This thing squeaked every step I took for 40 miles of a 60 mile trip. I love the hip belt, but hate the shoulder straps. They felt like they were factory pre-shaped for someone else. Perhaps, they would conform to me with more use, but I'll never know. I won't use this pack again. If you backpack along a raging river, or in 70 mile an hour winds, I suppose this one will do. However, if you ever walk in a quiet forest or atop a ridge on a calm day, take another pack. The constant squeaking will drive you back to the solitude of your work cubicle. I not only would not buy this pack again, I would like to return it to the manufacturer. In 20 years of backpacking, this is the single most frustrating piece of equipment I have used. Back to the Dana.

This is one of the best packs i have ever bought and after three years it barely has any signs of wear. Tons of access to the main compartment and the perfect amount of exterior pockets make it a great trekking backpack which can hold all your gear without a problem. The waist belt is extremely well padded and has extra zippered pockets where you can stash your little trinkets. The pack also has a multitude of places to clip carabiners on to if needed. Overall, a very comfortable carrier which makes a heavy load easily bearable. Well worth the price!!

I am so impressed with this pack. I have never had a pack that didn't hurt until this one. My back, and shoulders were not sore after a 30 mile, 3 day hike. There were times when I would hike 2 miles without adjusting any of the straps. With all other packs I have owned I would adjust the straps every 10 minutes because it was uncomfortable. The pack is a little on the heavy side but that is because it has everything you need, plenty of pockets and extras. I would much rather carry a backpack that is 5 pounds and is really comfortable and doesn't hurt my back then one that is 2.5 pounds and be miserable on the trail. This is the the cream of the crop. if you want everything you got it. do yourself a favor and treat yourself to the baltoro.

Well for anyone who may have the 'issue' that the person below had, I believe they have a female version which probably addresses that situation (but not need to tell them that.)

Anyway, I love this pack very much. I had the Z-55 and needed to upgrade size so sent that one in to get this. The thing I liked about the Z-55 was that it was slender and fit close to my back so I didn't get knocked off balance. Since this is a bigger bag, it protrudes more outwards but can be tightened when there is excess space. Even though it protrudes out, I don't feel it messing up my balance that much. What I really love about this pack is that there are lots of places to put everything. I was actually able to stuff my sleeping bag on the top piece, put my tent in the sleeping bag compartment, rain gear in the front pocket, flashlights and stuff on one side pocket, first aid and soap stuff on the other, and a granola bar and knife on the waist strap pockets.

I love this pack. Its extremely comfortable as well.

This pack is amazing. I have carried weight for myself, wife and son in this. At one point there was some slight soreness on the shoulders. That was when I had to clip my wife's pack on to mine with biners. I think I had about 70 or 80 lbs. I never really weighed all of it, but it seemed to be more than my old ruck which was about 72lbs. Anyways, this pack has amazing CONVENIENT features and has many load adjusters for a change of support. All around it is what everyone else has said. Good pack.

I just started backpacking again last summer, and picked one of these up for a weekend trip on the Appalachian trail in New Hampshire. I was a boy scout for 6 years, and I wish they had packs like this back then. Comfort-wise it was like night and day compared to the old external frame packs I remember using. Even compared to some of the somewhat modern gear that my buddies had, it was better fitting and I could easily carry more in it without any strain on my back. I've only used it a couple of times so far so I can't vouch for the long-term durability... however I have yet to see any problems and given the build quality I don't expect to. The lightweight fabric used has yet to snag, tear or stretch in any way... I was really rough on it my first time out and I was impressed that it still looked brand new after a couple of days being tossed/dragged/carried around in the woods. The little touches really added to my appreciation of this pack... things like the mesh side pockets on either side of the belt where I could carry my bandana and pocket knife, or the multiple access points so I could get to things in the middle or at the bottom of my pack without having to unload and reload everything constantly. Probably the only drawback is that it's so roomy that it could encourage you to overpack... I easily fit my sleeping bag and inflatable mat inside the bottom compartment and still fit my clothes, food, 3L Camelbak and a good amount of the group gear in the top with room to spare.

Overall I'd say it's worth every penny... so if you're looking to get into multi-day backpacking I would highly recommend this pack. Might be a bit expensive for someone just starting out, but look at it this way: you can end up losing a lot if your pack fails you part way through a trip... respect from your buddies if they end up having to pack out your gear for one.

By far the most comfortable pack I tried on, and I tried on many! 40 lbs at Yosemite was easy; thoughtful design for streamlined access and outside storage straps, pockets, and loops were all convenient, compact, even though I didn't truly appreciate them until I put them to use.

bought this pack last year. On the way back from our 1st w/e trip with my son I ended up off-loading everything my son's backpack on to my Baltoro except his sleepig bag, down jacket & water bottles. I think I had about 55+ lbs. on it. I was hurting a bit but my Baltoro held up Great!

Loved the pack... unfortunately, so did some critter in the middle of the night on my last Fall pack trip! Chewed right through the zippers and all, rendering it basically unrepairable. Replaced it with the same pack! Love the pockets, accessibility, size, comfort (comfort is what sold me, to me well worth the extra pound or so in weight compared with "ultralight" packs). Only noticed that it seemed to make a little more noise on the hike than some other packs, could simply be my not cinching it all up at tight, but seems to be something more to do with the pivoting hip belt harness system??? Wish the hip belt pockets were just a tad bit larger... not much fits in them. Would definitely recommend the pack despite very minor criticisms. Just trying to be honest in assessment.

What comfort. I just took my first short trip with this pack and I am very impressed. I loaded it up to about 30lbs with random stuff from around the house and off I went. About 3 1/2 miles up and down about 1200 vertical feet (pretty rugged at times) and the pack felt great. It took me about the first 15 minutes or so fiddling with straps and positions before I got it just right (keeping in mind this was our first trip together). Biggest thing..... size it properly and don't be affraid to vary from the "torso measurement" if you find that a size smaller or larger just feels good. I was sized for a medium but got a large and it feels perfect. Love this pack!!

What an amazing piece of trail equipment! The body fit was fantastic, and the adjustable features very beneficial. Load capacity is perfect for long distance hiking. The very well designed sleeping bag compartment is convenient and easy to load/unload. I wound up folding a Therm-a-rest pad and storing it with the sleeping bag. The water bottle holder while easy to access and very secure never got in the way while hiking through rough terrain. The Baltoro 70 has few, if any, unnecessary features. Nice job Gregory!

This is a great pack. My first Gregory. I've owned several Dakines and Mountain Hardware. Needed larger pack for 6 day Teton trip. Pack weighed approx. 48 lbs (including Nemo tent secured under top flap) and was carried for 46 miles. Very comfortable fit esp. with pivoting belt. Alot of handy pockets and access. Only complaint is no place to hook camelback. Had to fashion one out of wire. Pack was snowed on and rained on, but everything inside stayed dry. Belt pockets are small---compass size. Overall would highly recommend.

This pack rocks. Handles heavy loads like a champ. You can't beat gregory's articulating waist belt. Worth every penny.

Great pack. Bought this for a trip in the Sierras as my old pack was a piece of crap. The pivoting belt works great and moves with you perfectly. It really made 40lbs feel more like 20lbs.All the pockets really help me keep all my thins organized and at the ready. I cant wait to take this to Alaska and back to the Sierras in the summer and find out more good things about it. Sure you can find less expensive packs, but really if you want quality you gotta pay for it and YOU CAN"T GO WRONG HERE!!

Full adjustability coupled with quality materials make this pack insanely comfortable. It makes loads feel like a fourth of their weight. I am beyond happy with this product. It is worth every penny. Best three day pack I have found.

Easily the best pack i've ever owned. From week long trips in the Tetons to a month stay in New Zealand, it has carried everything I've ever needed (sometimes upwards of 40lbs) and did it in an extremely comfortable fassion. The front pocket zips open like a duffel bag, so you don't have to unpack and repack just to find some socks. And i probably bought the pack just because of the hip belt pockets, so awesome.

Buy It.

I fit it myself, then my brother and I did 35 miles of backcountry Wyoming with 55 pounds in it. The pack was solid and comfortable throughout.

The adjustments on this rig are amazing. I thought Mountainsmith was uber adjustable. This pack blows it away. Comfort is Top-Notch.

This is a great pack. Cactus proof, and comfortable. I actually had to double pack when a member of our trip fell and got a concussion and though I wouldn't recommend it, I was able to pack carry about a 70lb load for a couple of miles to a water and a camp site... This pack stood up to whatever was dished its way...

I used this pack for a 10 mile hike to Havasupai Falls, Grand Canyon, and it was great. Held 45 lbs comfortably the whole way. Held snug to body and dispersed most weight to legs/hips. NO back stress at all. Looks cool, too. Highly recommended.

I am new to backpacking and on my first trip we went 14 miles and the pack felt great the whole way. I carried about 35lbs including my wife and I's tent, my sleeping bag, 2L of water in camel back, clothes, three 4 serving meals, snacks, and a lot of other stuff I didn't even use. There are plenty of pockets to store all of your nicknacks in. There are plenty of adjustments to get the perfect fit. I highly recommend this pack!

I bought this pack about a year ago, took on a 3 week hike in the winter. Held up pretty good. Lots of room for all my gear and I love all the outside pockets. The compression straps are great but the top one is pulling at the seams. Ending up in a downpour on a weekend trip with it, must say it is water resistent. Hardly any of my clothes got wet inside. Only downside to it is the hipbelt, I found it awkward and even uncomfortable at times. Other than that its a great bag! Exactly what I expected from it and more.

I bought this pack specifically for an 8 day trip in Glacier National Park - couldn't be happier. It was comfortable, held a heck of a lot of stuff (41 lbs at the start of the hike!) and was easy to adjust and has lots of nice pockets and nooks in it. I also use it for frequent weekend trips - good stuff.

I've backpacked 123 miles with this pack and it held up Great! No problems! Buy it! The Baltoro is a mix of the old Gregory forester and old whitney. Go for it! I did and I'm Loving it!! Bankhead Forest Rules !!

I decided myself for this backpack after reading all over the internet for backpacks around the same size and capacity, I was wonder the size of it, even I thought it was bigger, but actually the size is the right for my needs. I got this backpack for 3 month trip I'm about to start and feel comfortable taking with me, besides everything I wanna take with me fits amazing.