The Gregory Endo 10 3D-Hydro pack is part of their hydration mountain biking lineup and features a 10-liter of capacity, a 3-liter reservoir and has enough features and pockets for almost any adventure. Highlights include a wire frame, an adjustable Shift RS suspended back panel for a perfect fit for any torso, the EVAP moisture-wicking back panel to keep you cool, dry and comfortable in any weather. The innovative 3D Hydro semi-rigid reservoir has a 3L/100 oz. capacity, an integrated drying hook, a screw top opening, and a magnetized bite valve with a shutoff. It retails for $119.95 and comes in Horizon Blue and Carbon Black color schemes.
Measured weight: 2.28 lbs (pack, reservoir, and tool pouch)
For additional information refer to gregorypacks.com
Back Panel
The pack utilizes a Spring Steel Perimeter Wire Frame and a suspended mesh backing panel with ridged and perforated foam on the hip and shoulder harness. This raised system uses their EVAP Moisture Wicking Technology material which provides a low-profile ventilated back panel that’s incredibly cool and comfortable for the ultimate in riding performance in any climate and temperature.
The pack features the SHIFT RS Suspension with the adjustable RS (Ride Stability) hipbelt stabilization system. The RS allows the hipbelt to be shifted vertically upward or downward on your back for the ultimate in torso fitting to help provide a stable, secure and no-bounce pack. The RS can be quickly customized to match your body sizing, torso length, riding style, and trail characteristics.
Storage
It has quite a few useful pockets and compartments, including a large main compartment, a medium sized front compartment, a front stretchy meshed pocket, and two zippered hip pockets. It features a Blinkie light attachment on the bottom front, but unfortunately, it doesn’t have a rain cover to protect your pack in inclement weather. The front sleeve is advantageous as overflow for jackets or apparel when dealing with changeable weather and temperatures.
The main compartment has a nice long zipper and opens in clamshell style for easy access, and it’s the central location I’d stick larger items, such as apparel, bulky things, and jackets. It has three internal organizational meshed pockets, and the back has a slot for the hydration reservoir with an integrated SpeedClip mounting/hanging system (white/gray item at the very top) which keeps the bladder stable and prevents drooping when it empties. The middle mesh sleeve is perfect for the included tool pouch, while the outer sleeves are ideal for tire and shock pumps.
The front compartment unzips in an oddly angled opening and has two meshed pockets, and a thickly padded zippered pocket (Crash Pad Protection Pocket) meant for sunglasses, phones, and fragile components. I tended to place gloves, hats, and food and smaller items in the central compartment and a first aid kit, wipes, and tools in the sleeves. The hip belt has a zippered pocket on each side which are ideal for small tools, keys, and snacks.
All the pockets and compartments combine to give the pack 10-liters of storage space, although the front sleeve can add quite a bit of additional volume.
The removable zippered tool pouch has two internal zippered pockets, one meshed and one with fabric, and can hold quite a few tools and fits in a dedicated, no-bounce storage pocket in the main compartment.
Reservoir
The 3D Hydro Reservoir has a 3L/100 oz. capacity, a screw top opening, and a magnetized bite valve with a shutoff. It features their 3D QuickDry soft-molded technology, meaning the reservoir stands puffed up by itself, and an integrated drying hanger, both of which help during the drying out process. The main compartments Quick Access Hydration Sleeve features the SpeedClip mounting system, which the reservoirs integrated braced hanger system easily snaps onto and helps stabilize the weight at the center of your back, and it keeps the bladder from drooping downwards when it empties and bouncing around on rough terrain.
The Magnetic Sternum Strap allow for a one-handed magnetic buckling of the strap and integrated magnetic linkage for the DryLock bite valve, the latter featuring a small shutoff slider. It resides on the left-hand shoulder strap and isn’t movable to the other side.
Impressions
The pack has two upper side compression straps for cinching down the load or for carrying armor and apparel. I was able to connect a detachable chinguard from helmets that feature the dual regular to a full-faced type of system. The front pocket isn’t overly large, but you can cram apparel and jackets into it, though I wish the material had a tad more stretch for adding bulkier stuff, such as armor. Although you can attach a helmet using their integrated lash points located on the upper side, it doesn’t do so securely, so it tends to bounces around, and I found it cumbersome to wedge the chin straps through the system, and some won’t even go through the loops. I’d like to see some side pockets or extra compressions straps for armor and perhaps something more functional to attach a helmet.
The pockets and compartments are adequate and offer plenty of room, with just enough functional organization, though I wasn’t a fan of the oddly angled opening of the front compartment. I liked their tool pouch, which made for a great secure location for tools and smaller sundry items. I ended up using the tool pouch in other manufacturers packs that I tested and used, which is a testament to its usefulness.
The shoulder harness system is decently padded and uses a ridged and perforated foam that is breathable and comfortable, and it comes up over the neck to provide additional comfort and stability. On the left-hand side, the shoulder strap has a small elastic pullout cord (Sunglass QuickStow system) meant for holding a pair of sunglasses, though I rarely used it. The front waistband is a simple 1-inch strap with a highly functional adjustment system that makes it easy to tighten or loosen.
The wireframe and suspended mesh back panel offer tons of ventilation and breathability, keeping your back cool and dry, even in the hottest weather. The system offers oodles of comfort and load carrying capabilities, suspending the main body off your back and helping to stabilize it down onto your lumbar. Their innovative adjustable RS (Ride Stability) system allows the waistbelt to be shifted vertically upward or downward on your back for the ultimate in torso fitting to help provide a stable, secure and no-bounce pack for any body size and trail condition. The very back of the waistbelt is perforated foam which is breathable and comfortable while the unpadded hip wings are broad and offer additional stability and security.
The reservoir was highly functional, and I liked the semi-rigid nature of it and appreciated the integrated braced hanger system which made slipping it into the main compartments rear sleeve and clipping it onto the packs back quick and straightforward. Once it was hanging from the clip, it provided exceptional stability for the reservoir, preventing excess bouncing and drooping when the contents emptied. The screw cap opening never leaked and made it easy to add water and ice cube, though the opening is on the small side and made cleaning somewhat problematic. The puffed up design of the bladder and its integrated drying hanger made the drying out process a breeze. The magnetic sternum strap system provides a quick way to attach the magnetic linkage of the bite valve, and the bite valve worked well, and water flows smoothly through it, though I had problems opening and closing the slider on the fly, which I like to do on the trail.
Bottom Line
The pack carries it weight well when fully loaded and cinched down and it didn’t overly bounce or move around on my back even on the gnarliest trails. The wireframe, backpanel and waistbelt helped stabilize the load and kept my back dry and comfortable. I do wish it had side pockets and compressions straps to attach armor more functionally and it needs to come with a rain cover to protect the pack’s contents. The innovative semi-rigid reservoir slips easily into the main compartments back slot and hangs securely from its integrated clip and the bladder quickly drys using its hanging hook, though I’d like to see a quick connect system at the hose and reservoir juncture.
The pack is well made, with robust materials and stitching and it utilizes high-quality zippers, buckles, and straps, all a function of Gregory’s expertise and knowledge base from its backpack lineup. Small and very easy to live with nitpicks aside, I have thoroughly enjoyed my time with the excellent Gregory ENDO 10 3D-Hydro Pack with highlights to its wireframe and raised backpanel for ventilation and comfort, the adjustable RS (Ride Stability) waistband for torso fitting and the innovative 3D Hydro reservoir.
{ 0 comments… add one now }