Gregory Stout 70 vs Osprey Kyte 48
Quick take: The Gregory Stout 70 carries more (70 vs 48 liters); the Gregory Stout 70 is lighter (3.77 vs 4.1 lbs).
Which one to buy
Two $240 packs, built for very different jobs. The Stout 70 is Gregory's men's multi-day hauler, rated to 50 lb, and at 3.77 lb it weighs less than the Kyte 48 while holding 22 L more. The Kyte is Osprey's women's weekend pack, and its harness is the reason to buy it: a women-specific fit on an adjustable torso, where the Stout's women's counterpart is a different pack, the Amber 68.
What the Kyte's extra weight buys is fabric. Recycled 420D nylon with a 500D bottom shrugs off granite and brush better than the Stout's 210D body. It also adds a sleeping-bag compartment and a raincover in a zippered base pocket. Osprey publishes no load rating and no numeric torso range, though, so fit is something to check on your own back.
The Stout's quick-adjust torso is one size, with a Plus version for larger bodies. Its foam contact back runs warm, and so does the Kyte's. For a week-long trip or heavy loads, the Stout's capacity and published rating carry the decision.
Gregory Stout 70
Best if you carry big multi-day loads and want a stated 50 lb rating and 70 L for the same money, with the Plus harness available if you are a larger build.
Osprey Kyte 48
For women doing weekend trips who want a women-specific harness and tougher fabric, and who can live with 4.1 lb for 48 L.
| Spec | Gregory Stout 70 | Osprey Kyte 48 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $240 | $240 |
| Rating | — | — |
| Type | Traditional Pack | Traditional Pack |
| Frame Type | Internal Frame | Internal Frame |
| Capacity | 70 L | 48 L |
| Weight | 3.77 lbs | 4.1 lbs |
| Max Load | 50 lbs (22.7 kg) | Not specified by the manufacturer |
| Torso Fit | One size with quick-adjust torso; Stout 70 Plus extended fit also sold | Adjustable; see manufacturer sizing |
| Material | 210D 40% recycled nylon with 420D nylon, C0 DWR | bluesign-approved 100% recycled 420D nylon, recycled 500D high-tenacity nylon bottom, PFAS-free DWR |
| Back Panel | Breathable foam contact back panel | AirScape injection-molded framesheet |
| Adjustable torso | Yes | Yes |
| Ventilated back | No | No |
| Raincover included | Yes | Yes |
| Hipbelt pockets | Yes | Yes |
| Removable lid | No | No |
| Hydration sleeve | Yes | Yes |
| Fits BV500 bear can | No | No |
| Warranty | Gregory lifetime warranty | Osprey All Mighty Guarantee (lifetime) |
Pros & cons
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.
Osprey Kyte 48
- ✓Heavy recycled 420D/500D fabrics hold up to granite and brush
- ✓Women's harness on an adjustable-torso frame
- ✓Raincover in a zippered base pocket
- ✓Sleeping-bag compartment and front shove-it pocket
- ✓Kyte 38 weighs almost the same as the 48, so the larger size costs little extra weight
- ✗4.1 lbs is heavy for 48 L next to the Eja 48 (2.8 lbs)
- ✗Lid does not come off
- ✗No published load range
- ✗Osprey's listings give no numeric women's torso range
- ✗Foam back panel, no suspended mesh
Gregory Stout 70 vs Osprey Kyte 48: common questions
Why is the Kyte 48 heavier than the Stout 70 when it holds less?▾
Most of the difference is fabric. The Kyte uses recycled 420D nylon with a 500D bottom, while the Stout's body is 210D with 420D reinforcement, so the Kyte trades weight for abrasion resistance.
Can a woman use the Stout 70 instead of the Kyte 48?▾
It can work, but the Stout's harness is the men's design and Gregory sells the Amber 68 as its women's counterpart. If shoulder and hipbelt shape matter to you, the Kyte's women-specific harness is the safer fit.
Which one is better for loads near 50 lb?▾
The Stout 70, because Gregory rates it to 50 lb and gives it a steel frame with a fiberglass cross stay. Osprey publishes no load rating for the Kyte 48, so there is nothing to plan a heavy carry around.