A close look at two backpacks buyers cross-shop. Both are solid; the right one depends on the specs you care about most.
| Gregory Zulu 55 | Gregory Paragon 60 | |
|---|---|---|
| GearScore | 71✓ | 68 |
| Capacity | 55 L | 60 L |
| Weight | 4 lb 3 oz | 3 lb 12 oz✓ |
| Rated load | 50 lb | 50 lb |
| Fabric denier | 400 D✓ | 210 D |
| Price | $280✓ | $300 |
| Type | Backpacking | Backpacking |
| Frame | Internal | Internal |
Highlighted cells mark the better spec: Zulu 55 in blue, Paragon 60 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 Paragon 60 and the trade-offs are clear. The Zulu 55 wins on durability and price, and the Paragon 60 pushes back on low weight.
The Zulu 55 is tougher fabric (400D vs 210D) and $20 cheaper. The Paragon 60 is 7 oz lighter. On the default GearScore the Zulu 55 leads 71 to 68.
Pick the Zulu 55 if you care most about durability and price, which makes it the better call for rough ground and hard use. Pick the Paragon 60 if low weight matter more to you, or you are focused on counting grams on long miles.
The Gregory Paragon 60. It is 7 oz lighter than the Zulu 55.
The Gregory Zulu 55. It is tougher fabric (400D vs 210D) than the Paragon 60.
The Gregory Zulu 55, 71 to 68 on the default algorithm. You can re-weight the factors to match your trip.
It depends on your priorities. Go with the Zulu 55 for durability, or the Paragon 60 for low weight. The spec table above shows exactly where each wins.