Gregory Zulu 30 vs Exped Skyline 30
Quick take: The Gregory Zulu 30 is lighter (3.04 vs 3.28 lbs).
Which one to buy
Two framed 30 L day packs at $200, each with a ventilated back, split on weight and kit. The Zulu 30 comes in 0.24 lb lighter, rates to 40 lb against the Skyline's 26, and adds the hipbelt pockets and hydration sleeve the Skyline goes without. For most day hikers that makes the Zulu the default pick.
Fit is where the Skyline earns a look. Exped sells it in two fixed back lengths, S/M at 16.9-20.1 in and M/L at 19.3-22.4 in, where the Zulu uses one adjustable harness covering 16-22 in. A fixed size that matches your torso can sit more solidly than an adjustable one, and torso fit will decide comfort more than either pack's liters. The Skyline's other strength is weather: its recycled polyester carries a 1,500 mm PU coating on top of a built-in rain cover, which the Zulu doesn't include in the US.
Reviewers credit the Zulu's pivoting hipbelt on long days, and owners use it for minimalist overnights. The complaints are that the trampoline mesh bows into the bag so it packs smaller than 30 L, the bottle pockets angle awkwardly, and the hipbelt pockets run small for big phones. None of that outweighs a pack that is lighter and better equipped at the same price.
Gregory Zulu 30
The better buy for nearly everyone: slightly lighter, a much higher load rating, and the hipbelt pockets and bladder sleeve the Skyline leaves out.
Exped Skyline 30
Worth it if one of Exped's two fixed back lengths matches your torso and you want a PU-coated body for wet climates, and you can accept the extra weight.
| Spec | Gregory Zulu 30 | Exped Skyline 30 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $200 | $200 |
| Rating | 4.4★ (70) | — |
| Type | Daypack | Daypack |
| Frame Type | Internal Frame | Internal Frame |
| Capacity | 30 L | 30 L |
| Weight | 3.04 lbs | 3.28 lbs |
| Max Load | 40 lbs | 26 lbs |
| Torso Fit | Adjustable 16-22 in | Two fixed sizes: S/M 16.9-20.1 in, M/L 19.3-22.4 in |
| Material | 40% recycled 400D polyester ripstop with 420D nylon | Recycled 450x300D polyester, PU coated to 1,500 mm, bluesign and PFAS-free |
| Back Panel | FreeFloat suspended mesh | Air Flow ventilated panel over a spring-steel U-frame |
| Adjustable torso | Yes | No |
| Ventilated back | Yes | Yes |
| Raincover included | No | Yes |
| Hipbelt pockets | Yes | No |
| Removable lid | No | No |
| Hydration sleeve | Yes | No |
| Fits BV500 bear can | No | No |
| Warranty | Limited lifetime warranty against defects in materials and workmanship, original purchaser | Exped 5-year warranty on materials and workmanship; wear, negligence and force majeure excluded (repairable for a fee) |
Pros & cons
Gregory Zulu 30
- ✓The 30L size with a real frame bridges day hiking and ultralight overnights — owners call it the most versatile size in the roundup.
- ✓The FreeFloat pivoting hipbelt moves with your hips, which reviewers credit for comfort on 15-mile days.
- ✓Suspended mesh ventilation matches the Stratos while carrying more.
- ✓The adjustable torso plus padded, pocketed hipbelt gives full-size-pack fit features in a daypack.
- ✓The clamshell-style main opening makes packing far easier than top-tube rivals.
- ✓Carries 25-30 lbs comfortably, which the 22-26L class can't.
- ✓Gregory's lifetime warranty backs it.
- ✗At 3.04 lbs it's heavy if you only ever carry 10 lbs of day gear.
- ✗Bulky for travel — the frame and mesh don't compress into luggage.
- ✗The mesh trampoline bows into the bag, and 30L packs more like 26-27.
- ✗Bottle pockets angle awkwardly for one-handed grabs, a recurring gripe.
- ✗The suspended back stands the load slightly off your center of gravity on scrambles.
- ✗Overkill (in price and features) for casual walkers versus the Hikelite.
- ✗The hipbelt pockets are on the small side for big phones.
- ✗Fewer US retail touchpoints than Osprey for trying sizes.
Exped Skyline 30
- ✓A spring-steel frame and a published 26 lb limit, which most 30 L daypacks lack.
- ✓Two back-length sizes instead of one-size-fits-most.
- ✓Integrated rain cover and a 1,500 mm PU coating on the body.
- ✓bluesign-certified, PFAS-free recycled polyester.
- ✓Three capacities, 12 to 30 L, with the same back system.
- ✗3.28 lb is heavy for 30 L; the Deuter Trail 30 is 2.47 lb and the Speed Lite Pro 30 is 1.68 lb.
- ✗$200 is close to the Deuter Trail Pro 36 at $210, which also has a steel frame and gives 6 L more.
- ✗No hipbelt pockets or hydration sleeve are mentioned.
- ✗Fixed lid pocket; nothing can be removed to cut weight.
Gregory Zulu 30 vs Exped Skyline 30: common questions
Is a fixed-size back like the Skyline's better than the Zulu's adjustable torso?▾
It can be if your torso lands squarely in one of Exped's sizes, since fixed backs have no adjustment to slip. The Zulu's 16-22 in adjustment is more forgiving if you sit between sizes or share the pack.
Which pack keeps gear drier in a real storm?▾
The Skyline. It has an integrated rain cover, and its body fabric is PU coated to 1,500 mm, so it holds out even if the cover blows off. The Zulu's 400D polyester ripstop handles drizzle on its own, but no cover comes with the US version, so budget for one.
Can I run a hydration bladder in the Skyline 30?▾
Not well, since it has no hydration sleeve, while the Zulu has a dedicated sleeve that takes a standard 3 L reservoir without fuss. If you drink from a bladder, that tips it to the Zulu.