Gregory Denali 100 Backpack Review

July 28, 2015
Gregory Denali 100 Backpack
GEAR INSTITUTE RATINGS
93
Comfort/Fit
8
Stability
9
Storage
9
Durability
8
Extras
9

The Good

  • Pack can scale up or down with removable frame stays and bivy pad
  • Several gear loops and daisy chains
  • Many organization pockets and features
  • Comfortable with heavy loads

The Bad

  • Pack is somewhat heavy
  • Limited colors (only available in black)
  • No integrated rain cover
THE VERDICT

The redesigned Gregory Denali 100 backpack is full of organization and gear carrying options and provides good comfort when carrying heavy loads during expeditions. This pack will perform well when you need a tough, durable, and comfortable pack for large loads in rough terrain.

FULL REVIEW

Comfort/Fit
The Denali 100 is comfortable while carrying loads up to 75 pounds in a variety of conditions. The pack is large and while it does not give you that light and agile feeling, it has good padding, great adjustment options, and a suspension system that will help carry more weight than you might otherwise be expected to carry (or could carry) with a lesser-performing pack.  

The Denali 100 is built for expedition use and thus seems impervious to the effects of extreme use. The zippers, pockets, and fabrics all performed well and showed no damage. This pack is built like a tank and can really take punishment.

The Denali 100 has removable frame stays and sufficient padding that can be adjusted for fit, weight, and to better suit your day’s activities. In testng it had a good wrap-around fit and was comfortable on my hips even when carrying heavy loads for long days on the trail. The hip belt also comes with a gear loop on one side and a large pocket on the other side to store a small camera, GPS, snacks, or a phone. The hip belt also has a sled haul loop and an ice clipper sleeve giving it even greater versatility.  

The Denali 100 has an shoulder harness that can be adjusted to individual shoulder angles and thus create the perfect customized fit. This was a great feature particularly for heavy loads since I was able to find the best adjustment angle. The back panel has adequate padding to carry heavy loads and provides comfortable support on long days with big loads.   

Storage
The Denali 100 features both top and side entry into the main compartment. The side access is a hidden zipper that runs down the side of the pack and provides great access right to the bottom of the main compartment. These multiple access points provide multiple packing and unpacking options that make organization much easier than via the traditional top access. There is an external front pocket with zippered access on both sides of the pack as well as a zippered middle divider—which means that you can create one larger pocket at the front of the pack by opening the middle zipper or create two additional pockets on each side of the pack by keeping the middle zipper closed.

The lid of the Denali is very large and has a full horizontal zipper that is large enough to store a climbing helmet. Inside the lid there is a mesh storage pocket for added organization and a security pocket under the lid, for a few additional items you wish to keep secure. 

The Denali 100 provides an internal hydration sleeve that will fit an up to 3-liter bladder and large fold away side pockets that can be used to store 1-liter water bottles or snow pickets. 

Stability
The Denali 100 felt stable and did not move around, sway, float, or shift, even with large loads in a variety of terrain. The Denali felt more stable with large loads than many other packs I have tested. The Denail 100 may be a work truck, rather than a sports car, but it’s a work truck with a lot of fancy extras.   

 


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