In this Gregory Zulu 30 pack review, I’ll walk you through the details of this comfortable, versatile day pack, that can be used just as well on hot, arid So Cal trails, as it can in the Sierra Nevada mountains owning vast changes in altitude, temperature, and weather. I’ve been through both and more with this pack, but lets get through the basics before I tell you my personal experience with it…
Pro’s and Con’s
Pro’s: Super comfortable even with all day use, generous padding, frame & hip belt carries heavy loads easily, ventilated trampoline backing minimizes sweat pooling, great storage & organization set up, comes with a rain shell, dries out fast if wet.
Con’s: Lower loop of trekking pole attachment is a bit tricky to work with, not for use when biking due to hip belt, rain shell’s belt and hook system hard to actuate
Features
‘FreeFloat’ suspension that involves a spring-tension, trampoline type mechanism at the point where the pack’s wire frame transfers its weight load to the hip belt. This attenuates some of the vertical momentum of the pack, such that your body doesn’t have to absorb its entirety.
The frame further ‘floats’, or curls away from your back, near its middle region, and is kept in place like this, not only from its own rigidity, but via a large mesh backing, that too has a trampoline-like suspension effect, to a smaller degree. This creates an air space in this middle region, which when combined with the wicking effect of the mesh, allows for ventilation and quicker rates of back sweat evaporation.
The pack has continuous EVA foam padding on hip belt’s wings and posterior structure, with carved out ventilation and hip bone holes. This entire assembly is flexible in all three spacial dimensions, allowing for maximum comfort, and a snug fit as you walk and hike.
The shoulder straps too have EVA foam padding with mesh coverings. They are adjustable, and also come with load lifters of the same design seen in larger Gregory backpacking packs.
There are compression straps with plastic strap stays on the sides of the pack.
The Gregory Zulu 30 also has heavy duty hip belt straps and easy adjustment friction buckles, making adjustment on the trail a breeze.
The pack has adjustable torso sizes (see specs below), and it itself comes in two sizes: S/M & M/L (see specs below).
There is a chest strap than can be vertically adjusted, which also features a whistle built into its buckle.
All the outer zippers on the pack have molded, soft plastic zipper pull rings, attached to the distal edge of the pull loops.
Organization
- Large 28/30L duel zippered compartment (depending on the size pack you purchase). U shaped zippered lid allows full, uninhibited access to the interior.
- Top lid that has outer zippered pocket, and inner zippered pocket. The outer pocket is for a compass, a Cliff bar, a small stick of sunscreen, hiking pole tips, etc. The inner pocket has a key leash and can be used for keys, wallet, credit cards, and other valuables.
- Duel side, stretchy-mesh pockets that can accommodate up to a 1 liter Nalgene bottle each.
- Medium sized, stretchy-mesh, center outer pocket, secured with a strap and buckle, for stowing a rain shell and rain pants combo, or a fleece mid layer. There’s a fast drying camping towel in mine currently! Inside this pocket there is a zippered compartment that houses the rain shell.
- Trekking pole attachment loops. One hooked bungee cord loop, and one strap & buckle loop.
- Sunglasses stowing area on shoulder strap, paired with and elastic bungee for two points of contact to safely secure your glasses.
- Internal hook & pocket for Gregory 3D Hydro hydration bladder. A loop and clip for such bladder’s tubing on the shoulder pad.
- The hip belt has two zippered pockets with which an iPhone 6 sized phone can fit.
Weight & Specs
| Gregory Zulu Specs | M/L Pack | S/M Pack |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 2.67 lbs | 2.62 lbs |
| Weight of Rain Shell | 0.15 lbs | 0.15 lbs |
| Max Load | 35 lbs | 35 lbs |
| Volume | 30 L | 28L |
| Torso Size | 18 – 22″ | 15 – 19″ |
| Waist Size | 29 – 51″ | 27 – 46″ |
| Outer Dimensions | 23.5 x 12.5 x 10″ | 21 x 12.5 x 10″ |
Materials
| Component | Material |
|---|---|
| Body | 210D Honeycomb Cryptorip HD Nylon / 210D High Tenacity Nylon |
| Bottom | 420D High Density Nylon / 135D High Density Polyester |
| Frame | 4mm Alloy Steel & Fiberglass anti-barreling stay & HDPE |
| Suspension | EVA Foam |
| Lining | 135D High Density Embossed Polyester |
Comfort
Vented trampoline mesh cuts down on sweat accumulation
This is a very comfortable pack for hot So Cal, due to the vented, moisture-wicking trampoline mesh that, when paired with an appropriate base layer shirt, keeps sweat pooling from your back to a minimum. You’re still going to sweat, but it’s the difference between local back sweat that can dry rather quickly, versus sweat running down your back and saturating the back of your pants on a hot day.
Related: Please read my article on understanding hiking base layers to get the maximum benefit from this pack’s trampoline mesh ventilation system.
Frame & hip belt allows for easy carriage of heavy loads
The comfort also has a lot to do with the framed suspension, hip belt, and load lifter combo that is generally seen in much larger, backpacking packs.
The pack is built to carry significant weight, as it’s set up to host a Gregory water bladder, like the 3D Hydro Hydration 3L Reservoir, which can be close to 7 pounds when full. And the frame distributes the weight evenly enough around the pack/suspension, and into the hip belt, that you don’t really notice how heavy it is, when it’s on your back, regardless of the load amount.
The hip belt and suspension assembly, built with generous EVA foam panels, is comfy in that it flexes with you as you walk. This foam also has areas carved out for ventilation, and hip bone accommodation. The way it’s able to contour to your body also lets you crank down the hip belt against you, minimizing slippage. The manufacture states this reduces risk of hot spots. I’ve never had any hot spots thus far, having logged in over a hundred miles with the pack this year, using all varieties of hiking pants and base layers. Frankly I didn’t even consider that a possibility.
Reviewing the Gregory Zulu 30’s comfort performance in Yosemite
I recently took this pack to Yosemite, and due to the chance of afternoon thunderstorms, and the incredible water spray coming off the falls this year, along the Mist Trail, I had my pack fully stuffed with rain gear and layers, as well as a large phone gimbal carrying box, a large phone battery, 1000+kcals of food, a few liters of hydration, and the usual emergency stuff I take on every hike. Likely I had a good 10-15 pounds of stuff crammed in the pack. But I was comfortable all day, even when having the pack on 8 or 9 hours. Just being able to crank that hip belt down and make adjustments to its tightness on the go, all day, kept the weight off my shoulders, and my back and shoulders feeling rested all day.
Also when climbing the stairs at Vernal Falls in Yosemite, which was raging like it hadn’t for years, the shoulder straps and hip belt of the pack got credibly drenched from the storm-like spray. But once to the sunny top, where I spent a good 20 or so minutes eating and resting, these components dried out surprisingly quickly and thoroughly. I had the pack’s rain shell on the entire time so the rest of the pack was dry during the entire hike.
Related: See my articles, What to bring on a day hike in Yosemite, and Everything you need to know about the Mist Trail in Yosemite for 2023, for more on that trip.
Ease of Use
Hip belt buckles
The hip belt straps and buckles are super easy to use. After owning a Gregory 58L backpacking pack, and experiencing the ease with which its buckles and straps operate, that was the deciding factor for my purchasing of this particular day pack.
Pull the straps and they tighten down via a frictional mechanism with the buckles. Lift the buckles away from the plane of the straps and they instantly release that frictional grip. Basically you can adjust the tightness of the straps to keep the pack’s weight on your hips, as you’re hiking. You naturally need to do this to keep the weight on your hips, for the entire hike, so being able to do this on the go is important.
Other straps and buckles
It’s the same story with 99% of the other straps and buckles on the pack. They all have the same basic but perfected design. They are quick and easy to use.
The only exception is the strap/belt loop used to secure the trekking poles on the bottom of the pack. It’s the same design as the others, but its less functional as a loop strap. See the details on this below in the trekking pole loops section.
Water bottle retrieval while wearing pack
It’s fairly easy to retrieve a water bottle, sports drink or Nalgene from the side pockets without having to take your pack off. The suspended, “free float” frame does make it a bit more of a reach than doing so with my simple Pagagonia Yerba 24L pack. But much easier than my Gregory Paragon 58, which if it wasn’t for a side access opening in the flanking mesh pocket, you’d have to take the pack off to get to your drinks.
Zippers
The molded, soft plastic pull rings on the zippers’ external pull loops make getting in and out of pockets simple.
All the zippers open and close reliably with no snagging. They offer just the right amount of resistance, as they stay put wherever you park them, but still easily zip open or close.
The double zipper design for the main compartment comes in handy when you’ve got your pack super full. One zipper, half zipped, can provide light tension again your stuff pushing upward on the lid, allowing you to fully close the pack up with the second zipper.
Trekking Pole loops
To use the trekking pole loops, you do need to find a clean surface to lay the pack down on, such that the back of the pack is facing upwards. This is because once attached, you poles ends will exist further down in space than does the bottom of the pack.
Bottom Loop Trouble
It is a little tricky to attach your poles, mainly because the bottom loop, made of a strap and buckle system, doesn’t work as brilliantly as the rest of the straps and buckles on the pack. I’ve found it a bit of a challenge to cinch down the strap all the way, after the poles are where they need to be, to get the loop to hold tightly against the poles. Further you do have to be careful when feeding your poles through this bottom loop, as there isn’t much play, even when loose enough to allow their passage.
It’s not an impossible task, but it will take you several minutes to get your poles on your pack credibly. There’s no instant gratification in the poles’ attachment, and thus you don’t want to be taking them on or off your pack all day.
Top loop bliss
The top loop is much easier to use, as it is just an elastic cord that a small, curled hook grabs, to create the loop. It cinches down easy, and there’s no need to feed the poles through it, by design. It would be nice to see Gregory use this same design for the lower trekking pole loop. And perhaps a bit beefier version of it at that particular location.
Related: If you want to see the specifics with pics of how to attach the poles to the Gregory Zulu 30, check out my article on the subject: How to Attach Trekking Poles to a Gregory Pack
Zoleo attachment
I’ve tried attaching my Zoleo satellite communicator to the sunglasses loop on the shoulder strap, further employing the elastic bungee underneath, that’s supposed to hold your glasses down as you hike. Though this does work, the Zoleo is a little too large for this lower bungee cord, and this could cause unnatural wear and tear to the cord.
I’ve found the best place for my Zoleo, is just the pack’s upper hanging loop, that lets you hang it on a wall or closet. It’s designed to hold the weight of the pack and thus can hold the Zoleo with ease. Plus it positions the Zoleo so that it’s looking up at the sky and satellites, maximizing its line of sight.
You just have to be careful when putting your pack on, with the Zoleo attached to the hanging loop, as sometimes it will want to swing forward and get stuck between the pack and your back. Then you have to take the pack off, reposition it, and try again. Usually not a big deal once you’re aware of this possibility.
Related: If you’re not interested in getting lost in the wilderness, or stuck when you or your vehicle break down, check out my Zoleo Satellite Communicator device review, and see if it can help you stay safe!
Rain shell for pack
The pack does come with it’s own rain jacket, which I used in the rain on the Yosemite Upper Falls Trail, in Yosemite, and along the soaking Mist Trail. There are two mechanisms that keep it attached to the pack: an elastic band that runs the entire perimeter of its ‘mouth’, that keeps it hugging the pack, and a belt with a locking hook and loop feature that runs through the middle of the pack, between the mesh and curved frame.
This belt and hook feature, which feels like it would be good for heavy rain and wind, is fairly tough to use while on trail, regarding hooking, and unhooking it to allow access to the inner pockets of the pack. There’s barely enough play in the belt, such that you find yourself trying to awkwardly stick one hand under and through the mesh area of the pack, to marry the hook to the loop, on the other side of the rain jacket.
However for light rain/wind, and waterfall mist, which were the conditions I experienced in Yosemite, the belt and hook feature was not necessary. The elastic band kept the jacket on the pack the entire 3-day trip, and allowed for easy access to the inner pockets.
As far as it keeping the wet off the actual pack, the rain shell accomplished that with ease.
And this jacket also dried out credibly fast, during sunny sections of the trails.
Versatility
Within the realm of hiking, this pack is very versatile.
It has the ability to carry up to 35 pounds of load, including a 3L water bladder, with two 1L Nalgene bottles in the side pockets. Thus it can help you tackle all-day, So-Cal summer, arid hiking, even if you have a high sweat rate.
There’s enough room to pack layers, including rain gear, so you’re able to hike through large temperature and weather differences, like you would experience during large, mountain related elevation changes.
The hip belt suspension keeps the weight off your shoulders all day, so you can use the pack for 10+ mile hikes with no back/shoulder fatigue problems.
However using the pack for other activities is better left to packs built for those activities.
For example I wouldn’t want to bike with this pack, because of the hip belt, and the hip belt straps that dangle down in front of you. I still use my Patagonia Yerba 24L when riding my bike.
And though you may be able to cram a summer sleeping bag in a compression sack, a 1 person X-mid tent, a Klymit Static V, and a Jetboil MiniMo & food bags, for an overnight summer stay on trail, the 30L volume is really pushing it. Ultralight backpacking usually starts at the 40L and up range, regarding pack usage.
Quality and Durability
Like all Gregory packs, you’re getting a high quality, well designed pack.
In the 100+ miles I’ve logged with the pack, after getting it last December, I’ve used it on the Backbone Trail, Santa Monica Mountains, a few bucket list trails in Yosemite, on trails in Lake Arrowhead, trails in Cambria, CA that have both beach and woodland features, trails in Topanga State Park, and other places I’m likely forgetting.
I’ve not seen any wear and tear thus far with the pack. No frayed straps, stitches or material, no punctures, no stretched areas of the hip belt straps where they touch the buckles, no marred or ripped material from scraping up against granite and sandstone walls, no ripping of the shoulder straps from the body of the pack, no zipper rings tearing or falling off their loops, and no stretch marks or rips on the elastic pocket webbing. Even after using the rain shell 3 days in Yosemite, post washing the dirt off its bottom, it still looks new.
Folks might complain that this pack weighs north of 2 & 1/2 pounds, with the high denier nylon and polyester thread weights, internal frame, and hefty hip belt straps and buckles. But they’re not going to complain that the pack gets torn up easily.
Value
For its ability to comfortably carry relatively heavy loads for long distances, its versatility in any type of terrain, season, climate, or weather, and its material quality, this pack is a very good value purchase for the regular hiker, especially at the prices it’s currently going for.
Further Reading
Thanks for checking out my Gregory Zulu 30 review. Next check out my hiking gear page for more ideas on how to stay safe and comfortable, while hiking in California or beyond…