Gregory Goes There

Gregory’s Response Suspension System continues to pull down the accolades for comfortable carrying. The Response concept - hip belts that pivot independently so they adjust to the exact dimensions of the wearer’s body - was first recognized with a 2006 ‘Best of What’s New’ Award from Popular Science Magazine, calling out technological innovation in the recreation division the year that the Response idea was first introduced.

With that overall concept still driving the design, Gregory for 2008 updated its backpacking line with new bag designs and cleaner co-molding technology on the Response Suspension concept, essentially overhauling all its bigger packs top to bottom. National Geographic Adventure and Outside magazines liked what they saw - and, more to the point, what they felt. In the current issue of its Spring 2008 Buyer’s Guide, Outside tested the new Triconi 60 and called out the way the Response system makes Gregory packs carry weight.

“It’s a smart system. The pivots adapt to individual hip curvature and shoulder/torso size, allowing the pack to stay centered on your back regardless of how you twist or contort your body.”

And this from Adventure in the May 2008 issue: The Triconi 60 ” … has a padded, plastic-supported belt that pivots independently to fit each hip and keep the pack centered through twists, clambers and rock-hops. Built to hold upwards of 50 pounds, this is clearly a traditional big-load pack - with decidedly untraditional comfort.”

The Gregory philosophy’s always been that the way a pack carries should dicate the design - and that a few extra ounces in the right places that make the pack carry that much more comfortably are worth their weight in gold at the end of a long day.

After all, carrying a pack’s no fun if you’re not comfortable while you’re doing it.