Gregory Maven 35 Pack For Women

Gregory Maven 35 pack for women is the smallest pack from a completely new series of four packs launched recently. With 1.33 kg of weight, this is a very lightweight hiking tool yet with many great and useful features, ideal for light overnight and day tours.

Benefits, bonuses, and unique features

• Rain cover included.
• Very lightweight.
• New Aerolon suspension.
• Quick-stow feature on the shoulder strap for attaching glasses on the go.
• Adjustable harness.

Maven 35 backpack – description

This nicely designed pack is a top-loading type, with classic features that include a top lid and an extendible spindrift collar underneath it. It comes with a bottom sleeping bag compartment, so you have the usual zippered bottom entrance.

The pack is hydration compatible, with a sleeve inside the main compartment, visible in the picture below. The bonus is its rain cover which stows in an external zippered pocket beneath the front shove-it pocket.

The best part: the suspension system

In the specifications below, you will see that the pack is built in two sizes XS/S and S/M with 2 liters of volume differences. So you can choose your proper size in the moment of purchase. But in addition to this, you also have an adjustable torso for a perfect fit. This is what they call Aerolon suspension system, based on an ultra-light 7 mm hollow 7001 aluminum frame with a specific new geometry and flexibility.

To adjust the torso, push your hand behind the harness to break the Velcro tabs behind, and then move the harness up or down to your desired position. Re-engage the connections after that by simply pressing the harness. So when you have ordered your proper size you still have 4 inches (10 cm) range for the torso adjustment. This is useful if various family members or close friends use the same pack. The same holds if the pack is used by a growing teenager.

On the back, they have introduced what they call Matrix Ventilation System, which is a foam-matrix back panel structure (shown in the picture above) covered by a very breathable mesh that provides an excellent airflow and moisture evaporation. You will notice that the mesh is partly suspended, which increases ventilation. I myself have several backpacks with such suspended tensioned mesh systems. There is nothing better when it comes to ventilation.

The lumbar zone is with a gripton pad system, a soft-molded silicon overlays for an enhanced load transfer. The padding on the hip belt and on the shoulder straps is with a multi-density LifeSpan EVA foam.

On the hip belt, you have side strap stabilizers that you can pull in order to bring the pack closer to your body and to have a better load control in the case of a tricky rock scramble.

Attachment elements

This pack has many attachment points. Very functional dual compression straps are on the sides. The lower straps are with the inside-out feature, this means that you can run them through the pockets in order to compress the pack, or over the pockets if you wish to secure the items stored in the pockets.

As mentioned above, you have the quick-stow feature for sunglasses on the left shoulder strap. This is a webbing loop and a tie-off cord, see the picture; after attaching your glasses, you can secure them with the cord.

Dual compression straps are on the bottom, so you can attach a sleeping pad or a tent. There is also a bottom loop for an ice axe or trekking poles attachment, and this is paired by a tie-off bungee cord higher up on the pack.

Four webbing attachment loops are on the top of the lid for various purposes, here you can attach a solar charger or anything else.

Pockets

There is one large stretch shove-it pocket on the front to store things which you may need on the go, or to store your wet stuff.

Dual zippered pockets are on the hip belt, one is built of a mesh and one is fabric, and dual stretch pockets with angled access for water bottles are on the sides. There are also two top pockets on the lid.

Specifications & summary of features

• Gender: for women.
• Purpose: hiking, mountaineering, travel.
• Two sizes: XS/S, S/M.
• Weight:
  – XS/S: 1.22 kg (2 lb 11 oz).
  – S/M: 1.33 kg (2 lb 15 oz).
• Volume:
  – XS/S: 33 l (2014 cu in).
  – S/M: 35 l (2136 cu in).
• Size (L x W x D):
  – XS/S: 58 x 33 x 25 cm (23 x 13 x 10 in).
  – S/M: 64 x 33 x 25 cm (25 x 13 x 10 in).
• Materials:
  – Main fabric: 210 D ripstop nylon.
  – Secondary fabric: 210 D HT ripstop nylon.
  – Frame: aluminum.
• Maximum weight: 40 lb (18 kg).
• Torso length:
  – XS/S: 33 – 43 cm (13 – 17 in).
  – S/M: 41 – 51 cm (16 – 20 in).
• Access: bottom, top.
• Adjustable harness.
• Hipbelt circumference:
  – XS/S: 56 – 117 cm.
  – S/M: 58 – 123 cm.
• Ventilated back panel.
• Compression straps.
• Rain cover.
• Ice axe/pole attachment.
• Hydration compatible.
• Hipbelt pockets.
• Side stretch pockets.
• Colors: 3, see the pictures.
• Warranty: limited lifetime.

Summary, rating, pros & cons

Gregory Mountain Products Maven 35 Liter Women's Lightweight Hiking Backpack

8.9

Volume-Weight ratio

8.6/10

Features & bonuses

9.0/10

Comfort

9.0/10

Pros

• Rain cover.
• Adjustable harness.
• Great suspension.
• Great organization.
• Bottom access.
• Several unique features.

Cons

• No side zippered pockets.

Buy on Amazon

If you need something bigger from the same series, note that the 45 liters version is with exactly the same features. The other two packs from the series, the Maven 55 and Maven 65, have the same features but they also have some more bonuses, so please follow the links.

Note that the corresponding pack for men is the Gregory Paragon 38, described in this site. You might want to check this Osprey Eja 38 which is also a women-specific pack.

Thank you for reading. I shall be happy to hear from you, so let me know what you think about this new Gregory’s series, there is a comment box below. I wish you a pleasant day.