Gregory Amber 68 vs Gregory Stout 70
Quick take: The Gregory Stout 70 costs $20 less; the Gregory Stout 70 carries more (70 vs 68 liters); the Gregory Amber 68 is lighter (3.48 vs 3.77 lbs).
Which one to buy
Gregory sells these as a pair, the Amber 68 for women and the Stout 70 for men, so for most buyers the harness decides before anything else. Both are one-size packs with an adjustable torso, hipbelt pockets, a hydration sleeve and extended-fit options, and they're $20 apart.
The spec sheets differ more than the pairing suggests. Both are rated to 50 lb, but they get there differently. The Stout uses an alloy steel frame and a fiberglass cross stay that keeps a full load from rounding off your back; the Amber has a simpler wishbone alloy frame and is a value hauler best kept to moderate loads. The Stout also includes a rain cover, which the Amber lacks. The Amber answers with a ventilated back panel, where the Stout's foam contact panel runs warmer, and a bear canister fit confirmed both vertically and horizontally, while Gregory makes no such promise for the Stout.
With both rated to 50 lb, a woman carrying heavy loads loses nothing on paper with the Amber, though the Stout's cross stay and rain cover are worth a try-on if the men's harness fits. In canister country, the Amber's confirmed fit carries more weight than any other line on either sheet. The Amber's 68 L is more than most weekends need, though, and an underfilled pack sags.
Gregory Amber 68
For women in canister country or carrying bulky loads, who want a ventilated back and plus sizes.
Gregory Stout 70
Made for heavy multi-day loads, with a cross stay against barreling and a rain cover included for $20 less, if the men's harness fits.
| Spec | Gregory Amber 68 | Gregory Stout 70 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $260 | $240 |
| Rating | — | — |
| Type | Traditional Pack | Traditional Pack |
| Frame Type | Internal Frame | Internal Frame |
| Capacity | 68 L | 70 L |
| Weight | 3.48 lbs | 3.77 lbs |
| Max Load | 50 lbs | 50 lbs (22.7 kg) |
| Torso Fit | One size VersaFit adjustable torso (14-19 in), plus sizes available | One size with quick-adjust torso; Stout 70 Plus extended fit also sold |
| Material | 40% recycled 210D nylon with 420D high density nylon | 210D 40% recycled nylon with 420D nylon, C0 DWR |
| Back Panel | Perforated 3D foam back panel on a wishbone alloy frame | Breathable foam contact back panel |
| Adjustable torso | Yes | Yes |
| Ventilated back | Yes | No |
| Raincover included | No | Yes |
| Hipbelt pockets | Yes | Yes |
| Removable lid | No | No |
| Hydration sleeve | Yes | Yes |
| Fits BV500 bear can | Yes | No |
| Warranty | Limited lifetime warranty against defects in materials and workmanship, original purchaser | Gregory lifetime warranty |
Pros & cons
Gregory Amber 68
- ✓Confirmed to fit a bear canister both vertically and horizontally, which very few packs here state explicitly.
- ✓68 L for $260 is the best capacity-per-dollar of any women's pack on this site.
- ✓3.48 lb for 68 L is a 0.82 oz/L ratio, better than the much pricier Deva.
- ✓Four volumes from 34 to 68 L, a deeper ladder than most premium lines offer.
- ✓Plus sizes are offered, which is rare and not just a marketing claim.
- ✓Post-consumer recycled nylon throughout.
- ✓Measured volume came in at 60 L against 68 advertised, a smaller gap than most packs here.
- ✓Gregory's lifetime warranty applies at the budget end too.
- ✗No rain cover included.
- ✗The 34, 44 and 54 L sizes have no published prices or weights.
- ✗One-size adjustable construction is less precise than the Deva's three frame sizes.
- ✗The suspension is simpler than the FreeFloat systems used higher in the range.
- ✗68 L is more pack than most trips need, and underfilled large packs carry poorly.
Gregory Stout 70
- ✓3.77 lb for 70 L is more than a pound under the Baltoro 65 in the same brand, at about two-thirds of its price.
- ✓Gregory states a 50 lb maximum carry weight, which puts the Stout in genuine expedition-load territory rather than the 30-35 lb most mid-price packs admit to.
- ✓The alloy steel frame gets a fiberglass anti-barreling cross stay and an HDPE sheet, so a full load does not round the pack off your back.
- ✓Quick-adjust torso on a one-size harness, plus a Plus version with an extended-fit harness and hipbelt for larger bodies.
- ✓Large zippered hipbelt pockets and an internal hydration sleeve come standard.
- ✓Gregory's lifetime warranty covers it like the rest of the line.
- ✗A foam contact back panel rather than suspended mesh, so it runs warmer than the Zulu or Paragon lines.
- ✗210D body fabric is lighter-duty than the 400D-class cloth Gregory uses on its Zulu and Jade packs.
- ✗Lid removability and bear-canister fit are not stated.
Gregory Amber 68 vs Gregory Stout 70: common questions
Does the Stout 70 carry more than the Amber 68?▾
On paper, no. Gregory rates both to 50 lb. The Stout adds a fiberglass anti-barreling cross stay, while the Amber's simpler wishbone alloy frame makes it a value hauler best kept to moderate loads.
Which one should I pick for bear canister trips?▾
The Amber 68, which is confirmed to fit a canister both vertically and horizontally. Gregory doesn't promise a canister fit in the Stout 70, so test yours in it before a trip that requires one.