Gregory Miwok 24 Review

Gregory created a solid midweight contender for the daypack category, capable of holding its own with our best-in-class award winners. The Miwok 24 offers a mid-level range weight-to-volume ratio, a comfortable minimal suspension system, and enough features to satisfy your needs without being an overwhelming amount.

Performance Comparison

Comfort

Daypacks by design don't carry heavy loads. Despite this fact, Gregory's Miwok 24 has a mesh and foam suspension style keeping weight to a minimum while providing adequate comfort for decent loads. The mesh and foam design brings the pack slightly off the back of the user, increasing the breathability of the pack and while maintaining comfortable support. The foam itself is cut with ridges that provide relief for common pressure points like the spine. While there isn't as much ventilation as a full mesh suspension style back panel, the comfort and ventilation outperform other models with similar weight and size.

Weight

For having a rather robust feature set, the Miwok stays at a rather humble weight for the class. At under two pounds (29.6 ounces), the pack is in the mid-range for its weight-to-volume ratio. Although it's a bit too large for the fast and light crown, it performs well for its weight range and is ideal for most normal hikers. It is actually a bit lighter than other higher-rated packs in the same size range.

Versatility

The Miwok 24 is a fairly simple pack that is versatile enough for various uses, though it has some features specifically tailored to hiking. The pack features compression straps, an ice axe strap and loop, hip belt pockets, a sunglasses holder, and a reflector tab for a bike light. The pack remains flexible enough to comfortably be used for cycling, hiking, and scrambling. The pack doesn't have as many external pockets and attachment points like some other packs, but the features it does have are well executed and lend themselves well to multiple disciplines. The narrower profile doesn't hinder its range of motion either. The lack of an included rain cover and average wet weather performance leaves room for some improvement.

Ease of Use

Gregory struck a good balance between features and simplicity. The Miwok 24 has only the necessary features and straps to get the job done. When not in use, they stay well hidden and out of the way. The hip belts, in particular, are a wonderful feature on a pack of this size. They are large enough to fit the essentials without being overwhelming or awkward. Big plastic zipper pulls, and orange lined interior makes opening and finding items in any compartment a breeze. The small organization compartment is even lined with a soft fabric to help protect sensitive items.

Durability

With the typical quality that we've experienced with other Gergory products, we didn't have any durability concerns with the Miwok 24 during our testing. The back panel and mesh pockets are tight weaves and thicker material that are not likely to snag on branches or tear from being dragged. The water-resistant nature of the pack leaves a bit to be desired, though. Without a rain cover, the pack did well, showing minimal signs of water inside. However, some soaking through of the fabric was noticed and a little bleeding through the zipper. Marginal, but still not waterproof. We would recommend a rain cover or individual protection for sensitive items inside the pack.

Value

The Gregory Miwok 24 offers solid value as a well-versed daypack. It is competitively priced and has a solid range of features across the board. If your goal is to find a daypack that you can take on or off the trail without breaking the budget, this is a solid contender. If you have more specific needs for a more technical pack, we would recommend looking elsewhere. While it does have some useful features, it is still a fairly simple backpack.

Conclusion

The Miwok 24 pack is a jack of all trades pack but master of none. It is best as a hiking or commuting pack, and there are still enough features, capacity, and comfort to work well no matter the activity.