24L Backpack Tested in 2022

Your daypack is an important piece of drugs. It’s the go-to bag for any day journey, whether or not it’s a hike in Rocky Mountain Nationwide Park, a stroll by way of your native park, and even your work commute. If I might solely have one backpack (fortunately I don’t) it will undoubtedly be a daypack. 

Finding the right daypack will be laborious. There are such a lot of completely different ones on the market! You want one thing that isn’t solely sturdy however may also match every little thing you might want to go on a enjoyable and profitable journey (and also you need it to match your model, too).

Gregory just lately launched their Arrio line, which is their most price range pleasant line of packs but. They provide minimal options to maintain the fee down whereas nonetheless adhering to their excessive requirements of high quality.

I’ve to be utterly frank with you—this isn’t my favourite daypack; nonetheless it does have some good options and serves as a fundamental pack. Beneath, I’ll go over my trustworthy ideas on the Gregory Arrio 24L Pack and examine it to another packs I personal.

Gregory Arrio 24 Overview Abstract

Gregory is a family identify in terms of backpacks. They try to make packs which might be “worn not carried,” and so they do that by way of revolutionary chassis methods that work together with your physique as you carry the pack versus in opposition to it. 

Gregory, together with many of the outside gear business, has begun to put a larger emphasis on sustainability. They’ve labored laborious to revamp their packaging to be extra eco-friendly, and so they have an extensive pack repair program to assist hold packs from getting thrown away. In case your pack shouldn’t be repairable on the finish of its life, Gregory recycles or repurposes varied elements of the pack!

Their new Arrio line is not any exception, and it has turn out to be a more moderen favourite amongst day hikers. It is a pack designed particularly for climbing. It doesn’t embrace options {that a} extra versatile journey pack would have. For instance, there isn’t any laptop computer sleeve and the pack itself is somewhat slim to even match a laptop computer.

The Arrio line is available in 18L, 22L (regular and plus size), and 24L (regular and plus size). The 18L and the 24L are prime loading packs with a drawstring closure and a lid pocket, whereas the 22L is extra like your conventional daypack with a zippered closure. This text is concentrated on the 24L, which has the drawstring shut.

In the end, this bag has the essential options to make it a superb daypack, however lacks options to make it an incredible pack. Let’s dive into that extra.

Is The Gregory Arrio Proper For You?

The Arrio is a unisex pack and is greatest suited to these wanting model over true operate and flexibility. It’s light-weight and nice in the event you don’t must carry a ton of drugs with you on a day hike.

Because it doesn’t have the options for optimally carrying a laptop computer, this pack doesn’t actually execute nicely off the path. It does, nonetheless, have a big foremost compartment roomy sufficient to retailer every little thing you’d want for a day hike.

This pack is for the passion hiker who wants a superb fundamental daypack that’s sturdy sufficient for his or her occasional adventures. If this sounds such as you, it may be the correct match!

Folks seeking to do longer hikes the place they should carry extra gear with them may not discover this bag very helpful. The 9.5lb max carry weight is somewhat low if you might want to carry greater than 2 liters of water or any additional gear.

It’s particularly not match for peak bagging or rock scrambling, which might be higher suited to a extra supportive pack.

Gregory Arrio Execs and Cons

Gregory Arrio Options

The Outer Elements

Some folks don’t like to make use of top-loading packs as a result of issues on the backside are laborious to entry. I’ve discovered that with somewhat group, utilizing a pack like with a prime opening remains to be actually useful. I attempt to hold all of my stuff that I would want whereas climbing on the surface of the pack and every little thing that I’ll want when taking the pack off inside the primary compartment. 

So let’s dig into the exterior storage featured on the Arrio.

There may be one water bottle holder on one aspect and the opposite aspect has a bigger zippered pocket. The entrance of the pack has one other exterior zippered pocket.

The Arrio does lack a couple of options that will make it an incredible climbing pack. There’s a curious lack of straps on the surface of the pack to connect issues to. Generally once I hike I like to connect a rain jacket and trekking poles to the surface for simple entry, however there simply isn’t a great spot to try this on the Arrio.

The Arrio has two additional straps that safe the pack to your physique: a sternum strap that properly routes a hydration bladder tube with a whistle on the buckle, and a nylon hip belt. 

The Arrio additionally options the Gregory “Freespan” mesh, suspended in opposition to a curved again panel that’s meant to maintain your again cool whereas climbing.

Take A Look Inside

The primary inside compartment of the pack could be very easy. It’s one giant space to retailer all of your gear, and I’d recommend shopping for separate dividers or packing cubes if you might want to hold any of your gear separate or extra organized!

It has a sleeve for a water bladder and somewhat clip to carry it in place, which is at all times a key characteristic I search for in climbing packs!

Harness

The harness of a pack is all the issues that contact your physique whereas sporting the pack. This consists of the shoulder straps, the hip belt, the sternum strap, and the again panel.

The again panel on the Arrio is nice as a result of the suspended mesh conforms to your physique as you put on it. Does it actually hold your again cooler although? I’m not so positive. All these again panels have been round for a very long time, and so far as I’m involved, I nonetheless sweat a ton once I hike—my again being no exception.

The shoulder straps are padded and mesh on the underside, making them actually snug. The Sternum Strap is about as generic as they arrive. It may possibly transfer up and down and has a whistle on it.

The hip belt (extra like a strap) leaves quite a bit to be desired. It’s a nylon strap with a buckle, and it doesn’t do an incredible job at assuaging the load off your again. With a extra sturdy hip belt, the load restrict of this pack may be increased, making it extra useful. 

General this pack carries very nicely; nonetheless, in the event you put an excessive amount of gear into the pack it feels tight within the shoulders and simply uncomfortable. Once more, this pack actually is an effective fundamental daypack in the event you’re simply seeking to carry a couple of necessities in your hikes! Simply don’t count on to take a ton of drugs or water up the path with you on this pack with out it being uncomfortable.

Pockets

There are 5 locations for storage on this pack. On the surface, there’s a water bottle holder on one aspect and an extended water-bottle-sized zipper pocket on the opposite. I really feel like they may have had the identical impact by placing 2 water bottle holders.

The again zipper pocket is sq. and nice for placing small easy accessibility issues like maps and keys. The final exterior pocket is the lid pocket. It’s triangular and a fairly strong spot for extra small issues like sun shades and snacks. 

The primary cavity of the pack is spacious and has a water bladder sleeve. 

General it has an honest structure. I discovered that this pack held every little thing that I wanted on brief and mid-length day hikes. The lid pocket and the entrance zippered pocket held my telephone keys and a map simply and offered easy accessibility to snacks.

I discovered myself wishing that there was a second water bottle holder as a result of I at all times gave the impression to be placing a second water bottle within the aspect zippered pocket (however I’m admittedly not a water bladder consumer). 

Group

It is a top-loading pack. There isn’t any entry to the primary compartment from wherever however the prime. The one organizational characteristic the primary compartment has is the bladder sleeve, which undoubtedly turns out to be useful when climbing.

I want the bag had one other inside pocket for group, however Gregory does a superb job of placing some pockets on the surface so your smaller objects don’t need to go in the primary pocket and they’re prepared for fast entry.

That being stated, there are not any straps on the surface to connect issues to the pack. Many different climbing packs from different manufacturers offer you a couple of loops and steps so you possibly can connect gear.

Gregory Arrio Overview

Consolation: Is it Simple to Put on?

The primary factor that I preferred concerning the Arrio pack was that when it was loaded as much as the burden restrict it felt snug on my again. The mesh again panel creates a customized match for each individual that places it on. The Arrio is one measurement so it’s designed to suit everybody. 

If it was over the really helpful weight restrict of 9.5Lbs it received somewhat tight within the shoulders, so simply ensure to not overload it!

Supplies: What’s It Made Of?

The pack is 100% nylon with an Alloy metal body to provide it form and to droop the mesh again panel.

The underside of the pack is fabricated from a lot increased denier nylon making the underside extra sturdy and really feel thicker to the contact.

All the material has a DWR (Sturdy Water Repellent) end that makes the pack waterproof till the end wears off. This is quite common on all nylon items of drugs. 

Sturdiness: Will it Final?

General, this pack is fairly commonplace by way of sturdiness for a daypack.

I really feel just like the Arrio is a strong pack by way of workmanship. Gregory used high-quality supplies for every little thing on the pack, from the buckles and straps to the thick nylon on the underside of the pack. 

I took this pack on quite a lot of day hikes and mine nonetheless appears good as new!

Model & Aesthetics: How Does it Look?

This pack is de facto stunning! Gregory did an particularly nice job of selecting aesthetic colours.

When totally loaded up, this pack is de facto smooth. There aren’t a bunch of buckles or straps hanging off the pack and all the pockets seamlessly match collectively. making a really clutter-free pack.

This doesn’t have the extra rugged or useful look of a devoted climbing pack just like the Osprey Talon 33.

Guarantee: What Type of Guarantee Does Gregory Provide?

Gregory affords what they name the Gregory Lifetime Guarantee. It covers every little thing aside from regular put on and tear, unreasonable or abusive use, and improper cleansing or storage.

It’s a superb, not nice guarantee. It basically covers you if the workmanship or the supplies are faulty while you get your pack. In comparison with the All-Mighty assure (they are going to substitute or restore and pack for any purpose from any period) that Osprey affords on their packs, this isn’t an incredible guarantee.

Delivery: Does Gregory Ship Internationally?

Gregory ships to all over the place in the USA, Alaska and Hawaii included, in addition to to Puerto Rico and Guam.

At the moment Gregory doesn’t ship internationally. Nevertheless, many retailers carry Gregory each on-line and in brick-and-mortar shops.

Gregory Arrio Equipment

There are a couple of equipment that may be added to the Gregory Arrio 24.

The Arrio is designed for use with a water bladder, which you should buy individually. And in the event you reside in a moist local weather or journey usually, a rain cowl is at all times useful to remain dry!

Gregory 3D Hydro 2L Reservoir

The Arrio comes with a SpeedClip and a compartment for a water bladder. This Gregory branded bladder suits completely into the pack and likewise comes with Gregory’s fast connection methodology. If you’ll be utilizing this pack I extremely advocate utilizing the Gregory 3D Hydro 2L Reservoir.

Gregory Raincover

When you hike or journey usually, you’re prone to run into fog or rain in some unspecified time in the future alongside your journeys. Though the pack is handled with a DWR end, these items put on out over time. The easiest way to maintain your pack dry within the rain is with a rain cowl. They do make generic covers that you may get on-line. Nevertheless, those from the producer are at all times higher, and so they have a tendency to suit your particular pack significantly better.

Gregory Arrio Alternate options

Listed here are a couple of product choices which might be much like the Gregory Arrio 24L, and the way they form up compared to this daypack.

Mystery Ranch Coulee 25L

This daypack is a superb fundamental pack that is a little more useful for climbing than the Arrio.

This pack has a extremely distinctive 3-zip opening design that permits for fast and full entry to your gear, snacks, and extra. The place this backpack actually excels over the Arrio in my view is the 2 entrance woven pockets that make it simple to slide in your additional layers, sneakers, or water bottles that you could be need to whip out simply whereas on path.

This bag additionally has a correct padded hip belt that gives help when carrying a heavy load—and it’s detachable in the event you don’t want it!

This pack sadly doesn’t include a laptop computer compartment, but it surely does have a bladder sleeve. That is undoubtedly extra of a climbing daypack than an EDC (day-after-day carry), however it’s a nice closet staple for day hikes!

REI Co-Op Trail Pack

REI actually shines with their Path Pack (men’s and women’s), designed for climbing, commuting, and carry-on journey.

This bag has a prime opening very like the Gregory Arrio 24, and a small entrance zip pocket for maps and snacks.

One in every of my favourite options of this bag are the smooth straps on the entrance which might be nice for attaching trekking poles and different gear. It additionally has a water bladder compartment and aspect mesh pockets for water bottles and different necessities.

The recycled nylon materials is waterproof, and the pack additionally comes with a rain fly for these additional wet days.

This pack sadly has a sub-par hip strap that doesn’t provide a lot load bearing or consolation. Nevertheless, it does have snug padded shoulder straps and a sternum strap for added help.

Gregory Arrio 24 Overview Abstract: Remaining Ideas

The Gregory Arrio 24 is a fundamental backpack. It’s made with high-quality supplies and the again panel feels sturdy but snug in opposition to your again.

Nevertheless, each time I took the Arrio climbing I used to be at all times lacking some characteristic that my different packs had. I feel for me the dearth of an actual hip belt and a second water bottle holder was an actual turn-off for me. 

That being stated in case you are a hydration pack consumer and searching for a light-weight climbing pack, the Arrio is an superior pack for you. The precise gear at all times makes for a greater journey. So have enjoyable, and bear in mind to at all times go away it higher than you discovered it!