GregoryWomen's Avos

I was looking for a really small but versatile hydration day pack, but I still wanted a trampoline back for comfort and moisture management. This pack fits the bill. It is is comfortable (even with the full three liters of water). It has also been very durable so far.I found the hip belt was somewhat useless for hiking, since the pockets were too small for my phone and the pack is so small and light that weight distribution is not an issue.So, I made a strategic cut to the piece of hipbelt fabric that goes behind the lumbar, and was able to convert the hipbelt to be removable (by adding a small piece of fabric on the cut piece, a strip of velcro, and a few stitches on my sewing machine).Overall I'm very happy with my purchase and I know I will get lots of use out of this pack for many summers to come.There are two minor cons I have found. I miss the side water bottle pockets found on most packs, even though I typically use a hydration bladder. Those side pockets are handy for other things too. Also, I wish the large mesh stretch pocket had a center clip, similarto the same pocket on the larger packs. Without that clip, I don't feel comfortable stashing hard items in the stretch mesh pocket. They fall out too easily.Regarding fit, with Gregory I typically wear a m/l or large men's hiking pack (30L-55L). I have generous hourglass curves, strong but not extra wide shoulders (L to XL women's shirts), and a long torso (measures 19-inch technically but I am more comfortable at the 20-21 inch adjustment points). I would love to get a woman's pack with S straps, but everytime I try one (medium), the straps hit the wrong part of my collarbone. And, even though my torso length should be long enough in a medium, the pack doesn'tsit right on my hips.Because of all this, I bought the Endo version of this 15L pack first. I was very surprised it just didn't fit right.So, I gave the Avos woman's pack a shot, and lo and behold, the straps and the length are very comfortable. This seems due to the fact this is such a small pack. It is most comfortable when it hits and contours to the inward slant of the small of my back. With a pack this small, torso length is not as relevant, the position on back contours are more important.

I was looking for a pack with a 3L bladder capacity that also had a hip pocket that would fit my phone, and this did the trick. My Google Pixel 4 fits in the hip pockets no problem! The pack is lightweight, feels durable, and the suspension system in the back seems like it will help with the heat. The women's shoulder straps are a little narrow/awkward if you have broader shoulders, but otherwise no complaints.

The media could not be loaded.  As a Ranger for The Dyrt, I get products to test from time to time. This week I tested the Gregory Avos 15 pack. Although designed as a mtn biking pack, I used it for day hiking and road cycling and found it to be a great and versatile pack. See the video and pictures for more details, but here's a quick review of the pros:- The numerous storage spaces, crash pad for a phone/glasses, and a separate bag for repair tools that can be clipped inside the pocket.- The feel of the fit and adjustability of straps and back length.- The size of the hydration bladder.- The convenience of the bite valve.After hiking 6 miles and riding 10 miles, I have very few negatives, and these are just me being picky:- The magnetic connection for the chest strap is challenging to remove with one hand.- The length of the hydration hose could be a little longer so I could loosen the chest strap without it pulling on the hose (I have wide shoulders).- The hydration bladder itself is difficult to drain completely when trying to dry it out.Overall, I would give this pack a 5-star review and recommend it to others who want a comfortable, well-designed, and versatile pack when playing outdoors.

Awesome backpack. Great airflow. Very comfy.