Those two things - as Backpacker points out in its review of Gregory’s Palisade 80 pack in the current issue of the magazine - don’t often go together. But in the case of Gregory, we’ve always said, if you’re not comfortable, you’re not having fun.
Backpacker put the Palisade through the wringer over the past year-plus, and comfort is the verdict. Nothing’s more important when ca
rrying heavier weights.
Current trends suggest that people aren’t buying big backpacking packs as much as they used to, instead choosing to go lighter for shorter periods of time. Part of that’s time (people are busy, so they don’t carve out a week for a backpacking trip), but we think part of that is also comfort (people these days just don’t see carrying upwards of 50 pounds as fun).
That said, we think that there are always going to be the folks going on extended trips who need big load haulers, even if that’s not in vogue (can you use that word in relation to backpacking?) at the moment. There’s places to go and things to do that you simply can’t do unless you’re willing to haul what you need for five days, a week, or more. And as much as lightweight gear has reduced the amount you need to carry, there’s still no way around carrying sufficient food for a week!
And we’re committed to building the best packs for those folks (and everyone else, for that matter).
We also humbly submit that if everyone’s experience carrying heavier weights was using Gregory’s Response CFS suspension (what’s used on the Palisade, and what yields superior load transfer and, thus, comfort), there’d be more interest in extended lengthier outings.
Now if we could just do something about that North American work schedule …
Have you heard the song “
weekend (28th-29th) will feature, among others, drum roll please…Jason Mraz. Now, by this point you should be savvy enough to guess we’re not just updating you on the pop singer’s status (that’s what twitter’s for 
n updating you on 
Though there is no single right answer, there are some questions you can ask yourself to help narrow down your choices, in terms of size and features. We categorize our packs by their volume and suspension systems, and therefore by how much weight they can comfortably carry. So, the best way to start the process of selecting the right pack is by asking yourself a few questions:
cluding ADD and obesity. While this concept has no medical backing, those who feel a contectedness to nature, and seek it out to relax or ‘recenter’, will understand Louv’s point.
visit the preserve can check out backpacks filled with tools “to aid in the exploration of nature,” according to preserve staff member Vanessa Torres. 
enture race, 
ointing the finger at anyone here, because I’d have to point it at myself first …
