Gregory Jade LT 24 backpack: value for money with a snug fit

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Gregory Jade LT 24: first impressions

Gregory, a US brand based in Utah, has been producing women-specific packs since 2003, with its first model, the Deva 60, paving the way for its women’s products to be recognized as a global leader in fit and comfort. The Gregory Jade LT 24 is the women’s version of the Zulu LT, which is seen as Gregory’s current most dynamic, ventilated pack.

Gregory states that part of its ethos is to mix simple designs with unique fit geometry, creating packs that feel comfortable to wear all day. The padded shoulder straps of the Gregory Jade LT 24 have a smooth surface and a breathable mesh, meaning they can be worn comfortably next to the skin even if the weather conditions mean the backpack is worn over a strappy top.

Useful features include a bungee attachment and bottom loops for a trekking pole head to attach to, with a front laser-cut light attachment loop for a bike light or additional reflective accessory. These give the bag durability beyond the trail, so it could also be ideal as a ‘commuter’ pack as it’s big enough to fit a 15-inch laptop. A durable water repellent coating is also good to note, keeping moisture from penetrating the bag.

• List price: $150 / £135 / €155
• Dimensions: 20.7 x 11.4 x 7.9in / 53 x 29 x 20cm
• Volume: 24 liters
• Weight: 2.2lbs / 1.02kg
• Colors: Capri Yellow/ Ruby Red / Midnight Navy
• Compatibility: Hillwalking / day hikes

Additional detailing scores well for hikers who go out in a multitude of weather conditions, such as a U-shaped zipper that can be used with gloves, panel-loading access on the side for spare layers and trekking poles , oversized side stretch mesh water bottle pockets that ensure that Nalgene water bottles don’t accidentally tip out and a center-zip front pocket that fits everything from documents to a sit mat. These are all useful aspects to the pack that ensure the walking experience is not encumbered by overzealous amounts of straps nor are there any features that feel superfluous for most hillwalkers.

For British weather, the rain cover is also appreciated, which can be stored in a zipped pocket, while the hip belt pockets plus pouch for a hydration bladder are all appreciated. Finally, Gregory’s fit guide is comprehensive, and provides a close-fitting pack whilst still having a well-ventilated backspace.

Gregory Jade LT 24: on the trails

I tested the Gregory Jade LT Pack 24 as a hiker’s daypack for a busy season working as a guide on Alfred Wainwright’s coast-to-coast walk in northern England. I opted to test the Jade LT pack on a number of day hikes where I wanted a pack with simple technical design for tackling classic hill days in the Lake District in British summertime weather, which can vary from cold blustery days to humid sunshine where breathability is key.

I was pleasantly surprised with the Gregory Jade LT Pack’s ability to feel comfortable and breathable, even when the thermometer crept up, carrying loads up to 9kg with full water bottles and kit. One thing to note is that the backpack could feel a tad small if you were after something for a full mountain day, but a 28L option is available for those who like to pack a bit more.

Gregory Jade LT 24: fit

For me, fit is one of the most important aspects to whether I enjoy wearing a backpack or not. Having tested a range of packs from Osprey, Black Diamond Alpkit and Montane, this was my first time venturing out wearing a Gregory pack. The Jade LT pack is a decidedly snugger backpack to previous models I’ve tested, using more of an anatomical fit and customized chassis technology rather than a ‘one size fits all’ approach.

I wore it on a warm day and found it was comfortable despite the weather, thanks to the wide straps. I did notice that the pack itself sits higher than more traditional ‘alpine packs’ which sit flat on my shoulders and usually have a flat panel back.

By contrast, the Gregory Jade LT has what feels like a premium breathable mesh that helps allow moisture and sweat to wick away easily. The Jade LT helps provide anatomical support with the use of adjustable shoulder straps to put more weight on the shoulders, and a hip belt to balance the weight over the hips. Gregory mentions that the hip belt is close fitting and uses two straps on either side of the hip socket to minimize hot spots from over-tightening. This ensured a comfortable day, especially when navigating steeper, rockier mountain terrain where I could manage the weight so it didn’t cause any imbalance or wobbles when descending.

Gregory Jade LT 24: features

Gregory has opted for a simple, minimalistic design without sacrificing the useability of the pack. A big central pocket on the outside is useful as an easy access pocket for documents, or putting something like a sit mat in. From a security perspective, I still felt a bit weirded out by putting a wallet in this pocket, so opted to put my car keys and money in the top zipper pocket closer to my body. It might be slight paranoia, but having a big zipped pocket feels a bit too noticeable for me, and I think having a slightly less obvious zipper down the middle (perhaps one to the side in a concealed flap) would look more discreet.

There’s also the dilemma of trying to work out where to put your lunch – usually reserved for the big pocket at the top of the bag, the space in this pocket feels too narrow for anything more than a few slim bars. The more discreet pocket at the top has everything you need to keep things secure though, and feels the logical place for a headtorch, packet of tissues or wallet.

The hip pouches have *just* enough room for an iPhone to fit inside (with a bit of wiggling) but I’d like to see more material to help these pockets fit snacks and even a separator. My worry would be putting a phone inside then taking the pack off to rest and the phone falling out, so I’d like to see Gregory bring bigger pockets here.

I really liked the water bottle pockets, with a side compression strap that emerges from the pocket. Not only does this balance a well-considered design, it also means that if you were worried about bottles falling out you could clip these straps through a webbing loop or Nalgene lid. Nalgene bottles are often much wider than the typical single use bottle, so it’s great to see bag designs accommodate a stretch mesh that doesn’t feel too small.

Gregory Jade LT 24: sustainability

It’s worth noting that the Gregory Jade LT 24 has been made with the aim of cutting down the resources needed to produce it. Gregory says that using recycled polyester fabric across the range has resulted in a 25% reduction in carbon impact. Gregory has also created a customized Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) tool to calculate the environmental footprint of the energy used and the impact generated from the entire lifetime of the product, with the hard data available for customers to see and make that assessment on whether they want to make a purchase.

To provide the reduction percentage, they compare a new product to the same product produced from virgin nylon textiles as a benchmark. Virgin nylon was Gregory’s material of choice for many decades until newly developed highly durable recycled nylons and polyesters became available. To ensure accurate analysis, each type of different material in the product is separated and weighed individually before being entered into the life cycle assessment software, so the software can calculate the impact of each material separately before aggregating the overall impact.

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