Jon Doran tries out a pack designed for carrying big loads over long distancesReviewSpecsGalleryRetailersIf you want a clue to what the Baltoro 65Ls mission in life is, look no further than the bit in the website spec that reads: Easy-to-access hip location for bear spray holsters. This pack and its near-identical but larger twin, the Baltoro 75L has been designed for the sort of load-hauling that backpackers carrying kit and supplies for many days on the trail do.This isnt a skimpy, modish, ultra-lightweight bag that relies on you carrying a matching selection of feathery light gear and a stove made from a titanium Coke can. Instead its intended to haul big loads up to 27.2kg or 60lb in stable comfort. Thats why, at a shade under 2.4kg, its relatively weighty.Well-padded shoulder straps and substantial back system make light work of heavy loadsMind your backThe FreeFloat A3 suspension, 3D harness, and AirCushion mesh backpanel ensemble is a proper engineering creation, all artfully, ergonomically, sculpted pads and panels. The lumbar pad that sits at the base of your spine and nestles onto, erm, the top curve of your butt for example, also incorporates a sticky, grippy panel designed to keep things where they should be rather than slithering downwards. The hip belt is a sturdy, one-piece wrap-round thing. And the shoulder straps and back panel use ergonomically-curved foam covered in high-wicking breathable mesh.The all-important structure comes from a steel-alloy perimeter frame, which also has a central fibreglass cross plate to prevent barreling where the pack load presses annoyingly into the centre of your back.Ventilated foam hipbelt gives great comfort and sticky lumbar pad helps stabilityLoad it up with close to the maximum 27kg load and you start to appreciate exactly why Gregory has gone to town on the back system. Carrying that sort of weight is never really pleasant, but the Baltoros suspension system means that your legs are likely to be overwhelmed before the pack is. In particular, you can feel the load being spread across the padded back panel and through the hip belt, which feels absolutely fixed in place by that sticky-panelled lumbar pad. Theres no destabilising sway to the pack, but the pivoting shoulder straps move just enough that you dont feel splinted in place.Its the sort of load that crushes more basic packs, which I know because the last time I chose to carry this much was on an Andean mountaineering trip with a streamlined expedition pack and the experience was not a pleasant one; constant discomfort from an inadequate hip belt and shoulder straps on the move, enduring aching afterwards. With the Baltoro, you know the weights there alright, but load transfer onto your hips and shoulders is spot on its as if the pack feels more a part of you rather than being an awkward bolt-on.This cavernous pocket is only one of three located within the lid!With a more typical, less bonkers load, the pack goes from managing extremes to just carrying beautifully. It would still be overkill with the latest ultra-lightweight camping gear, but with more normal kit and a few days worth of food, its one of the best-carrying packs Ive used and arguably worth the extra weight compared to a more streamlined alternative.Pockets aplentyOf course a pack is way more than just a back system, and heres where Gregory has got lots of things just right at least if you like pockets, lots and lots of pockets. There are no fewer than three lid-pockets, a massive front bucket/stash pocket which I found ideal for wet clothing two cavernous, zipped hip belt ones, a zipped vertical front panel pocket (actually, two of them), a big side stash pocket on one side, the left shoulder strap gets a stretch-mesh stash pocket too, and theres that handy bear-spray holster thing. No bears in the Peak District, but perfect for an easy access water bottle if you dont want to use the internal hydration system sleeve gubbins.Making smooth progress on GoatfellThe great thing is that you have enough storage to hold anything youre likely to use during the day; snacks, waterproofs, hats and gloves, phone, bear spray, sheep spray, hair spray, you name it. No need to dig into the main compartment unless, like me, youre incapable of packing sensibly and choose to stash your overtrousers at the base of the main compartment.When/if that does happen however, a huge U-zipped front panel means at least you have easy access to the contents without tunneling down from the top drawstring-fastened lidded opening. If theres a downside to all this, its simply remembering which pocket holds what dont ask how I knowThe front panel access is also perfect when youre camped up and makes packing and unpacking more like using a duffle than a pack, just more convenient.Sleeping bag compartment with dividerExtrasOther stuff? Theres a sleeping bag compartment with a zipped dividing panel, so you can have your cake and eat it. The zip-pulls, adjusters and drawcords all work fine, and a discrete black waterproof cover lives in one of the lid pockets. And my guilty secret, the vaunted On-the-Go shoulder harness pocket is ideal for stashing a handy chocolate bar or flapjack for those hardcore Himalayan passes.The celebrated bear spray holder is also great for drinks bottlesThere are some provisos: you can argue that the pack is overkill for lighter loads, but my experience was that the extra weight paid off with a sublime carry for a typical weekend-packing trip. Its also a substantial investment at 300 or 320 for the 75L but the pay-off is that not only does it carry incredibly well with normal loads, but if you have plans which necessitate maxing our your burden, maybe the PCT or similar, the Baltoro will step up and take it in its stride.VerdictIn short, the Baltoro is one of the very best big trip packs out there with a fantastic, supportive and comfortable back system allied to a tough, high-quality build and more pockets than youre ever likely to need. And as well as the Baltoro 65L and 75L, there are also 85 and 100 litre options for even bigger trips.More info at: www.gregorypacks.comSpecs:Dimensions: 84H x 34W x 34D cmRecommended maximum carry weight: 27.2 kgVolume: 65 LWeight: 2.38 kgMaterials:Outer Fabric: Material 1: 210D 40% by weight Recycled Nylon Ripstop with C0 DWR: Designed without PFAS. Material 2: 420D 40% by weight Recycled Nylon with C0 DWR: Designed without PFASInterior Lining:40% by weight Post-consumer Recycled 135D Polyester with C0 DWR: Designed without PFASFrames/Suspension:Alloy Steel Frame. Lifespan EVA Foam & AirCushion MeshFeatures:FreeFloat A3 suspension system: with dynamic flex panels and auto rotating shoulder straps that move with the natural movements of your bodyAirCushion mesh backpanel: providing true breathability, eliminating pressure points and moisture-wicking cooling benefits3D Shoulder Harness & Hipbelt Construction: This construction eliminates wrinkling and hot spots to provide hotspot free, body-hugging comfortAuto-rotating shoulder harness: a dual-density shoulder harness with sternum strap featuring integrated safety whistle and hydration clipFit & sizing: available in 3 sizes to provide the ideal fit based on both torso length and body shape.Comfort Grip lumbar pad: this feature helps prevent pack slip and keeps the pack positioned high on your hips without the need to over-tighten the hipbeltAdjustable Torso length: over 7.6 cm of adjustment and hipbelts that adjust 8.8 cm on each side to provide the ultimate in custom fit.Perimeter alloy frame: with fiberglass anti-barreling cross-stay for stable load managementU-Zip access: front U-Zip access to main volume of packFront zippered pockets: dual front zippered pockets with floating divider wallOn-the-Go shoulder harness pocket: designed to quickly stow sunglasses, trail snacks and fit most cell phones.Hydration sleeve: an internal hydration sleeve with SpeedClip hydration hanger compatible for Gregorys Hydro reservoirs (reservoir not included).Top pocket: floating top pocket with a large zippered compartment, small quick-access pocket and an underside zippered pocket, reflective attachment points, and key clipBottle holster: for one-handed on-the-go water bottle access with secure bungee closure for all bottle typesHipbelt pockets: oversized zippered hipbelt pockets with enough space to fit cell phones and trail essentialsSide pocket: large side fabric stuff pocket with pass through for over-or-under compression provides durable storage for rigid camp items like tent poles.Front mesh pocket: front stuff pocket with hybrid stretch-mesh and fabric construction for durability.Drawcord closure: quick-pull drawcord closure and top webbing compressionSleeping bag compartment: zippered bottom sleeping bag compartment with removable dividerAccessory attachment system: this system is located at easy-to-access hip location for bear spray holsters or accessory pouchesAttachment loops: with upper shock locks for trekking poles or ice axeComfort Grip straps: custom Comfort Grip molded zipper pulls and molded webbing keepers for strap managementRaincover: custom fit raincover included with attachment clipEllis BrighamCountryside Ski & ClimbUltralight Outdoor GearWildboundsCrib Goch Outdoor