Picked the Perfect Pack
347698
I generally ride between 15 and 50 miles on a daily basis. I needed a pack that would be able to hold the essentials without being huge. The Topeak was the perfect solution.

Here's what is in my pack (with the pack expanded):
1 - Inflator nozzle
2 - CO2 cartridges
2 - Tire sticks
1 - Spare tube (700x25) in its box
1 - Large cellphone (Blackberry Storm)
1 - DL & Credit Card
1 - Set of car keys
1 - Powerbar Gel Pack

If I do not bring my cellphone, I can easily close the expansion zipper.

This pack holds everything quite nicely and the it is firmly held to the bike. My only concern is that the zipper touches the underside of the seat, making it rather difficult to zip/unzip the pack. Other than that, it's great.
3141742
Its an awesome pack , perfect what i had in mind for it , highly recommend this for various applications
Love mine,
3257403
Just went on a two day hike, the pack was perfect about 35 lbs loaded very comfy and durable. Simply the best pack I have owned. Probably the last one I will buy with its lifetime warranty I never have to worry about it again.
1414814
The pack looks great, very high level. I believe the quality would be great too. I'll update after using it.
192976
Great. This pack was the best that I believe had the most bang for your buck. The quantity at a descent price. Although, it may seem to be buying in bulk, but it is worth it.
4216427
after months spent researching and trying on various backpacks, i finally settled on a gregory jade 70. i tried a gregory z55 in size small, and found that even the small was too large for my little frame (i'm 5'1, 100 pounds), so i gave the jade series a shot, as they offer an extra small size.

i decided on the jade 70 as opposed to the 50 or 60, because i like to live on the road for months at a time, and it's nice to have everything i need right on me. the pack i've been traveling with up until now is a north face 35 liter backpack.  i've made it work for months of hitch hiking, but always ended up with most of my gear hanging from the outside of the pack, which isn't functional or pretty. this pack swallows up everything i could ever imagine needing while on the road, with tons of room leftover.  with the compression straps, it tightens down nicely when you are carrying small loads.

the redesigned front pocket (opening from the top as opposed to down the middle like the z55 and the jade 60) is great, and i like that it has additional pockets inside for organization.  the main pocket is huge, and my sleeping bag and tent only take up the lower third of the pack.  the side pockets fit nalgene bottles, and the bottom straps are perfect for my sleeping pad.

the suspension is very comfortable and cool, with plenty of padding.  the way it's built allows you to stand up straight while carrying heavy loads, instead of hunching over like some packs force you to do.

the only thing that bugs me a little about this pack (and any other female-geared gregory pack i've tried) is the sternum strap..  it seems to sit very high on my chest, almost to the point where it hits my neck.  it still does its job, but it makes me a little claustrophobic having it so close to my throat.

all in all, though, very nice pack.  i am excited to take it on the road.
2839005
I have written a review blog about this class backpack if you are interested at: http://daypackfinder.blogspot.com

I have included the text of the review for the Flapjack here:

The good stuff:

This pack is the best bargain of the bunch.  You really do get great value given what it offers.  It has a superb suspension system and I love that it is a top loader.  Being a top loader allows you to flop the lid closed without having to zip or buckle when you are in a hurry.  With panel and quasi-top loaders (like the Refugio and Blackhole) you risk losing stuff or getting stuff wet if your do not zip up.  With the Flapjack, you just "flap and go" with no risk of loss or rain damage.

The pack is roomy and yet it stays close to the body so you don't feel the lateral sway that you would with some of the other packs in this group.  I think that it is the best of the bunch as a bicycle pack because of this.  The top flap also has a small zippered pocket into which I can place my glasses.  Similar to the Patagonia Blackhole, this pocket is not as cushy as the one on the Patagonia Refugio, but it works.

The Flapjack has a stiff back, too.  Unfortunately, as you will read below, the flat and wide design of the pack counteracts this stiff back as a shape holder when partially filled.

The bad stuff:

The flat and wide design is a benefit and a curse with this pack.  Because it is so flat, the bag has trouble staying open and standing upright so that you can peer down into the bottom of the bag.  The space feels too tight.  In general, one can get more light into a bag that has a bottom that is more square than rectangular.  I always had to "fluff" this bag to see to the bottom.

I also felt this bag more than the others.  Not in that it swayed.  In fact, as noted above, it is the most stable of all the packs tested.  It simply covered too much of my back when wearing it.  While I am a narrow guy, I'm not THAT narrow.  It always new the Flapjack was there as it spanned shoulder to shoulder.  It is not unlike the difference between wearing a tank top versus a long sleeved shirt. It felt like someone was right behind me when it was just the pack sticking out.  Of course, this may be a non-issue to you, but I could not get past this overly wide feel.

The biggest problem, however, was the lack of external mesh side pockets for water bottles.  The one long side zippered pocket could accommodate a water bottle, but a cold water bottle would sweat inside this pocket.  I am not sure why they could not have converted this to a simpler mesh pocket instead.  It is like they were being too clever for their own good here.  A mesh pocket would also have allowed me to stow a travel tripod on the side (of course, this would have made the pack feel even wider!).

Summary:

In the end, I simply could not get past the overall flat and wide design.  I know why they did it (for stability) but it doesn't work well for loading and finding stuff and, as I said before, I always felt its presence on my back like there was someone standing too close to me.  However, this bag is by far the best value of the group.  At $70, I tried to convince my daughter to take it but she didn't like the way it looked.  (It does look like you simply took a messenger shoulder bag and stuck it on your back since this is exactly what Osprey was going for with the design.)

Grade: B
2359492
This was a really good pack I ordered 3, and I got two golurks one porygon Z which is a 1/100,000 chance of getting it, a full out Volcarona and lots of reversed and hollows. I will definitely buy again from this seller.
2641853
Excellent pack for an amazing price! My package arrived in 3 days and came by priority mail. I like everything about this pack. My AR-15 fits very nice and snug. It sits with the butt down behind the flap and 2 straps at the top cross over the barrel and clip down to hold my rifle very stable. It's not going anywhere. Lots of molle webbing everywhere and a couple zippered side pockets, plus one that's a little harder to find at the bottom of the side. It's in a spot nobody would think to look, at least not right away. There's a breathable zippered mesh pouch inside, and a divided compartment with a stiff plastic board, which you could replace with a ballistic panel if you'd like. The picture of the ACU patterned pack doesn't show it, but the backside also has the breathable mesh just like the other packs have. It's such a nice pack that I ordered another one for my spouse!
510005
Pack arrive two days prior to said delivery date. Brilliant! This pack has met and surpassed all my expectations. Durability, convenience, functionality, badassness. I've doned many a pack in my military career. This by far is the most comfortable one. You will not be disappointed.
230324
This pack is perfect for my needs. I honestly can't think of anything I'd change about it. So, so comfortable. Hip belt pockets large enough for passports. Top loader but with good middle access. Rain cover. Deep side mesh pockets for water bottles or flip flops (which suck to pack). Flexible mesh outer pocket that can hold small laptops, tablets, and/or books. Top pocket is huge and can hold tons of stuff (but warning: fill it too much and you may bump the pack past carry on dimensions). 30 pounds on this pack feels like 15 on any of my other packs. Compression straps all over, and they work very well. Oh yeah, it also looks great just in case you care about that (yeah, I kind of do, sorry).

My search for the perfect travel pack is over. Gregory wins. And this from someone who pretty much loves everything Osprey makes.
1969117
Wow! I can not believe what I got in this backpack.

I repacked the entire contents of what I took on a month long trip to Europe from a few years before into this bag (3 t-shirts, sweat shirt, jacket, 1 pair of jeans, 2 pairs of shorts, 3 bras, 30 pairs of underpants, sandals, 6 pairs of socks and my 12x6x12 cosmetic bag and a bottle each of shampoo, conditioner and body wash) and I had at least another 8 inches to the top of this bag to spare. And this did not include the outside pockets and straps that will also hold water bottles and extras, I can't get over the room in this pack and the innovative inner pockets which are great for organizing and accessibility.

I am 6 foot tall and I am really happy with how this bag fits me. The design and make of this pack is also high quality with re-enforced seams and zippers and the real treat to this bag is the light weight aluminum support rack and the mesh encased padding that holds the weight away from your back allowing airway to keep cool while also alleviating the weight of the pack making this perfect for carrying 12+ hours while trekking. The belt is adjustable and also padded for comfort, and the color is actually a deeper blue than as photographed and I can see a guy using this without fear of feminine connotations.

I love and highly recommend this pack for anyone who hikes, travels or is looking for a decent sized, sturdy pack to use as a bug-out bag.
2719846
After doing months of research I went to my EMS store and tried on various packs including this one. The difference was immediately evident. The molded back and straps were simply far superior to their counter parts. I even tried on an Osprey and was surprised at the difference in quality of fit considering the Osprey reputation.

I am only new to backpacking but I knew investing in a good pack was the smart thing to do and it paid off out on the trail. Expecting to have all sorts of aches and pains returning from my four day hike I was again surprised to find my pack had done its job to perfection.  Barring one sore muscle from my own ineptitude I was fine no back pain no nothing (Even though as a novice I over prepared and ended up with far too much weight).

It features top load, front load and bottom load so you can reach any piece of equipment easily at any time.  It has water bladder storage.  It has two nifty belt pouches for candies or perhaps a digital camera all which are well designed and durable. The top can detach to double as a day pack (although I have yet to see a practical use for this).

While looking for a good pack I typed "Best backpack" into Google and came across a consumer research page whereby they had gathered information from as many sources as possible on the best backpacks, here is an excerpt taken directly from that site "Some brands stand out, however - especially Gregory, Osprey and Arc'Teryx. An older survey of through-hikers on the Appalachian Trail by Roland Mueser found that hikers were most satisfied with Gregory backpacks, and it continues to be one of the brands most recommended in backpack reviews."

Apparently the delight with Gregory stems from their durability. They need less repairs and maintenance than other brands. I can't attest to this but again the construction is definitely solid.

All in all I'm delighted with this item. We'll see over time how it holds up but at this point I would have no desire to change this for anything else.

5 out of 5

WARNING: Backpacks come in different sizes which is vital for the fit. Speak with someone who knows about them in a store. This is a science and they know their stuff.
4026096
I just received this pack today, and I figured I would write a review giving my initial impressions as there are no other reviews on here.  After unboxing this pack, The first thing I noticed was its weight.  This pack is almost 9 pounds empty and without any side pockets installed.  As I examined my bag, I noticed everything about the build quality was first rate.  The bag is made out of 1000D nylon.  All of the stitching is perfect.  All zippers are high quality YKK models.  All of the straps have have clips for retaining excess straps so there should not be any dangling straps hanging off of the pack.  I am beyond impressed with the attention to detail put into this pack.

This pack has a lot of features I really like.  My favorite feature is the height adjustment for torso length.  The torso length is easy to adjust when worn even with heavy loads.  Even though this is a heavy pack, it does not feel heavy when the weight is properly transferred to the hips.  The shoulder straps are approximately 3" wide, have a ridiculous amount of padding to minimimize any pressure points, and are very adjustable.  The back and hip area are also very well padded.  The hip belt padding is semi rigid which provides a lot of support for the pack when worn.  One last thing about the pack's suspension system is that the pack comes with directions describing how to get the optimal fit pack fit.  The sides of the pack have three compression straps and two large exterior pockets.  The pack is compatible with Karrimor Sabre and Predator PLCE pockets which can provide up to 125 liters of space.  I plan on having one of each style pocket on my bag as which I intend to use as an extended bug out bag.  On each side of the pack there is a zipper that allows for the pack to be converted from 60 to 100 liters in size.  This pack has two vertical compression straps which help secure the lid.  The lid has two pockets.  There is one large pocket on the exterior of the lid.  Inside of the aforementioned pocket, the included rain cover is stored.  On the inside of the lid, there is a second pocket.  My gripe those two pockets are opposite of one another.  When one pocket is filled, the capacity of the other is greatly diminished.  There is a snow collar that can be closed by a drawstring.  There is compression strap that goes over the top of the snow collar to compact the load.  Moving on to the interior of the pack, the main compartment can be divided by pulling a drawstring to close a lower snow collar or left as one giant compartment.  The interior has a large elastic pouch.  Inside that pouch was a small detachable pocket where valuables can be stored.  One last thing I heard about is that all of the clips are the same size.  If a main clip gets broke, a minor clip can be scavenged to make a repair in the field (male ones only without sewing).

I do have a few minor gripes about this bag.  I already mentioned the two pockets on the lid interfere with one another and reduce each other's capacity.  The next minor issue I have with the pack is that there is no shock cord anywhere on the pack for quickly securing any wet items or extra clothing you want to access quickly.  I will remedy the last issue by installing some shock cord on the lid and some through the webbing tie outs on the front of the pack.

I will update my review after I get a chance to use my pack.

Edit:  One of my gripes was my fault for not noticing.  There were two small webbing straps in the interior removeable pocket that can be used to secure stuff onto the pack's lid.  When I first saw those straps, I thought they were part of the removeable pocket to make that into a harness one could wear.  I still think I would have preferred shock cord, but that works fine for me.

Edit 2:  I have used this pack on a few extended camping trips.  I am very happy with it!
3845014
Love it.  It is a great pack!  Well worth the money!!!
1074522
I have tried at least a dozen new different packs by osprey, deuter, north face, ogio all in the 25-35 liter range.

I am fully convinced this is the best all around backpack made to date by anyone ever.

Airspeed frame is fantastic and I will never buy another backpack without it for anything other than winter sports.
Perfect size, fits a TON compared to other 25-34 litre packs. Excellent placement and amount of internal organization.

Very light.

This doesnt have the ridiculous amount of straps and ties and crap on the outside that a lot of other osprey packs have (they are good for hiking i guess, but for anything short of a multi day hike they seem excessive to me). On that note tho, I will probably never buy another pack that isn't by osprey - they're so much better in so many ways than other brands.

This pack is expensive but well worth it - will last the rest of your life and is phenomenal (I was ridiculously picky shopping for my next pack - pull the trigger on this you won't regret.)

I bike commute fast daily, this is as little back/shoulder sweat as you'll get with any backpack. You will sweat less with this pack and its airspeed backpanel than you will with a 5 liter pack that doesnt have airspeed.

I carry 2 changes of clothes, lunch, sneakers, phone/wallet, toiletries (shower at work), and usually some other random stuff, and this pack holds it all perfectly, I don't have to cram it in, easy to quickly fill/empty the whole pack, and on the other hand the pack is not gigantic and overkill for a daily commute.

I tried the radial 34 at first - it was too big for commuting, and in my opinion way too big for a backpack in general.

This radial 26 seems to fit as much as both the stratos 34 and exos 34 (and without all the straps).The radial 34 fits a TON.

For further comparison, this radial 26 holds a lot more than my north face recon as well, which is 30 liters. I have done no scientific testing, but this pack (and radial 34) basically has 2 huge pockets with some internal organization using mesh or ultra thin fabric. Most other packs with equal or more total volume have one big pocket then a bunch of smaller pockets all around that are made of the thick outer fabric. This results in less total usable volume, especially for larger objects or clothes, etc, even if they might technically have more total volume.

Osprey really outdid themselves this time.

Edit: If you put too much in the smaller of the 2 big pockets (the one closest to your back), it kind of defeats the purpose of the airspeed frame. It makes it so theres no space between the airspeed mesh and your back.
Also this airspeed frame is not quite as "airspeed" as the synchro 20. The actual backpack part of the synchro stays much farther off your back , even when fully crammed with stuff. The radial doesnt leave nearly as much space (in fact when hunched over biking with minimal load in back, there is no space between your back, the airspeed mesh, and the backpack). Still a 5 star pack and still much cooler than any other pack anywhere close to as large as this, but the synchro 20 will keep you noticably cooler.
4313918
*** The above review does not do this pack any justice at all  Dated May 21,2013***
Although I've only had this pack for just over 30 days I love it! The fact that you can pretty much customize it to any configuration that will suit you is just amazing! I did notice that there were 2 versions of this pack. One with the velcro/molle on the top bag & another one that just has plain molle strips. I did receive the one w/the velcro on top. I use this pack everyday from taking it to work to packing it for a day at beach/waterpark. I personally think that is more than enough pockets for storage & the fact that you can expand it another 3 inches if need be is just an awesome feature, not to mention that you can hide the shoulder straps & use 1 of the 3 carrying handles. I do plan on ordering few more pouches including a deployment bag so I can experiment with different configurations. Packed it to the max on a 4 day boating excursion (the 26th - 29) w/out using the extra 3 in expansion feature.
I will definitely recommend pack this to anybody!

I have posted 7 pics of my pack.

After further review I have only found one thing that Explorer could/would of have done. Add a single MOLLE strip (2 channel)on each of the pockets so I could hang some D-rings from them.