comes nowhere near discomfort.

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Z55

Reviewed by UpNorth
February 12, 2009

I purchased this pack for some quick getaways into the Boundary Waters in Northern Minnesota. It performed great. The 200 rod portages felt like nothing!

After using this pack in the Boundary Waters for a summer I was presented with opportunities to hike in England, Ireland and Peru.

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Men's Z55

Reviewed by Cyber96
December 11, 2008

I wanted a pack for weekend trips and lightweight week long trips. This pack fit the bill perfectly. I was also shopping for a lightweight pack that holds a lot of weight if I ever want to cram in an extra treat. This pack filled that void as well.

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Men's Z55

Reviewed by gearjunky
October 22, 2008

I have had this pack for about 2 years. It is a perfect 3 season bag for 1 or 2 nights (even longer in the late spring, summer and early fall). When you start going out for longer trips or as the weather gets colder and you need more gear, it can get a little small.

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Men's Z55

Reviewed by Eric Peterson
October 19, 2008

Great backpack especially if you want a small light pack. I sold mine because I needed just a little more room. I don't like having my sleeping pad on the outside. Otherwise good pack.

Pro: Light, Forms to back, lots of space for Air.

Con: Small hip belt pads, Not big enough.

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Men's Z55

Reviewed by IcySmooth52
September 3, 2008

There's a reason this pack is such a big seller, it's everything a weekend (or week-long with the right gear) backpacker needs in a pack. The first impressions of this pack are fairly light and well ventilated, but in my opinion it's also important to note that it has only the right bells and whistles.

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Men's Z55

Reviewed by Ghudish
May 28, 2008

I've put over 50 miles on this pack and love it. This is one pack I found that had all of the features I wanted: side entry to the main compartment, waistbelt pockets, adequate pockets and straps etc.

I'm 5'7", 160lbs, have the medium and it fits like a dream.

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Men's Z55

Reviewed by Jeff Stull
January 5, 2008

Just got this pack for a three day mountain winter hike on the Ouachita Trail. The pack performed without a problem. It felt great on the scrambles of rock on the trail and has lots of storage.

The hipbelt pockets sold me. I needed them for the small things and a camera at hand.

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Men's Z55

Reviewed by Michael Orton
December 31, 2007

This bag is near perfect. The only issue I had, not have because I am used to it now, was the stuff pouch on the front doesn't hold much of anything if you have a full load in the large compartment and the small front pocket.

Other than that the bag is perfection.

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Men's Z55

Reviewed by John Day
September 16, 2007

A perfect design. I have owned several packs in the past 25+ years and this is by far the best of its class. I just returned from a 3 day "fastpack" trip and was amazed at how the pack performed. I read somewhere that the Z55 was not hydration compatible - well it is.

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Men's Z55

Reviewed by aardvark
August 8, 2007

Just finished 7 days in the Oregon Cascades with this pack. I generally like it. The pockets, including the shove-it, are reasonably well designed. The fabric is sturdy--much better than the nylsilk used in the comparable REI UL90. We were scrambling cross country through sharp volcanic rock.

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Men's Z55

Reviewed by Dirty
May 19, 2007

I poked around with different packs in this class for about a year before I settled on the Z55. I don't know why I was fighting the urge to get it by I just wasted my time. In prep for trip I had my Dru (not petite- I swear it seems that even Gregory doesn't remember the men's Dru from about 1993) anyway, I had the Dru packed- ready to camp in the snow (winter gear) when the Z came in the mail.

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Men's Z55

Reviewed by Jordan Dayoub
March 21, 2007

This pack is light and comfy with great back ventilation, and it looks awesome. I bought the large because there are so many straps to adjust the pack for a perfect fit. This pack feels great. There is slightly more padding than the Osprey Atmos 50, which is one reason I went with this pack over the Atmos 50.

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