beingmarci
New Member
- Time of past OR future Camino
- Sarria -> Santiago->Finnistre (2015)
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HI,
I finally bought a pack yesterday - a Gregory Z 55L (weighs 3lbs). It's a "man's" pack, and I am a woman. the guy helping me assured me it was fine, but now I'm not so sure. I am on the plus size and 5'6. Also, perhaps this pack is too big for my trip.
I am not doing the entire Camino, just a portion (10 days) and will not require any sleeping gear. I am going mid-September so perhaps I will need warmer clothing? When I tried this pack on in the store it felt fine, especially compared to the two other "lady" packs I tried. We stuffed it to around 20 lbs for testing purposes. But after reading all the threads on here, I"m wondering if I should find something smaller and more lightweight. And feedback would be greatly appreciated.
HI,
I finally bought a pack yesterday - a Gregory Z 55L (weighs 3lbs). It's a "man's" pack, and I am a woman. the guy helping me assured me it was fine, but now I'm not so sure. I am on the plus size and 5'6. Also, perhaps this pack is too big for my trip.
I am not doing the entire Camino, just a portion (10 days) and will not require any sleeping gear. I am going mid-September so perhaps I will need warmer clothing? When I tried this pack on in the store it felt fine, especially compared to the two other "lady" packs I tried. We stuffed it to around 20 lbs for testing purposes. But after reading all the threads on here, I"m wondering if I should find something smaller and more lightweight. And feedback would be greatly appreciated.
The main practical difference between a man's and a woman's backpack is/are the shape of the shoulder straps. Women typically have larger breasts than men, so women's shoulder straps are shaped somewhat differently than men's shoulder straps to account for chest shape.HI,
I finally bought a pack yesterday - a Gregory Z 55L (weighs 3lbs). It's a "man's" pack, and I am a woman. the guy helping me assured me it was fine, but now I'm not so sure. I am on the plus size and 5'6. Also, perhaps this pack is too big for my trip....
Hello beingmarci,HI,
I finally bought a pack yesterday - a Gregory Z 55L (weighs 3lbs). It's a "man's" pack, and I am a woman. the guy helping me assured me it was fine, but now I'm not so sure. I am on the plus size and 5'6. Also, perhaps this pack is too big for my trip.
I am not doing the entire Camino, just a portion (10 days) and will not require any sleeping gear. I am going mid-September so perhaps I will need warmer clothing? When I tried this pack on in the store it felt fine, especially compared to the two other "lady" packs I tried. We stuffed it to around 20 lbs for testing purposes. But after reading all the threads on here, I"m wondering if I should find something smaller and more lightweight. And feedback would be greatly appreciated.
@Melensdad ...Really? The Z55 is a Lightweight Pack? I am afraid that is misleading.
I switched to an Osprey Exos 48l. It is redesigned with much better strap and hip belt padding and weighs a pound less..empty. The volume is close to the Z55 (which I never filled).
All other things being equal..I will be carrying 1/2 kilo less weight.
The Osprey is simply more comfortable than the Gregory which I used on 5 Caminos before switching.
The Z55 is a good pack..but heavier than it needs to be for me.
Yes-- I just did and LOVE it. I am 5'2" and weigh 150. I needed a shorter suspension but my hips are pretty bigHI,
I finally bought a pack yesterday - a Gregory Z 55L (weighs 3lbs). It's a "man's" pack, and I am a woman. the guy helping me assured me it was fine, but now I'm not so sure. I am on the plus size and 5'6. Also, perhaps this pack is too big for my trip.
I am not doing the entire Camino, just a portion (10 days) and will not require any sleeping gear. I am going mid-September so perhaps I will need warmer clothing? When I tried this pack on in the store it felt fine, especially compared to the two other "lady" packs I tried. We stuffed it to around 20 lbs for testing purposes. But after reading all the threads on here, I"m wondering if I should find something smaller and more lightweight. And feedback would be greatly appreciated.
I realized that I should add that I agree that the pack you bought is on the big side. If it rides OK and feels OK loaded then I would not worry about it. What I would advise is to load it up with what you think you will bring on Camino (including water). It doesn't need to be exact, just close. Then walk around with the pack. If it seems comfortable then stop worrying. If you can't get the adjustment right -- ie the lifters don't lift enough weight off your shoulders, the chest strap is not in the right place for a woman's chest, etc, then take it back and keep looking. LizYes-- I just did and LOVE it. I am 5'2" and weigh 150. I needed a shorter suspension but my hips are pretty bigand the women's hip belts never have the padding coming around the hips enough! So I bought an Osprey Kestral which is a men's pack (the Kyte is the women's version of the Kestral). I got a size small. The suspension is the right length and it is the first pack I have used where the hip belt has padding in the right places! I put it on fully loaded and just sighed with pleasure! Liz
I will absolutely disagree and state again that it is a LIGHTWEIGHT pack at 3# 4 ounces.
It is NOT an ULTRA-LIGHT pack. But its a light pack in absolute terms.
Gregory's Z32, at roughly 1/2 the size, weighs 2# 9 ounces. Not a lot less in weight http://gregorypacks.com/en/GM393_cfg.html?dwvar_GM393__cfg_gmp_color=spark_red#start=10
Lowe Alpine's Quest 30 weighs 2# 11 ounces. http://lowealpine.com/packs/hiking-walking/airzone-quest-nd30
Can I very gently say that the OPs question was mainly about the size and fit of a pack for women.I have the pack. I have carried the pack for over 4000 KMs on the Camino routes. It is not light.
I assume you are referring to a definition of lightweight from somewhere.
I am referring to the actual carrying of the pack.
Can I very gently say that the OPs question was mainly about the size and fit of a pack for women.Maybe this debate about what constitutes a lightweight pack should be on its own thread . Liz
Lol! Before I tried on th Osprey Kestral (a lovely blue) I was looking at the Kyte (the women' version of the same pack) which was this rose pink color. Ugh! I'm thanking my big hips that the Kyte did not fit! LizApart from sizing, why are women's packs always in such hideous colours? The guy in the outfitter's store where I shopped for my pack told me that when manufacturers create gear for women, their motto is "Shrink it and pink it." I bought a man's Osprey Talon 33. It's light, it fits, and it's black.
Agreed.The OP asked specifically about the Gregory Z55 pack which I am posting about...as I own one and have carried it on Caminos.
Marci asked about the size and opinions on suitability. Weight is a very important part of that discussion of a specific pack.
That being said...I have nothing more to add on the subject.
My wife has a black backpack.Apart from sizing, why are women's packs always in such hideous colours? . . . It's light, it fits, and it's black.
This 5'7" woman is in a man's Deuter 32 L.HI,
I finally bought a pack yesterday - a Gregory Z 55L (weighs 3lbs). It's a "man's" pack, and I am a woman. the guy helping me assured me it was fine, but now I'm not so sure. I am on the plus size and 5'6. Also, perhaps this pack is too big for my trip.
I am not doing the entire Camino, just a portion (10 days) and will not require any sleeping gear. I am going mid-September so perhaps I will need warmer clothing? When I tried this pack on in the store it felt fine, especially compared to the two other "lady" packs I tried. We stuffed it to around 20 lbs for testing purposes. But after reading all the threads on here, I"m wondering if I should find something smaller and more lightweight. And feedback would be greatly appreciated.
Apart from sizing, why are women's packs always in such hideous colours? The guy in the outfitter's store where I shopped for my pack told me that when manufacturers create gear for women, their motto is "Shrink it and pink it." I bought a man's Osprey Talon 33. It's light, it fits, and it's black.
Good info.MEC has good information about the differences between packs designed for men and women.
http://www.mec.ca/AST/contentprimary/learn/packs/introtopacks/womensbackpacks.jsp
The only problem with a pack that has a larger capacity is the tendency of the user to fill it. Otherwise its better to have a larger pack so you don't have to cram your stuff into it. This is particularly nice if you plan to carry stuff like a loaf of bread or some bananas.
That could have been my friend, whose identity of course I won't give away here without her permission. I'm sure you'll catch her up again! I gave her my Talon 33 black backpack, which I'd only bought as a protest against the hideous pink of the better-fitting Tempest 30L.Strange you mention this, there was a lady ahead of me just leaving Mañeru with a Talon 33 Black. I was behind and did not see here face, but the pack looked fantastic on her.
That could have been my friend, whose identity of course I won't give away here without her permission. I'm sure you'll catch her up again! I gave her my Talon 33 black backpack, which I'd only bought as a protest against the hideous pink of the better-fitting Tempest 30L.
I'm a very petite lady, and after a few miserable weeks in the mountains I realised I'd made the wrong decision. I swallowed my feminist pride and bought the hated pink one and gave away the black one. Advantages: it's so comfortable I can comfortably run and climb with it filled to the brim; also, in hunting season I'm easy to distinguish from a wild boar through the sights of a gun. I also decided that making a fuss about 'not wearing pink' was as silly as insisting on that colour. In the shop where I bought it, the sales assistant said he lost about two female customers a day who were put off by the colour - yet managers in charge of stocking the store still insist on filling it with cerise. Sigh. But remember, in the sunshine bright colours look jolly rather than silly, and on your back you can't see it anyway!
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