Gregory Alpinisto?

So I'm a Gregory backpacks guy but I'm STILL looking for a crag pack that will double as an alpine and ice climbing gear pack. I've tried the Mammut Trion series and found my torso is apparently to short for them (measures about 17.5 inches)
I've tried the Lowe Alpine Attack 45:55 and love the pack but the hip belt is a total joke! No support whatsoever with it loaded up with my full trad rack, rope, harness, shoes etc. Very sad and bad design in my opinion. WIsh I could rip the belt off and sew on a better one that doesn't resemble a shoelace!

So I'm looking now, at the Gregory Apinisto 50L.

Any experience with these??
Thanks

I've liked mine quite a bit. Carrys great and climbs well. All the features make it a bit heavy for it's size, but they're all well executed. Only thing I haven't used and appreciated is the full side-zip.

I did try stripping it all the way down on a recent climb on Longs Peak. without the frame sheet the back padding slouched a bunch and was annoying. Next time I'll pull the stay and leave the frame sheet.

Eric R wrote:I've liked mine quite a bit. Carrys great and climbs well. All the features make it a bit heavy for it's size, but they're all well executed. Only thing I haven't used and appreciated is the full side-zip. I did try stripping it all the way down on a recent climb on Longs Peak. without the frame sheet the back padding slouched a bunch and was annoying. Next time I'll pull the stay and leave the frame sheet.

I don't know of any bigger packs that would work well for cragging, that aren't heavy. The light one's are usually made of lighter material that is going to rip through pretty quickly with all the metal stuffed in a pack and/or dropped, dragged, thrown around at the crag.

I don't have the Alpinisto 50, but I have the 35 and think it's pretty good. I'm thinking the 50 would likely be lighter than the Baltoro because it is aimed at Alpine climbing, which strips away a lot of weight and extra pockets, etc.

Check out the Black Diamond Speed 40/50...

I've used the Alpinisto for a few years now, from backcountry ski tours to ice climbing to a crag pack.
Absolutely great pack for comfort and function. I may be willing to part with mine actually, so many packs

Have you considered the women's version of the mammut bags? My I have a trion guide 35 and love it. My partner, who is 5'3" also has one and loves it for craging and ice climbing. Color is total neutral and the fit is good.

PS- if you don't like the hipbelt on the Lowe Alpine pack you mentioned, then don't cozy up to the Alpinisto- or just about any alpine pack!

I've had small belted packs before but that alpine attack was unbearable with the load of trad gear in it...

Max Forbes wrote:Have you considered the women's version of the mammut bags? My I have a trion guide 35 and love it. My partner, who is 5'3" also has one and loves it for craging and ice climbing. Color is total neutral and the fit is good.

Like I mentioned in the other thread, I've had zero issues with the Alpine Attack's hipbelt. It's been a damn good pack for me. Since it didn't fit your needs, have you tried the Osprey Varient 52 or The North Face Cobra 52? I'm not a huge fan of anything North Face, but their Cobra line of packs is dialed-in for cragging/ice. If I were in the market for a new crag pack, I'd give the Cobra 52 serious thought. They also make a Cobra 60 liter pack.

They just released their Summit Series Alpine 50 Pack a couple weeks ago as well.

I have an Alpinisto 35 & I like it a lot, but the lid is not strippable and that bugged me. Not sure if the 50's lid is removable or not.

Most people are going to chime in with either CiloGear, Cold Cold World or Hyperlite Mountain Gear as they are all extremely light, strippable and simplistic. I've owned a CiloGear pack and I hated the way it carried when fully weighted. Wasn't for me, so I sold it.

I've read good reviews on Mammut's Trion series. If you can't find what you're looking for, there's always the option of having a pack custom built. Cold Cold World will add/subtract preferences on his packs. There's also a new pack company out of Ouray, CO called Alpine Luddites who construct some serious, alpine-style packs custom tailored and made to order.

Hope this helps!

I owned the HMG pack and unfortunately would not recommend it for your situation. The roll-up bag is complicated to open and close in tight situations, and without a lid, you have quick access to nothing. I like to keep a small nalgine and a bit of food in my lid for quick refusing between pitches. Basic things like that become quite the ordeal with the roll-up.

Great pack for going ultralight in the alpine. But not really an all around pack.