Gregory Shasta Review

"When I but on the Shasta with 45 pounds in the store it felt great and it has gotten better ever since. Not as comfortable as the Dana but it is a much better value at a meer $250 instead of $400. Only quib is the lack of an external pocket. Oh well, great pack."

"I have been trying Internal BP's for about 8 mnths and have finally found the best fit for the most economical $$. The shoulder straps fit better than most of the big names. They curve inward more, giving relief to my shoulders.
I like the bottle holders and the ski pockets.
The Shasta fits my back like a glove, I'm 5'11",180lbs and broad shouldered. But the medium size is big enough, so I would think that the large would do fine for the big guys.
With all my gear in and the compression straps snugged down, I had no problems carring 42 lbs over SW Pa. terains. I have a bad lower back and I haven't felt any recourse from my back due to that 3 day trip. Great!!It's taking me abit to get used to the loading system, but I do like it."

"I rented a Shasta for a 30 miler in the Southern Appalachians just to check it out. I thought it carried great. When my wife got a bad blister from her boots and we had to make it a few more miles before dark, I just strapped her pack onto the Shasta, and away we went, carrying 60 lbs w/ ease. I personally would buy a bigger pack w/ more pockets, but I do love this suspension."

"I bought my Shasta in '98 for a summer trip I was taking to Europe and because I got tired of borrowing any time I went backpacking. I zeroed in on the Gregory packs due to the comfort and fit of the suspension and because the shoulder straps and waist belt could be fit to my size before purchasing. Also at the three or four different stores I went to, I would ask the salespeople what they owned, and every one of them mentioned a Gregory pack.
I narrowed it down to two models: the Shasta and the Palisade.
While they are essentially the same pack, the Shasta is a bit bigger and is more customizable. You can add up to three different pockets versus two on the Palisade (which does have a permanent 400 cubic inch external pocket.) Or you can just strip it down for a quick weekend jaunt.
The pack has performed flawlessly these past two years on various trips up and down Yosemite and Europe.
The removable top pocket can double as a fanny pack, and it has a hiddent pocket for a hydration system. The separate sleeping bag compartment is a must (I wouldn't consider any pack without one) and can be combined as one with the main compartment should you want to.
A quick note: my brother ended up buying the bigger Wind River and swears by its panel loading accessibility. Both the Shasta and Palisade are top loaders."

"much has been said in the various gregory reviews regarding the suspension system which, admittedly, performs beautifully (particularly with heavier loads). what impresses me most about my shasta are the tiny little details (some of them could even be termed "gimmicks"), such as the brilliant bottle holder, the embedded cinch cord around the sleeping bag compartment, the super-durable (though heavy) rubbery material on the bottom of the pack, the bellows-like collapsing spindrift collar, the lower cinch straps that easily double as lash straps due to their position and length, the clever hip belt sections (three specially-shaped panels rather than one single piece of foam) that eliminate any bunching, etc., etc.

a lovely pack, particularly given its competitive price as compared to other top-of-the-line packs."

"I bought a shasta for a hike in the uwharrie mountains this year and after twenty miles my back felt great! I used it again for a hike in the Blue Ridge Mountains and it was fantastic! I had 55 lbs. in it and it performed flawlessly. I ended up buying my wife Gregory also."

"Initially I was interested in the Shasta due to its versitility and it's size. the ample side compression straps and the lid-as-daypack features also drew me in. It was on sale so I got it for $225 (includng REI membership). I use the long side compression straps to get it extra tight (by putting the right strap into the left fastener and so forth)for overnighters, and I used the lid to summit the last peak I did. I have a couple of small complants however. Number one the straps (when not tied down) tend to whip me in the face and arms when the wind picks up, 2, the ridged belt literally rubs my protruding hip bones raw they even rubbed sores around athletic tape I put over my scars --that's right SCARS-- from previous trips 3rd: the pack has to be adjusted perfectly to fit perfectly, you can't just slap it on and run. It kind of sucks to have to loosten all the straps and have to re-fit the bag on the trail. Other than that I found this bag to be exellent. I've used it with a ton of weight (upwords or 60 lbs.) and I've used it to travel. I recently loaned it and was useing a gym bag (I missed my Shasta terribly)."

"I recieved this pack as a Christmas gift nearly 4 years ago. I absolutely love it. The Flo-Form waistbelt and the Gregory suspension system is unbelievable. It literally "molds" to your hip and back. These are the major praises: 1)It is a breeze to adjust. No sweat required when adjusting on the trail. Quick transfer of weight from hips to shoulders and vise-versa. Just strap it on and run. 2)Great lumbar pad. It is very sticky and will not move around while on walking down the trail. 3)Great suspension. The floating framesheet provided great support without any squeaks. After a few miles, the pack felt like an extension of my body. 4) Awsome hipbelt. I wore this pack for 23 miles wearing blue jeans, leather belt, and tucked in shirt and it still wore comfortably. True, any pack packed incorrectly or over-loaded will cause discomfort to the hips area. After 23 miles I had NO SCARS- that's right-No SCARS!!
This pack truely is a minimalistic beauty. I would not trade it for another pack and I intend on using it for years to come."

"I bought My Shasta at a shop in Colorado Springs in the Summer of 96. I can only say you can do much worse than the Shasta. I have used it on some long solo hikes in the San Juans of Colorado and in the mountains of Southern New Mexico. Its just big enough to carry averything you need for a week, maybe a little more, and its comfortable. You would have to spend a lot more to get as good a pack any where else with the exception of maybe a Lowe or North Face Pack.Make sure you get a good fit! Since it will not be as adjutable as the above mentioned packs in this attribute. My only complaint is that it does not have any pockets on the back like a Dana which in my opinion would make it just about the best deal you could find in a pack for around $250 retail, and still a bargain at $300 The new colors are also kind of ugly, mine is navy and black. Red and black would be nice!"

"I found this pack, used, at an Army Surplus Store for $75.00. After two big hikes with loads at 50+ I felt no pains, pinches, rubs, etc. The adjust-a-cant belt and self-adjusting shoulder straps are top notch stuff. There are enough straps and stuff on the outside to attach anything I need to, and the inside....well...its a cave."

"I love my shasta. I was worried that I wouldn't like the lack of extra pockets, but it really isn't a big deal. It supports the weight well, and It's very comfortable. I wish it were a little lighter, but I knew the weight when I bought it. I would definatley suggest this pack to anyone who can get over the no pockets issue."

"The shasta is without a doubt the best pack for the money. If you shop hard online, you can find it for less than 200 bucks. This pack will take extreme abuse, and last. Ive had mine for about three years. Ive hiked sierras, alaska, canadian rockies, U.S rockies, appalachians, and did a 4 month tour in europe with my shasta. I have abused the h--- out of it, trusted it to the airlines, and its more comfortable than ever. The tough compressed foam takes getting used to, but its better than the seemingly more comfortable stuff the others use like kelty, lowe, nface. The compressed foam not only maintains its structural integrity, but if your on a trail for 8 days (I stuff my shasta full), the last few days is when you realize the benefits of the padding. Comfortable, good price, and tough. There isn't a better pack out there, unless you need more space/pockets or want people to know you spent $400 bucks. And pockets are overrated."

"I chose this pack on my first trip to denali national park. the pack moved well with the torso and distributed the weight to you hips and legs perfectly. pack had to many loose straps and could have use some more pockets. overall its the best deal for you money"