The Gregory Paragon 50 feels like a safe choice for the majority of hillwalkers and wild campers. It ticks all of the boxes for a backpacking pack, with an effective back system, very comfortable carrying experience and loads of well-thought-out features.
We love some of the little design touches, such as the inclusion of a raincover, the hipbelt fin pockets, the internal sleeping bag compartment and the on-the-go access to the right-hand side water bottle pocket.
But the best overall feature is the full-length side access zipper, which means you never have to rummage around top-down looking for something in the depths of your high volume bag.
However, it’s the back system, not the features, that truly hits the mark. Gregory has pulled out all the stops here, with a high-tech, premium quality back system that delivers a really comfortable carrying experience, with gear-hauling capabilities up to 23kg.
A perimeter alloy frame and horizontal fibreglass cross-stay add structure and rigidity, while the hipbelt is wonderfully curved to hug your body and the shoulder straps and AirCushion back panel complete the fit.
The cons of this pack? It’s quite heavy at 1,500g, it’s not cheap and some might find it a bit over-engineered. But for most hikers, it hits the nail on the head with great all-round performance.
Pros
- Superb carrying experience
- Excellent back system
- Suitable for heavy loads
- Great features
- Full-length side zipper for easy internal access
Cons
- Quite heavy (1.5kg/1500g)
- Quite pricey
- Some will find it over-engineered
| RRP: | £210 / $239.95 |
| Weight: | 1.5kg / 3lb 4.9oz |
| Volume: | 50L |
| Back Sizes: | S/M, M/L |
| Versions: | 40L, 50L, 60L (women's Maven 38L, 48L, 58L) |
| Main fabrics: | 210-denier nylon with DWR |
Back system: Panel, frame and harness
US brand Gregory is a hiking backpack specialist – it doesn’t make anything else – and this specialism and expertise is most evident in the brand’s back systems. They don’t mess around. There is loads of high-tech engineering and top-tier technology involved here.
Some might find this all a bit over-kill, but most will find it simply improves the comfort, support and stability of the carrying experience.
In my view, the Gregory Paragon 50 provides an exceptionally comfortable carry, thanks to a well-designed combination of shoulder straps, hipbelt and back system. Each component contributes to a high level of performance, working seamlessly together.
When needed, the load shifts efficiently to the hips, while the back system contours closely to the body, offering a secure yet not-too-heavy feel. According to Gregory, the pack is designed to handle loads of up to 23kg. Personally I’d never push it to that level, but certainly this pack can haul heavy loads. Ventilation is pretty decent too, thanks to loads of perforations and air channels.
For the gear geeks that want to know the technical specifications, the Paragon’s back system features an internal perimeter alloy frame (a skeletal metal frame) alongside a fibreglass cross-stay (a horizontal plastic support strut), as well as a very curved and contoured hipbelt, padded shoulder harness and an AirCushion mesh backpanel.
All of this helps deliver “breathable padded comfort” and “stable load management” as Gregory puts it; they like to say their packs are "worn not carried”.
Back length and sizing
The Gregory Paragon 50 is available in two back lengths: small/medium and medium/large. The Gregory size guide suggests the small/medium option will fit torso lengths (from the C7 vertebrae to the iliac crest) of 15-19in (38-48cm), while the medium/large option covers the 18-22in (46-56cm) range.
If you’re in middle of the spectrum with a torso length of 18in (46cm) or 19in (48cm) then you’ve got a decision to make – although the Gregory website is a superb online resource with masses of information on how to size a pack correctly.
Once you’ve chosen small/medium or medium/large, the good news is that the back panel position and length can be adjusted for a fine-tuned fit tailored to your body.
Simply undo the strong Velcro attachment and the back panel slides up and down. You can play around with this until you find the perfect fit for your body.
Volume, shape and weight
I tested the Paragon 50 version, which as the name suggests has a 50L capacity. Personally I think 50L hits a good sweet spot in terms of space: it’s big enough to accommodate a wild camping set-up without scrimping; but small enough to discourage you from over-packing and carrying too much.
The pack has quite a standard backpack shape. It’s not too wide or chunky, or excessively tall, and instead feels nicely proportioned with a touch of streamlined sleekness.
On your back, it certainly doesn’t feel like a humongous, unwieldy load. Gregory states official dimensions of 68cm tall, 34cm wide and 25cm deep in the small/medium version.
The Paragon 50 clocks in at 1,500g, which is a little on the heavy side, but relatively standard for a pack with such a comprehensive, high-tech back system and harness.
For gram-counting obsessives the weight of the Paragon 50 will probably be a deal-breaker; for others the comfort, support and load carrying capabilities you get will make the 1,500g weight seem reasonable.
Other options in the Paragon range include 40L and 60L sizes. The Paragon is considered a men’s backpack, with the women’s version being the Gregory Maven which comes in 38L, 48L and 58L sizes. The old Paragon 48L and 58L options are being phased out for 2025.
Features: Lid, straps, pockets and weather protection
The Gregory Paragon 50 has a floating, removable lid. On the top side is a U-shaped zipper, which provides handy storage for items you need to quickly access. On the underside is another zipper, which houses a waterproof rain-cover and a key clip.
On the front of the pack you get a roomy stash pocket made from super-stretchy mesh, while on both sides there are similarly stretchy pockets for water bottles.
The right-hand pocket has an extra access sleeve, so you can slide your hand in and grab your water bottle on-the-go without stopping. You also get pockets on both hipbelt fins (big enough to house my over-sized Samsung smartphone).
The left shoulder strap also has a small ‘On-The-Go’ pocket for a GPS device, hiking snacks or sunglasses. Or, in other words, you’re definitely not short of storage options with the Paragon 50.
You’re also not short of straps, clips and toggles on the exterior for gear stowage, including attachments for trekking poles or ice axe.
Internally you get two main compartments. At the base of the pack is a zippered bottom sleeping compartment with a removable divider. This feature isn’t for everyone and it’s certainly not essential, but some campers like this approach. The main compartment has an internal hydration sleeve with a SpeedClip hanger for your bladder, and is closed via a normal drawcord pull.
The best overall feature, however, is the full-length side zipper. This is really practical, making it far easier to find the item you need without having to unpack the entire pack.
This long zipper means you avoid the common scenario encountered with packs with top-only access, whereby you find yourself elbow deep, rummaging around for something at the bottom of your pack, unable to locate it.
Verdict
A solid all-rounder with a well-designed back system, very comfortable carrying experience and good features – but it’s worth trying before buying
For something less hardcore, check out our roundup of the best hiking daypacks.
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About the author
James Forrest writes regular features and route guides for Trail and LFTO, and has been one of our main gear testers for the last few years. James is based on the edge of the Lake District so when he isn’t off on his latest crazy adventure or challenge, he’s walking in his local fells.