The Gregory Contour 60 stacks up well against the competition when it comes to overall comfort. Engineered to offer an extensive variety of adjustment options, the Contour 60 shoulder and waist straps can be extended and contorted quite extensively allowing you to fit the pack to your personal frame and move and shift the weight to where it is least noticeable. The shoulder straps are a bit thinner than desired and if the pack is not adjusted properly to keep the weight in the hips, we find the straps to dig quite a bit on long multi-day hikes. We love the padding the Contour provides both on your back and waist. Specifically the waist belt is extremely versatile to fit both a large and small frame and offers give in both the vertical and horizontal axis eliminating edges that tend to chaff or dig into your skin. Even though there are a lot of straps, we find that they are well organized and don't get caught against your body creating an uncomfortable situation.
The Contour 60 is not an ultralight pack like the Osprey Exos 58, but for a middleweight pack comes in at the lower end of the spectrum. It's hard to believe that the Contour 60 is so light given the number of pockets, adjustable straps, and the amount of material providing overall cushion, comfort, and adjustability. We found the Contour 60 ideal for multi-day hikes where leaving that extra weight behind could mean summiting in time for sunset.
With so many compartments, pockets, hidden zipper pockets, hidden zipper pockets within compartments, straps and clips the Contour 60 is both extremely functional and a bit overwhelming. We love that so much thought and design went into this pack, but unfortunately for a climber it was sometimes way too much. In fact some of the pockets are so well hidden I didn't realize the pack came with a waterproof cover until I got around to watching the video. For a climber this is overkill and we'd much rather see the majority of the 60L of space available in a single main pocket with only a few side pocket options. For the extremely organized packer with an exceptional memory this pack may be perfect for you.
As an overview, the Trail Smart packing system separates the pack into three general areas to organize your gear. Large heavy things go in the main pocket (Camp section) with top and side zipper access. Unfortunately for climbers the access width for your rope and your rack will make you wish you had a haul bag instead. There is room for ultra-light camping gear, but it is not as easily packable and accessible as the Arc'teryx Altra 65. The second Trail section is on the outside of the pack with an open pocket for immediate access needs, and a larger internal zipper pocket with additional internal sub-compartments for things needed on the go. This is where we kept our extra clothing, lunch, and other things that you don't want to dig for. This section has nested pockets and sub-pockets in pockets that leave you wondering where your keys actually are at the end of your journey. The third On-The-Go zone are side access pockets, both open and zipper close for water, camera, snacks, or other quick access goods. We found these had limited use and we preferred to use the top pouch and the trail section of the pack. Finally the top pocket is a water-tight compartment that allows easy access for gear that needs to be protected. With all of the intricate pocket systems throughout this pack it would be nice if the top pocket, which we used for storing keys, wallet, headlamp, toothbrush, etc., had one or two separate compartments to help organize our quick access goodies.
One minor complaint is that the side pockets, well sized for many water bottles but too small for some, are positioned in a way that make it extremely difficult to reach back and remove and replace your water. We found it annoying to have to take the entire pack off to get water, making these pockets less functional overall. We would have like a mesh outer pocket for storing wet clothes on the fly.
The Gregory Contour 60 is a great bag for the extremely well organized multi-day adventurer. Lots of pockets give you plenty of options for storing a variety of goods. This pack is comfortable, reasonably priced, and adjusts well to a range of body sizes and types. Climbers and more extreme adventurers would benefit from a pack more specifically designed for your particular needs.
At $279 retail the Contour 60 falls into the middle of the pack with respect to price, and offers an excellent value for your money. It has lots of features, lots of pockets, and is very comfortable for its price. It does not handle very large loads the way more expensive packs do, but for its price will provide a great pack that can be used for a wide range of activities.
