REASONS TO BUY
Very adjustable
Easy-to-access pockets
Independent hip belt prevent bouncing
REASONS TO AVOID
Uncomfortable when heavy
Gregory Paragon 60 Review
This backpack is super comfortable and highly adjustable, but it doesn't carry weight as well as similarly priced packs
The Gregory Paragon 60 is an excellent pack overall, but there are other options that perform slightly better for the same price.
Credit: Sam Schild
By Sam Schild ⋅ Review Editor ⋅ May 13, 2026
RELATED: Best Backpacking Backpacks of 2026
Our Verdict
The Gregory Paragon 60 is a great pack, particularly for its adjustability and overall comfort. It has well-padded shoulder straps and hip belt cushioning, with an adjustable torso so you can dial in a great fit. It has a robust suspension system that carries weight well, though it isn't quite the load hauler that some other framed packs are. However, it's pretty heavy for a backpacking pack, especially for one that can't carry extremely heavy loads particularly well. The Paragon 60 is best for someone who values adjustability and easy-to-access storage in a backpacking pack.
Our Analysis and Test Results
The Paragon 60 has been a longtime favorite of our testers. Credit: Sam Schild
Likes
The Paragon is very adjustable, so you can dial in a great fit. Most other packs only let you adjust the webbing length on the hip belt, but this pack takes it one step further. The hip belt padding is retractable, so if you have wider hips, you can extend the cushioning to actually pad your hip bones. This hip belt design, combined with an adjustable shoulder harness, makes the Paragon one of the most adjustable packs we tested.
It's also a very comfortable pack. The hip belt rotates independently from the frame, allowing your hips and legs to move freely without the pack bouncing around as you move. The back panel suspends the pack above your back, but not as far as some other packs. This positions the pack more securely on your back and prevents it from knocking you off balance during big movements.
You can extend the hip belt's cushioning, so people with larger hips can put the padding exactly where they need it. Credit: Sam Schild
The Paragon 60 also has a great set of features that make it super easy to use. It has all the pockets you could need, so you'll never lose anything on the trail. It has three ways to access the main compartment: a top cinch closure, a side zipper, and a bottom zipper that opens the sleeping bag compartment. We prefer to pack the bag through the top opening, but access items throughout the day through the side zipper.
The side zippered pocket allows for quick access to items throughout the day, so you won't have to open up the main cinch closure and lid on the top just to grab one thing. Credit: Sam Schild
It has great exterior pockets as well. Our favorite is a stretch-mesh shoulder-strap pocket perfectly sized to fit a Garmin inReach Mini, so you can keep your satellite messenger device handy without it bouncing around on your shoulder strap.
The Paragon's stretch-mesh shoulder pocket, designed for a Garmin InReach, is only one of the many useful features for staying organized. Credit: Sam Schild
Dislikes
It's not particularly heavy, nor is it that expensive. But at 3.5 pounds, it isn't the lightest pack for how much it can carry.
Also, it doesn't carry heavy loads as well as we'd like a pack of that weight to. When you load it to capacity, the shoulder straps dig into your shoulders, and the loaded back bounces around uncomfortably on the mesh back panel.
The Paragon is comfortable to wear all day, but it feels ungainly when loaded to capacity, and the main compartment is only 48 liters by our measurements. Credit: Sam Schild
Should You Buy the Gregory Paragon 60?
The Paragon is a great pack, but there are others that perform better at the same price point. If you would benefit from more cushioning at the waist belt, the adjustable hip belt alone is an excellent reason to buy this pack. Many people love this pack – if you try it on and like how it feels, we see no reason not to recommend you buy it.
What Other Backpacking Backpacks You Consider?
The Osprey Atmos LT 65 costs slightly more than the Paragon 60, but it's more comfortable, especially if you're loading up your pack to the max. The REI Co-op Flash 55 is a bit lighter – both in terms of features and overall weight – but it's an excellent choice for a steal.
Side-by-Side Comparison
Compare Gregory Paragon 60 versus top competing products:
| Awards | |
|---|---|
| Price | $300 List Check Price at REI |
Overall Score  |
|
| Star Rating | |
| Bottom Line | This backpack is super comfortable and highly adjustable, but it doesn't carry weight as well as similarly priced packs |
| Pros | Very adjustable, easy-to-access pockets, independent hip belt prevent bouncing |
| Cons | Uncomfortable when heavy |
| Rating Categories | Gregory Paragon 60 |
| Comfort (40%) | |
| Ease of Use (25%) | |
| Weight-to-Volume Ratio (20%) | |
| Adjustability (15%) | |
| Specifications | Gregory Paragon 60 |
| Measured Weight | 3.5 lb |
| Weight per Liter | 0.93 oz/L |
| Advertised Volume | 60 L |
| Measured Volume (main compartment) | 48 L |
| Organization Compartments | Lid with interior and exterior zipper pockets, front mesh pocket, side water bottle pockets, hip belt pockets, sleeping bag compartment |
| Access | Top, front, bottom |
| Hydration Compatible | Yes |
| Sleeping Bag Compartment | Yes |
| Materials | Main: 100D high density nylon / 210D high density nylon Bottom: 300D 40% recycled nylon ripstop |
—Sam Schild
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