How we review gear...

Product reviews on this site are conducted by DART adventure racing team members and have been used in the field by the author. We prefer our sponsor's product based on our history of use, however we do review sponsored and non sponsored products equally and without predjudice. We will list both pros and cons and will give you the most objective information to help you make critical decisions about what you take into the field.

Monday, November 12, 2007

Gregory Backpacks - Anti Gravity Series - Versatility

Our success in adventure racing has a lot to do with our versatility and ability to adapt to changing conditions. We select gear that also has these traits. Gregory Packs exemplify the type of adventure racing gear that meets our stringent demands. Since races can vary in length from 4 hours to multiple days, and mandatory gear lists can be as small as water or as extensive as a novel, our packs need to fit well, carry our required gear, be lightweight but tough, and ergonomically be easy to use.

We primarily use four packs from Gregory’s Anti Gravity Series

Stimulus

The Stimulus is the smallest of the Gregory Packs that we use. It is perfect for those short sprint races where the mandatory gear list is minimal. At 300 CU IN and just over 1LB, the pack easily carries your water, food, and some extra clothes. Like all Gregory Packs, the waist pockets are handy for carrying your food or nuun tabs. Many of us also use this pack while running ultra marathons and mountain bike races.




Reactor
The Reactor is one of our most used packs. Its size allows us to use it in a variety of situations. At 700 CU IN, it holds twice as much gear as the Stimulus. This is our go to pack for most 24 hour races. It has enough capacity hold a day’s worth of food, our Arc’teryx cold weather gear, and any other mandatory gear required by the race director. This pack weighs just under 1.5 LBS. Also notice the built in tow loop at the center bottom of the pack. This is a great addition to help out any teammates that may be suffering.





Iso
When it comes to large loads, the Iso is the way to go. It is just 4 oz heavier than the reactor with almost twice the carrying capacity at 1,200 CU IN. Sometimes, race directors require us to carry large loads and the Iso is our first choice. At the USARA National Championships, we were required to carry everything we would need for the entire race. We needed enough capacity to carry our running shoes, clothes, mandatory gear and enough food for the entire race. The Iso handled the load perfectly. The Iso also worked extremely well in expedition races such as Primal Quest and XPD. Often, we are in deep water during races. Like all Gregory packs, the Iso drains well and dries quickly.


Advent Pro
Paddles, PFD, tent, sleeping bag, satellite phone, these are some of the things we are required to carry during expedition races in addition to enough food and clothing to stay out for 2-3 days at a time. When we are carrying the maximum, we go to the Advent Pro. Even with this pack loaded up, it still fits well and feels comfortable. During Primal Quest, we were on our bikes for 18 hours with our Advent Pros loaded and this was just the beginning of the section. At 2,200 CU IN, this pack will have enough capacity for the longest races. We also use these packs for our multi-day training up in the cascades.



2,200 CU IN
2LB 9OZ

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