Gregory Paragon 60 vs ULA Equipment Camino
Quick take: The ULA Equipment Camino costs $0.01 less; the Gregory Paragon 60 carries more (60 vs 54 liters); the ULA Equipment Camino is lighter (3 vs 3.72 lbs).
Which one to buy
Only one of these $300 packs is a backpacking pack first. The ULA Camino is built as a carry-on travel bag: panel loading like a suitcase, 400D Robic everywhere including solid side pockets, and a twin-stay framesheet rated to 40 lb. The Paragon 60 is a trail pack with a pivoting FreeFloat hipbelt and an Air-Cushion mesh back; Gregory rates it to 50 lb, and owners say it carries comfortably to around 40 lbs.
For trail miles, the Paragon does more. It has a ventilated back, hipbelt pockets, a hydration sleeve, a removable lid and side-zip access, and its torso adjusts across 15-23 in. The Camino has none of those comfort features and a fixed torso in each of its four sizes, though those sizes run from 15 to 24+ in and cover long torsos well.
The Camino wins when the trip involves airports, trains and hostels as much as trail, where its suitcase-style access and baggage-proof fabric earn their keep, and it's about 0.7 lb lighter. Both take a bear canister, the Camino horizontally according to ULA. The Paragon's catches: its 210D fabric needs more care around granite, and owners say shorter-armed hikers find its bottle pockets hard to reach with the pack on.
Gregory Paragon 60
For backpackers who want trail comfort and features, including a ventilated back, hipbelt pockets and side-zip access, on loads up to about 40 lb.
ULA Equipment Camino
A good match for trips that mix flights and hostels with trail miles, or for a torso over 23 in, which its XL size fits.
| Spec | Gregory Paragon 60 | ULA Equipment Camino |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $300 | $299.99 |
| Rating | 4.8★ (11) | — |
| Type | Traditional Pack | Traditional Pack |
| Frame Type | Internal Frame | Internal Frame |
| Capacity | 60 L | 54 L |
| Weight | 3.72 lbs | 3.0 lbs |
| Max Load | 50 lbs | 40 lbs |
| Torso Fit | Adjustable 15-23 in across sizes | Sized S/M/L/XL (S 15-18, M 18-21, L 21-24, XL 24+ in) |
| Material | 100D and 210D high density nylon with 300D 40% recycled ripstop base | 400D Robic nylon |
| Back Panel | FreeFloat suspension with Air-Cushion mesh | Twin-stay framesheet |
| Adjustable torso | Yes | No |
| Ventilated back | Yes | No |
| Raincover included | No | No |
| Hipbelt pockets | Yes | No |
| Removable lid | Yes | No |
| Hydration sleeve | Yes | No |
| Fits BV500 bear can | Yes | Yes |
| Warranty | Limited lifetime warranty against defects in materials and workmanship, original purchaser | ULA lifetime warranty |
Pros & cons
Gregory Paragon 60
- ✓Several owners describe it as most of the Baltoro's comfort for about three-quarters of the weight, which makes it the value pick within Gregory's own lineup.
- ✓The 2025 redesign brought the pivoting FreeFloat hipbelt down from the flagship line, and reviewers say it genuinely moves with your hips.
- ✓The Air-Cushion mesh back panel (90% air by volume) breathes far better than the Baltoro's dense foam.
- ✓At 3.72 lbs it is nearly a pound lighter than the Atmos and more than a pound lighter than the Baltoro while keeping a real load-hauling frame.
- ✓Generous pockets, including a shoulder-strap pocket sized for an inReach, at a price $70 below the flagship packs.
- ✓Side-zip main compartment access means no unpacking to reach the bottom.
- ✓The alloy perimeter frame with fiberglass cross-stay keeps 35-40 lb loads composed without excess stiffness.
- ✓The lid converts the pack cleanly for summit-day use, and the body compresses well for weekend loads.
- ✗Gregory rates it to 50 lbs, but several owners find about 40 lbs the comfortable ceiling — push past it and the lighter frame telegraphs the load straight to your shoulders.
- ✗Hipbelt padding is noticeably thinner than the Baltoro's, which heavier-load users feel by mid-afternoon.
- ✗The 210D fabric needs more care around granite and deadfall than the Baltoro's reinforced panels.
- ✗At 3.72 lbs it is still heavier than a Crown3 or Flash 55 that cost less, though neither is rated as high as its 50 lbs.
- ✗The new-generation redesign means years of Paragon 58 reviews don't fully apply, and early-adopter feedback is still accumulating.
- ✗Water bottle pockets are hard to reach with the pack on for shorter-armed users.
- ✗The suspension pivot adds mechanical complexity some buyers distrust for remote expedition use.
- ✗Popular sizes sold out repeatedly during its first seasons on the market.
ULA Equipment Camino
- ✓Panel loading gives suitcase-style access that a roll-top cannot.
- ✓400D Robic everywhere, including solid side pockets, is built for baggage handling.
- ✓Its 40 lb rating ties the Catalyst and Ultra Catalyst for the highest in ULA's range.
- ✓Takes a bear canister horizontally.
- ✗47.2 oz is the heaviest ULA pack listed here.
- ✗Travel-first design means extra zips and fabric a trail-only hiker does not need.
- ✗Solid side pockets do not stretch over odd-shaped bottles the way mesh does.
- ✗Fixed torso per size.
Gregory Paragon 60 vs ULA Equipment Camino: common questions
Can the Camino replace the Paragon 60 on a backpacking trip?▾
It can carry the load, since it's rated to 40 lb and takes a bear canister horizontally. But it has no ventilated back, hipbelt pockets or hydration sleeve, so it's less comfortable than the Paragon over long trail days.
Which of the two is better for travel?▾
The Camino. ULA built it as a carry-on first, with suitcase-style panel loading and 400D Robic throughout, including solid side pockets that stand up to baggage handling better than mesh.