UpNorthica Reviews: Gregory Triconi™ 60

Next to your boots, the most crucial piece of equipment to make or break a backpacking trip is your pack. If the pack doesn’t transfer weight to your hips, your back and shoulders are going to hurt. If it doesn’t have enough space for your gear, the amazing amount of noise hanging gear makes will let everyone know. The key aspects of a pack are the fit, suspension, loading/access points, size and build quality. Let’s look at how Gregory’s Triconi 60 stacks up.

The Triconi 60 is one of Gregory’s midsize packs. This means that it’s definitely overkill for use as a daypack, but too small for anything over 5 days (5 would be pushing it). Weighing in at 5 lbs 5 oz, this pack has a capacity of 3,661 cubic inches. This makes it a nice, lightweight pack that holds a 2 to 3 day load without adding to the weight significantly. Gregory has made their name on comfortable packs and Triconi is proof of this. The pack is incredibly flexible, allowing you to adjust the pack to your frame with precision. This pack also boasts Gregory’s Response™ AFS suspension system which evenly distributes your weight while moving with your body. It works even better than advertised. The waist belt is soft, comfortable and stays in place, even with a hefty camera hanging from it.

The design and construction of the bag are where I have my reservations. It has 3 access points: top, side and bottom – pretty standard nowadays – check. However, it only has 2 real external compartments; a top compartment and a front pocket. I would have liked one more small pocket on the outside for assorted small stuff, but as a trade-off, this is the only pack whose top compartment I’ve been able to reach while wearing the thing (I have short arms). The main compartment is narrow, really narrow. This makes for a thin profile, which is great on the trail, but makes for a pack that fills up quickly. It’s just a little larger in diameter than my cook-kit; I would have liked a little more space. I’ll add that the waist belt does have two tiny compartments, suitable for a knife or lens cloth.

I also worry about the material; it boasts 210d HT double diamond ripstop nylon, which is hopefully another way of saying ‘super crazy tough nylon.’ This may be true, but it’s thin and light so as to make abrasion, snags or a loose tent stake, a constant concern. I never did experience these mishaps, so admittedly, these fears could be unfounded.

There are also the zippers. While water resistant, as advertised, they are awfully small. The same size zipper is used on high-tension areas like the side zipper and bottom sleeping bag compartment, as on low-tension areas. I would have opted for a more heavy duty one, if only to avoid nightmares of zipper blowouts on the trail.

One last little bit was that some of us had trouble reaching the water bottle holders while wearing the pack. This may or may not be true of everyone, depending on your fit.

This is a very good midsized pack. The fit and suspension system are excellent. It carries a healthy load while still moving with your body, not against it. The waist belt is one of the best I’ve used, even with a SLR. Despite concerns over the materials and size, I still recommend it for people who plan short trips or have the luxury of having different packs for short and long trips.

gregorypacks.com