A close look at two backpacks buyers cross-shop. They score within a hair of each other, so it comes down to the details below.
| Gregory Zulu 55 | Gregory Maven 55 | |
|---|---|---|
| GearScore | 71✓ | 70 |
| Capacity | 55 L | 55 L |
| Weight | 4 lb 3 oz | 3 lb 7 oz✓ |
| Rated load | 50 lb | 50 lb |
| Fabric denier | 400 D✓ | 210 D |
| Price | $280 | $260✓ |
| Type | Backpacking | Backpacking |
| Frame | Internal | Internal |
Highlighted cells mark the better spec: Zulu 55 in blue, Maven 55 in amber. A blank spec is never counted as a win. Capacity is shown for context and is not scored, since more volume is a sizing choice rather than better. GearScore is the overall rating (0 to 100); re-weight it on the full backpack comparison. Prices are current MSRP.
Put the Gregory Zulu 55 next to the Gregory Maven 55 and the trade-offs are clear. They are close enough that this really is about which handful of specs you weight most.
The Zulu 55 is tougher fabric (400D vs 210D). The Maven 55 is 12 oz lighter and $20 cheaper. Their GearScores land within a couple of points (71 vs 70), so neither runs away with it.
Pick the Zulu 55 if you care most about durability, which makes it the better call for rough ground and hard use. Pick the Maven 55 if low weight and price matter more to you, or you are focused on counting grams on long miles.
The Gregory Maven 55. It is 12 oz lighter than the Zulu 55.
The Gregory Zulu 55. It is tougher fabric (400D vs 210D) than the Maven 55.
They are nearly tied at 71 and 70 on the default algorithm, so re-weight the score to your own priorities to break the tie.
It depends on your priorities. Go with the Zulu 55 for durability, or the Maven 55 for low weight. The spec table above shows exactly where each wins.