Jun 10
25
Gregory Miwok 18 Pack – Take It For a Day Hike
By Karenna Awtry
Miwok 18 — the little pack with a lot of perks — is another feather in the cap for Gregory Packs, whose reputation for innovative backpack design stands alone. This unique hiking daypack gets rave reviews for its incredible form-fitting design and surprising capacity.
The editors of National Geographic Adventure Magazine even awarded it 2009 Best of Adventure Gear honors.
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How does this mighty little men’s day pack make such a big impact in the backpacking circles? Yet again, it comes down to Gregory’s outstanding design. The Miwok 18 men’s pack goes where other packs don’t, riffing off the intricate design of the human body by incorporating tendon-like attachments in the suspension of the pack. The harness, attached by these artificial tendons, can stretch to fit your body so it follows your every move with surprising synchronicity.
Though it fits snugly, the Miwok incorporates moisture-wicking mesh – important for keeping your back comfortable on the trail. A sternum strap and waistbelt give this daypack an added security that’s great for moving quickly or for using your Miwok to carry gear on a bike ride or fast-paced hike. It’s also easy to keep your pack comfortably compact with a quick tug on the easy-to-reach compression straps that you can adjust while on the go.
The carrying features of the Miwok 18 are tailored to the needs of a short excursion. Its organized pockets include a zippered, fleece-lined top pocket that could be used to store an MP3 player. The expandable front pocket has 3-point compression so you can fill it with bulky gear and tighten it down to keep that snug fit.
There are also stretch-mesh pockets on the waistbelt, where you can carry snacks, or even more electronics. An internal stabilizer loop is valuable for keeping such gear in place as you access the gear inside.
Feel free to use the internal reservoir sleeve to haul your own water bladder, or carry water bottles in the side mesh pockets (another bonus on such a small pack). There are even ways to attach light gear to the outside, further increasing your gear capacity.
As many pros as there are to the Miwok 18 Pack, users have found that it’s not the right day pack for every hiker. This pack is small, and several reviewers felt that it’s a great fit for those who are 5’6” or shorter, but just feels far too tiny and rides too high for a taller frame.
The durable, water-resistant fabric is a plus, but the fleece-lined media pocket absorbs an awful lot of moisture if exposed to even slightly damp conditions, such as morning fog or the brush of wet leaves. The zipper on this pocket is also exposed, which seemed like an inconvenient feature for a compartment that’s meant to keep electronics protected.
Here’s a sampling of reviews from those who’ve tested the Miwok 18 on the trail:
From Indiana: “Used for day hikes in mountains, so I didn’t need much capacity. It has lots of cubbies, which is great, is light and small enough to use in town. [It] may be too small for most people [and] the chest strap needs to be adjustable.”
From Illinois: “I needed a backpack to carry some essentials to the coffee shop or on a hike. This bag is the perfect solution! It’s very comfortable and well-padded, and has plenty of room for a couple books to the coffee shop and gear on a hike. I especially love the large pockets for water bottles on the side. Most small bags have short pockets that a full-size Nalgene could fall out of, but these pockets are tall enough to securely hold your bottle. The pockets on the waist straps are great too!”
From California: “Straps and “tendon” adjustments snug down the load well, but I don’t recommend it as a trail runner … the water bladder sloshes a little too much for my liking; I’d stick to Camelbak.”
Overall, the Gregory Miwok 18 backpack gets great reviews as a comfortable, snug-fitting, day pack. The majority of users are pleased with its performance and recommend the Miwok to others. Go ahead now and take a look at the Gregory Miwok daypack for men.
Day Pack Comparison Chart
| #1 | #2 | #3 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mantis 26 Will Go From The Urban Jungle To Day Hiking
| Osprey Talon 22 Pack
| Gregory Miwok 18 Pack – Take It For a Day Hike
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: Full product review |
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| General General: Section divider | |||
| Capacity Capacity: Load capacity for pack | 26 Liters | 22 Liters | 18 Liters |
| Dimensions Dimensions: Dimensions of pack | 19" x 11" x 9.5" | 21" x 10" x 6" | 17.5" x 9.5" x 7.5" |
| Weight Weight: Pack weight | 1lb., 13oz. | Small to Medium; 1lb.,9 oz. Medium to Large; 1lb.,11 oz. | 1 lb., 8 oz. |
| Colors Colors: Colors the pack comes in | Black, Silver Sage, Coffee Bean, Raisin, Greenback | Cayenne, Meteorite, Indigo, Clover, Iris | Sulfur Green, Iron Grey |
| 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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