Gregory - Jade 63 Pack - Women's

Went on 6 mile day hike with it loaded up. Bought Medium. Pros: excellent comfort and 3 points of access into pack. removable brain.

I spent over 2 hours at REI with some wonderful, patient staff helping me. I tried-on several other packs, but none fit me quite right (didn't sit right on the shoulders or against my back, etc). We finally tried this one, and the staff and my husband knew this was the one for me instantly when they saw it on me. It set perfectly against my frame with no "gaps" anywhere, and was the most comfortable when loaded. I just returned from my first backpacking trip with it, and I feel great. I had 3 days of gear and supplies (split between my husband and me) in it, and it all fit fine with some room to spare (total weight, including the pack and water, was about 20 pounds). The pack felt and handled great both down and up hill on switchbacks and flatter terrain. You can load from the top or bottom, and there is a front access zipper as well. This makes it easy to get what you want from the pack without having to remove everything. The hydration pack pocket is removable and can be used as a daypack for side trips. The top lid is also removable if you want, but it has both an internal and external pocket on it, so it's nice extra room for light items you want to get to easily. My light jacket fit nicely in the stretchable front pocket. It comes with a detached raincover, though I didn't need it on this trip. Since I used the hydration bladder, I can't comment on the ease of bottle pocket access while moving. I am so happy to have found something that works well for me. I'd recommend that any woman try this pack, but especially any woman who has had a difficult time finding a pack that fits.

I love everything about this phenomenal backpack! I just returned from my first overnight trip with it--a 15 mile backpacking trip through Harriman State Park in NY, with about 18 lbs of gear--and have only good things to say about it. The pack wore comfortably the entire weekend and was great at keeping weight off my shoulders and distributing it gently to my hips via the nicely cushioned waist belt and straps. Pockets on the belt were handy for snacks and my phone for taking pictures. It felt stable and balanced on my back going both and down steep climbs. The ventilation design kept me cool, and I loved the design of the pack's main chamber. A removable panel hangs like a hammock to separate the toe from the rest of the chamber, making a great place to stash your sleeping bag that's easily accesssible without having to dig through the whole pack, although you could also remove this panel if for some reason it were in the way. I've done lots of day hiking but am new to longer backpacking trips, and this great pack made me eager to head out again soon!

Bought this to replace a worn Jade 50 and to get more space for a distance trek. Gregory must have modified their specs because this pack just doesn't fit my torso. Tried small and medium and neither fit. I am sad because I love my other two Gregory packs. Returned and will continue the search...

This is a great fitting, light weight women's pack. I love that when it isn't full to capacity, it cinches down so smoothly that it fits like a smaller pack. I haven't used the rainfly, but love that it is built in easily accessible.

Believe me when I say that I wish this pack was the one. It's very sleek looking and its capacity has the ability to pack a lot. For my 16.5" torso, size small fit well but... the suspension system is a different story. Although there was good lumbar support and ventilation, the pros weren't enough to outweigh the cons. After the 5 mile loop hike test run, my shoulders were so sore to the point where I was pretty miserable. The fit was so stiff and I found the load lifter straps to not be helpful, as it didn't have enough slack to achieve the ideal 45 degree angle (if that makes sense). The load I carried was 30+lbs, so maybe for lighter loads, this pack will do fine. From my experience so far, every time I've attempted to try a different pack, I end up going back to the Deva. Even though its padding is beefy and it is heavy, it's the only one I've found to distribute and carry heavy loads well on top of having the shoulder and hip belt move with you (hence no shoulder soreness). Sometimes you do get what you pay for and comfort is everything for backcountry adventures.

I tried several backpacks and this is the one I'll take on the Camino. It is bigger than the recommended size but it has so many advantages. # 1 is the opening on the side of the bag which allow to pack and unpack so easily. #2 it's big enough to fit a tent, some basic cooking stuff, clothes and extra pair of shoes/sandals. #3 it does not explode when I open it!! Great backpack. Can't wait to try it on the Camino!

So you can quite easily find my previous review of this bag- unfortunately I couldn't update my previous review so I'm leaving another. Note, I do still like this bag and the 2 star is only to average out my 5 star into one lil 3.5 star rating.

I brought this pack on a two week trip through Colombia in which I would be traveling through tropical and cooler climates. The pack has enough straps, etc., to pack down really small when you're wearing more of your gear or just don't need to bring that much with you, but it has enormous capacity. The 'brain' portion was large enough for my hiking sneakers and one other pair of shoes (flats or sandals). The body of the pack has several opening points that helped me access specific packing cubes without needing to re-organize the whole pack. Also, the part of the pack right under the 'brain' has a drawstring closure that allows for additional gear. The hip strap was particularly great in steadying and spreading the weight of the pack. It comes with a drawstring bag inside, but I used a backpack as a day pack and can't speak to the drawstring's usefulness (I left it home).

When I started getting interested in long distance backpacking I knew I needed to upgrade my gear. Most of the ultra lightweight thru hiking packs where far out of my price range so the brands I looked at was osprey, deuter, REI co-op, and gregory. My issue finding the right pack was due to my dimensions, I am short and slim with little to no curves which left my shoulders and upper back carrying the full weight. I tried some of the men's packs but my new problems was that my torso was to short for them. However I knew Gregory was the perfect brand for me immediately, the pack was comfortable and the weight was evenly distributed thanks to the adjustability of this pack. I would recommend this pack to anyone but especially to someone with no hips searching for a pack that doesn't kill your shoulders.

Great bag and great upgrade from my 40L pack. Super comfortable, love wearing it and it holds everything. Rainfly is super easy to use!