Today I’m looking at the Gregory Paragon 58 versus the Osprey Exos 58, and will go through why I ended up choosing the Paragon 58 for my next hike-in campsite camping.
I’m more of a day hiker, with a Patagonia 24L day pack, crammed full of 10 pounds worth of clothes, water and gear. And when my girlfriend is down to camp, I’m more of a car + tent camper, with a REI Base Camp 4 tent and a set of glamp items, including my DIY solar battery bank. But let’s face it, that stuff is heavy, and it takes over an hour to set up camp, and a similar time to break it all down again.
When I’m by myself, solo camping, or hike-in camping, I of course downsize. I take, basically, lightweight, backpacking gear that’s quick and easy to set up so I can maximize fun time. Further I’m not interested in thru-hiking, nor even 3-day+ hike-in camping – more of just the ‘weekend warrior’ style hike-ins – and thus I can get away with something in the 55-60L capacity range when it comes to my hike-in backpack. I’ll be approaching my comparisons from that perspective.
Affiliate link: Check the price of the Gregory Paragon 58 and the Osprey Exos 58 on Amazon.
Pros and Cons
Gregory Paragon 58
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Sleeping bag divider is removable to create one large internal compartment, allowing you to use a waterproof liner for all your compartment gear. | The pack is 3.38 lbs, which might not appeal to the UL crowd. For around $100 more, you can get a Hyperlite 3400 Southwest pack that owns 55L @ 1.98 lbs |
| Frame, and thickly padded shoulder and waist belt, transfers weight load to the hips comfortably and distributes the weight evenly. | Bells and whistles zippers make the pack less water resistant before putting on the rain cover. |
| Can handle more weight than the Exos 58, so that you don’t have to worry as much about buying expensive ultralight gear. | Ventilation not the best for Southern California summers or the equivalent. |
Osprey Exos 58
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Only 2.33 (stripped) to 2.68 lbs (no pockets on hip belt like on Amazon), or 2.8 to 2.9lbs (with pockets on hip belt like at REI) | Smaller waist belt not as comfortable as the Paragon 58; doesn’t feel as efficient in carrying the load onto your hips. Can’t carry as much weight as the Paragon 58. |
| Excellent ventilation for summer. Much better than the Paragon 58. | Some packs may have slightly asymmetrical placing of the adjustment holes on the frame for dialing in the correct torso-size. |
| Top loading main compartment without as many bell and whistle zippers to increase water resistance during a sudden shower. | Some versions sold online don’t have the belt pockets for your phone. (The current REI, in-store model does (August 2022).) |
Specs
Gregory Paragon 58
- Size: M/L; adjustable to 18-22 inch torsos, via heavy Velcro, pull-and-restick material.
- Weight: 3lbs, 9.3oz
- Capacity 58L
- Made of: Nylon (100D, 210D, & 420D on the bottom), Polyester 135D
- Frame: Yes, Internal Alloy Steel
- Sleeping bag compartment: Yes, but internal divider shelf can be removed to form one continuous main compartment.
- Rain cover: Included
- Main compartment access: Top, bottom, and side zipper
Osprey Exos 58
- Size: S/M (17-20.5 inches torso), L/XL (19.5-23 inches), via plastic tab and tab holes
- Weight: For REI hip belt pockets model: 2lbs 13oz., or 2lbs 15oz. depending on size
- Capacity 58L, or 61L, depending on size
- Nylon ripstop (100D, 400D on the bottom)
- Frame: Yes, Aluminum
- Sleeping bag compartment: No, but there are removable compression straps to compress down a sleeping bag in the bottom of the pack.
- Rain cover: Not Included, available on Amazon (large size cover works with the Exos 58 per Amazon reviews)
- Main compartment access: Top only
Notable Comparables
| Spec | Gregory Paragon 58 | Osprey Exos 58 |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 3 lbs, 9.3 oz. | 2 lbs, variable oz. |
| Comfortable Load | 40 lbs | 30 lbs |
| Maximum Load | 50 lbs | 40 lbs |
| Frame | Internal; thin gauge steel alloy wire running the perimeter with a cross beam in the middle | Internal; thin gauge aluminum |
| Compression Straps | Yes | Yes, removable |
| Sleeping Pad Straps | Yes, sleeping bag compression straps can double as external sleeping pad straps | Yes, removable; sleeping bag compression straps double as external sleeping pad straps |
Load Capacity
New Here?
If you’re new to backpacking, generally you’ll want to figure out what season and temperature you’ll be packing for (winter, on average, needs more capacity than summer), how many days you’ll be out (how much food/fuel to bring), what the water situation is (is there water where you’re going, is it potable or filterable, how much should you carry, etc.), what the animal situation is (are there bears, and bear lockers, do you have to hang your food at night, etc.), and what the bathroom situation is. After that, get your sleep system first, then find a tent that fits your sleep system, then get a pack that fits all that, plus cooking stuff, lighting, etc. Ultimately how big of a pack you’ll need depends on everything I mentioned, and how much ultra-light gear your wallet can bear.
Gregory Paragon 58 Fits My Backpacking Style
I’m using the 58L Gregory Paragon 58 for 3-season camping with close hike-ins that have potable water and bathrooms. Think Andrew Molera State Park Trail Camp, or Topanga State Park’s Musch Trail Camp. The thing is that though my gear is pretty light, and not that bulky, it’s not ultralight. And though I’m not planning to exceed the Osprey Exos 58’s comfortable weight capacity (around 30 pounds), I like that 10 extra pounds of assurance the Paragon provides, with a comfortable carrying rating of around 40 pounds. (Though the manufacture does claim 40 lbs of weight capacity for the Exos, folks keep saying don’t go very much past the 30 lb comfort rating.)
Just like you want to pack a sleeping bag that has a EN/ISO comfort rating of about 10 degrees Fahrenheit lower than what the temperature will actually be at night, I think it makes sense to go beyond your projected pack weight usage for the sake of contingency. What if you pull into the parking lot and there’s a giant sign that says, ‘Guess what? There’s no water out there this week,’ or what if your friends want you to go out to a place with no water whatsoever. You’ll need that comfortable 10 pounds after all (see my table on the weights of different water bottles and bladders, and a discussion on fluid needs for the hiker).
Heck, the Paragon has enough nylon strap length for its brain straps, it looks like you could throw a bear canister directly under the brain, above the main compartment, and secure it down like that if you have to; but both these packs can handle a large bear canister internally, as long as you get creative and take your tent out of its stuff sack and stuff it around the canister; that sort of thing.
What Gear Works With the Gregory Paragon 58?
Another big advantage the Paragon has over the Exos, regarding the weight capacity, is that you have a bit more leeway regarding the weight of your gear, so you don’t have to go ultra-expensive, ultralight. You need not have a $700 ultralight tent that requires trekking poles for its erection, or get stuck with just a fly, ground cloth, and tent poles when the creepy-crawlies are out and about, at your campsite. Heck bring a REI Flexlite Air Chair and don’t sweat it, that you just added a pound. Anyway, here’s my less than ultralight gear list that fits in my Paragon for overnight trips:
| Gear That Fits in My Gregory Paragon 58 | Approx. Weight |
|---|---|
| Featherstone 2P Peridot 5000mm hydrostatic head backpacking tent + footprint | 4.8lbs |
| REI Trailbreak 30 sleeping bag | 2.5lbs |
| Big Agnes Rapide SL regular wide sleeping pad | 1.5lbs |
| Jetboil MiniMo cook set and JetPower fuel canister | 1.34lbs |
| Rain Poncho in mesh sack | 0.5lbs |
| Ditty Bag: Compass, Life Straw, Emergency Glasses, Sunglasses, old school Chums, Ear Plugs, Benadryl, Ibuprofen, Sol Emergency Bivvy, Sea to Summit Pocket Shower, Water sterilization tablets | 1.5lbs |
| Anker PowerCore battery & Black Diamond Spot 400R in mesh sack | 1.4lbs |
| OPSAK (or equivalent) for food, but also internal ziplock with toothpaste, toothbrush, antacids, pepto, camp suds, small mineral sunscreen stick, paper towel squares, titanium dining ware | 1lbs |
| Inner brain compartment: rain cover for pack, repair kit for sleeping pad, small first-aid/emergency pack, Cabela’s multi-tool, extra ziplock bags; Outer brain compartment: hat; small knife | 1.1lbs |
| Outdoor Vitals blow up pillow (I really want a Thermarest compressible pillow though) | 0.16lbs |
| Clothes appropriate for what I think I’m getting into | variable |
Notice I don’t have a water filtration pump, bladder, poop kit, or food bag and hanging kit, as the places I like already have me covered in that respect. However there are some comfort things I’ll probably add in at some point. I think carrying a REI Flexlite Air Chair strapped to the outside of the pack would increase my camping quality of life drastically, for example. I’ve found my bear spray just fits in my pocket, especially in my Cabella’s shorts.
Wearing Comfort
Initial Comparisons
I went in to REI set on buying the Exos 58, because of the better ventilation for So Cal, lighter weight, and non-divided main compartment. Then I tried both packs on and walked around the store for like an hour. I’d walk around with each one for like 5 minutes, adjust the belts as you do when you’re walking, then switch to the other one; back and forth, back and forth.
I didn’t do the ‘put a 20 pound bag of sand in the pack’ test, but I could tell, just tightening down the belts to the point you would, if you were under load, that the Gregory was more comfortable. It has thicker padding on the shoulder and hip belt, and the latter was wider than that of the Exos, meaning the frictional loading was going to be more dispersed and more comfortable. To get an idea of what I’m talking about imagine a pack that just had a string for a belt, and you had to tie that string down tight to carry 30 pounds on your hips; not very comfortable! You want that load gripping your hips to be spread out as much as possible for comfort’s sake.
I should mention one flaw to my back-to-back testing of these two packs in the store: I was wearing jeans at the time, and as we know, jeans have these thick, uncomfortable belt loops that dig into your hips with a pack belt tightened down. I should have had my Cabella’s hiking shorts, with its flat belt loops, to perform the test, but then again I do often hike in jeans, so at least for my particular style, I replicated my normal set up. I know a lot of folks want to use more dedicated pants, whether it’s for the purposes of weather protection or moisture wicking, or even the belt loop thing and comfort.
Use on the Trail
So far the Paragon 58 has been super comfortable on the trail. I’ve used it multiple times, and even have unloaded my tent, food/cook-kit and sleep system at camp, then used it as a day pack. As of the time of writing, I last used it in Los Padres National Forest on the Aliso Trail when the ambient temperature was 99F. This is the type of weather where the Exos would feel much nicer on one’s back, but I didn’t really notice any temperature discomfort from the pack , relative to the general hot conditions on the trail.
Size Adjustment Mechanisms
Osprey Exos 58 Adjustment Tab Hole Design Flaw
When I was researching the Exos, I came across a REI review talking about a non-symetrical frame flaw on the grey colored Exos 58’s, as evidenced by the shoulder strap adjustment tab holess in the frame being out of alignment in a horizontal field:
After talking with my local gear shop, it’s apparent that Osprey has a major issue with the frame. So far only the Grey model appears to be affected. The frames are not true rectangles and do not sit right when loaded. I inspected my pack and found my frame to be true, but the AirSpeed back panel is skewed by almost an inch!!!!
soar_outdoors, Buffalo, NY from the REI Exos 58 product page
I looked at all the Exos 58’s they had at my local REI, which totaled about 4 or 5 on the rack. They were the blue colored packs, that still had the pockets on the belt. Each of them did suffer to a small degree from this asymmetrical alignment of the shoulder strap adjustment tab holes, but not to the degree that the reviewer witnessed. It looks as though this asymmetry could be overcome, just from dialing in the difference on the nylon straps that connect the shoulder pads to the lower part of the frame.
I did have reservations on the general design of the size adjustment mechanism, where a plastic notched tab from the shoulder strap is inserted into these tab holes on the frame. This looks to be a point of wear, where after years of use, it is possible failure could occur. But this is the trade off for superior ventilation.
Gregory Paragon 58’s Torso Size Adjustment Mechanism is Superior
The Paragon 58 has a totally different torso size adjustment mechanism for its shoulder straps. It relies on a large Velcro pad inside the back assembly to dial in your appropriate dimensions, which can be adjusted in a nuanced, and non-quantized, continuous manner to avoid any asymmetry. I keep mine in the shortest position the pack allows, past its indicated ‘medium’ line, and this fits my body perfectly.
This system actually isn’t unique to Gregory. Some of the other Osprey models have a similar adjustment mechanism, so it’s an established method of making these packs comfortable and customizable to the user.
Bells and Whistles
The Gregory Paragon 58 Has More Zippers
The Paragon 58 has 6 different zippers for strategic placement of gear with which you need ready access to.
The brain has two zippered compartments – one on top and one inside – where you can throw your map and compass, your rain cover which comes with the pack, your oximeter, or whatever else you want to get a hold of with minimal effort.
The entire side of the pack zips down so that you can place there a jacket, poncho, or other on-and-off layers you might risk keeping out of a waterproof pack liner, depending on the weather.
There is a bottom zipper to access the sleeping bag compartment. I removed my partition shelf that defined the upper reaches of this sub compartment, but I sometimes still use this zipper if I’m not using a pack liner in arid Southern California. It does make it easier to pull out my sleeping bag after it’s bulked up the lower area of the main compartment.
And of course there are two pockets with zippers on the pack’s hip belt. The pockets are large enough to carry my iphone SE 20x, whose dimensions are 5.44 x 2.64 inches, or a little bigger with an OtterBox around it.
It’s Not Necessarily Bad That the Osprey Exos 58 Has Less Zippers
Depending on which model of the Exos 58 you purchase, some have zippered hip belt pockets, making the total zipper count for the pack four, while some have no belt pockets, leaving only the two zippers on the lid. These two latter zippers are of similar setup to the Paragon 58, with one on the outside and one on the inside.
This less is more approach actually may reduce water migration during a rain storm, especially if used with the pack’s rain cover, which is sold separate, and a waterproof pack liner. I know some of the UL crowd say rain covers area a scam, so maybe try a Sea to Summit 4-in-1 sil-nylon rain poncho that accommodates a large pack, but also works as a tarp or ground cloth. Nothing wrong with having a tarp handy when you’re stuck trying to put your tent up in the rain too.
Paracord Attachment Loops
Both packs have enough loops on their back areas to rig up a paracord based carry system, to add on a wet rain fly or rain jacket, so that you can separate these items from the dry inner compartment, and air them out to dry during hiking.
However the Exos 58 has 3 sets of loops concentrated below its lower main pocket, meaning you could still access this compartment, even with a wet piece of gear attached to the back. You can sort of do this with the Gregory, by just placing the gear under the pocket, but you lose some attachment area and thus the gear is more likely to come away from the pack during a windy gust.
As you can see from the picture above, though, the Paragon 58 makes use of the full area of the pack to expose more surface area of wet gear to the air, and thus hopefully get it drier faster. To be fair the Exos 58 does have loops further on up, past the 3 mentioned above, and on its lid, so you could mimic the cordage in the picture, but there would be a section that is less symmetrical near the top of the pack, reducing the wet gear load’s security, again from the wind, such possibly grabbing it momentarily.
Further Reading
Check out my article on how to attach your trekking poles to your Gregory packs by clicking this link.
If you’re in to hiking and camping like me, check out my other hiking gear and camping gear articles. I have a backlog of ideas, so pop in every once in a while and see if anything is new!