www.gregorypacks.com; 1 pound, 6 ounces
To be honest with you, the gear game is largely a quest to build a better mouse trap. But then something…happens. And then everything change. We think the Wasatch day pack from Gregory is one such invention.  At first glance, it’s just another take on the ultralight pack. Look closer, specifically where the shoulder and waist straps anchor, and you’ll see the difference. Dubbed “Biosynch Suspension,” the cross-strapping method is modeled after how a human’s tendon operates. The suspension is designed to allow the pack to move with you, the weight centered and close to your back.  Translation: the pack and you are one, young Jedi.  Total weight for this non-rigid pack comes in at one pound and six ounces, downright featherweight considering  you get 12 liters of storage and a bevy of features like a hydration port, a huge elastic kangaroo pouch, a deep central pocket, mesh side pockets, and a second pocket with a mesh organizer and key clip. And what happens when you’re mid-hike and have half-drained your hydration reservoir? Stop the sloshing by yanking on that little plastic loop on the right-hand side of the pack base— viola!—the bladder compresses and the pack retains that close-to-the-body, high-performance fit you desire.  Other add-ons include zippered pockets on the waist strap for your camera or GPS.  True to it’s ultralight nature, there’s no internal rigidity, so those who like form in their day pack should look elsewhere. And for hot, high-octane days, sweat can soak through the back panel (saturateing one tester’s notebook); pack the bag accordingly.