Gregory Mountain Products Zulu 30 Liter Men's Hiking Daypack

Great backpack, I never imagine that this Backpack 30L has more space than others of 35L or 40L.I used it in a trekking and it worked as expected :)

I'm so happy I finally found this pack. I've been looking for over a month. I tried both men and women's models in Osprey, Gregory, Kelty and Granite Gear, 28 to 36 liter. I went to EMS and tried on even more. I am a curvy female with a 19 inch torso (even though I'm only 5 7), so many packs in stock were too short and didn't even make it into the possibility list.The packs I tried that had non-adjustable torsos, and claimed up to 20 inches, were just too small to hit my hips correctly. I tried these loaded with my winter gear weight on a one-hour treadmill test drive, and either my back or my shoulders could feel all 14 lbs. I tried the women's packs in small/medium, the only female size available for 19 inch. The men's packs were medium/large, the larger of the 2 sizes available for 19 inch.The Osprey Stratos Large with an adjustable torso was my second favorite, but the straps just didn't sit right on my shoulders (a bit too wide and off balanced) and the hip belt didn't adjust to the curve of my waist and back (gapping).The Gregory Zulu 30, size medium/large, got everything right for me. The adjustable torso works great to dial in the fit. The hip belt is extremely comfortable and conforms enough to give soft support. It places most the weight on my hips, where it should be. It hugged the curve of my back and the hip pads were long enough to fit comfortably over my hip bones. Likewise the shoulder straps are very comfortable, placed well, and didn't make my shoulders ache.I like the design of the load lifters too. They go further down the straps than on the other packs I tried. This design seemed to do a better job adjusting the load. The vented back is also wonderful. First off, the tensioned mesh is very comfortable. Plus, even in the short test runs I did, I notice the difference keeping me cool.I would have liked the main compartment's u-shaped opening to go a few inches longer on each side, but the pack just carries so nicely, this is a minor gripe. Snowshoe straps would be a good addition too.Overall, this is wonderful pack, and I'm very glad I stuck to it and held out for the perfect fit.Update: took it up a local mountain today, a 20 lb load with all my winter stuff, food, water and camera gear. I love how this pack moves with me! I also noticed I wasn't constantly readjusting the straps, the pack just stayed comfortable all day. Yay!!

I was recently looking for a pack that was just small enough for mountain day hikes. The Gregory Zulu 30 proved to be a good option for the job. This updated 2019 Zulu is a substantial upgrade over the previous generation. It's made of robust outer materials and great feeling mesh against the body. The bothersome X frame of the past version has been replaced with a perimeter frame. After 12 straight miles there was no squeaking sound like other packs have been known to make.The Zulu 30 has enough pockets to hold the necessities and can hold a 3L water bladder in the main compartment sleeve. I'm not sure about the attachment hook design for the bladder. It is designed to work with a gregory hydration bladder. I haven't tried to rig up a different brand of bladder in the bag yet, but this could be an annoyance.The hip belt pockets are big enough for a medium cell phone with a case, which is a great convenience.I recently wore the Zulu 30 on a hike to the summit of Whiteface out of the box. Most of the packs I've worn took more time to adjust to and get dialed in. The Zulu only required the a few strap adjustments and moved the velcro shoulder harness a bit. I never thought about it for the whole 12 miles I hiked that day.The hip belt suspension design actually helps control a lot of the pack movement and so it moves with you. As a result, I didn't have any hot spots or rubbing for the whole trip. The space between the back mesh and the pack body allows good back ventilation. The slight curvature of the pack frame barely affects the interior space.I found the capacity good for long day hikes. However, it's too small for overnight trips. The zippers could be smoother. The main zip tends to take more work that it should. I'd also like to see the mesh panel on the back to be made of more nylon with mesh on the sides instead.

A place for everything including trekking pole loops/ retention band. 250 miles in the first month with full pack including snow/rain. So far so good

I bought this 30l backpack for my hiking throughout Yosemite. Could not be happier with this purchase! The fit was superb. The hip and shoulder tension straps worked line a charm. Fully loaded with water bottles, snacks, medical kit, Hiking poles and layers of clothing, this pack held up nicely and I never really felt the weight of got tired of carrying the heavy load. They're ample pockets for small items, e.g. Flashlight, Headlamp, knife and PowerBars. I didn't end up needing the built in rain cover but it was really nice knowing it was there. I highly recommend this pack for anyone going on a day or overnight hike. Nothing more than that though. Happy trekking!

I absolutely love this pack. Really ideal for a day hike not a lot of bells and whistles which in my opinion is of great benefit. As a 6'1" 300 pound guy the straps and belt all fit well. I use this for day hiking primarily but also when I go to Disney or Hershey Park. Its ideal for rain coat, sweater wallet, keys, sunnys etc. ( I hate stuffing my pockets). I really like the built in rain fly and mesh pockets. Easily carries two smart water 1 liter bottles.Light weight with good airflow through thanks to suspension so no sweaty backHope this helpsCheers!!