Gregory Baltoro Honored with 2015 Outside Gear of the Year Award

Gregory, the world’s leading pack maker for over 35 years, has won Outside magazine’s 2015 Gear of the Year in the backpack category for the new Baltoro. Outside recognizes the best new adventure sports gear of each season after months of rigorous testing. This award marks the second editorial award for the Baltoro, after it received the Backpacker Editor’s Choice Gold Award earlier this year.

“The Baltoro and women’s Deva are the focal point of our 2015 collection and we’re delighted that they are garnering the top editorial awards in our industry,” says John Sears, director of product development at Gregory. “The new suspension, added features, and modern aesthetic, all while reducing weight produced a bag that customers love and we’re glad the editorial team at Outside agree enough to present it with Gear of the Year.”

The men’s Baltoro and women’s Deva feature the new Response A3 suspension. An Automatic Angle Adjust chassis keeps the packs comfortable and balanced by adapting to your body and maintaining your center of gravity throughout variable conditions. Two-position adjustable, independently pivoting shoulder harness and hipbelt components, combined with a 7075 aluminum wishbone frame define the new suspension. Additionally, a ventilated center of the back panel provides breathability and a removable foam pad provides adjustability to lumbar support. The pre-curved 3D shoulder harnesses and hipbelts feature an easy-change design for quickly finding the perfect custom fit.

The Baltoro is available in 85, 75, and 65 liter volumes while the Deva is available in 80, 70, and 60 liters. All of the bags include the Sidekick pack, an internal hydration reservoir compartment that doubles as an ultra-light removable daypack for summit bids or quick trips into town. Top-load design with large U-zip and a sleeping bag compartment with a drop shelf all provide ample access to the main compartment of the pack. A WeatherShield pocket on the hipbelt protects electronics from weather, as does the included color-matched raincover. The Baltoro 85 and Deva 80 retail for $349 while the Baltoro 65 and Deva 60 are $299.

This year, the Outside team of adventure sports experts hit the trails on foot and on wheels, and took to rivers and lakes around the country to put all the newest shoes, bikes, boats, fitness apparel, accessories and gadgets to the test. The Summer Buyer’s Guide offers readers everything they learned from field-testing hundreds of products, making it the top resource for everyone from seasoned adventurers to those venturing out for the first time. Reviews are organized by sport and activity, and include the ideal setting or experience level for each product, as well as tips for getting the most out of each gear pick. The complete list of Gear of the Year Awards winners will be featured in the Outside Summer Buyer’s Guide, available on newsstands April 28.