REASONS TO BUY
Large pockets
Comfortable
Versatile
Attention to details
Durable
Capacity seems larger than 20L
REASONS TO AVOID
SpeedClip bladder not universally compatible
Inner mesh pocket not huge
Breathability just okay
Gregory Maya 20 Review
A comfortable, adjustable, and feature-rich daypack that can easily go from trail to travel and be your do-it-all pack
From valley floors to peaks, this women's specific pack impressed our testers.
Credit: Byron Adams
By Tara Reddinger-Adams ⋅ Review Editor ⋅ November 18, 2025
RELATED: The Best Hiking Daypacks for Women
Our Verdict
The Gregory Maya is not only a great hiking daypack for women, its well-thought-out design and features make it a versatile choice for a variety of activities. With 20 liters of capacity, this lightweight day hiking pack comfortably carries loads up to 15 pounds. The Maya features a zippered hydration bladder compartment, which is separate from other compartments, and can hold a 13" laptop when you're not on the trail. A velcro adjustable back panel provides 3" of adjustability, allowing you to tailor the fit to your torso, while the 3D back panel adds some breathability while hiking. Well-placed, easily accessible hip pockets are large enough to hold a cell phone (depending on the model). The Maya is one of the most comfortable frameless packs in our review, earning high marks.
Our Analysis and Test Results
Many daypacks on the market today feature a frameless back panel that sits against the body, leaving you with a very sweaty back. The Gregory Maya is no exception to the frameless design, but it offers greater comfort and breathability than similar packs. The Maya features a channeled foam back panel and Biosync Suspension that moves with the body. It is also a well-thought-out pack that impresses us with its useful features and construction.
Need more capacity? Look for a pack with a wire mesh frame, padded shoulder straps, and a hip belt to support heavier loads.
If you need one pack that can do it all, this one is a great choice. It comfortably carries all your hiking supplies and when you're not on the trail it's compartments and pockets can fit a laptop, gym clothes, shoes and more.
Credit: Tara Reddinger-Adams
Comfort
The Maya's mesh-covered, channeled foam back panel comfortably supported loads of up to 15 pounds without feeling a sagging sack on our backs. The weight felt evenly distributed and supported, especially when the load lifter straps were tightened.
The hip belt is integrated into the back panel and comfortably wraps the hips, with the slightest amount of stretch, and can be extended from 27" to 46".
The lightly padded 3" wide shoulder straps are set 1" wider (at their outer edge) than similar packs. This made a huge difference in comfort for our tester with 14" wide shoulders. Packs with narrower set straps were very uncomfortable, but the Maya's straps were comfortable for her on hikes of all lengths.
The Maya is rated for loads of up to 20 pounds, but we found that its comfort deteriorates with loads over 15 pounds. The pack lacks a wire frame to support the load, so as you increase the load, the base of the pack sags more and is less comfortable.
We enjoy how comfortable this pack is for day hikes.
Credit: Byron Adams
Versatility
Versatility is where the Maya shines. The pack has two main compartments and seven smaller pockets. The zippered hydration compartment is separate from the pack's main compartment and fits a 3-liter bladder. When not holding a bladder, the hydration compartment can snugly fit a 13" laptop, pickleball paddle, or items of similar size, while the main compartment easily fits a jacket, extra layers, or a pair of shoes.
Inside the main compartment is a zippered pocket with a key fob, and a similarly sized zippered pocket is found on the outside of the pack. We liked to use these zippered pockets to organize our keys, wallet, glasses, and snacks. There is also a front stretch, mesh stuff pocket for quickly stowing items.
Side mesh pockets are 6.75" tall and securely hold a 1-liter water bottle. For those with good shoulder mobility, you can take a water bottle in and out of the side pockets without removing the pack. Compression straps can help secure taller items in the side pockets. On the hip belt, there are two large pockets, which are easily accessed while hiking.
Our cell phone fits in the hip belt pockets with room to spare.
Credit: Byron Adams
While the Maya lacks a formal helmet holder, a helmet can be secured to the front of the pack by using the nylon webbing loops or the webbing and clasp for the mesh stash pocket. For those who bike commute, these options are handy.
We appreciate that the “ice axe” loop is adjustable, since this is where trekking pole tips generally go, allowing the strap to cinch down on them. An elastic loop holds the poles' uppers in place and is easy to use.
For the upper trekking pole elastic loop, we recommend having the clip against the pull tab and pulling the loop away from the pack's body when wrapping the elastic around the poles. This puts slack in the system, making it easier to hook the elastic loop.
The Maya is a great choice for those who travel to hike and want to reduce luggage by using their daypack as their carry-on. The pack is small enough to fit under an airplane seat or in an overhead bin, and has enough space for a change of clothes with room to spare. When it comes to versatility, there is not much this pack can't do.
Two ways to attach a helmet to the pack.
Weight-to-Volume Ratio
Weighing 29 ounces, the Maya scores in the middle of the pack for our weight-to-volume ratio, weighing 1.5 ounces per liter. The Maya is also the smallest volume pack in our women's daypack line-up and weighs more per liter than some wire-framed women's daypacks.
The Maya's weight-to-volume ratio is not a detriment. It is constructed of sturdy materials and shows no sign of wear, even after bushwacking through catclaw and mesquite, two thorn-filled desert plants.
The Maya weights 29 ounces (1.8 pounds) empty.
Credit: Tara Reddinger-Adams
Ease of Use
The Maya has a few small features that can easily be overlooked, but these make it stand out.
There are two small “webbing keepers” on the hip belt to hold excess webbing in place. On the right shoulder is a hydration hose clip that prevents it from bouncing as you hike, and the opening from the bladder compartment to the pack's outer is large enough to thread the hose through with the mouthpiece attached. These small details make using the pack much more enjoyable.
The hip belt pockets on the Maya are large for a 20-liter pack. We could easily access them while hiking, and they fit most cell phones. The external zippers feature ComfortGrip molded grips that are easy to pull even with gloves on.
Adjusting the back panel involves pulling up the Velcro and pushing it back down to your desired length. The webbing smoothly pulls through the shoulder and hip belts to adjust their length, and changing the sternum strap only requires pushing down or pulling up the side of the strap.
Adjusting the back panel is super simple.
Credit: Tara Reddinger-Adams
If you feel the pack's weight is too low on the back, you can tighten the load lifter straps on the top of the shoulder straps. These bring the pack closer to your body and stabilize its weight. The Maya has all the adjustability needed in a day pack to achieve a comfortable fit for most body types.
If you like the Maya's features, but find its back panel or shoulder straps too small or uncomfortable, check out the Gregory Miko 20, the men's version with all the same features.
One aspect of the Maya that can be a disappointment is its hydration bladder clip. Gregory packs use a proprietary SpeedClip hydration hanger, which lets you clip a Gregory bladder to it. It works great with Gregory bladders (and some other brands). The problem with this system is that it is not universally compatible, and some bladders do not fit the hanger. There is a small nylon loop behind the hanger, but you need to add your own attachment device, such as a small carabiner, to connect your bladder to the nylon.
The SpeedClip hydration hanger works great with Gregory bladders, but is not universally compatible.
Credit: Tara Reddinger-Adams
Construction Quality
The body of the Maya is constructed of durable 100D and 210D high-density nylon, both of which are recycled, and held up very well during our testing. In our hose spray test, the Maya absorbed less water than other packs.
We read one complaint online about the sternum strap breaking, and Gregory sent a replacement. A second complaint was about the top loop breaking and stitching coming undone. However, we experienced neither of these issues during our testing, and have not with Gregory packs in general, even after years of use.
Each pack was hosed down for one minute to see how much water penetrated the fabric outer.
Credit: Tara Reddinger-Adams
Should You Buy the Gregory Maya 20L?
The Maya is comfortable to wear and versatile, especially if you're looking for a pack you can use on and off the trail. But it is not built for every female hiker. The back panel adjusts from 16.5" to 19.25" and the hip belt adjusts from 27" to 46", meaning the pack could be too big or too small for some users. However, if fit is not an issue, the Maya is a solid choice for day hikes or as an all-purpose daypack.
What Other Daypacks Should You Consider?
If you want a pack that offers greater support for heavier loads or additional comfort, we recommend the Gregory Juno 24L. With padded shoulder straps, a wire frame, and VaporSpan suspension, the Juno offers high levels of comfort and breathability. It also has a larger carrying capacity, making it ideal for hikes longer than five hours.
Trekking poles lash to the side of the pack with elastic and nylon loops.
Credit: Tara Reddinger-Adams
Side-by-Side Comparison
Compare Gregory Maya 20 versus top competing products:
—Tara Reddinger-Adams
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