Gregory Mountain Products Palisade 80 Backpack

This pack is absolutely wonderful. It has space, tons of access points and is the most comfortable pack I have ever worn. There are a ton of adjustments to make the fit perfect. 80L capacity is big enough for a weeks worth of gear without becoming too bulky of a pack. If you are looking into becoming a serious packer (or if you already are) then this is the pack for you! WELL worth the money (and i know it is a lot)...Sometimes you simply pay for a name, but with this pack, you are paying for the highest quality and comfort. Read other reviews and check out other online sources...they all agree. Anyway...that is my two cents worth.

I bought this pack as my last pack to hike with my last child. At 54 with 3 herniated discs I needed a pack made to fit the body correctly to eliminate undue strain or torque to the muscles and vertebrae of the back. I went to REI where the guy there told me this was the pack for me, he too has back issues. I wore it around the store for 30 minutes with 40 pounds in it and had no pain or strain. There is a Utube video on how to fit it properly and a video on the company website on how to fit this pack. So I tried to get a medium pack with large straps from REI and that failed miserably (REI is just not set up to do special orders in less time than weeks)so I ended up ordering it from Amazon at $140 less no tax and free two day shipping. I then called the company, Gregory Mountain Products who sent me the retrofit straps (my torso fit a medium pack but my gutso needed large straps) for free on the promise I return the old ones. I got the straps, retrofitted the pack and then went hiking with the Boy Scouts in the Grand Canyon on a 10 mile hike to Havasupai that includes a 2400 foot elevation gain in two miles and had absolutely no back problems. I wish I had a car that was this good. This pack fits so well and moves with you you do not feel the weight at all. It so perfectly aligns the weight on your hips, has a waist strap that allows for adjustment to fit your shape so it stays over your hips and articulates to allow for natural hip movement. It has comfortable strapping,all the room you need for your gear for two days to ten days (its 80L capacity) and extra room for common gear to support a group. It is more money than other similar sized packs without the belting/harness system but once you go Gregory you will never go cheap for the backpack again. In a word the pack and the company Rocks. this pack gave me the freedom to go into the backcountry like I did when I was a kid and enjoy it. You go Gregory Mountain Products!!!!!

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tons of pockets, tons of padding, really well made and comfortable on ressurection trail in alaska, never fatigued on this 40+ mile hike, me and my lady both have gregory packs and plan on sticking with them for a long time

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I purchased the Palisade 80L pack in March of 2012 and I have since used it backpacking in Arizona, on a cycling trip through Ireland, hiking in Scotland, and the Camino de Santiago in Spain. This pack has proven itself time and time again for it's reliability, comfort, and durability. I originally purchased this pack for its ability to carry heavy weight without too much strain on the body. I am 5' 10", 160 lbs with a damaged shoulder and I can carry an easy 50+ lbs without any issues. Most of my trips have been loaded with 25-30 lbs plus a grocery bag of food.

One thing to consider is that it is not waterproof and a rain cover should be used. Through a series of unfortunate events, my pack ended up in the Atlantic on the Irish Coast. I was able to remove the aluminum supports and drop it off at a cleaner, good as new.

I was worried about the pack being too large or too heavy but the good news is, if you need the space, you have it! If you don't, empty space never hurt anyone. I would highly recommend this pack and I look forward to many more years of use.

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The Palisade has been a mainstay of Gregory's product line for over twenty years. It appeared about the same time my graphite-composite/polyethylene Nova was discontinued; although I'm not sure it was intended as a replacement the 1989 Nova retailed for $480 in today's currency, while the 65L Palisade was advertised as a more budget-friendly, but slightly smaller and heavier alternative that could be purchased in 1992 for under 300 of today's dollars.

Over time backpacks have evolved. The Palisade now boasts an additional 20 liters of capacity and many features we take for granted today hydration sleeve and ports, lighter materials, "cool back" air circulation, a lid that converts to a hip pack, hip belt pockets, etc. I recently bought the Palisade and have taken it on a couple of two day hikes of 30-40 miles carrying 35 to 40 pounds.

Overall, I'm very pleased with this pack. Earlier production models of the current incarnation had some problems with the plastic of hipbelt breaking near the angle adjustment point, but that was several years ago, and the formulation has been changed so that it isn't as brittle.

I have two minor nitpicks first, the hipbelt angle adjustment. Gregory brags that they are the only company to have this "feature". I think there is a good reason for that it is superfluous and adds unnecessary complexity and weight to a critical part. I was perfectly happy with the belt in the default setting, and I suspect most others will be as well.

My second complaint is branding. Every zipper pull & buckle, and many straps and surfaces are emblazoned with the company's name or logo, at least 26 of them by my count. Fortunately, most of them are relatively unobtrusive, but still, that's a little much. My Nova has TWO logos, one on the lid, and a second on the back panel where the shoulder straps attach. As much as I like the Palisade, I don't want to be a walking billboard for the company.

One criticism leveled at the pack that I think is unwarranted is the weight. Granted, this is a deluxe pack, with the durability, conveniences, and comforts that term confers; but in terms of load-carrying efficiency (weight divided by capacity), the Palisade compares favorably with other packs in the genre. I say if you want to carry a couple pounds less, lose that in body fat and enjoy the amenities this pack provides.

I'll be through-hiking the 486-mile Colorado Trail later this year and will update my thoughts on this pack on completion.