March 22, 2012

Gregory Vs. Osprey Rucksacks

By Elliot Harman
Whatever adventure you are planning, be it hiking, climbing, traveling or trail running, you need a great pack. Gregory and Osprey rucksacks meet this specification, though they have their differences. Osprey rucksacks are streamlined and durable. Gregory packs have great fit and style. While the companies are surprisingly similar, they have some marked differences. Choosing a pack involves getting a great fit and features, but you should also consider the values of the company you choose to support.



Both Osprey Packs and Gregory Mountain Products, as they are officially called, were founded by young men whose first pack was made for themselves. Mike Pfotenhauer of Osprey wanted a pack that fit properly so made his own. Wayne Gregory made his first pack for a Boy Scout project. Both companies grew out of a love for the outdoors and for comfortable, well-fitting packs. And today their products reflect these characteristics.

While Gregory and Osprey are committed to supporting good causes, their focus is slightly different. Both companies support hiking, climbing and other sports related causes, and both also support health causes. The major difference is that Gregory only supports programs in the United States, while Osprey supports a number of organizations abroad, such as the East Meets West Foundation, and The Himalayan Health Exchange.

Gregory and Osprey have their headquarters in the United States. Gregory hails from Salt Lake City, Utah and Osprey from Cortez, Colorado. These are both great places to design and test rucksacks. Both companies utilize production facilities abroad, though how these facilities are presented to the public is quite different. There is very little information on Gregory's site about their facilities in the Philippines and China. On the other hand, Osprey has a lengthy story detailing how the founder moved to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam for several years to set up their production facility there.

Both companies' choice of durable rip-stop nylon in different weights reflects their commitment to quality and long-lasting products. The look of their materials is very different, however. Gregory's material has a shine while Osprey's are matte. Both are nice, and it is personal preference as to which is more attractive.

Though the packs by both Osprey and Gregory have the same basic elements, their looks are fairly different. Osprey uses a lot of monochromatic or closely matching colors, while Gregory uses more contrasting colors. This gives Osprey packs a more streamlined, sleek look, while Gregory packs appear more bulky, though they aren't.

Gregory's product lines include technical and multifunction packs for both men and women as well as travel packs. Osprey, however, has all these and much more. They have a huge selection of packs specifically designed for things like mountain biking, climbing, commuting, and for everyday use. In addition, they have a great kids line of backpacks.

Between the two companies, you can find pretty much any feature you could need. Both make excellent suspension systems with ventilation and customizable harnesses and hip belts. Gregory makes a harness that adjusts to the slope of your shoulders via rotatable attachment point and Osprey has a torso adjustable harness that moves up and down. Gregory is the only company that make a hip belt you can adjust to fit the angle of your hips. Osprey has a hip belt that can be heat molded for a perfect fit. Osprey also offers a great trekking pole attachment system on many of its bags.

All of the packs from each company don't have all of the features mentioned, so be sure to know what you need and which pack includes those items. You really can't go wrong with a pack from either company. They both have great values and great rucksacks. Overall, Osprey rucksacks are useful in more activities due to their large selection. Check them out to find a great, durable, comfortable pack.




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment