Jun 10
28
Gregory Denali Pro Hiking Backpack
By Karenna Awtry
The name Denali Pro says it all. You are a pro mountaineer and you need a bag that will handle anything you dish out. This expedition pack will carry everything you need to conquer mountains and more.
Gregory, U.S.A.-born creator of standout backpacks for hiking, is a performance giant in the backpacking world. There’s no wonder that the company founded on innovative backpacking design offers up what’s quite possibly the most widely respected expedition pack on the trail — the Gregory Denali Pro Pack.
Hard Core Backpack for Those Who Play Hard
The Denali pro hiking backpack was named Best Value Expedition Pack in the 2003 Backpacker Magazine Gear Guide. Gregory calls it “the most technical expedition pack available today, offering time-tested performance in fit, support, accessibility and durability.”
How is this possible? It’s all about intuitive backpack design. The Denali sports Gregory’s groundbreaking Auto-Cant shoulder harness system that fits and moves like a natural extension of your own body, whether your torso is extra broad or slim.
While the shoulder harness automatically adjusts as you navigate the trail, the pre-curved hipbelt hugs your hips for comfortable load-carrying support. There’s enough padding to protect your shoulders and hips from hot spots, and a well-designed back panel lets air circulate so you aren’t suffocating from heat.
It’s clear the Denali backpack can carry a lot, but how your gear is packed is as important as how much you can bring. The Denali Pro Pack offers two ways to get to the main compartment: from the top and the front. Stash your sleeping bag in its own compartment, which is cordoned off with a zipper and removable divider.
A zippered mesh divider lets you keep items in the front pocket in place when you’re not using it as a pass-thru to the main compartment. Overall, there are five pockets in addition to the main one. Nalgene-width bottles fit snugly in side mesh pockets and you can attach plenty of tools to the outside, which features ski slots, loops and a daisy chain.
These features are “well thought out,” says trailspace.com reviewer fmajor007. “Dual axe loops make organizing easier and the tough crampon patch up top eases my worries about the damage that my crampons can cause. The HUGE front pocket has a mesh “wall” that unzips and gives access to the main compartment. The super tough sleeping bag compartment bottom has survived several scuffs and drags without showing any significant abrasion marks.”
Another nice feature: the top lid is completely removable and attaches around your waist if you need a small pack for a short trip away from camp. You can also shave about a pound off the pack’s total weight (almost 8 lbs.) by removing the lid if it’s not needed on your longer hike.
The Gregory Denali Pro Pack is designed for just the kind of backpacking these reviewers are talking about: extended — even technically complicated — hiking trips that necessitate carrying massive amounts of gear. Gregory’s recommended “comfort zone” is just shy of 70 lbs., but reviewers carried more (admitting this was heavy) and did not complain of discomfort or poor performance.
If you’re in the market for a durable, comfortable, haul-it-all backpack, check out the Denali Pro Pack 105 by Gregory.
Heavy Load Haulers Comparison Chart
| #1 | #2 | #3 | |
|---|---|---|---|
Arcteryx Bora Backpacks – Check Out the Bora 80 And 95
 | Deuter 75+10-Long Haul Pack With Big Comfort
 | Climb The Most Extreme Mountains With Denali Pro
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: Full product review | 
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| General | |||
| Capacity Capacity: Load capacity for pack | 80 liters | 75 liters plus 10 in lid | Monster! 105 liters |
| Dimensions Dimensions: Dimensions of pack | 29 3/4" x 17 3/4" x 10 1/4" | 36 x 15 x 12" Fits torso 17-22" | Small fits 15-17.5" torso, 22-28" waist Med fits 17.5-19.5" torso 28-34" waist Large fits 19.5-21.5" torso 34"+ waist |
| Weight Weight: Pack weight | 6lbs 10oz for Short 6lbs 13oz for Regular 7lbs 1oz for Tall | 6lbs 13oz | 7lbs 8oz for small 7lbs 12oz for medium 8lbs for large |
| Details | |||
| Highlights Highlights: Best things about the pack |
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| Could Be Better Could Be Better: The things that could be improved upon |
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