New packs from Gregory Packs help keep the stink at bay

When you’re going to be backpacking for an extended amount of time, odor is, well, something you need to deal with. If you’re in the backcountry, you don’t have shower access, so you may get a bit ripe between the exertion and the campfires. Of course, your pack – especially an internal frame one – hugs close to your body, and can get a bit unpleasant as well. At least, until Gregory Packs released the Katmai and Kalmia.

These two packs utilize an anti-microbial treatment on the mesh panel that’s against your back from Polygiene. With this, if the microbes can’t find a home to grow as you’re sweating your way down the trail, then they can’t get things stinky. Makes perfect sense to me. Then again, I’m coming at this from the days when I had an external frame pack (still do, actually) and getting that airflow on your back was all-important even then.

I mean, nobody likes a sweaty back. We did some like hikes while we were camping the other week, and even with small hydration packs, your back gets good and sweaty. So, hopefully the approach that Gregory Packs has taken here is something we see more of. They’ve also done some really great things, like committing to using all recycled materials in the bags, and done a lot to ensure for adjustability and comfort – just look at the details pages for the Katmai and Kalmia, and you’ll see what I mean (well, and that video above).

The Gregory Packs Katmai is recommended for men, and comes in either a 55L ($259.95) or 65L ($279.95) size, as well as offering a plus-size option on the 65L version ($279.95). The Gregory Packs Kalmia is designed to fit to a woman’s torso a bit better, and comes in slightly smaller sizes – 50L ($259.95) or 60L ($279.95) in standard or plus-size. You can check these out, and their other packs, over at gregorypacks.com

Katmai Tech Specs

Kalmia Tech Specs