Gregory Packs - Supplied in the UK by ESC Outdoor, Cranford House, Kingston Road, Lewes, BN7 3NB.
Tel: (44) 1273 487509 Fax: (44) 1273 470597 Email: info@esc-outdoor.com
Many of our customers have similar questions about our company and products.
If you have a question that we failed to mention, please never hesitate
to call us at (800) 477-3420.Click on the questions below
1. How should the pack "feel" when I am in the store?
2. Where can I purchase Gregory packs?
3. What is Gregory's warranty policy?
4. How do I care for my Gregory pack?
5. What is the difference between an external and internal frame pack?
6. Why should I consider purchasing a Gregory backpack?
7. How does Gregory determine a pack's volume?
8. Why doesn't Gregory advocate stay bending?
9. How should I travel with my pack?
10. How should I store my pack?
12. Why doesn't Gregory, as a company, sell on the web?
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1 . How should the pack "feel" when I am in the store?
PROFESSIONAL
SERIES AND ADVENTURE SERIES PACKS
We recommend that you visit one of our trained Authorized Dealers to determine
your pack and component sizes, and to be properly fit. Once you have determined
these sizes and selected a model, you should try the pack on with 15-20
pounds of weight (see packing your pack). Be sure the pack is in the right
"position" on your body, and all of the components are the right
sizes and correctly adjusted. If you have never worn a pack before, the
sensation may seem a bit different. And if you have worn other manufacturers
packs, you might notice that Gregory packs ride a bit higher due to the
Adjust•A•Cant™ waistbelt that keeps the pack correctly
positioned on your waist without the usual problem of the waistbelt sagging
and riding on your behind. Walk around the store, and up stairs if possible.
When adjusted properly, the pack should be stable, without any gaps between
you and the pack’s shoulder harness, waistbelt, or backpanel. The
harness and waistbelt should not dig into your body. If you haven't carried
a pack before, the main area that might seem "weird" is the
waistbelt. Check to make sure the top edge of the waistbelt is approximately
1" above your iliac shelf (the top of your hipbones). If the waistbelt
is in the correct position, you should be able to lift your leg so that
your thigh is parallel to the ground, and the break in your leg is level
with the lower edge of the waistbelt. Next, check for gaps. The Adjust•A•Cant™
waistbelt has three cant settings that gives you the ability to angle
the belt to eliminate any gaps. We use a very expensive "memory"
foam as the outer layer of the waistbelt, shoulder harness, and Professional
Series backpanels. This foam will mold to your specific shape, and usually
softens up after 3-5 days of hiking. If you have any further questions,
please e.mail or call one of our expert pack fitters at customerservice@gregorypacks.com,
or 1-800-477-3420.
ESCAPE SERIES
PACKS
Escape packs are lighter and smaller than Professional and Adventure Series
packs, and are therefore designed to carry less weight. 35-40 pounds is
the maximum amount of weight that should be carried in these packs. Why?
Because of their unstructured waistbelt. The stiffer Adjust•A•Cant™
waistbelt found on Pro and Adventure Series packs keeps the weight positioned
on your hip shelf, not your behind! Also, because these packs are shorter,
you will not be able to place all of the weight on your hips - some will
end up on your shoulders. As with Pro and Adventure packs, make sure the
pack is adjusted and in the proper position on your body. Load the pack
with 10-15 pounds and walk around the store, and up stairs if possible.
The pack should be stable, and without any gaps between you and the packs'
waistbelt harness or backpanel.
2. Where can I purchase Gregory packs?
Use our dealer locator to find an authorized retailer near you. If there is not a retailer nearby, you can purchase Gregory packs through select Authorized Dealers who sell online. If you are still having difficulty locating the items you are interested in please contact us at: customerservice@gregorypacks.com.
3. What is Gregory's warranty policy?
Gregory has a reputation for legendary quality, and we back it up with the Gregory Lifetime Guarantee.
THE GREGORY
LIFETIME GUARANTEE
We build Gregory gear to last a lifetime and that's how long we stand
behind it. We guarantee to you, the original purchaser, that this product
will be free from defects in materials and workmanship, for as long as
you own it.
If you think this product has any defects in materials and workmanship,
then just send it to us post-paid and clean, with proof of purchase. If
he product is defective, then we'll fix it or replace it with a new one
and return it to you at our expense. This warranty does not cover damage
due to unreasonable use or improper care (sorry, no free repairs if you
have been using your pack as a feedbag for bears or cleaning it with white
gas)
LIMITED WARRANTY
The manufacturer shall not be responsible for incidental or consequential
damage nor the natural breakdown that occurs with extended use. Some states
do not allow the exclusion of incidental or consequential damages, so
the above limitation or exclusion may not apply to you.Back
to Top of Page
4. How do I care for my Gregory pack?
Gregory packs are made from the highest quality fabrics and components. All fabrics are treated with a polyurethane water-resistant coating and UV inhibitors. After each use, unpack and air-dry your pack. If you find any stains, or have spilled something on the pack, use a soft cloth with warm soapy water to remove the stain. Storing your pack damp or using a solvent (like white gas or paint thinner) will damage the polyurethane coating and void the pack warranty. The polyurethane coating will, over time, wear off (just like the Durable Water Repellent (DWR) coating found on many rain jackets). Use Scotchguard or Nikwax to treat the fabric and return its water repellency.
5. What is the difference between an external and internal frame pack?
Both external and internal frame packs have their positive and negative points. In general, external frame packs are a good choice for flat trails and hot climates. However, on more rugged trails, where balance and mobility are important (such as when scrambling over rocks or crossing a log over a stream), an internal frame pack places the weight closer to your back so you are better balanced and more nimble.
EXTERNAL
FRAME PACKS
• Perfect for flat trail hiking where balance and mobility are not
important
• Provides superior ventilation between the backpacks back and your
back
• Higher center of gravity
INTERNAL
FRAME PACKS
• Perfect for activities where balance and mobility are important,
like cross-country hiking, climbing, rough trails, or skiing.
• Lower center of gravity
6. Why should I consider purchasing a Gregory backpack?
Three things set Gregory packs apart - legendary fit, legendary quality and legendary load support.
LEGENDARY
FIT
Wayne Gregory has been building backpacks for over twenty-five years,
and he has learned a lot about how the human body and backpack interact
together. The single most important reason Gregory packs are so popular
is that they fit many different body shapes and sizes. A backpack is comparable
to a good pair of shoes. Your backpack and your shoes are the two pieces
of equipment that will absolutely make a difference on your outdoor adventures,
and to do this they both need to fit your body shape exactly. While shoes
are not adjustable, a Gregory backpack is very adjustable once the correct
frame size is determined. Many of the fitting techniques used today were
developed by Wayne Gregory over twenty years ago, and Wayne is still innovating;
as an example check out his revolutionary Auto•Cant™ and Adjust•A•Cant™
systems.
LEGENDARY
QUALITY
Wayne has never been accused of under-building a pack. Instead he wants
to make absolutely sure that when you are out in the wilds, your pack
performs without any problems. With this in mind, Wayne has actually created
most of the features you will find in a Gregory pack, as opposed to using
"off the shelf" generic components. We get letters and e-mail
testimonials daily from customers who are amazed how well their packs
are holding up after 5, 10, and even 20 years of rugged service.
LEGENDARY
LOAD SUPPORT
When your trip requires that you carry "monster" loads, your
first choice should be a Gregory. It was for the U.S. Government. Recently,
after extensive product testing from every major pack manufacturer, Gregory
was awarded a contract to build a modular pack system for the U.S. Special
Forces. Their key requirement - the pack must be able to support a minimum
of 125 pounds (and this is on top of 45 pounds of Body Armor). According
to the Government's tests, Gregory packs were the only ones that came
even close to being able to support this amount of weight. Why? The key
is our Adjust•A•Cant™ waistbelt that allows all of the
weight to be supported on your bony pelvic structure, and still allows
for freedom of movement over rough terrain.
7. How does Gregory determine a pack's volume?
At Gregory we use 3/4" diameter plastic balls filled to the top of the packs body to determine capacity. The plastic balls provide a fairly accurate representation of the expected pack volume without unrealistically stretching the pack’s fabric (like beans). Our volumes could be called unextended volumes, since the extension skirt at the top of some of our packs allows for over-stuffing, and in many instances may yield another 100-250 cubic inches. Remember, it’s more important to first get a pack that fits correctly, then find the volume that meets your needs. Note: Most of our packs can gain over 560 cubic inches simply by adding two single pockets, one on each side of the pack.
8. Why doesn't Gregory advocate stay bending?
Wayne Gregory invented stay bending, and the art of making the stay contour to your back shape. At Gregory we build most packs in four frame sizes. Each frame size has a corresponding stay length that is anatomically sized to fit that person's torso shape. After 23 years of fitting people's backs, Wayne has found that his stay shape fits the vast majority of his customers when they are in the correct frame size. Usually, when someone has a problem, it means they are in the wrong size pack, not that the stay shape needs to be changed. Remember, most manufacturers advocate stay bending because they only make packs in one size. Of course the shape changes between various torso lengths and therefore the stay will need to be modified, which is frequently anything but exact. Over the years, Wayne found that when his customers stopped by his small shop to discuss fit issues, and specifically the stays' shape, they had bent them to a point that would make a chiropractor cringe. This is what sent him on his 23 year quest to develop the ideal stay shapes.
9. How should I travel with my pack?
We recommend buying a sturdy, roomy duffel bag to put your pack into, like our bomber Long Haul Duffels. Make sure it is big enough to accept a full pack with all of your added gear. If you have a pack with our Adjust•A•Cant™ Waistbelt, do not try to bend the waistbelt backwards around the front of the pack. Instead use the space that the waistbelt forms as a cavity for additional gear.
10. How should I store my pack?
We recommend storing your pack in a cool, dry place that is free from dust. It is important that you completely clean and dry your pack prior to storage. The waterproof coating is especially susceptible to damage from storing the pack wet, and this will void your warranty.
11. Why does Wayne Gregory's method of designing on a CAD (Computer Aided Design) system produce a better pack?
Ten years ago Wayne Gregory began using a CAD system. The benefits are astounding. Unlike the tedious cardboard patterns of yesterday, Wayne's computer interfaces with a high-tech plotter that cuts ultra-precise clayboard patterns. This precision means tighter and very consistent sewing tolerances, which in turn produces a higher quality product. In the "olden" days, when Wayne had to cut his patterns by hand, he hated making changes because of the tedious nature of producing the patterns. Today, since the patterns are loaded on his computer, he can easily and quickly make the required changes, which means he can spend more time actually designing.
12. Why doesn't Gregory, as a company, sell on the web?
At Gregory we rely on our specialty retail dealers to help consumers select the proper pack. Their role in educating consumers, then selecting and fitting the appropriate pack is critical to customer satisfaction. Because of this important role played by our specialty dealers, we simply could not ensure our ultimate goal of having our customers end up in the proper, correctly fit pack if we were to sell directly over the internet.